Aviation

American aviator Bessie Coleman pictured in c1922, around the time she made her debut flight. Her astonishing aerial stunts would earn her the monikers ‘Queen Bess’ and ‘Brave Bessie’ (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Bessie Coleman: a boundary-breaking pilot who fought for her dream

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Pod Sally Smith WL

Pioneering women pilots: from ballooning spectacles to flying escapades . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A drawing depicting a German monoplane dropping bombs on Paris during the First World War

First World War

Creating fake Paris: how one man built a mock city to fool WW1 German bombers

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Pod Paul Beaver WL

War in the air: everything you wanted to know . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The first controlled, powered and sustained human flight on 17 December 1903 by the Wright Brothers. (Photo by Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Flying into history: the Wright Brothers’ Flyer and the world’s first flight

Stuka dive bombers fly in formation over France in May 1940

Second World War

The making and breaking of the Luftwaffe

A Hawker Hurricane of Fighter Command on its way to intercept German bombers as they crossed the south coast of England during the Battle of Britain, 1940. (Photo by Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images)

Second World War

6 Battle of Britain myths

Da Vinci's sketch 'The Vitruvian Man'. Da Vinci's talents ranged from anatomy to military engineering, and many of his innovations were not explored further for several centuries. (Photo by: Photo12/UIG via Getty Images)

Your guide to Leonardo da Vinci: his life, inventions and milestones in his career

Spitfires under construction at the Vickers Supermarine works in Southampton, around 1940

Second World War

The difficult birth of the Spitfire – and how the WW2 fighter almost missed the battle of Britain

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Ed Caesar on the HistoryExtra podcast.

An extraordinary Everest adventure . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Rowland White explores the Falklands War through the story of the Sea Harrier jump jet. (Image by Getty Images)

The Falklands War in the air . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

London burns behind Tower Bridge on 7 September 1940

Second World War

Days of destiny: 5 key dates in the Battle of Britain

A Hawker Hurricane in flight over Britain

Second World War

Your guide to the Battle of Britain: how the RAF turned back the Luftwaffe

German Heinkel HE-111 bombers fly over Britain during a mission in September 1940

Second World War

8 reasons why the Luftwaffe didn’t stand a chance of beating the RAF in the Battle of Britain

A group of fighter pilots of No. 32 Squadron relax beside their Hawker Hurricane Mk I fighters at RAF Hawkinge in July 1940

Second World War

The Few: who exactly were the heroes of the Battle of Britain?