Coming soon from Pen & Sword Books and author Malcolm Sutherland is A Fighter Pilot’s War: Battle of Britain, Far East, D-Day, & Germany – The Remarkable Career of Wing Commander R.E.P. Brooker DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar. The book is a detailed biography which reportedly provides the answers to the mystery and controversy surrounding Brooker’s disappearance in 1945.

Richard Edgar Peter Brooker left school and joined the RAF in 1937. He was posted to 56 Squadron and in 1940 he served for several weeks as personal assistant to Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park, before flying throughout the height of the Battle of Britain. In the spring of 1941, promoted to Acting Squadron Leader, Brooker commanded No.1 Squadron during the Blitz; for this he was awarded the D.F.C. After being posted to Singapore late in 1941, where he led Nos. 232 and 242 squadrons fighting the Japanese invasion, he was evacuated on the last flight out of Bandoeng, Java, to Australia in March 1942. For his gallantry, determination in the face of heavy odds during the fall of Singapore, Brooker was awarded a Bar to the D.F.C. In the spring of 1944, Brooker became Wing Commander Flying of 123 Wing of Hawker Typhoons at RAF Thorney Island, in preparation for the liberation of Europe. Exhausted after an intensive spell of operational flying during and after D-Day, Brooker was taken off flying in July and sent to complete the Senior Staff Officers’ course at the RAF Staff College. At this time, he was awarded the DSO. In January 1945 Brooker became Wing Commander Flying of 122 Wing operating Hawker Tempest Vs, initially in Holland and then in Germany. In this period he was awarded a Bar to his DSO – but it was an award that was made posthumously. It was from Rheine-Hopsten in Germany that Peter took off on the evening, of 16 April 1945, and failed to return, just twenty-two days from VE Day. His aircraft and his remains have never been accounted for.

The 256 page hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release set for March 31.

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MiniArt has announced a new addition to their line of 1/48 P-47 kits in the form of the P-47M (with dorsal fin).

The dorsal fin-equipped P-47M variant was a specialized late-WW2 modification of the P-47D bubbletop fighter, featuring a triangular fillet forward of the vertical stabilizer added to enhance directional stability after the redesigned rear fuselage caused yaw issues, as seen on later P-47D-40 models and retrofitted to some P-47Ms. Only about 130 P-47Ms were built, equipped with a high-output Pratt & Whitney R-2800-57(C) engine (2,800 hp with water injection) and improved turbo-supercharger for speeds up to 470-500 mph at altitude, optimized for intercepting V-1 buzz bombs and Me 262 jets while armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns.

The upcoming release is offered as a basic kit and will include two marking options. As of this writing a final release date has not been announced. Click below to check out additional images, including livery profiles.

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A Cessna 182 RG Skylane has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

1980 Cessna 182 RG, former police airplane, 1180lbs useful load, Avidyne 540 GPS, Avidyne ADSB- OUT transponder, Stec 55X autopilot, electric trim, 88gal tanks, 28v system, August annual (new spark plugs, new tires), compression over 70, TT8400, Engine 2400 SMOH, Logs starts from 1984, last year flew 200 hours, hours will change, I can deliver aircraft anywhere in US

The aircraft is located in Haines City, Florida and is currently available for US $130,000 although bids are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.

Coming soon from Pen & Sword and author Chris Goss is Royal Flying Corps In Combat: Rare Archive Images of Aerial Warfare Over the Western Front in WW1, which showcases an extraordinary collection of photos and stories of downed aircraft from the Western Front.

Each image tells the tale of the aviators behind them. For example, Second Lieutenant Gilbert Insall and Air Mechanic Thomas Donald, after their Vickers FB 5 Gunbus was damaged, made repairs under enemy fire and returned to base. They were shot down again weeks later, but Insall later escaped captivity and received the Victoria Cross. Chris Goss delves into the stories behind the crashes, even identifying enemy pilots who shot down some of the planes. The mysterious case of Second Lieutenant John Holtom’s DH 2, whose body was never recovered, remains unsolved. This book also reveals how many surviving pilots went on to have distinguished careers, including Montagu Chidson, who, after being captured in 1915, later rescued vital diamonds from Amsterdam in 1940 while serving with M.I.9. Royal Flying Corps in Combat is a captivating account of the aircraft, battles, and aviators of the First World War.

The 224 page, hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release set for Feb 28.

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Newly listed for sale is Spitfire Mk IXe SL633 (VH-RAF). The aircraft was restored by Historic Flying/Aircraft Restoration Company (ARCo) UK, circa 2007 – 2010 and has 134.9 hrs total time since restoration / 6.6 hrs since IRAN in 2024. It is powered by a RR Packard Merlin 266 with 28.1 hrs SMOH by Vintage V-12s / 6.6 hrs since IRAN 2024 by Vintage V-12s, CA, USA.

Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk. IXe. The identities of this particular aircraft have included: SL633 (British Royal Air Force), DU-K and JT-10 (Free Czechoslovak Air Force), 20-42 (Israeli Air Force), and UB-425 (Myanmar Air Force which was originally formed as the “Burmese Air Force”). It was one of the last Spitfires produced via the Vickers Supermarine plant at Castle Bromwich, England… During July of 2023, SL633 suffered minor damage during a landing, roll-out accident in Washington State, USA. The Spitfire was subsequently sold and exported to Australia, where an IRAN and return to Airworthiness was carried-out by its current owner. SL633 was then placed on the Australian CASA Register as VH-RAF and remains airworthy.

The aircraft is located in Brisbane, QLD, Australia and is available for GBP £2,950,000. Click here to check out the complete listing.

(Photo: Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons)

A 1975 Beechcraft C23 Sundowner has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

This 1975 Beechcraft C23 Sundowner 180 is a clean, well-maintained aircraft that is ideal for time building, flight training, or comfortable cross-country flying. Showing approximately 3,610 total airframe hours, this aircraft is powered by a reliable O-360 engine with approximately 1,720 hours since major overhaul and strong compressions, with no oil consumption issues. The propeller has approximately 755 hours since overhaul. This aircraft is equipped with an impressive avionics suite including dual G5 displays, Garmin G530W, GFC500 autopilot with VNAV, Flight Stream, GTX-345 with ADS-B In and Out, and an EDM930 primary engine monitor with highly accurate fuel flow. The interior, updated in 1990, remains in great condition with no rips or tears, while the exterior was painted in 2000 and presents well. The annual inspection was completed in October 2025, and the aircraft is currently flying approximately 3–5 hours per month. With a useful load of 887 pounds and seating for four, this Sundowner is a strong performer and an excellent addition to any flight club or private fleet.

The aircraft is located in Port Orange, FL and offers are acurrently being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.

Recently released by MMP and author Artur Juszczak is MiG-21 3rd Generation in the Polish Air Force.

The book presents 90 high-quality color profiles of third-generation MiG-21 variants, including the MF, M, and R models used by the Polish Air Force. It is an essential visual reference for aviation enthusiasts, historians, and scale modelers with a focus on accurate camouflage and markings. Additional features include detailed captions with each aircraft’s operational history, close-up views of the pilot’s personal emblems and bilingual English-Polish text.

The 48 page publication is now available in paperback format.

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Sword Models has announced that their new tool Short SB.6 Seamew model kit is almost ready.

The Short SB.6 Seamew was a British lightweight carrier-based anti-submarine aircraft developed by Shorts in the early 1950s to replace the FAA’s Avenger. It first flew on 23 August 1953 but suffered handling problems and shifting defense priorities, which led to limited production and ultimately cancellation after only a small number of airframes were built.

The upcoming 1/72 release (SW72157) is described as “quite large” and appears to include liveries for XE169 of HMS Warrior and XA123 of HMS Bulwark. The company states that they are completing the paperwork and starting to pack with release slated for sometime this month.

Click below to check out additional images.

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A 2019 Modified 7ECA Citabria with floats, wheels and skis has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

This 2019 modified 7ECA Citabria experiential aircraft is a highly versatile and well-equipped platform designed for exceptional performance on wheels, skis, and floats. It features a durable metal wing spar with a cuffed leading edge that delivers very low-speed handling and a gentle, predictable stall, along with gull wing doors on each side to accommodate float operations with ease. Powered by a reliable 125 HP Lycoming O-290 engine, this aircraft is covered in Stewart Systems fabric installed in 2019 and has always been kept in a hangar, reflecting excellent care and preservation. It is equipped with wheels, skis, and PK1800 FAA-certified floats with dual rudders, providing true year-round operational capability. Avionics include a Garmin 396 NAV unit, and the aircraft also comes with a King KT78 transponder, tray, digitizer, and Sky Beacon ADS-B Out system (not installed). Complete builder logs and photos are included, and the most recent annual condition inspection was completed in May 2025, making this Modified Citabria a well-documented, adventure-ready aircraft ideal for backcountry and recreational flying.

The aircraft is located in Whitefield, NH and offers are currently being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.

New from Aeronaut Books is Russian Aircraft of WWI by noted aviation historian Viktor Kulikov.

The book covers all aircraft of Russian design and all aircraft of foreign design built under license in Russia. It includes more than 600 photos and drawings and scale drawings of 17 aircraft. In addition it has 17 color profiles.

The 422 page book is now available in paperback format.

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