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Robinson R22: The Cheapest Helicopter in The World!

5Jun

By Alexander Pask1 Comment

Helicopters

Robinson R22: The Cheapest Helicopter in The World!

Today, Robinson Helicopter Company are known for producing some of the best helicopters currently around, including the R44 and R66. Yet, both of these helicopters can trace their origins back to another helicopter: The Robinson R22. Despite having been introduced in 1979, and the company having developed two newer helicopters, Robinson continues to produce the R22 today, with nearly 5,000 having been produced since 1979! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Robinson R22 Russian-American engineer, Igor Sikorsky, would begin development of what he called the Sikorsky S-46 in 1938. With the financial backing of Vought Aircraft, Sikorsky would build and fly the S-46 (now called the VS-300) for the first time on May 13 1940. Although Sikorsky was...

Remembering AgustaWestland: The Rise (And Fall) of a Helicopter Giant!

2Jun

By Christopher Harrow2 Comments

History

Remembering AgustaWestland: The Rise (And Fall) of a Helicopter Giant!

Today, AgustaWestland is remembered for having produced some of the best and most versatile helicopters to have ever flown, including the AW101, AW109 and AW139 - all of which have been used in many different roles by hundreds of operators! Whilst AgustaWestland is technically still around today, instead operating as Leonardo's helicopter division, the AgustaWestland name still lives on through the history and helicopters this giant produced... (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-AgustaWestland: Agusta Having built and flown his first aircraft in 1907, aviation enthusiast and European nobleman, Count Giovanni Agusta, would spend the 1910's and 1920's raising enough money to found his own aircraft manufacturer. Founded in 1923, the count woul...

Bombardier CRJ100: Founding an Aviation Dynasty!

29May

By Salomón MarcoNo Comments

Aircraft Digest

Bombardier CRJ100: Founding an Aviation Dynasty!

Today, Bombardier is famous for its line of regional jets, including the CRJ700, CRJ900 and CRJ1000. However, without the Bombardier CRJ100, none of these jets would exist - after all, the CRJ100 was the base for all of them! All in all, Bombardier would build 226 CRJ100s, which would soon become a favorite of airlines across the world. Even though many airlines are retiring their CRJ100 fleets, many airlines are desperately trying to hold onto theirs for as long as possible... (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Bombardier CRJ100 In 1963, American engineer, Bill Lear, first flew what he called the Learjet 23. Entering service in October 1964, the Learjet 23 would become the first modern business jet, with Lear soon building the Learjet 24 in 1...

Remembering Canadair: The Rise And Fall of a Canadian Icon!

26May

By Alexander PaskNo Comments

History

Remembering Canadair: The Rise And Fall of a Canadian Icon!

Today, Canadair is remembered for being the Canadian aircraft manufacturer that made Canada an aviation powerhouse, even if its size and scope paled in comparison to the likes of Boeing and Lockheed, who it regularly did business with. Operating between 1944 and 1986, the company would go from being a state-owned company, to a privatized one, only to be renationalized before being sold on and dismantled by its present owners. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Canadair: Canadian Vickers In 1911, British shipbuilding and weapons conglomerate, Vickers, were invited by the Canadian government to establish a Canadian subsidiary, in the hopes that Vickers would begin building ships for the Royal Canadian Navy. This Canadian subsidiary would th...

Bombardier Challenger 300: The Most Popular Super Mid-Sized Jet

22May

By Gareth SeagullNo Comments

Executive

Bombardier Challenger 300: The Most Popular Super Mid-Sized Jet

Today, Bombardier is famous for produce some of the best private jets currently on the market. Chief among them is their entry-level jet, the Bombardier Challenger 300, which has proven to be quite popular since its introduction in 2004. Whilst the Challenger 300-derived Challenger 350 is still in production, the Challenger 300 was produced between 2001 and 2014. During this time, Bombardier built over 450 Challenger 300 jets (and have produced 350 Challenger 350s as of the time of writing too!) making it one of the most popular private jets ever built, only behind the Global Express, Hawker 400 and Challenger 600! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Bombardier Challenger 300 The 1990's were one of the best decades for the aviation industry...

Bell 47: The World’s First Civilian Helicopter!

19May

By Charles Yongzheng1 Comment

Helicopters

Bell 47: The World’s First Civilian Helicopter!

Today, Bell is one of the world's major helicopter manufacturers. Although they did not invent the first helicopter (that would be Igor Sikorsky) their first design, the Bell 47, would revolutionize the helicopter manufacturing industry as we know it! Produced between 1946 and 1974, Bell would produce over 5,600 Bell 47s, making it one of the most produced helicopters in recent years. The introduction of the Bell 47 would allow Bell Aircraft to establish itself as one of the world's largest aircraft manufacturers - focusing on helicopters, but also having a fixed-wing aircraft division too (which would be closed in 1966). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Bell 47 In 1938, Russian-American aerospace engineer, Igor Sikorsky, set out to creat...

Douglas DC-2: The Little Brother of The DC-3 Everyone Forgets!

15May

By Alexander PaskNo Comments

Aircraft Digest

Douglas DC-2: The Little Brother of The DC-3 Everyone Forgets!

Although the Douglas DC-2 has since been outshined by its much more successful sibling, the DC-3, the DC-2 was one of the best commercial airliners of its day, with it still being flown today! Whilst initially designed by Douglas to be a commercial airliner, the DC-2 soon saw action as a military aircraft, a VIP transport and even an air racer... (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Douglas DC-2 In 1925, Dutch aircraft manufacturer, Fokker, introduced the Fokker F.VII, better known as the Fokker Trimotor, to compete with the Ford Trimotor that was under development at Henry Ford's Ford Motor Company. Upon the Ford Trimotor's introduction in the summer of the following year, both trimotors would prove to be quite successful, with both aircraft...

Remembering The Douglas Aircraft Company: The Company That (Nearly) Beat Boeing

12May

By Christopher HarrowNo Comments

History

Remembering The Douglas Aircraft Company: The Company That (Nearly) Beat Boeing

At its height, just prior to WWII, Douglas Aircraft Company produced 80% of the US's commercial aircraft, and many of the US military's cutting edge fighters, dwarfing rival company, Boeing, in almost every regard. Despite this, the company is arguably most famous for its merger with McDonnell Aircraft, forming McDonnell Douglas, which soon became Boeing's main competitor in both the commercial and military scenes (before their own merger in 1997!) (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Douglas Aircraft Company In 1915, former US Naval officer Donald W. "Don" Douglas would join the Connecticut Aircraft Company (the precursor to today's Sikorsky Aircraft Company), where he'd help design the US Navy's first airship, the DN-1. Three years later,...

Cessna Citation Sovereign: The Best Cessna Jet Yet?

8May

By Alya KulikovaNo Comments

Executive

Cessna Citation Sovereign: The Best Cessna Jet Yet?

Today, Cessna is renowned for producing some of the best private jets in the world. Among these jets is certainly the Cessna Citation Sovereign, which has proven to be the bestselling Cessna business jet released in the last 20 years! All in all, between 2004 and 2021, Cessna produced a combined 443 Citation Sovereigns (including the standard Citation Sovereign and the Sovereign+) selling over 100 more times than the second-place, Citation X... (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Cessna Citation Sovereign In 1968, Cessna announced the production of their first business jet. This jet, the Cessna Citation I, would enter service in 1971, and would soon prove to be one of the most popular business jets ever produced. Building on this success, t...

Remembering Convair: The Rise And Fall of an Aviation Giant

5May

By Alexander PaskNo Comments

History

Remembering Convair: The Rise And Fall of an Aviation Giant

Born from the ashes of WWII, Convair grew to become one of the largest aircraft manufacturers of its time. Yet, within 43 years of it being founded, the company had ceased all operations, with the world forgetting Convair ever existed. A pioneer in both military and civil aviation (even if the latter was a resounding failure) the company was able to expand into the space industry, producing rockets used during the height of the Space Age... Incredibly, a few of the rockets Convair designed are still used by NASA today! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Convair: Consolidated And Vultee In 1923, former US Army Aviator-turned industrialist, Reuben H. Fleet, chose to use his knowledge and passion for aircraft to form a brand new aircraft manu...