Royal Aeronautical Society Collection Gallery

RAF flying boats over Felixstowe in June 1935 on their ?

RAF flying boats over Felixstowe in June 1935 on their way to a fly-past at the RAF Display at Hendon. Clockwise from left: the first prototype Supermarine Stranraer, K3973; Short S14 Sarafand, S1589; Short S19 Singapore III, K4577; the first prototype Saunders-Roe A27 London, K3560; and Short S18 Knuckleduster, K3574. Date: 1935

© The Royal Aeronautical Society (National Aerospace Library)/Mary Evans Picture Library

Astronaut Virgil ?Gus? Grissom in the chow line at the ?

Astronaut Virgil ?Gus? Grissom in the chow line at the Grand Bahama Island tracking station, the day after his sub-orbital flight, which had reached an altitude of 118 miles, and immediately prior to returning to Cape Canaveral, 22 July 1961. Behind him are fellow astronauts John Glenn, his alternate pilot, and Walter Schirra. Date: 1961

© The Royal Aeronautical Society (National Aerospace Library)/Mary Evans Picture Library

Sempill British Aviation Mission to Japan, four planes

Advance Training Machines. William Francis Forbes-Sempill, 19th Lord Sempill AFC, AFRAeS (1893-1965) was a Scottish peer and record-breaking air pioneer who was later shown to have passed secret information to the Imperial Japanese military before the Second World War. In 1921, Sempill led an official military mission to Japan that showcased the latest British aircraft. In subsequent years he continued to aid the Imperial Japanese Navy in developing its Navy Air Service and began giving military secrets to the Japanese. Although his activities were uncovered by British Intelligence, Sempill was not prosecuted for spying and allowed to continue in public life. Seen here are a Gloster Sparrowhawk (centre foreground), a Blackburn Swift Mk.II (centre background), a Vickers Type 48 Viking IV (right) and a Supermarine Seagull Mk.II (left).
circa 1921

© The Royal Aeronautical Society (National Aerospace Library)/Mary Evans Picture Library