James D Kightly

“You’re still here? It’s over! Go home! Go!” (See you elsewhere! - JDK)

@eamonhamilton bsky.app/profile/jdkigh…

@JDKightly Hey what’s your Bluesky account?

Just dropping by to share that Nigel Hitchman and I produced a report on the latest Warbirds Downunder airshow at Temora, NSW, Australia. Join us 'there' through the words and pics. (PS. You shouldn't be here, you should be somewhere healthier. Toodles.) vintageaviationnews.com/airshow-news/i…

@maz_jovanovich Here y'go... Bespoke by @JDKightly

@GHarward @ColinColbourn @jamesjhistory So this is a courtesy reply for a mate. You can find some of the 'behind the scenes' we're publishing on Masters of the Air here: vintageaviationnews.com/warbirds-news/… You can find me on Vintage Aero Writer JD Kightly elsewhere, in Facebook and as bsky.app/profile/jdkigh… . See you there!

@GHarward @ColinColbourn @jamesjhistory No. That's cinematic. 8th AF fighter tactics and strat is a huge topic, not done in one Tweet. This is a primary, albeit somewhat partisan, source. More out there. 306bg.us/library/SOP%20… [Note I'm not active on Twitter while the current owner enables bigotry and conspiracies.]

I'm rewatching #MastersOfTheAir on the TV (first time was on laptop) before my Apple TV subscription ends in a week or so. I'm looking forward to seeing what I spot on a second run through this impressive but very flawed WW2 miniseries. @FightingOnFilm

This Saturday, 17 February (starting Friday in the Americas!) @AvCulturesConf is hosting a FREE Spotlight event looking at #AviationArchaeology. Expert presentations from the UK, US, Aus & Hong Kong! Register here: aviationcultures.org/spotlight-avia…

My obituary for Geoff Goodall, 1947-2024, on @WarbirdsNews. Sad to report the loss of aviation fact compiler and raconteur, lovely gent, friend, and someone who laid a solid foundation for those of us keeping tabs on surviving historic aircraft. vintageaviationnews.com/warbirds-news/…

With the current owner enabling ignorance and bigotry over basic manners, and while what made Twitter a phenomenal multi-direction comms medium are crippled by the current failings, I'm putting my account into stasis. I can be found in other places inc where the skies are bluer.

I borrowed this book from the @velibrary for a quick summer read. It's a good brief overview that's well illustrated from the Qantas heritage collection.

@WW2Airfields Pity the Brigham Young Uni could't credit Terry Fincher, the actual photographer. A couple of good articles were published using those pics and that visit - one, an interview with Richard Riding, in Aeroplane Monthly (now @HistoryInTheAir).

And a couple more from the 1970s return.

James Stewart in 1975 standing near the control tower of Tibenham Air Force base / airfield in Norfolk from where he flew bombing raids during WW2. 🧵

@WW2Airfields Is that original colour? I thought all those photos from that visit (by Terry Fincher) were black and white.

Io Saturnalia! I cooked some Ancient Roman recipes for us and two friends so that we could celebrate Saturnalia with a mini feast. Lots of wonderfully strange and alien flavour combinations packed with the ever-present asafoetida and fish sauce. We had: 🧵

HIGHLY recommend @NavalAirHistory's Fw 200 book from @mortonsbooks on the Condor's war use, and pre-war story. Not expensive, and a tight (but better than Twitter-length) answer to this Q.

@BeaverWestminst @NavalAirHistory The bits I've read so far (from random opening the book) have been VERY interesting, so 'good so far'. I'm sure it'll live up to that promise and other reviews. [PS: You also have an email!]

@JDKightly @NavalAirHistory Let me know your verdict please

Arrived last week, both @NavalAirHistory’s magnum opus on the Focke Wulf Fw 200, and @BeaverWestminst’s book on Capt Eric Brown. As well as the books overlapping, their authors do too! Great reading in both so far.

@a30aew @eamonhamilton Previous senior female test pilot / engineering officer was of course Wing Commander Robyn (Clay) Williams. Mention because that are the giant's shoulders, and because her prev engineering exp often overwritten/out in the story. The fact she didn't go further is RAAF shortfall.

@eamonhamilton Eamon, I'm guessing, but haven't we had more female engineers than pilots make it beyond WGCDR ? Knowing of a handful, I believe 'yes'.

My brain is caught in a “but what about….?” loop and coming up completely blank

@a30aew I've now added a reference to Bill Whitney's contribution to the article.

@a30aew Yes. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._W._%22…

Excited to report on the restoration to flight of HARS Fokker Trimotor 'Southern Cross' replica this week. Great news for the weekend, on a 20 year epic rebuild. I've done full details here, plus a link to the original, preserved VH-USU in Brisbane too. vintageaviationnews.com/aircraft-resto…

@geoffrey_payne It's quite the thing, isn't it? I saw it at Avalon in 1992: vintageaviationnews.com/airshow-news/h…

@JDKightly saw that aircraft flying at Richmond '88, sounded terrific, love the sound of radials