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Aeroplane traces its lineage back to the weekly The Aeroplane launched in June 1911, and is still continuing to provide the best aviation coverage around. Aeroplane magazine is dedicated to offering the most in-depth and entertaining read on all historical aircraft. With a distinct emphasis on military machines from the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, the magazine features such icons as the Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster and many more. However, Aeroplane also regularly includes articles on historic civil light aircraft and other types that are scarcely covered elsewhere – making it the most balance historic aviation monthly on the market.

New Guy
Brick Eisel tells the story of an American pilot’s time flying Bristol Beaufighters on night-fighter operations

The Gladiator Strikes True
Martyn Chorlton highlights No 80 (Fighter) Sqn’s operations against the Regia Aeronautica from June to November 1940

Historic Duxford
Gary R. Brown visited the IWM Duxford’s new permanent exhibition and historic trail which was recently opened

Morane-Saulnier parasol survivors
During the 1930s, Morane-Saulnier produced a number of very successful parasol monoplanes, even building a small batch post-war. Mike Hooks describes and shows some of the survivors

The Kenting “Cat” comes creeping back
Following 15 years of decidedly mixed fortunes since arriving in the UK, the most highly-modified of all the post-war survey
Catalinas is finally undergoing restoration back to stock wartime condition in Kent, reports Tony Harmsworth

Two Tours
Continuing our series of articles running up to the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, Philip Chinnery outlines Col Howard Tanner’s two tours of duty which took him from flying F-80 Shooting Stars to L-5 Sentinels

English Electric P.1A and P.1B
The seeds for what became one of Britain’s favourite aeroplanes, the English Electric Lightning, were laid by the company’s P.1 research aircraft built to Specification F.23/49 and Operational Requirement OR.268. A substantial redesign transformed this aircraft into the P.1B Lightning prototypes and the fighter was subsequently developed into more capable versions with better weapons and more fuel. Tony Buttler AMRAeS presents the remarkable story of the P.1s

Airfix 2013
Jarrod Cotter recently visited Airfix to look at the exciting new toolings added to the company’s range of fantastic model kits this year
 

Winged Crusaders – The Wellesley Years
Michael Napier charts the Second World War exploits of 14 Sqn while flying the Wellesley, during the period 1940 to 1941

NEWS
All the latest preservation news, compiled by Tony Harmsworth

Register Review
Mike Hooks presents our column on registration news

Preservation Profile – Boulton Paul Defiant I N1671
Preserved by the RAF Museum London. Gary R. Brown and Mark Ansell tell its story

Aircrew – S.E.5a Skywriting Pilot
James Kightly describes the techniques of the pioneering skywriter pilots of the 1920s who flew for Major “Jack” Savage. Illustration by Ian Bott

SKYWRITERS
A selection of readers’ letters

BOOK REVIEWS

EVENTS
Event listings for May 2012

FLYING VISIT
Display and glider pilot Alister Kay recently spoke to Gareth Stringer about his flying career

Q&A
Your questions asked, and answered, with Mike Hooks

SERVICES AND NEXT MONTH IN AEROPLANE

HAIRY MOMENT
Our regular spot for your historic-aviation close calls