John Sotham

John Sotham

A former associate editor of Air & Space, John Sotham is a hopelessly nearsighted frequent flyer, with thousands of hours logged in exit rows worldwide. He is a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve colonel and a former crew chief on the F-4D Phantom II and A-10A “Warthog.” He started collecting aviation books when he was eight years old. Any opinions expressed are solely the author’s.

The last KC-135R Stratotanker flown by Brad Mordan as an Air Force pilot sits on the ramp at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. 

Old Men, Older Airplanes

In fine Air Force tradition, a retiring buddy makes his “fini flight.”

Our A-10, cleared for takeoff.

Embrace the Crashing

R/C airplanes can teach a valuable lesson: learn from your mistakes.

The formal surrender of Japan onboard the USS Missouri, September 2, 1945.

Among the Ghosts at Pearl Harbor, 70 Years After V-J Day

A visit to where America’s World War II began, and ended.

Airline Merger Wars

The battle for the soul of an airline

The U.S. Air Force Academy chapel is a modernist tribute to both aircraft design and the Colorado mountains.

“Re-Blued” at the U.S. Air Force Academy

A quick, inspiring visit to the Academy’s campus in Colorado Springs

The C-5 Galaxy entered service in 1969 and remains the US Air Force’s largest airlifter. New modified versions, known as the C-5M, boast more reliable commercial engines and modern glass cockpits.

A Tour of the Boneyard

The aircraft retirement home in Arizona is well worth a visit.

A Polish air force MiG-29 rests in the shadows.This year the Polish air force is upgrading the avionics in half of its 31 MiG‑29s.

The Truth About the MiG-29

How U.S. intelligence services solved the mystery of a cold war killer.

A Hawker Jet Provost and a Lockheed F-94 Starfire at Pima.

The Dusty Gems of Pima

Tucson’s famous air and space museum was well worth a stop on my western tour.

The strategies of Eddie Rickenbacker’s era live on today with pilots flying F-22 Raptors in the 94th Fighter Squadron.

The Fighter Pilot’s Survival Guide

Today’s manual of fighter tactics was written 100 years ago, in World War I.

A memorial to the American Volunteer Group, better known as the Flying Tigers

Memorial Park: A Walk Through History

On the way from the parking lot at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, take a detour and honor some brave veterans

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Roadside Aviation

Forget the Quilting Hall of Fame. Plan that next road trip around some aviation pit stops.

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In 1962 Cuba, MiG Pilots Posed as Tractor Operators

In the tense days before the U.S.-Soviet missile crisis, secrecy was everything.

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The Wing is the Thing

How to keep our balsa wood airplane from being nose- or tail-heavy requires some careful planning

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Ospreys on the South Lawn

The tiltrotor begins White House duty

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Tales from an Aircraft Dispatcher

A simple spiral notebook brings back my father's career with the airlines

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Eager Eagles

The Bonanza could only take three passengers at a time, so the kids discussed who would go first with all the seriousness of the U.N. debating a resolution

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Rare WWII Bomber Raised from English Channel

After more than 70 years, a Dornier 17 is on dry land again

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Germany Gets Prettier

The last A-10 "Warthog" permanently stationed in Europe recently packed up and flew home.

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A New Dawn, Partially Realized

In 1969, Pan Am was promising both the jumbo jet and the SST. In the end, we only got one of them

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In the Age of Stratojets

A former B-47 crew chief looks back at one of the great airplanes of the 20th century

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