Gary Austin, never forgotten. Remembering an exceptional aviator. vintageaerowriter.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/t...
James D Kightly
@jdkightly.bsky.social
Does history - not an historian. Does aviation - not a pilot. Writes, reads, learns, communicates. Aviation Cultures Conferences. Interested in many things. Freelance. No AI. He/him. Aviation content based at: https://vintageaerowriter.wordpress.com/
Getting back to the #histscalemodels #ItaliaGB! An extensive test of 'these models won't build themselves' as I was busy with other things proved the hypothesis, fully, so I've got involved in the process. Four models, a bit over a month to go, can we do it? (Need to do more than the last period!)
If my Junkers Database isn't enough to sell you a copy, maybe @navalairhistory.com's (recommended) cover story on the Royal Navy's Phantom will tip the balance? Available immediately online, or by mail from the link below: shop.keypublishing.com/products/aer...
Aeroplane Monthly November 2026
PHANTOMThe Royal Navy’s most potent jetfighter... and its cancelled carrier A BLOODY NUISANCEThe Luftwaffe’s disruptive Fw 190 raids THE HUNT FOR ‘FREYA’Some of the war’s most vital PR Spitfire sortie...
shop.keypublishing.com
James D Kightly@jdkightly.bsky.social · 3w agoThe latest Aeroplane, Nov 2026 is out! It has my Database on the Junkers F 13, which includes an attempted royal coup(!) disputing pioneering air crash probes from the UK and Germany, Soviet propaganda, plus a sleigh board and boiled moose hide propeller ... Thanks to Editor @bdaviation.bsky.social
The latest Aeroplane, Nov 2026 is out! It has my Database on the Junkers F 13, which includes an attempted royal coup(!) disputing pioneering air crash probes from the UK and Germany, Soviet propaganda, plus a sleigh board and boiled moose hide propeller ... Thanks to Editor @bdaviation.bsky.social
A source, weight, line, or the start of the article? The 'lead' 'lede' need. www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/bur...
Why do we 'bury the lede?'
We buried 'lead' so far down that we forgot how to spell it
merriam-webster.com
Well, work (+other things) delayed my entry to #histscalemodels #ItaliaGB, but I couldn't miss it! My first idea wasn't quite 'right', but I think it's resolved now. So. I'm trying (will I get there?) is 2 displays of 2 aircraft each. Thankfully simple (ha) single seat fighters. V Italian so far!
The science behind this started in my classroom! I was teaching undergrad environmental fluid mechanics ("The Physics of California") at UCSB; one student's final paper was the baby-steps first look at this; he re-attacked the problem (and named the phenomenon) as a grad student at UCSD.
SoCal Leslie@socalleslie.bsky.social · 2mo agoBrown pelican doing what is called wave slope soaring using updrafts created by breaking waves to conserve valuable energy without flapping, sometimes over a considerable distance. Very cool. 🪶🌿
The New Yorker, January 13, 1940, the great Charles Addams. Wouldn’t want to be without the two great visually subversive, witty and destabilising cartoonists from the New Yorker stable, Addams, or Arno. An analysis of the cartoon in the first link.
I’m presenting the Wellesley story at the Aviation Historical Society of Australia’s Melbourne meeting 7.30 on Wednesday night. It’s a great story, I’ll try and do it justice… If you’re able to join us, it’d be good to see you! Also available on Zoom for members: www.ahsa.org.au/wp/ahsa/ahsa...
Getting back to #DrawingAugust, #DrawingAugust2036, a quick and companionable sketch at the local Ecotherapy park with @bevlaing.bsky.social. She got the brushes out and did one lovely one, I rattled off a few quick ink notes. Individual art to follow!
Today’s #DrawingAugust #DrawingAugust2026 A curious set of belted Galloways who came to the gate as I was undoubtedly the most interesting thing they saw on the day. Being up a rural dead end.
Missed a couple, here’s a recent drawing for #DrawingAugust, #DrawingAugust2026 from BC, Canada. Another grabbed sketch with a view to a return and another go. I liked the trees peaking over the very straight lines and triangles of the cabin roof and windows. Drawing board and ruler next time.
Tonight’s the datapoint for the 2026 Census – Australia; you (if in Aus, and not a diplomat) might’ve filled it out already, or be doing it soon, but as the envelope says: ‘please return without delay’. 1/3
Another sketch from the RAAF Museum, a proper aircraft. Well, sort of. It’s a detail of the Maurice Farman Shorthorn, which could be described in many ways, few of them flattering. #DrawingAugust / #DrawingAugust2026.
Today I liked the contrasting shapes and solidity of colour between the birds and the tree. Another quick one laid down for review and later variations. #DrawingAugust / #DrawingAugust2026.
No question that jets are easier to draw than proper aircraft with props, wires and extra wings. Here’s the RAAF Museum’s Macchi jet trainer sketched today for #DrawingAugust / #DrawingAugust2026.
Lines and curves. I can see taking this in several different directions (ink? Paint?) so stopping here and having a think - for today’s #DrawingAugust / #DrawingAugust2026.
Stockport Gloom: From Rostron Brow To St. Mark’s, pencil drawing by Dave Hartley.
This week’s #podcast looks at archaeology/grave robbery on ship wrecks, my interpretation as to the right/wrong of it including HMS Invincible, Titanic, Mary Rose and Prince of Wales. open.spotify.com/episode/1pWg... #history #navalhistory #archaeology
Wreck pillaging
Maritime History with Chris Sams (live and unplugged) · Episode
open.spotify.com
Drawing something on the table and ‘bringing it to life’. A sketchy sketch, a fun idea. Maybe return to it with more time / detail, but I’m happy with it as it is… Yes, it’s a real subject, someone may guess the aircraft type, and if they’re clever, the kit, too. #drawingaugust #drawingaugust2026
Day 3 of #DrawingAugust. My partner picked local buildings buildings, and we sketched from the car - it was sharp and cold out there! Our local post office, a standard building type, but heavily modified of the years.
Here’s a quick smash to get loosened up and into the habit. Started with trying to get the curves of the oval’s fence, then sketched in the details. Started a bit rough (not convinced by the perspective curves) not great, but happy to have had the bash and get going with Day 2 of #DrawingAugust !
Oh, I love dumpy little transporters like this feller. BBC News - 1950s Bristol Freighter Type 170 to be restored - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
1950s Bristol Freighter Type 170 to be restored
The Bristol Freighter Type 170 is believed to be the last remaining aircraft of its kind in Europe.
bbc.co.uk
As it’s the 1st, it’s the start of #DrawingAugust. Not managed a sketch today, but here’s a previously unshared one from under a month ago, and done on the other side of the Pacific.
I was just scrolling down the drawings lots of us did for last year's #DrawingAugust. What a bunch of lovely drawings. Do join us this August. A drawing a day, or whenever you can, and post it on here with the #. I am going small this year...
I work at a public library. People who want to use AI seem to have no trouble doing so. People who don't want to use AI have a harder time. I crowdsourced and then finalized this document "How to disable or avoid intrusive AI" and then gave it a short URL: notoai.org Please pass along if it's useful
Tweet so good I printed it out and put it on my wall. I referred to it in a conference talk today @hypervisible.blacksky.app
The arrogant assumption that Americans can operate outside the law seems normal to them (as imperialists do) and amusing when they spot that others may not agree. They’re. Not. Special. Make good law. Follow it. Don’t try to operate beyond the law. That’s bad.
Quinta Jurecic@qjurecic.bsky.social · 4mo agoNo, this seems fine www.wsj.com/opinion/why-...
No rest for the wick... #histscalemodels groupbuilders evidently. Our slave driving @jaaaagirr.bsky.social already lining up the next one! If only I didn't have TUTTO IL MONDO of Italian models already in the build plan from the stash, I might've escaped! Peccato. (Joking aside, these are fun.)
Slightly Caddish@jaaaagirr.bsky.social · 4mo agoAttention #histscalemodels community, with the current french themed GB going into its final days, it's time to prepare for the next one! Given the recent success of a broder theme, we came up with #ItaliaGB - All details are found in the deck card. Looking forward to all your stylish subjects! 🍕
