The naval fighters of Sopwith and Hawker will take center stage in author Christopher Budgen’s upcoming book Hawker’s Naval Fighters: Camel to Sea Harrier, released by Pen & Sword.

In 1912, TOM Sopwith transitioned from running a flying school to manufacturing aircraft, leveraging his nautical interests to create designs purchased by Britain’s Royal Navy. The onset of the First World War solidified the Sopwith Aviation Company’s reputation with aircraft like the Sopwith Camel widely used onboard the ships of the day. After the war, cancellations of government orders forced Sopwith Aviation into liquidation, However, a new company, the HG Hawker Engineering Company, was quickly formed, having been named after Sopwith’s test pilot, Harry Hawker. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Hawker produced designs that continued to be purchased by the Royal Navy, being used on the early aircraft carriers as well as the larger vessels of the fleet. With the outbreak of the Second World War, the RN’s Fleet Air Arm found itself woefully unprepared for battle, having mainly biplanes and slow monoplanes with which to face the modern German fighters and bombers. As a temporary solution, Hawker adapted the Hurricane into the Sea Hurricane. Hawker later developed advanced piston-engine fighters like the Fury and its naval counterpart, the Sea Fury, which saw action during the Korean War and Suez Crisis in 1956. The Sea Fury was succeeded by Hawker’s first jet, the Sea Hawk, marking the Fleet Air Arm’s transition into the jet age. The Sea Hawk also served the Indian Navy during its conflicts with Pakistan. Hawker’s successful Hunter, although primarily for the RAF, was used by the Royal Navy for land-based operations. Meanwhile, Hawker’s next design, the ground breaking Harrier, was ordered as the Sea Harrier; it saw action during the Falklands War, and, in due course, in the conflict in the former Yugoslavia and in Iraq. From its earliest days then, the Hawker Aircraft Company has supplied winning designs to the Royal Navy and to many navies overseas, a feat that few other companies could match.

The 232 Page hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release scheduled for April 30.

Product Page

ICM has provided us with the first glimpse of the kit contents for their upcoming HP.52 Hampden B.Mk.I model kit in 1/48 scale.

As previously reported, this new offering (48353) is based on ICM’s recently released, new tool new tool HP.52 Hampden B.Mk.I (48352) . The HP.52 Hampden B.Mk.I was the standard medium bomber version, designed primarily for high‑speed level bombing with an internal bay carrying up to 4,000 lb of bombs, whereas the TB.Mk.I was a later conversion optimized for the torpedo‑bomber role, configured to carry a single 18‑inch torpedo internally plus typically two 500 lb bombs under the wings.

The new kit offers the TB.Mk.I’s modified lower gun position and redesigned lower fuselage section. Additional features include a Mk.XII torpedo with trolley, four marking options and rivet detail on the fuselage, wings and tail. Click below to check out additional images.

[continue reading…]

A 1952 Beechcraft C35 Bonanza has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

1952 Beechcraft C35 Bonanza in Ohio at the Lorain County Regional Airport, N1993D. In Hangar with full log books. The 1952 Beechcraft C35 Bonanza is a classic V-tail, all-metal, four-place aircraft known for its performance and iconic design, powered by a 205hp Continental E-185-11 engine, featuring retractable landing gear, and offering good visibility and speed for its era, though requiring diligent maintenance due to its age and magnesium components. Key features include its distinctive V-tail (ruddervators), single throw-over control yoke, and a relatively simple fuel system. The last flight was 1993, inspection 1995 but still more repairs until 2012. MRK Aviation available for inspection assistance

The aircraft is currently available for US $30,000 although offers are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos.

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.

Product Page

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.

[continue reading…]

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.

Product Page

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.

Product Page