As we continue our focus on features across aerospace, let’s take a look at the hovercraft, which brings up the question of ‘where exactly does it fit in?’ To help us answer that question we are joined by Ben Avery. Ben is the Chief Pilot at Griffon Hoverwork and a Trustee and Head of Operations at The Hovercraft Museum. Recorded 13th June 2023 Link Tree https://linktr.ee/aviationxtended Contact Us: [email protected] Ben Avery  ...

Find out in this episode with Kerry Bennett why the sky is NOT the limit. Dream big, work hard and take risks and you can achieve your dreams and goals.    Kerry Bennett is a mother, pilot and STEM Ambassador. With a career that already spans the RAF with over 100 missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, through to flying Airbus airliners for British Airway, Kerry is also an ESA astronaut candidate.     Donating her time and energy to over 100 school visits and Kerry has presented to over 20,000...

Artyom Liss is a UK qualified general aviation pilot and was host of the fabulous aviation podcast 'Two Thousand Feet'. In this episode we find out what it is like to deliver Piper PA32 Saratoga SP N505WC from the UK to Lithuania, the challenges, adventures, and experiences of this fabulous cross-country flight.  Recorded 5th June 2023  Link Tree https://linktr.ee/aviationxtended Contact Us: [email protected] Artyom Liss   Instagram...

Rachel Ramsay is a UK qualified private pilot, with licences to fly helicopters, small planes and motor gliders. Rachel has a fabulous flying and travel blog and we wanted to find out about; multi-licence flying, writing for both a blog and an aviation publication and issues like…. favourite hotel to fly to and what does it take to fly down the River Thames in Central London? Recorded 15th May 2023  Link Tree https://linktr.ee/aviationxtended Contact...

Graeme Rendall has appeared several times on Xtended to talk about such diverse topics as Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon and the history of RAF Morpeth. On both occasions these episodes proved popular and we teased you with mention of a plane spotting trip Graeme made to Russia in 1992, just six months after the fall of the iron curtain; a trip that even until today has never been repeated. Graeme is back to tell us all about the journey recorded in his book “To The Ends Of The Earth: A...

Only 54 examples of the iconic and much-adored Vickers VC10 were built, yet it went on to become an innovator and market changer for international long-haul travel. Great British technology and its suitability for multiple roles lead it to have an extended life with the RAF as an airlifter and tanker.   In this feature we talk to Jelle Hieminga, an expert on the VC10, and webmaster for the highly entertaining and detailed web portal and encyclopedia for the VC10 – VC10.net   Recorded 25th...

With the UK leading aerospace company Reaction Engines now leading the way in technology application from space rockets to Formula 1 and into today’s market for sustainable flight, we have an exclusive opportunity to speak to Mark Thomas, Reaction Engines Chief Executive Officer, about the company, its products and it’s exciting future innovations. Reaction Engines are a privately held technology Company pioneering space access and sustainable technologies. For over 30 years they have been...

Chris Taylor has had a successful career as a Royal Navy officer, helicopter pilot, test pilot, instructor and as an internationally acclaimed civil certification test pilot. His latest book ‘Experimental Test Pilot: Military Aircraft Research Flying’ (published on April 29th 2023) is his account of his ten years’ service as an experimental test pilot, at MoD Boscombe Down, the UK’s tri-Service home of military aircraft testing and evaluation. Also known as the Empire Test Pilot...

‘Confessions of a Flying Instructor: Teaching the RAF’s Fighter Pilots’ is Tug Wilson’s second book and he joins us to discuss the time in his career teaching new fighter pilots. As always, Tug is great company with Gareth in this sometimes hilarious, and at other times frightening, story of his time as a flight instructor. Tug Wilson grew up in North Yorkshire and in 1985, his dream came true when he joined the RAF. He was selected to fly the mighty Phantom for his first tour. After raging...

On our Journalist’s Roundtable discussion in Ep.161 (Trust Me I’m an Aviation Journalist), Rich Cooper mentioned the visit to a North Korea Airshow. We wanted to find out more and Rich introduced us to author and photographer, Gerry Manning, who was there. Gerry joins us to share the experience and we talk airliners and fighter jets as well as helicopters, cargo lifters and microlights. All sourced from behind the ‘iron curtain’! We also explore the food, culture and history of North Korea,...

In the second part of our feature Sree (KS Nair) talks to us about IAF Training, aircraft types and ground attack tactics. We expose some of the challenges around motivation as well as culture and work through the quote from many at the time that “The Indian Air Force was an experiment that was never meant to succeed”. K.S. NAIR is the son and son-in-law of Indian Air Force officers. He is a graduate of IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore, and a former director and CEO of multinational consulting...

The air war in India and Burma (World War Two) has not received the focus it deserves. In this episode we talk to author K.S. Nair (Sree) to look at this area of conflict, the contribution made to the allied efforts in both WW1 and WW2, as well as the evolution and early operations of the Indian Air Force. K.S. Nair is the son and son-in-law of Indian Air Force officers. He is a graduate of IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore, and a former director and CEO of multinational consulting firms. But,...

The story of China is space is not one widely known nor properly understood in Western corridors, although China of course has been launching rockets for almost a thousand years. In this episode we welcome back author and Chinese space expert Brian Harvey to help us address that. In 2019, China astonished the world by landing a spacecraft and rover on the far side of the Moon, something never achieved by any country before. China had already become a leading spacefaring nation alongside the...

Cranfield Aerospace Solutions’ (CAeS) is an established aerospace business of over 33 years, with 100+ staff and is one of very few aerospace SMEs globally to have both whole aircraft concept design capability and to hold a range of regulatory approvals for the design and manufacture of modifications to existing aircraft. CAeS is based at Cranfield Airport, Bedfordshire, UK where the company has access to some of the UK’s most advanced aviation test and research facilities. Phase 1 of their...

Few aircraft encompass as many contradictions as the Fairey Swordfish – the legendary ‘Stringbag’ naval torpedo bomber which was approaching antiquation at the start of the second world war yet struck mortal blows against some of the most powerful battleships in the Axis fleets. We are joined by Naval Air Historian Matt Willis to discuss many of the lesser known aspects of the aircraft and its real impact on World War Two Fleet Air Arm operations. Matt’s book is available through our...

Mike Bannister joins us to talk about Concorde and his career flying the supersonic airliner. He became the youngest pilot on the Concorde fleet in 1977, was appointed the airline’s Chief Concorde Pilot in 1995 and regularly flew as Captain on all of the aircraft’s routes worldwide. He was at the controls when the British Airways’ Supersonic Flagship returned to service in November 2001, and commanded and flew the final Concorde commercial flight from New York to London on October 24th 2004....

Our latest roundtable discussion focusses on aviation journalism and to better help us understand the challenges and ups and downs of writing a good article are the journalistic legends that are Tim Robinson, Steve Bridgewater and Rich Cooper. Enjoy hearing their techniques, challenges and unusual stories! Recorded 7th December 2022 Find everything Xtended on our Link Tree https://linktr.ee/aviationxtended Contact Us: [email protected] Rich Cooper Twitter...

Consider for a moment repairing and loading aircraft at -30 degrees with no cover, flying in thick cloud through heavy flak and snow with no idea if you might get through or even deliver your precious cargo.  Robert Forsyth talks us through the Luftwaffe’s Stalingrad Airlift, a less well-known event in the tragic Stalingrad story. He brings to life the challenges, horror and heroism of the pilots and crews who tried to save those trapped in the ‘pocket’. His new book is published by Osprey...

We are joined by Brian Harvey and Gurbir Singh authors of the book The Atlas of Space Rocket Launch Sites. The book is the first of its kind: An atlas of all major sites where space rockets have been launched since the World’s first Sputnik in 1958. But it also covers some historic sites, and we get to discuss these and others, as well as where launch sites are built, how they are laid out and some lesser known locations in the world for launching rockets. XTENDED BOOKSTORE The Atlas of...

Dr Steve Bond joins us to talk about the helicopter in Fleet Air Arm service through the stories in his third book in the series of Fleet Air Arm Boys: Helicopters – True Tales from Royal Navy Men and Women Air and Ground Crew. We talk through the history of rotorcraft in Fleet Air Arm service and their impact on operational performance. Fleet Air Arm Boys Volume Three: Helicopters – True Tales From royal Navy Men and Women Air and Ground Crew buy it here:...

This is Volume 1 of 'The Debrief', a new Xtended feature where we bring aviation people together to tell stories and share memories. Our first guests are former Tornado pilot Mike Napier and former Phantom pilot Tug Wilson. Join us as they discuss operating fast jets in RAF Germany and beyond during the Cold War. Please note - this episode contains some adult language. Recorded 4th November 2022 Find everything Xtended on our Link Tree https://linktr.ee/aviationxtended Contact Us:...

Stephen Walker is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and his films have won BAFTAs, an Emmy, Royal Television Society awards and the Rose d’Or. Today we talk to Stephen about his award-winning book ‘Beyond; The Astonishing Story of the First Human to Leave Our Planet and Journey into Space’. ‘Beyond….’ relates how the Soviet Union beat the USA to put the first human into space. XTENDED BOOKSTORE ‘Beyond’ buy it here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11161/9780008372507 Recorded 14th October...

Graeme Rendall returns to tell us the story behind the airfield at RAF Morpeth.  In World War Two, RAF Morpeth was extremely important to Bomber and Coastal Commands, as the station was home to an Air Gunners School which trained airmen how to shoot effectively whilst in mid-air. Trained gunners were constantly in demand and often in short supply. Many of the pilots of the training aircraft based at Morpeth were from other Allied nations and Graeme gives us a really interesting view of...

Ellie hosts our first round-table discussion on the health of the general aviation sector as it recovers from lockdown.  Our guests on the panel are CFI Charlotte Dadswell, PPL Holder Charlotte Rositter and Eire PPL holder and Medical Examiner Kieran Murphy. They discuss the health of the sector, how are new entrants and training being delivered and how easy it is these days to be a general aviation pilot. Recorded 27th September 2022

Please note, some parts of this episode include discussion about mental health and wellbeing issues. If you feel you may need to reach out for support in the UK: For Veterans: Combat Stress 24/7 0800 138 1619 and if calling is too difficult text 07537 173683 For everyone: Samaritans 24/7 Helpline 116 123 We are joined by Liz McConaghy. Liz is from a small town in County Down and spent a total of seventeen years flying with the RAF’s Chinook Force. Aged just 21, she was the youngest...