SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy, was a joint program by NASA and the German Space Agency at DLR which put a 2.5m reflecting telescope in the back of an ex-Pan Am Beoing 747SP. Dr Dörte Mehlert, head of education and public relations at the German SOFIA Institute (DSI), joins us to take us through the incredible discoveries SOFIA made. ★NASA's SOFIA Mission Page: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/sofia ★Deutsches SOFIA Institut (DSI) Mission Page: https://www.dsi.uni-stuttgart.de/en/ ★NASA/IPAC SOFIA Media Portal: https://irsa.ipac.caltech.edu/data/SOFIA/docs/events ..read more

The oldest Boeing B-52 Stratoforetress in the world, 52-0003 "The High and Mighty One", has just been lovingly restored at the Pima Air and Space Museum and is now on public display once again. On our recent visit, Matt and aircraft designer Joe Wilding (who is also a fabulous Damcasteer on Patreon) were allowed to crawl around the aircraft and check out the time capsule that is the X-15 Mothership. Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum through the links below: ★Visit the Pima Air and Space Museum’s website here: https://pimaair.org/ ★Learn more about the Titan Missile Museum her ..read more

On the 80th Anniversary of the last major RAF Bomber Command attack on Aachen (11/12 April 1944), Dr Philip Blood returns to discuss the raid that lasted all of 7 minutes. For those on the ground, it would be seven minutes in hell. Phil takes us through the raid and the implications of the orders for it, as well as the wider context that has become a major part of his new book, War Comes to Aachen. ★Follow Phil on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/HistorianBlood ★Phil's Academea.edu page with his thesis, papers and reviews can be found here: https://philipwblood.academia.edu/ ★Pre-order War ..read more

Convair's B-36 Peacemaker was intended as an intercontinental bomber and was the size of a small continent. Join us for this bonus episode as the Pima Air and Space Museum's CEO, Scott Marchand, as he tells us the tale behind the museum's monstrous B-36J 52-2827 “City of Fort Worth”. Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum through the links below: ★Visit the Pima Air and Space Museum’s website here: https://pimaair.org/ ★Learn more about the Titan Missile Museum here: https://titanmissilemuseum.org/ ★Find out who is in the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame here: https://pimaair.org/abou ..read more

We return to the 390th Bomb Group Memorial Museum to tour their Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 'I'll Be Around' with the museum's Business and Operation Manager Alex Chambers and Executive Director Bill Buckingham. While this B-17 didn't see combat, her service history makes her a unique survivor. We then head upstairs with Director of Archives and Collections Keith Cook to check out the museum's remarkable collection of original A-2 flying jackets from the men of the 390th Bomb Group. ★Be sure to check out the 390th Bomb Group Memorial Museum's website at: https://www.390th.org/ ★Become a Dam ..read more

This week, we explore the fascinating background of aircraft that have undergone restoration, rebuild, or are newly built, focusing on their representation in museums and the complexity of their historical authenticity. We highlight the stories of four specific aircraft in the museum's collection: the Bristol Bolingbroke, the Curtiss P-40E Warhawk, a P-51 Mustang, a Hawker Hurricane and a B-24J Liberator named 'Star of India.' With each aircraft, Pima's CEO Scott Marchand and Director of Collections Andrew Boehly explain the careful considerations behind the paint schemes and in representing t ..read more

Friend of the show Joe Wilding returns to discuss the first aircraft we worked on as an aircraft designer, the Adam A500. Conceived as a composite business aircraft, Joe takes us through the process that went into the design and the features, and issues, the aircraft faced. Images: Erik Johnson ★Follow Joe on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/joe_wilding ★Check out 909 Apparel's full range of great aviation-themed t-shirts, hoodies and more here: https://linktr.ee/909apparelco Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum through the links below: ★Visit the Pima Air and Space Museum’s we ..read more

Pima's Director of Collections, Andrew Boehly, takes us on an in-depth look at the Pima Air and Space Museum's vast collection and brings out some of the hidden gems of the Pima collection. Also, Boney realises he's been doing something silly... ★Check out 909 Apparel's full range of great aviation-themed t-shirts, hoodies and more here: https://linktr.ee/909apparelco Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum through the links below: ★Visit the Pima Air and Space Museum’s website here: https://pimaair.org/ ★Learn more about the Titan Missle Museum here: https://titanmissilemuseum.org ..read more

The Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor was a savage airliner. Kurt Tank's elegant design evolved from a luxurious civil aircraft into a feared maritime reconnaissance bomber and transport aircraft. Naval air historian Matthew Willis joins us to look at the operational life and legacy of the Condor. ★Buy Matt's book, Eagles of the Luftwaffe: Focke-Wulf Fw 200, at The Damcasters Bookshop. 10% of each sale goes to supporting the podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11015/9781911658658 ★Follow Matt on BlueSky here: https://bsky.app/profile/navalairhistory.bsky.social ★Visit Matt's website at: https://navalai ..read more

Welcome to the SPOILER FREE Damcasters review of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hank's new Apple TV+ war series, Masters of the Air. In this review, Boney looks at the first two episodes, out on the 26th January, and his feelings about the series. Get subscribed for episode deep dives each week! Many thanks to the Apple TV UK Press Team for all their help. ★ Sign up for Apple TV+ here or via the app: https://tv.apple.com/ ★Check out 909 Apparel's full range of great aviation-themed t-shirts, hoodies and more here: https://linktr.ee/909apparelco ★Become a Damcasteer today on Patreon! Join from just ..read more