Captain’s Column Marks 9 Years With Top Aviation Stories and Upcoming Historical Features

The Captain’s Column, a weekly aviation-themed series, celebrates its ninth anniversary this week. Since its inception, the column has explored surprising stories from aviation history and current military developments, particularly focusing on the Middle East.

Over the past year, the column covered significant events such as the Third Gulf War involving Israel, the US, and Iran, highlighting the unprecedented concentration of air power in the region. It analyzed Iranian missile launchers, Israeli laser cannon capabilities, the relevance of paratroopers in modern warfare, and debated whether the Apache helicopter should be retired. The column also examined Hezbollah’s drone tactics and Ukrainian drone warfare methods, emphasizing their potential impact locally.

The five most popular columns from the past year included lessons from two years of the Gaza war, the Egyptian Rafale fighter’s surprising performance against F-35 and F-15 jets during NATO exercises, Iran’s use of fake inflatable missile decoys in Operation "Tiger Roar," the capabilities of the US B1B bomber, and an overview of Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal and their threat levels.

Looking ahead to its tenth year, the Captain’s Column plans to return to historical aviation stories alongside ongoing analysis of current conflicts and threats in Lebanon, Gaza, and the Persian Gulf. Upcoming features will include a musical tribute to the Soviet Union’s favorite aircraft, profiles of the grandfather of all passenger planes and the world’s busiest spy plane, explanations of air traffic control and helicopter mechanics, and special editions timed with significant dates such as Holocaust Remembrance Week.

The column continues to provide daily commentary on Instagram, tracking war developments and their broader implications. The editor promises a rich lineup of exclusive content and special features throughout the coming year, drawing on extensive materials delayed by ongoing conflicts.