About Hush-Kit

“The miracle and wonder of flight, which has inspired poets, philosophers and madmen, has dwindled into a workaday procedure that we anticipate with the same enthusiasm we feel when we visit the dentist.” JG Ballard

Hush-Kit is reminding the world of the beauty of flight.

Credit: ©Troy Paiva / www.lostamerica.com

“Hush-Kit is an absolutely fantastic aviation site, much recommended. My article on the SR-71 was treated professionally and accurately. Many thanks to Joe Coles!”

–– B.C. Thomas, pilot of the SR-71 Blackbird and U-2 spyplanes and B-2 stealth bomber test pilot 

“The world’s best aviation blog…if you have any interest in aviation, you’ll be surprised, entertained and fascinated by Hush-Kit- a quality blog.”

 — Rowland White, author of the best-selling ‘Vulcan 607’

“Excellent aviation blog”

– Popular Mechanics

“When I found Hush-Kit.net I was immediately drawn to the broad range of aviation topics and the technical detail in the articles on contemporary aviation which was interesting to me as a former Topgun instructor and F-14 RIO. I’m a regular reader, and I was also pleased to be interviewed myself about my own experiences. Hush-Kit, keep bringing the good stuff!”

— Dave ‘Bio’ Baranek, former Topgun instructor and F-14 RIO

“For you aviation gearheads and mil-air nerds like me, is worth a follow for great stories and analysis on fighter aircraft.”

— Rick Wilson, pilot and  #1 New York Times best-selling author of ‘Everything Trump Touches Dies’

“This dude knows airplanes”

— David Axe, War is Boring

“Joe Coles is one of the brightest, funniest people I know, and the only writer who makes aviation interesting to me. He manages to find something human in the cold, war-spattered world of planes, and brings light to the darkest subjects.”

— Eva Wiseman, Observer

“Well-informed and always entertaining, Hush-Kit places aviation in the wider context. Flying has never seemed so thrilling.”

Mark Townsend, multi award-winning journalist, war correspondent and author of ‘Point Man‘

“Hush-Kit is undoubtedly a distinguished website. One of the few that brings to the attentive reader, details brought by the actors directly involved – pilots, engineers, editors- that are generally neglected by ordinary media.”

 –Vianney Riller Jr, Test Pilot, Aerospace & Defense Analyst/Consultant. Aircraft Evaluation Pilot (12k+ flt/hrs 80+ types / fixed and rotary wing)

“An online emporium of off-beat aviation factoids, aeronautical writing whimsy and forgotten aerospace history, with often laugh-out-loud picture captions.”

— Tim Robinson, The Royal Aeronautical Society 

“Hush-Kit is the most astonishing gem of aviation facts and lore I’ve seen since Ernie Gann and Martin Caidin kindled my love for and fascination with all things aviation! I look forward to spreading the word about Hush-Kit with other aviation enthusiasts. You have created a truly remarkable resource, Kudos!” — Gary Brown 

Hush-Kit will remind readers of how remarkable and beautiful flying is. How as we leave the century of flight for the century of the plane crash, it’s time to take a new look at aviation. Considering the epic impact that aviation has had on our world, Hush-Kit knows that all things can be viewed from an aeronautical perspective.

Want to have a look?

Hush-Kit is jam-packed with exclusive articles, news, art and gossip- all from an aeronautical perspective.

Hush-Kit has a  host of wonderful contributors including: Former BAe test pilot Dave Eagles, the Observer’s Home Affairs Editor and former war-correspondent Mark Townsend, Combat Aircraft Monthly‘s Thomas Newdick, Grazia‘s Morwenna Ferrier, and the Former Deputy Editor of Aeroplane, Nick Stroud.

Edited & created by Joe Coles

Hush-Kit is the alternative aviation blog.

NOW AVAILABLE: The Hush-Kit Book of Warplanes, a gorgeous heavily illustrated – and often irreverent- coffee-table book covering the history of aviation 1914 – the present.

follow my vapour trail on Twitter: @Hush_kit

53 comments

  3. ameenahawk

    My country one of the partner with Dassault Aviation ,procuring Rafale as found out to be one of the most cost effective beautifully designed aircraft

    Reply
  4. pickledwings

    I really like your blog here!

    I’m a Canadian expat living in the Czech Republic, so I have strong connections to two countries with long standing and significant aviation industries. Your blog is just one more great one for me to follow!

    Reply
  7. Neile Jones

    I just discovered your site (you started following me on Twitter) and I am very impressed! Just the sort of site I’ve been looking for for ages. Thanks

    Reply
  8. Lloyd Crawford

    I’ve been enjoying your blog for some time now and it’s one of my favourite corners of the interwebs. It’s intelligent, funny, unusual, thought provoking and wide ranging. I love it, I just wish it was daily, though quality like this is by necessity rare. Thanks,
    Lloyd Crawford

    Reply
  11. Avro Arrow

    This is superb! There’s just so much to see here that it’s impossible to get bored if you love aircraft like I do!

    Reply
  13. Phil

    Just watched your tube video on the 10 worst British aircraft, you don’t happen to be a American company by chance haven’t seen your portrayal of the 10 worst American aircraft yet have you done one?.

    Reply
  14. Iqbal

    Hi – tried to donate on paypal but it said there was in issue with your email? Big fan, would love to chip in a bit. Thanks and keep up the good work!

    Reply
  15. Charles A. Nelson

    Hush Kit needs to rescind the highly panned “Worst US Aircraft”, the issue same video that is not loaded down with experimental models. Why was the Wright flyer included? Whoever made the video had a serious ax to grind.

    Reply
    • Hush Kit

      Hi Charles,

      Thanks for getting in touch. I’ve looked over this article again after reading your comment. Initial observations: 1. Most are not strictly speaking experimental. Certainly the Kestrel, Eagle, Airacuda, and Christmas were not, and some of the others are debatable. 2. That it does include several experimental aircraft could be said to be a vindication of the US aircraft industry: that these concepts did not end up on a operational type 3. The criteria for this article do not specify that they needed to be operational, so this is a moot point 4. As mentioned in the article, the Wright Flyer is the least controversial type: by definition the only flying aeroplane at this moment in time must have been the best and worst, and it is interesting to hear criticism of it 5. If we were pushing a particular agenda, then why would we have included articles on the worst Soviet, worst British and worst French types (an article is coming German is coming soon)? We have also have an article on the Worst air force which includes types from many nations. It would be great if we can copy and paste this conversation to the comments section of the relevant article here: https://hushkit.net/2016/06/01/the-10-worst-us-aircraft/ Thanks again for getting in touch, HK

      Reply
  17. Scott Newman

    Hi Joe, how does one get in touch with you regarding content that you might want to share on your site?

    Reply
  19. Victor

    Hi Hush-Kit,

    I really like your site and your articles, especially pilot interviews you’re doing !
    The only frustration I have is that you don’t have any Rafale pilot interviews… I could maybe give you a few people to contact who could give you feedback on this plane, if needed.
    Contrary to the message at the end of your last posts, I hope you will continue in 2020 🙂
    Have a nice day

    Victor

    Reply
  20. Frank C Foster

    Medals and Ribbons of the United States Air Force.
    Greetings from the colonies;

    Several months ago I tried to send you copies of the Medals and Ribbons of the United States Air Force for your review. However the books were returned evidently because of high custom fees. However, in a burst of Yankee ingenuity I have done a YouTube review.

    I believe you may find it interesting.

    Cheers,

    Frank Foster

    Reply
  23. Dave Swan

    Hi, love Hush Kit, and yes I’ve contributed in the past. I have a suggestion for a video or article ” Planes that look like the offspring of 2 different designs” Illegitimate kids,,, ie Guizhou JL-9, Did a Phantom shag a Mig 21???

    Reply
  25. Carlos Barrera Garza

    Featured Project Development – State of the Art Novel InFlow Technology: 1-Gearturbine, Rotary-Turbo, 2-Imploturbocompressor, One Compression Step:

    *Wordpress Blog State of the Art Novel InFlow Gearturbine Imploturbocompressor:

    http://stateoftheartnovelinflowtech.blogspot.com

    Made with Padlet

    *1-GEARTURBINE BEHANCE Images Gallery Portafolio:

    https://www.behance.net/gallery/21019191/Novel-Rotary-Turbo-InFlow-Tech-Gearturbine-Project

    ·1-Gearturbine: Reaction Turbine, ·Rotary-Turbo, Similar System of the Aeolipile ·Heron Steam Device from 10-70 AD, ·With Retrodynamic = DextroGiro/RPM VS LevoGiro/InFlow, + ·Ying Yang Circular Power Type, ·Non Waste Parasitic Power Looses Type, ·8-X,Y Thermodynamic Cycle Way Steps.

    *2-IMPLOTURBOCOMPRESSOR BEHANCE Images Gallery Portafolio:

    https://www.behance.net/gallery/21691891/Imploturbocompressor

    ·2-Imploturbocompressor: Impulse Turbine, ·Implo-Ducted, One Moving Part System Excellence Design, · InFlow Goes from Macro-Flow to Micro-Flow by Implosion/And Inverse, ·One Compression Step, ·Circular Dynamic Motion. Implosion Way Type, ·Same Nature of a Hurricane Satellite View.

    Reply
  26. Long Branch Mike

    Hi Joe, I have a British airship article (mostly on R-100 and R-101) that you might be interested in. I write and edit for LondonReconnections.com, which is an online (and sometimes print) magazine that covers transport in and around London in a similar fashion to how you cover aviation. I’m at mike at london reconnections dot com.

    Reply
  27. Gull

    hello,

    i was seeing your blog very informative and i follow you on twitter too, here is one thing that we want to do for you … we can in free redesign your blog with new better look that will match with the type of content you are uploading plus we can design in free a proper logo too for your blog… lete me know if you want us to do it for you .. its our contribution for your good work ….

    Reply
  28. hypertexthero

    Very nice to have found this blog! I have been fascinated with flying machines from a young age and sometimes write about past experiences with both real and simulated ones at hypertexthero.com. Thought I’d say hello here and thank you for your informative, amusing writing about flight.

    Cheers,
    Simon

    Reply
  29. Bredette C Thomas

    Hush-Kit is an absolutely fantastic aviation site, much recommended. My article on the SR-71 was treated professionally and accurately. Many thanks to Joe Coles!

    Reply
  30. Robert Friend

    Perhaps offer some “Merch’ like T-shirts, coffee-cups, Fridge magnets, and so forth. Teespring (sp?) is set up to do this. Disclaimer; no financial connection.

    Reply
  31. Robert Friend

    Ok, well enough! May I suggest making such “Merch” opportunities more available, On-Site, without being obnoxious? Never knew about such, until you specifically mentioned them in your response. If I missed the opportunity, likely others did. I’ll have a look around. In the interim, since I’ve bought your book, is there some way for you all to discontinue the Ads for same? Doing so would be a nice thing to do, at least for folks who have bought the damned thing.

    Reply
    • Hush Kit

      Thanks for supporting the book Robert. You’ll need to endure the promotion of the book further thigh as we need to sell more. Then there’s the future volumes! Hopefully over 1000 totally free articles will help you forgive the book ads. All the best and thanks again. HK

      Reply
  32. Captain Vivek Chaudhary

    Dear Hush,

    I have been reading your various articles on aviation and also been following your websites. With your articles, I keep myself updated with new activities happening in the aviation industries.

    I am an ex-submarines officer who left the military in the year 2017. With a keen desire to fly, I started my commercial pilot training and got my license in 2020 during Covid 19 pandemic. Further, I got Type rated on ATR72 aircrafts.
    With receipt of my commercial pilot license, this achievement has been recognized & acknowledged by the Asia Book Of Records affiliated to World Record University and recently, I have been conferred by Asia Book of Records from Vietnam for being “The first submariner in the world who turned to a commercial pilot and fly ATRs72 aircraft fleet”.
    Certainly, This transition from one highly professional arm of marines i,e Submarines to another professional arm i,e Aviation was certainly daunting and no less challenging.
    I hope you will find my journey below the surface of sea to sky worth interesting to share with the world as it inspires people to think beyond the limitations of mind and social constructs as nothing in this world is unachievable if one puts their mind, heart and soul into.
    you can contact me over my email where i can share my journey and pictures that can inspire others.

    Many Thanks
    Captain Vivek Chaudhary
    (Lt Commander Ex-Submarines Officer)

    Reply
  33. Willie Feliciano

    Here’s an American using a British term because to me it describes this article and Hush Kit best – its Bloody Good!!
    First time here, and plan to return often. Will recommend to my fellow Aviation High School alum, though I’m sure they’ve tuned in already. Keep up the excellent work..

    Reply
  34. Davo C.

    Hi Joe,
    discovered your book; sure glad I bought…really liking the style and irreverence of it! Nice one!
    Would be great if you could make a correction in volume 2 though…the top scoring ace who is still very much alive is Brigadier General Giora Even-Epstein, nickname Hawkeye, with 17 kills.
    Keep up the good work.
    Cheers!

    Reply
  35. Mike Yazbeck

    In your list of best fighters of WW II, you omitted two great fighters: the F4U which may have been the best fighter of the war and the P-38 in which the two highest scoring American Aces achieved great success.

    Reply
  36. Harry James

    Some fascinating stuff and viewpoints on here. How about other forgotten corners such as early attempts to fly by such as Lilienthal and Whitehead and George Cayley. That span between successful flying and power plants that enabled powered flight just has to be the most pivotal and fascinating time. After the Wrights all else is just tinkering until jet power.

    Again, an exposition of the competitors for jet engines and the eventual standardisation is the interesting bit. The German experimental engines running on peroxide versus whittle’s ego powered design all eventually merged into a standard turbojet design?

    Then faster than sound. Martin’s designs went.. where? What were the airflow and control surface issues.

    So much to research, so much to write about…

    Bonne Chance!

    Reply

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