Review by @philthyavnurd.bsky.social of Ian Campbell, Relentless Skies: The Most Efficient Airman, vol 1 of a new biography of Don Bennett

"Hangar Y" is the world's first airship hangar and one of the oldest buildings dedicated to aeronautics. Built in 1878, it served as a storage facility for the Air Museum from 1921 to 1973, before the museum moved to Le Bourget. It was completely restored in 2023.

A good view of the Antarctic coast for #LA805 to Melbourne today. Today’s flight traveling south of -70° latitude. www.flightradar24.com/LAN805/3d645...

Massive shoutout out to whoever handles the Royal Canadian Air Force’s social media account. They responded to every single comment on their already very solid Trans Day of Remembrance post and they responded like this…

Insane but true fact: making US roads as safe as Canadian, Australian, or European roads would save more lives than eliminating murder from the US.

Prime position right under my favourite aircraft The French Lady 😍

It’s Amelia Earhart finding season again! Thanks to The Conversation for giving me the opportunity to explore the “Amelia cycle” and share my thoughts in this piece. theconversation.com/amelia-earha...

The President wouldn't last five minutes as an air traffic controller, and after everything they've been through - and the way this administration has treated them from Day One - he has no business shitting on them now.

For something a little different this week, I review the superb Eileen Collins documentary, Spacewoman, on the channel. The film was certainly not what I was expecting, and all the better for it. Check out the review via the links below. 📺 youtu.be/YAVJ276r9ts 🎧 theaviation.show/120-spacewom...

I’ll put it more simply: my first (and best) aerobatic flight instructor looked me in the eye before our first lesson and said: “remember, airplanes really like the ground. They really really like the ground.”

How did the IBCC Digital Archive’s ethos of remembrance, recognition, and reconciliation as an approach to difficult heritage, lead to the way Bomber Command logbooks are described in the archive? Sign up, and I'll tell you... @avculturesconf.bsky.social @nmtdambusters.bsky.social #History #WW2

So modest! In reality, Peter’s an exceptional font of wisdom - and the only ‘Emeritus’ we have in either session!

8 Hrs to Aviation Cultures Spotlight on Logbooks and AvDocs! Join us free, online on Zoom to join our distinguished international speakers, followed by the rare opportunity to ask questions of the experts. Full details aviationcultures.org/spotlights/l...

The FAA has published its emergency order instructing airlines to reduce flights at 40 “high impact” airports. Here are the affected airports and how the schedule reductions will increase over 7 days, potentially impacting thousands of flights per day. www.flightradar24.com/blog/aviatio...

Looking forward to another Aviation Cultures Spotlight event this weekend!

Reminder! Only 2 days to the free online Logbooks & AvDocs. Did Guy Gibson 'fudge' his logbook? And one of our experts' 'smoking gun' document: "...reminding audiences that you can’t always trust the people you think you should be able to trust." Join us! -JDK aviationcultures.org/spotlights/l...

I'll be there - after all, I co-organised it. But it you're interested in aviation history, how it's created, researched and examined, the maybe you should be too. After all we've made it free, online, and accessible, because we think it should be. See you there!

Engaged in aviation history research? We've got a VERY useful, FREE, online Spotlight this weekend. In-depth WWII British Commonwealth insight in Sess 1, many wider insights inc legal docs & getting your P-51 papers in Tech Order: Sess 2. Join us! -JDK. Details: aviationcultures.org/spotlights/l...

Next Saturday I'm looking forward to joining @avculturesconf.bsky.social for "Logbooks and Avdocs". During this free, online event, an international lineup of speakers will examine a range of aviation documentation. It should be a fascinating conversation! See: aviationcultures.org/spotlights/l...

The CfP for @avculturesconf.bsky.social Print the Legend closes 31 October. Inspired by the iconic quote, “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend,” the event will delve into how narratives are crafted, myths are perpetuated, and legends are born in the world of aviation. 1/

Kamala Harris on the ABC: “⅓ of people voted for me, ⅓ voted for Trump & ⅓ didn’t vote.” What a way to run a fucking country…

Today is International Day of the Air Traffic Controller. Marking the anniversary of the founding of the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations, we celebrate the hard work of tens of thousands of ATCOs ensuring the safety of the skies. #ATCODay

226 years ago, on the 12th of October 1799, Jeanne Geneviève Garnerin (née Labrosse) was the first woman to parachute. She was an apprentice (and later wife) of pioneer balloonist Jacques Garnerin. She first ascended to an altidude of 900 metres in a gondala attached to a balloon. #otd #history🗃️

Recently ordered a physical (DVD) copy of the de Havilland Tiger Moth expansion for Microsoft Flight Simulator X by @justflight.com. Mainly because of the two RAAF liveries. But I only just noticed that credit for the front photograph is given to old mate, @philthyavnurd.bsky.social!

Logbook oddities? We’re interested. What’s the strangest, funniest or most unexpected thing that you’ve found* in an aviation logbook? We’ll be talking ‘Logbooks & Avdocs’ in our next Spotlight event, free, online, in just over a month. Can you tease us with an odd fact first? -JDK

Sad news for Alexander Fax Booksellers in Mawson ACT. We're closing the shop. But not the business! We will continue to sell quality military books online and by mailorder to subscribers. If you are local, pop into the shop and check out the bargains. 50% off most; exceptions bargain bins & shelves.

Call for Papers is closing soon! We're keen to hear from you with ideas for Aviation Cultures Spotlight 'Logbooks & AvDocs' in November, but the Call for Papers closes Sunday 31 August 2025. And see you at the free, online event - put the date in your diary now! aviationcultures.org/spotlights/l...

You are invited to propose a paper! A written paper is not required, but welcome, as are slide decks and extended recordings. Proposals, including a title, a synopsis of no more than 200 words and an autobiography of no more than 150 words should be emailed to [email protected] by 31 August.

Sessions will be 3 - 4 15-20-minute online presentations, followed by a panel discussion involving the presenters and with an opportunity for audience questions. The Spotlight will be held on Zoom. Presentations will be recorded and may be made available by Aviation Cultures online at a later date.

A session is ‘A Toolbox for Researchers’ with noted experts in the field on finding and interpreting logbooks and more. It is intended for aviation researchers and enthusiasts looking to get more from the vast array of sometimes obscure specialist documentation. Stay tuned for more details!

They say that aviation runs on paperwork! We’re looking at this with useful tools and case studies for researchers. We’d like to hear your thoughts on the changing purposes, functions, designs, usages, limitations and interpretation of aviation documentation.

Spotlight on Logbooks & AvDocs – Call for Papers. Closing date 31 August 2025! @philthyavnurd.bsky.social, @jdkightly.bsky.social (me!) of Aviation Cultures present this event on 8 Nov, free, online. We want your input! Ideas, papers, Qs, prompts: let us know. aviationcultures.org/spotlights/l...

And not forgetting the in person, AND online full multi-day Aviation Cultures Conference at the KF Centre for Excellence in Kelowna, BC, Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Historical Aviation Society, 17-20 June 2026! Thanks to he small AvCultures team for bringing this all together! -JDK

Next, 27-28 Feb, 2026, is 'Print the Legend'. A look at the changes in aviation biography from the old 'Boy's Own' to more detailed and tougher modern 'warts and all' biographies. As well as some famous names profiled by current authors, there'll be other aspects of aviation storytelling examined!

First up on 8 November 2025, is 'Logbooks & AvDocs, A Toolbox for Researchers’. Field experts will talk about finding and interpreting logbooks and other aviation docs. If you're an aviation researcher or enthusiast it'll help! Zoom, online, with a live Q&A at the end, so a date for your diary!

It's happening! Aviation Cultures' team announce 2 Spotlight events to join the previously announced Mk.VIII Conference. The Spotlights are free and online. With topic experts on aviation writing, you don't want to miss them! Stay tuned for details, experts, and maybe YOU can contribute too? -JDK

While @philthyavnurd.bsky.social and I are mugging for Bev on camera here, we ARE genuinely THAT excited about the forthcoming events. I'm backing Phil up on 'Logbooks & AvDocs', and I'm VERY pleased at the people we've got lined up to present. You'll be able to ask them (and us) questions too! 2/n

Tomorrow's front page 📰 Convicted US felon to arrive in Scotland

Handmaid’s Tale, series 6: B-team screenwriters, or am I being too generous?

It's happening! The next Aviation Cultures Conference, Mk.VIII will take place at the KF Centre For Excellence, in Kelowna, BC, Canada, AND online, in partnership with the Canadian Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) on 17-20 June 2026. Stay tuned for more details at aviationcultures.org

You can find out more about the development, service and the people who flew the C-Class flying boats in our playlist of episodes here: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis... #aviation #history #avgeek #flying #aviationlovers 2/2

What an utter fucking disgrace to humanity.

I recall a local journalist scoffing at why anyone would think the annual release of declassified cabinet documents would be of interest or in any meaningful way revealing thirty years after those cabinet deliberations. Sad! Cabinet minutes rock! Case in point:

The least-deserved AC in the history of ACs. What a disgrace.

I'm very excited about two upcoming documentaries due soon about two remarkable women. Sally (June 16th) looks at the life of Sally Ride and how she had to hide so much of herself. Spacewoman is about the intrepid Eileen Collins, the first woman to command the Space Shuttle. Trailers below 👇

Hey @airminded.org, not sure if you saw it at the time but it looks like the piece we were both interviewed for did come out in the end:

"Fuck me. Really?"

Civic duty: done

The Fuhrer wants a Nuremberg style parade on his birthday.