The Hangar Rat

A potted history of the most versatile flying machine

The means of recognising different aircraft types, their role and who operate and build them.

The story of Westland Aircraft . Typical of companies at the time, licence building, designing their own, merging with others and totally reinventing themselves in a different area. Westland did that by diversifying into solely producing helicopters

History of possibly the most famous of British Aircraft manufacturers Avro. Makers of the Lancaster and Vulcan bombers

The Famous Bristol Aircraft Company, that created designs such as the Blenheim, Beaufort, and Beaufighter, made cars, and engines that would go on and power Concorde. They designed and made aircraft used in the testing of characteristics for high speed/supersonic flight - crucial for Concorde's development

One of Britian's biggest engineering companies that moved into aviation at the start. Continued and developed many famous aircraft including the world's first turbo prop- the Vickers Viscount and the fastest Sub Sonic airliner of its day - the Vickers VC10.

Possible the most innovative, but certainly designer of he most graceful aircraft and the iconic aircraft like the Mosquito - 'The Wooden Wonder', and the World's first jet powered airliner, the Comet

History of one the most famous and successful names in aviation

First Episode in the history of British Aircraft Companies - starting with Sopwith Aviation. A successful but short lived company around the time of the First World War

What to expect when able to fly a plane - check list, walk round etc. What to do when airborne and when returning to or going to a different one

The principles behind fixed wing aircraft on how they get airborne, stay airborne and move around the skies plus how to get back down again. The effect of air and thrust

This episode shows how aircraft have evolved and developed in the last century and gives a glimpse into what could possibly could be expected in the future

The advancement in speed and comfort. The latter was more for passengers but pilot comfort also improved.

Development of aviation into a machine of war

Women and Airships. Elegance and grace in the air in the heyday of aviation pioneers and adventurers

Different forms of power and the Wright Brothers first flight

Aviation history - from Greek Mythology to 19th Century

Revised Introduction to The Hangar Rat podcast. What you can expect in the upcoming episodes: It is intended to cover the history of aviation, history of famous aircraft manufacturers (primarily British), famous collaborations, and other areas of aviation. The Wright brothers are mentioned (as it would not be the aviation world we know without their contribution) There will be n episode on how and aircraft flies (fixed wing). Helicopters are more complex and not so easy to describe in audio! This podcast will hopefully inspire and help people understand the world of aviation. Any questions, feel free to email me at: thehangarrat@gmail.com