Pilot Collection (page 2)

RAF Bomb-Aimer at his position; Second World War, 1943
Photograph showing a Royal Air Force bomb-aimer at his position with the bomb release cable ready in his right hand, November 1943

Boulton Paul Defiant fighter; Second World War, 1940

An A10 Thunderbolt II taxis down Bagram Air Field
February 24, 2009 - An A10 Thunderbolt II taxis down Bagram Air Field after logging the units 10, 000th combat flight hour during a mission

Royal Air Force Display Poster, Hendon, showing a pilot in flying gear, gesturing towards three biplanes in flight. 1934

Major James McCudden, Royal Flying Corps, WW1
Major James Thomas Byford McCudden (1895-1918), officer and pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. He received more medals for gallantry than any other British airman serving in

Baron Manfred von Richthofen, German air ace, WW1
Baron Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (1892-1918), also known as the Red Baron, legendary German fighter pilot during the First World War

Soviet Pe-2 bomber and pilot, 1944
Soviet Pe-2 bomber and pilot. The pilot, Grigory Pasynkov, held the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Photographed in December 1944, in the St Petersburg region of Russia

Yuri Gagarin, Soviet cosmonaut
Yuri Gagarin (1934-1968), soviet cosmonaut and first man in space. Gagarin made the first manned space flight on 12 April 1961

Airmail postcards at Gamages, London
People at Gamages in Holborn, Central London, addressing postcards and posting them in the special London Aerial Postbox, in time for the first aerial mail service from Hendon to Windsor

Richthofen and members of the Jagdstaffel
Captain Baron von Richthofen, German flying ace, responsible for bringing down 80 Allied planes during World War One, pictured here with members of Jagdstaffel 5 around a Fokker plane after his 62nd

The Flying Saucer Conspiracy, book cover
THE FLYING SAUCER CONSPIRACY, a book by Donald E Keyhoe. The cover shows two airline pilots sighting a flying saucer through their cockpit window

RAF Sea King Helicopter crew attend a mountain rescue incident in the Lake District UK
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

USA, North America, Minnesota
AT-6 airplane on the runway at Fleming Field

Aviator John Alcock 1919
Captain in the Royal Air Force, he was the pilot of the first direct transatlantic flight in June 1919 with navigator Arthur Whitten Brown

WW2 poster, Wings for Victory, Lets Go, National Savings. Date: circa 1944

British airman dropping a bomb by hand, WW1
A British airman dropping a bomb by hand, in midair, during the First World War. The message on the bomb reads: Hun, Bulgar, Share This Ration. Date: 1914-1918

Daily Herald photographer Ron Burton in the cockpit of a Folland Gnat aircraft of the RAF Aerobatics team the Red Arrows as he joins the team on a training flight over RAF Little Rissington

John Derry, Supermarine test pilot, at the 1947 Royal Aeronautical Society Garden Party at Radlett on 14 September. Date: 1947

Two Short Sunderlands rescuing crew, 1940
An artists impression of two Short Sunderlands rescuing the crew of the torpedoed merchant ship Kensington Court, 1940. On 18th September 1939 Kensington Court was stopped by U-32 with 13 shots of

Otto Lilienthal makes one of his last flights, 1896 (1956). Otto Lilienthal (1848-1896) German gliding pioneer and aeronautical inventor, flying one of his gliders

British pilot Captain Albert Ball posing with trophies from his 43rd victory, 1917. Captain Ball was one of Britains most prolific fighter aces of the First World War

Luke, Frank, Pilot and 2nd ranking US air ace in WW1

Cartoon, The Dropped Pilot, WW1
Cartoon, The Dropped Pilot, twenty-four years after Tenniel. In Tenniels Dropping the Pilot cartoon of 1890 Kaiser Wilhelm II watches as Bismarck disembarks from the ship (of state)

RAF Scramble
RAF fighter pilots run for their planes. (Photo by Reg Speller/Getty Images)

A lone Star Fighter pilot looks around the alien landscape after a crash landing
A lone Star Fighter pilot looks around the alien landscape, in which he was forced to make an emergency crash landing after his ship developed technical problems

Harrier Pilot Prepares for Takeoff
A digitally manipulated image of a Harrier pilots view as he prepares to take off from aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. This image was the winner of the Digital Imaging Award in the Royal Navys

WW2 poster, Teamwork -- Thanks Pal! Printed by DeHavilland of Canada Ltd for distribution in England. Date: circa 1942

Poster, aviation meeting in Nice, France
Poster advertising an aviation meeting in Nice, France, 10-25 April 1910. Design by Charles-Leonce Brosse (alias Bsor, Bzor). Date: 1910

RAFs new gyro gun sight by G. H. Davis
Details of the RAFs new gyro gun sight, which makes every fighter pilot an accurate marksman. By means of two simple adjustments in action

Cartoon, pilot flying green open-topped aeroplane among clouds and waving, his scarf rustling in wind, side view

Yuri Gagarin driving through London, UK
Yuri Gagarin (1934-1968), Soviet cosmonaut and first man in space, driving through London, UK, in an open-top car. Gagarin made the first manned space flight on 12 April 1961

Squadron Commander Edwin Harris Dunning landing his Sopwith Pup biplane on the HMS Furious
HMS FURIOUS LANDING, 1917. Squadron Commander Edwin Harris Dunning landing his Sopwith Pup biplane on the HMS Furious, the first plane ever to be landed on a moving ship, in Scapa Flow, Orkney

Amelia Earhart; Wilmer Stultz (r) and Louis Gordon
Amelia Earhart, centre; Wilmer Stultz, pilot, right; and Louis Gordon, co-pilot. Burry Port, Wales, after their non-stop flight from Newfoundland starting on 17 June 1928. Date: 1928

British RE8 biplane and pilot, WW1
A British Royal Aircraft Factory RE8 two-seater biplane with the pilot in the cockpit, used by the Royal Flying Corps for reconnaissance and bombing during the First World War

Sir Douglas Bader playing golf
Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader (1910-1982), RAF pilot during the Second World War despite having lost both legs in a crash in 1931

Adamski and Painting
Professor Adamski stands in front of a painting by Gay Betts depicting the Venusian space pilot he met in the Mojave Desert, California, 20 November 1952

Poster, Experienced Travellers Fly British - BOAC and BEA offer services to and from nearly 70 countries Date: circa 1955

World War II B25 bomber attacks Japanese ship
World War II vintage photograph - B25 bomber attacks Japanese ship in China Sea

The flight crew of a BOAC VC10 make preparations for landing at Khartoum airport, during a proving flight to Sudan 1st February 1964

Newspaper Story by Toby Neal in Shropshire Star 10 Octob?
Newspaper Story by Toby Neal in Shropshire Star 10 October 2006 Issue Page 8, Ernest Maund Early Aviator / Pilot from Craven Arms, Shropshire, UK

Cornu helicopter 1907
Cornu Helicopter of 1907 Unusual Design Date: 1907

Taking a ride over the Isle of Wight in an aeroplane
Taking a ride over the Isle of Wight in a two-seater aeroplane. The lady passenger is bereft of flying hat/helmet and goggles and obviously therefore enjoys the feeling of the wind in her hair

RAF lifeboats to the rescue
RAF motor boats rescuing a pilot who has crash landed at sea. The boats were built at the British Power Boats works at Southampton and with 100 h.p. engines, could travel at 26 miles per hour

Fokker Dr I with Pfalz D III in background
Fokker Dr I German fighter triplane with a Pfalz D III in the background. The Fokkers pilot prepares for takeoff, with a mechanic ready to swing the propeller and two more in attendance

An F-86 Sabre jet in flight over Glendale, Arizona

Vintage World War II poster of a fighter pilot climbing into his airplane. It reads, Keep him flying! Buy War Bonds

Henri Mignet sitting in a Le Pou-du-Ciel talking to S.W. Appleby, also a Flying Flea pilot, at the International Air Rally organised by the Cinque Ports Flying Club at Lympne Airport, Hythe, Kent

The first Hawk XX154 takes to the air for the first time
The first Hawk, XX154, takes to the air for the first time on 21 August 1974 with chief test pilot, Duncan Simpson, at the controls

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Pilot: Defying Gravity, Embracing Destiny" From the skies of history to the dreams of tomorrow, pilots have always been at the forefront of human ambition. Their courage and skill have shaped our world in ways unimaginable. Churchill's praise for RAF Pilots echoes through time as a testament to their unwavering dedication and heroism. In the face of adversity, they soared high, defending freedom with every flight. Elizabeth Bessie Coleman shattered barriers as she became the first African-American woman pilot. Her determination defied societal norms, inspiring generations to reach for the stars. Amelia Earhart, an iconic US aviation pioneer, fearlessly charted new horizons and proved that women could conquer any sky-bound challenge. Her legacy continues to inspire countless dreamers around the globe. The Ford V8 Pilot 1954 Green light symbolized not only automotive innovation but also represented a spirit of adventure that resonated with pilots worldwide. It was a beacon calling them towards endless possibilities in uncharted territories. Flying Officer W E Johns immortalized aviators' bravery through his captivating Biggles stories in Modern Boy magazine. His tales ignited young imaginations and instilled a sense of wonder about aviation's limitless potential. A wartime poster bearing Churchill's famous words "Never was so much owed by so many to so few" encapsulated gratitude towards those who defended nations from above during World War II—a reminder that heroes don't always wear capes; sometimes they wear wings. The Bismarck dropping its pilot serves as a poignant metaphor for letting go of old limitations and embracing new beginnings—an allegory mirrored by pilots who constantly push boundaries both within themselves and their aircrafts. Amy Johnson blazed trails as an English pilot whose pioneering spirit knew no bounds. With each flight she took, she challenged gender stereotypes while leaving an indelible mark on aviation history.