Flying Pianos: The Eccentric Birth of British Aviation with Charles Spicer

In the space of a few decades, aviation advanced from fragile aircraft barely capable of crossing the Channel to the long-range bombers and fighter planes that would shape the Second World War. Behind this transformation were a motley cast of individuals: daring pilots, ambitious engineers, determined politicians and eccentric visionaries who helped turn flight from a dangerous novelty into a decisive military force.

In this episode of the ⁠Aspects of History⁠ podcast, ⁠⁠Charles Spicer joins ⁠⁠Phil Craig⁠⁠ to discuss ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flying Pianos⁠, published by Oneworld Books, his new book on the early history of British aviation. They explore the pioneers who pushed the boundaries of flight before the First World War, that conflict’s impact on military aviation, and the technological developments that led to the Spitfire and the Merlin engine. Along the way, they consider Winston Churchill’s surprisingly hands-on role in the development of the RAF, the achievements of trailblazers such as Harriet Quimby.

Charles also discusses the darker side of air power, from the RAF’s use in the British Empire to the devastating potential of aerial bombing, while reflecting on what this era of rapid innovation might teach us today. This is an episode brimming with ambition, ingenuity and determination – all of which helped shape the age of aviation that followed.

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