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BluFly 🛩

@blufly.media
2.4K followers 1.2K following 4.9K posts

A humans-in-the-loop feed for the aviation community. If made by people and flying between the surface and the Kármán Line you'll find it on BluFly. Read the current issue at blufly.media/2026/09. (📸 El 43 Grupo de Fuerzas Aéreas)

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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 18h
An excellent story by UNR alumnus Luke Merlino writing for Nevada Today, the official newspaper of @unevadareno.bsky.social. Here at the home office, we're big fans of RC modelling—given it comes remarkably close to flying the real thing—and we think everybody wins in this one. | 🛩️ 📡 🥇
unr.edu
Adults with disabilities learn to fly radio-controlled airplanes
Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities staff design accessible radio controllers for adults with disabilities
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 23h
We wrap up the month by taking a first-hand peek at what's going on at the western perimeter of Wheatland County in Southern Alberta. De Havilland Field is finally beginning to take shape. And with that, while it may be hard to believe, it all starts again tomorrow with our October issue. | 🛩️
blufly.media
BluFly 🛩️ | September, 2026 | Ground-Truthing the Future
« We made our way around to what I assume will one day be the main entrance and there was the confirmation I sought. … »
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 29/09/2026
Sounds like it was a wonderful trip with wonderful weather to go with it. 👊🏻
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 28/09/2026
That is extremely cool. 🙌🏻 Thanks for adding that to the thread; it is much appreciated.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 28/09/2026
For extra credit, in seemingly a nod to a past marketing collaboration, see if you can spot what appears to be the highly specialised Rimowa luggage making an appearance in the new Junkers video. (📸 Alan Wilson via Wikimedia under CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped.) | 🛩️ | 🔗 rimowa.com | 🧵
A seemingly antique, grey-coloured, low-wing monoplane flies from right to left in a 'gin clear', cloudless blue sky. On the side of the fuselage is the registration «HB-RIM». ℹ️ The camera is positioned slightly below and slightly ahead of the aircraft. It appears to be made of corrugated metal on all surfaces. It has a radial engine and conventional landing gear of 'taildragger' configuration. The pilots' cockpit has a roof but is not entirely enclosed — it is open to the elements. The pilot pictured in the left pilot seat is wearing a flying helmet and headset. The pilot also provides a sense of scale for the aircraft, which would be large enough to have an enclosed passenger compartment of unknown size. There is dark blue trim paint on the fuselage forward of the cockpit. The word «JUNKERS» is painted on the side of the cowl in white script and forward of the cockpit. Aft of the registration is the flag of Switzerland. The registration is also painted on the lower surface of the left wing of the aircraft, the one closest to the camera position. The Junkers logo, in light blue, is painted on the vertical stabiliser. Original caption from source: «c/n 13-001 Built 2016 Registered to DIMOR Aero (Suisse) GmbH. Seen displaying at the 2019 Fête Aérienne Le Temps Des hélices (Aerial Festival – The Time of the Propellers). Aérodrome de Cerny-La-Ferté-Alais, Cerny, France [on] 9th June, 2019»
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 28/09/2026
In addition to the bronze-coloured Junkers A50 Heritage 'Venezia' edition, the other star of the video is the Aeroporto Nicelli on the Venice Lido, with its Art Deco architecture and sumptuous grass runway. Yet another spot to visit someday. (📸 Nicelli S.R.L.) | 🛩️ 📍 🇮🇹 | 🔗 aeroportonicelli.com | 🧵
An aerial view of Venice's Aeroporto Nicelli and its grass runway. It's located at the end of a peninsula set in an azure-blue ocean.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 28/09/2026
Here's the article from the @vanityfairitalia.bsky.social which covers the event in a suitably fashionista fashion. For those not fluent in Italian, not to worry: the article speaks the international language. | 🛩️ | 🧵
vanityfair.it
Una notte al Nicelli: il party di Vanity Fair e Junkers durante la Mostra del Cinema di Venezia
Al Lido, Vanity Fair Italia e Junkers Aircraft hanno celebrato il volo con The Fly Experience, una serata tra musica, installazioni immersive e due A50 Heritage
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 28/09/2026
In a clever marketing collaboration, @vanityfair.com Italia and Junkers Aircraft recently hosted 'The Fly Experience' during the @venicefilmfestival.bsky.social. The accompanying video is well worth watching for both the sound and scenery. (📸 See ALT) | 🛩️ 📹 🥇 | 🔗 www.youtube.com/watch?v=txKj... | 🧵
A bronze-coloured aircraft parked on an aging, marked runway is photographed directly from above. A person walks in front of the left wing. ℹ️ 📸 David Symank | Junkers Aircraft
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 24/09/2026
That's cool. 👊🏻 The devices in the ad were all the gadgets to have in their day. With folks wanting to do 'retro', Panasonic could likely do well to 're-issue' some of their old players with new internals. 💡
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 24/09/2026
Candidly, we're old enough for this to be the Panasonic that comes to mind when their name is mentioned. They've come a long way since then. Also, the Lumix camera you may be using to capture great aviation images? That's the modern Panasonic, too. (📸 Panasonic Corporation) | 🔗 panasonic.com | 🧵
A vintage Panasonic print ad with the heading « The Crazy Color Portables » showing their various bright colours and unusually shaped portable music players.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 24/09/2026
Official Account Alert 🫆 We haven't done this in a *long* time. However, it's great to see @panasonic.aero here, and using @bsky.app's domain verification. They've been posting for about nine months, but we just stumbled on them. (📸 Panasonic Avionics Corporation) | 🛩️ | 🔗 panasonic.aero | 🧵
The interior of an airliner cockpit with the pilots turned aft, having a conversation with a third person who is wearing a Panasonic jacket.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 24/09/2026
Very cool indeed. 🤔
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 24/09/2026
A couple of 515s delivered a couple of years from now just isn't going to cut it, according to Managing Editor @terencecgannon.com in his monthly column. We can do better, and the proof is clever Canucks cranking out 1,033 Mosquitos over the course of roughly three years during World War II. | 🛩️ ⚔️
blufly.media
BluFly 🛩️ | September, 2026 | Mossie Mindset
« [W]hile it’s possible to argue about the gravity of what was faced back then… it has been proven … that if the stakes are sufficiently high, we can do this … »
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 24/09/2026
Outstanding thread, thanks for posting. 🙌🏻
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 22/09/2026
Very cool. 👊🏻 We'll check it out.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 22/09/2026
« Electra today announced it successfully completed first-of-its-kind flights from a heliport on a commercial airport ramp at the Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport. » A fixed-wing aircraft operating from a heliport. 😳 Press release linked. (📸 Electra) | 🛩️ ⚡️ 📰 🥇 | 🔗 electra.aero/news/electra...
Electra's EL2 prototype aircraft is shown taking off from an area marked out for helicopter operations. Conventional runways, for fixed-wing aircraft, form the background.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 22/09/2026
You have that right. 🙌🏻 Good thing dreaming is free; otherwise, we'd be flat broke.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 22/09/2026
… While that dream will sadly go unfulfilled 😢 surely there is somebody within eyeshot of this feed who would be the perfect candidate. If you end up being that person, all we ask in return is that you keep us posted on how it goes. It's sure to be amazing. 🤙🏻 Details with link above. | 🧵
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 22/09/2026
If we could turn back the clock thirty years and do it all over again, this would be our dream job: « Factory Test Pilot: Engineering & Training Systems » with Pilatus at their facility in Stans, Switzerland … (📸 PIlatus Aircraft Ltd.) | 🛩️ 🧰 📍 🇨🇭 | 🔗 www.pilatus-aircraft.com/en/jobs/1018... | 🧵
An aerial view of the Pilatus factory in Stans, Switzerland. Large modern buildings in the foreground and a round, knob-like green hill in the background.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 22/09/2026
Have a happy and healthy one, @tacotuesgay.bsky.social. 🎂 We think this one rates right up there, even with so many exquisite aircraft from which to choose. | 🛩️
blufly.media
Rising in a Crystal River Across the Sky
Duncan Aviation’s eye-catching, fly fishing-inspired Pilatus PC-12.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 22/09/2026
Hey, @alexbenzer.com, we filled in the form and never heard anything back. Has this program wrapped up? We're in the process of writing an article for our October issue describing our community-building experience with @bsky.app to date and want to be completely fair to all concerned.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 21/09/2026
Interesting. 🤔 First time we've seen that, but, sadly, an artefact of the times in which we find ourselves. Try plugging in the title of the document into your favourite search engine and see if you can find another route to it—one that doesn't involve @bsky.app as one of the hand-offs?
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 21/09/2026
It's a pretty comprehensive document, for sure. Glad you enjoyed it. 👊🏻
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 21/09/2026
Fun, but only peripherally related fact: De Havilland Aircraft of Canada has taken over the Sherpa program. Kudos to them for painting their show pony in this wild livery. (📸 De Havilland Aircraft of Canada) | 🛩️ | 🔗 dehavilland.com/sherpa/
A C-23 Sherpa either takes off or lands from an airport. It is painted with a mouth and eyeballs so as to resemble a wild dog.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 21/09/2026
With this issue's focus on aerial firefighting, it's a good time to mention the US Forest Service has a 282-page “A History of the USDA Forest Service Aviation Program” in PDF, including its use of the C-23A Sherpa, pictured here at a 2019 event. (📸 See ALT) | 🛩️ 🥇 | 🔗 www.fs.usda.gov/sites/defaul...
A US Forest Service C-23A Sherpa aircraft is pictured on an airport ramp on a sunny day. Nearby, two men are engaged in a conversation. ℹ️ Caption from source: « The U.S. Forest Service Short C-23A Sherpa, from the Missoula Smokejumpers, is on display for visitors to walk through and ask questions during the 2019 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, July 24, 2019, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. » 📸 Preston Keres | US Department of Agriculture via Flickr in the public domain.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 20/09/2026
But if the unconstrained question is ‘what aircraft would Batman fly?’ would anybody argue against it being the F-117? | 🛩️ ⚔️
en.wikipedia.org
Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk - Wikipedia
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 20/09/2026
We’re thinking it took its design cues from the Spartan Executive? Both the appearance and the time period seem to fit. | 🛩️
en.wikipedia.org
Spartan Executive - Wikipedia
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 20/09/2026
Great shot. 👊🏻 Doesn’t seem to be havin’ any trouble keeping up. 😉
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 19/09/2026
Well, that's too bad, but *thank you* for investigating the possibility. It's very much appreciated. 🙌🏻
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 19/09/2026
Cool. 👊🏻 In our previous post, we were talking about what remains of the Handley Page factory, as per the image below. We were thinking it would be interesting to recreate this photo—roughly the same position and altitude—to see what it looks like today. | 🛩️ 💺 📍 🇬🇧
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 19/09/2026
By the way, do you take requests? 🤔
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 19/09/2026
So how'd we do, @leegoodger.bsky.social? ⬆️ | 🧵
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 19/09/2026
The developer also retained the period Crittall windows. The folks at Savills will show you around, keeping in mind the guide price for your 1,179 square metres of aviation history is just £5.4 million. London is calling, indeed. (📸 Wotton Works) | 🛩️ 📍 🇬🇧 | 🔗 search.savills.com/ca/en/proper... | 🧵
Looking out a black-mullioned window into an atrium space in a condo known as Wotton Works, a redevelopment of the Handley Page Cricklewood factory.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 19/09/2026
Now known as the 'Wotton Works', the bones of the factory not only have been retained, but are now a highlighted architectural feature such that it’s nigh impossible to forget where you and your mid-life crisis Porsche are living. (📸 Wotton Works) | 🛩️ 📍 🇬🇧 | 🔗 wottonworks.com?utm_source=b... | 🧵
An interior atrium space of the condos in the development known as Wotton Works, which is a redevelopment of the Handley Page Cricklewood factory.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 19/09/2026
In the 'whatever happened to …' file, we were tipped off—by a new article by Abby Montanez for @robbreport.com—about the reincarnation of the remains of the once-mighty Handley Page Cricklewood factory as a super high-end condo. (📸 AIX-ARG Archive) | 🛩️ 📍 🇬🇧 🥇 | 🔗 robbreport.com/shelter/home... | 🧵
A vintage black-and-white photo captioned « Handley Page Aerodrome and Works, at Cricklewood, London, as seen from a Handley Page passenger aeroplane. »
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 18/09/2026
While there are a number of water-scooping options out there, the competition De Havilland should be most concerned about, Managing Editor @terencecgannon.com opines, is the Chinese-designed and manufactured AVIC AG600M Kunlong, which is already flying in that firefighting role. (📸 See ALT) | 🛩️
blufly.media
BluFly 🛩️ | September, 2026 | Reverse Engineering the 515
« That there really aren’t viable alternatives to the 515 is the counterargument. Oh, if that were actually true, at least if you look forward … »
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 18/09/2026
It's a nice livery, for sure, but that's also a bit of an apples 🍏 and oranges 🍊 comparison. What you're seeing there is for the RCAF training program. When the same aircraft finds its way to the Snowbirds, that's the livery that should eventually be compared to the Roulettes’ triangles. 🔺
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 17/09/2026
Cool, and amazing you were able to spot that. Seems like a fitting tribute to both. 🙌🏻
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 17/09/2026
This is exciting: the first two RCAF CT-157 Siskin IIs have arrived in Canada. For those lucky enough to be able to attend Aero Gatineau-Ottawa this weekend, you will be able to see them in person. Full story and many more photos with link. (📸 SkyAlyne) | 🛩️ ⚔️ 📰 🥇 | 🔗 skyalyne.ca/latest-updat...
A CT-157 Siskin II is parked in front of a hangar. A crowd is listening to a woman in a flight suit giving a speech.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 17/09/2026
Cool. 👊🏻 Glad we were able to help move the ball up the pitch a little. 😉
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 17/09/2026
Not one hundred percent sure we understand your request, but perhaps this is a fit for your requirement? | 🛩️ 🪽 📡
instructables.com
Classic 1950s Toy Glider- the Flicka
Classic 1950s Toy Glider- the Flicka: For our Technologies class we have to build gliders to demonstrate aerodynamic lift. The glider our teacher decided to teach us to make is the Keil Kraft Flicka, ...
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 16/09/2026
Absolutely outstanding. 👏🏻 Video of the year, so far as we're concerned. 🥇 In addition to @goodnrg.bsky.social's recommendation of watching the whole thing, put it on full screen and turn it up *loud*. You'll understand why grown adults wept when they heard Pavarotti sing. 🥲
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 16/09/2026
One other fun detail: if you click on the colour image and take a close look at the nose, you'll see what we believe are wood strips laid on the bias. Don't know if Curtiss came up with that, but it's a surprisingly modern idea for an aircraft built in the 1920s. 🤔
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 16/09/2026
Glad you enjoyed it. 🙌🏻 We thought author Estes did a particularly good job with a fact-dense yet highly readable text. Also, our direct dealings with the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island indicate that they are a totally class act. It's really a story where everybody wins. 🏆
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 16/09/2026
… the Oriole was originally built over 100 years ago. (📸 Cradle of Aviation Museum) | 🛩️ | 🧵
… the Oriole was originally built over 100 years ago.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 16/09/2026
… describes the arrival of this Curtiss Oriole at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, New York. As author Estes notes, in a remarkable turn of events, this is the city on Long Island where … (📸 Cradle of Aviation Museum) | 🛩️ 📍 🇺🇸 | 🔗 www.cradleofaviation.org?utm_source=b... | 🧵
A vintage photograph of a Curtiss Oriole biplane that is parked on a grassy field. 'Garden City' is hand-written at the bottom of the photo.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 16/09/2026
We always appreciate an elegant, vintage aircraft falling into the loving embrace of an organisation that will treat it with the care and attention it deserves; Adam Estes' great article for Vintage Aviation News … (📸 Cradle of Aviation Museum) | 🛩️ 🥇 | 🔗 vintageaviationnews.com/vintage-avia... | 🧵
The sleek fuselage of an antique biplane, prior to restoration, is unloaded from a van by a forklift while a number of workers look on.
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 15/09/2026
We are aware of many talented filmmakers within 'eyeshot' of this feed, and for these gifted folks, here's an opportunity to get that dream project off the ground with help from no less than @vimeo.com: details of their 'Short Film Grant' program are linked. | 🛩️ 🎬 🥇 | 🔗 vimeo.com/shortfilmgra...
A vintage photograph of two men in a biplane. The pilot is located in the forward open cockpit, and a man with a large camera is in the aft cockpit. ℹ️ The caption, handwritten on the original photo, reads: « Photographer preparing to take high-altitude oblique shots with a 24-inch focal length K-3B camera. » 📸 Released by Michael Weber of the Air Force Research Laboratory via the Defense Visual Information Distribution Systems (DVIDS) in the public domain. 🔗 https://www.dvidshub.net/image/8587132/brig-gen-george-goddard
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 15/09/2026
Yes. ✅ Then again, based on the rock-solid evidence consisting of watching many episodes of 'Escape to the Country' (the home office's guilty pleasure), it never rains in the UK, right? ⛈️
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BluFly 🛩 @blufly.media · 15/09/2026
It's been a while since we shared an ADVANCE story, but the combination of their elegant paragliders juxtaposed with the arrestingly beautiful scenery of England's Lake District in summer was simply too intoxicating to pass up. (📸 Fly with Andy) | 🛩️ 🪽 📍 🇬🇧 🥇 | 🔗 www.advance.swiss/en/stories/l...
A pilot runs across rocky terrain to launch his paraglider into a misty, blue sky over the Lake District in the United Kingdom.
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