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The Battle of the Beams with Tom Whipple
The invisible radar war that took place over Europe is often misunderstood. While the RAF's integrated defence system, which had radar at its heart, has entered the mythos, the German side of the tale has not often been told. Along with advances in radio navigation, which would prove vital for winning or losing the air war, the electronic sphere was as closely fought as any battle. Tom Whipple, the science editor of The Times, joins us to talk about the remarkable R.V. Jones and The Battle of the Beams.
- Buy Tom's book, The Battle of the Beams: The secret science of radar that turned the tide of the Second World War, from The Damcasters Bookshop. 10% of each purchase supports the pod: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11015/9781787634138
- Follow Tom on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/whippletom
- The Times Science pages can be found here: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/topic/science?page=1
- You can grab a copy of R.V. Jones' Most Secret War from The Damcasters Bookshop. 10% of each purchase supports the pod: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11015/9780141042824
Please check out our sponsor, 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/
- Find out who is in the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame here: https://pimaair.org/about-us/arizona-aviation-hall-of-fame/
- Want to know how the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum is progressing? Find out more here: https://www.tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/
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122. Remastering Gemini and Mercury with Andy Saunders
48:31||Ep. 122Best-selling author and imaging specialist Andy Saunders follows up his remarkable Apollo Remastered with Gemini and Mercury Remastered. Gemini was NASA's highly ambitious 20-month sprint to prove that they could get to the moon in time to meet President John F. Kennedy's challenge.Andy's remastering of the first space photography allows us to see our world the way NASA's Mount Rushmore of astronauts did 60 years ago.Buy Gemini and Mercury Remastered by Andy Saunders through our Bookshop.org affiliate links. 10% of each purchase supports the show:UK Link: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11015/9780241638194US Link: https://bookshop.org/a/111804/9780762488346Visit Andy's website to find out more about the upcoming events and buy prints of the remastered images: apolloremastered.comFind out more about The Moonwalkers with Tom Hanks here: https://lightroom.uk/whats-on/the-moonwalkers/-----------------------------------------------------🛫 Join us on Patreon! Join from just £3 + VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt, and receive a personalised welcome pack. Click here for more info: https://www.patreon.com/theaviationshow-----------------------------------------------------✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials!Website: https://pimaair.org/https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpacehttps://www.instagram.com/pimaairhttps://x.com/pimaairhttps://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseumCheck out the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum here: https://www.tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/-----------------------------------------------------The Aviation Show © 2025 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International-----------------------------------------------------0:00 Introduction1:28 The Journey to Gemini Remastered4:24 The Holy Grail of Film9:30 The Evolution of Space Photography11:25 The Impact of Gemini Missions17:31 The Magic of Ed White's Image23:37 The Role of Photography in Space31:33 The Art of Stacking Images37:31 Feedback from the Astronauts43:01 NASA's Reception of the Books45:57 Wrap Up
121. Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon with Jeffrey Kluger
48:23||Ep. 121Over the course of 20 months, NASA flew 10 vital Project Gemini missions that proved everything needed to get to the Moon in time to meet President John F. Kennedy's challenge. Apollo 13 co-author Jeffrey Kluger joins us to discuss the unprecedented sprint that was Project Gemini.Buy Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon - The Untold Story by Jeffrey Kluger via our US Bookshop.org or on Amazon below:Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/111804/9781250323002Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/gWo00sl-----------------------------------------------------🛫 Join us on Patreon! Join from just £3 + VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt, and receive a personalised welcome pack. Click here for more info: https://www.patreon.com/theaviationshow-----------------------------------------------------✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials!Website: https://pimaair.org/https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpacehttps://www.instagram.com/pimaairhttps://x.com/pimaairhttps://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseumCheck out the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum here: https://www.tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/-----------------------------------------------------The Aviation Show © 2025 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International-----------------------------------------------------0:00 The Bold Journey of Project Gemini3:35 Uncovering the Forgotten Missions6:28 The Challenge of Moon Landing14:42 Crafting the Gemini Spacecraft25:44 The Legendary Astronauts34:22 Buzz Aldrin's Remarkable Contributions38:51 The Apollo Connection41:12 Remembering Jim Lovell46:12 Wrap Up
120. Spacewoman Film Review: A Superb Space Documentary
17:39||Ep. 120Col. Eileen Collins, USAF Rtd., had a fantastic career before joining NASA. Her dream to go to space led her to become not only the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle but also the first woman to command a space mission. In Spacewoman, a new documentary directed by Hannah Berryman, Eileen's career and its impact on her family are brought to light through a series of very open interviews, resulting in a truly superb documentary.Spacewoman Website: https://spacewoman.film/Spacewoman Trailer: https://youtu.be/YnhqHdxNsgk?si=ZlGDFRTkVKBV8SVf-----------------------------------------------------✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials!Website: https://pimaair.org/https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpacehttps://www.instagram.com/pimaairhttps://x.com/pimaairhttps://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseumCheck out the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum here: https://www.tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/-----------------------------------------------------The Aviation Show © 2025 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International-----------------------------------------------------
119. British Jets of the 50s! - Part 2: Hunters, Swifts and Lightnings
35:25||Ep. 119In part two of our look at "The British Century Series" (not a thing), Joe Wilding and I continue iour look at the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum in West Sussex, England's collection and move onto the backbone of the RAF jet fighter force in the 1950s, the Supermarine Swift, English Electric Lightning and the incredible, wonderful and frankly perfect Hawker Hunter.Visit the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum website here: https://tangmere-museum.org.uk/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559899811674Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tangmeremilitaryaviation/X: https://twitter.com/museumtangmere-----------------------------------------------------🛫 Join us on Patreon! Join from just £3 + VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt, and receive a personalised welcome pack. Click here for more info: https://www.patreon.com/theaviationshow-----------------------------------------------------✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials!Website: https://pimaair.org/https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpacehttps://www.instagram.com/pimaairhttps://x.com/pimaairhttps://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseumCheck out the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum here: https://www.tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/-----------------------------------------------------The Aviation Show © 2025 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International-----------------------------------------------------0:00 Introduction1:25 Challenges of Early Jet Development5:57 The Evolution of the Hawker Hunter12:22 The Supermarine Swift14:47 Design Challenges of the Swift20:58 Comparing the Hunter and Swift23:33 The English Electric Lightning32:26 The Legacy of British Jet Design34:58 Conclusion and Farewell
118. British Jets of the 50s! Part 1 - Early Engines, Meteors and Vampires
39:12||Ep. 118When Joe Wilding and I first took a look at the US Air Force's Century Series 18 months ago, we always wanted to take a look at their British equivalent, and now we have! In part one of our look at "The British Century Series" (not a thing), Joe and I convened at the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum in West Sussex, England and had a look at some of the super unique aircraft in their collection, starting with jet engines, a record-setting Gloster Meteor and a de Havilland Vampire.Visit the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum website here: https://tangmere-museum.org.uk/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559899811674Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tangmeremilitaryaviation/X: https://twitter.com/museumtangmere-----------------------------------------------------🛫 Join us on Patreon! Join from just £3 + VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt, and receive a personalised welcome pack. Click here for more info: https://www.patreon.com/theaviationshow-----------------------------------------------------✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials!Website: https://pimaair.org/https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpacehttps://www.instagram.com/pimaairhttps://x.com/pimaairhttps://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseumCheck out the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum here: https://www.tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/-----------------------------------------------------The Aviation Show © 2025 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International-----------------------------------------------------00:00 Introduction01:10 Early Centrifugal Jet Engines13:20 The Gloster Meteor16:37 The de Havilland Vampire21:53 Visit the Pima Air and Space Museum!23:57 Axial Flow Jet Engines30:34 Britain's Economy Post War32:48 Swept Wings and Difficult Allies38:30 Part 2 Preview
117. Folland Gnat Jet Restoration at the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum
11:05||Ep. 117Our tour of the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum continues as we check out the progress on the restoration of the former Red Arrow support aircraft, Folland Gnat T.1 XR571, and the recently completed De Havilland Vampire T.11 XH313.Visit the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum website here: https://tangmere-museum.org.uk/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559899811674Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tangmeremilitaryaviation/X: https://twitter.com/museumtangmere-----------------------------------------------------🛫 Join us on Patreon! Join from just £3 + VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt, and receive a personalised welcome pack. Click here for more info: https://www.patreon.com/theaviationshow-----------------------------------------------------✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials!Website: https://pimaair.org/https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpacehttps://www.instagram.com/pimaairhttps://x.com/pimaairhttps://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseumCheck out the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum here: https://www.tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/-----------------------------------------------------The Aviation Show © 2025 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International-----------------------------------------------------
116. Tangmere Military Aviation Museum Tour
55:10||Ep. 116The Tangmere Military Aviation Museum is a gem of a museum located on a corner of the former RAF Tangmere, just outside Chichester, West Sussex. On a surprisingly sunny Sussex day, marketing manager Julian Bridle kindly showed us around some of the gems of the collection, including my favourite Hawker Hunter, the bright red 1953 air speed record-breaking F.3 WB188.Visit the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum website here: https://tangmere-museum.org.uk/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559899811674Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tangmeremilitaryaviation/X: https://twitter.com/museumtangmere-----------------------------------------------------🛫 Join us on Patreon! Join from just £3 + VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt, and receive a personalised welcome pack. Click here for more info: https://www.patreon.com/theaviationshow-----------------------------------------------------✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials!Website: https://pimaair.org/https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpacehttps://www.instagram.com/pimaairhttps://x.com/pimaairhttps://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseumCheck out the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum here: https://www.tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/-----------------------------------------------------The Aviation Show © 2025 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International-----------------------------------------------------
115. Poor Little Lambs: The Making of Black Sheep Squadron
36:33||Ep. 115Author Stephen Chapis, whose new book, Poor Little Lambs, The Baba Black Sheep Story, joins us to discuss the making and flying of NBC's short-lived 1976 TV Show, Black Sheep Squadron. Stephen shares his journey rediscovering the series and interviewing pilots to capture their thrilling experiences. As his book releases for the 49th anniversary of the show, he hopes to reignite interest in this storied piece of aviation history. "Poor Little Lambs" is now available for pre-order.📖Buy Poor Little Lambs: The Baa Baa Black Sheep Story here: https://shop.keypublishing.com/products/poor-little-lambs-the-baa-baa-black-sheep-story?_pos=1&_sid=95ec11406&_ss=rRead the Poor Little Lambs article that started it all here: https://vintageaviationnews.com/warbirds-news/poor-lambs-corsairs-baa-baa-blacksheep.html-----------------------------------------------------🛫 Join us on Patreon! Join from just £3 + VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt, and receive a personalised welcome pack. Click here for more info: https://www.patreon.com/theaviationshow-----------------------------------------------------✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials!Website: https://pimaair.org/https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpacehttps://www.instagram.com/pimaairhttps://x.com/pimaairhttps://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseumCheck out the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum here: https://www.tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/-----------------------------------------------------The Aviation Show © 2025 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International-----------------------------------------------------
114. Rolls-Royce Collection Tour at Aerospace Bristol
37:56||Ep. 114After many years out of the public's view, the Rolls-Royce Aerospace Collection has a brand new home at Aerospace Bristol and thanks to the fantastic team at the museum, we got to have a quick look around this historic collection of Bristol and Rolls-Royce aero engines.Visit the Aerospace Bristol website: https://aerospacebristol.org/https://www.facebook.com/aerospacebristol/https://twitter.com/BristolAerohttps://www.instagram.com/aerospacebristol/https://www.youtube.com/c/aerospacebristol-----------------------------------------------------🛫 Join us on Patreon! Join from just £3 + VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt, and receive a personalised welcome pack. Click here for more info: https://www.patreon.com/theaviationshow-----------------------------------------------------✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials!Website: https://pimaair.org/https://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpacehttps://www.instagram.com/pimaairhttps://x.com/pimaairhttps://www.youtube.com/c/PimaAirSpaceMuseumCheck out the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum here: https://www.tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/-----------------------------------------------------The Aviation Show © 2025 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International-----------------------------------------------------