Tag: Cold War

Why The Mil Mi-4 Was The Most Popular Helicopter of Its Day!
Helicopters

Why The Mil Mi-4 Was The Most Popular Helicopter of Its Day!

When it comes to Cold War-era Soviet helicopters, very few stand out among the rest. One, however, stands taller than the rest: the Mil Mi-4, which remains the sixth most produced military helicopter ever built - despite having been out of production for over 40 years! Produced between 1952 and 1979, Mil built over 4,000 Mi-4s which went on to become the workhorse of most of the Eastern Bloc's militaries. In many cases, the Mi-4 continued to serve long after the Cold War ended, whilst in others, it was retired long before. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Background In 1947, the Soviet Government established a helicopter research laboratory under the direction of Mikhail Mil, one of the Soviet Union’s foremost experts on autogyros (the precursor...
What is a Warbird? A Brief History of Warbirds
History

What is a Warbird? A Brief History of Warbirds

Warbirds are some of the most favored airshow acts. Their ability to combine the aircraft of the past and the technology of the present attracts thousands of spectators from all around the world! Aircraft such as the Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire, Grumman F8F Bearcat, North American P-51 Mustang and Yakovlev Yak-3 are also considered to be warbirds. But what exactly makes a warbird so special? And why are they so prized (and expensive)? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); What Are Warbirds? Warbirds are any type of former military aircraft that are now in the hands of private individuals. They are commonly used as airshow display as well as airworthy museum displays. The term originates in the 1950's when WWII-era aircraft had be...
The Impact of WWII on Aviation
History

The Impact of WWII on Aviation

Yesterday marked the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe. So this had me thinking, what was the impact of WWII on aviation? WWII impacted every industry that was around in the 1940's. Whilst this only comprises what was developed during the Second World War, there is likely no way of knowing the entire impact of WWII on aviation! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Save Aircraft Manufacturers The 1930's hit every industry incredibly hard, thanks to the Great Depression. Many aircraft manufacturers were forced to close as there was no one to buy their aircraft. Some aircraft manufacturers were able to change their business and provide other goods. This affected major players in all countries, including the legendary William Boeing and ...