James D Kightly
@jdkightly.bsky.social
Does history - not an historian. Does aviation - not a pilot. Writes, reads, learns, communicates. Aviation Cultures Conferences. Interesting in many things. Freelance. No AI. He/him. Aviation content based at: https://vintageaerowriter.wordpress.com/
Reposted by James D Kightly
In the first presenter profile for Print the Legend, (27-28 February - register here: unisq.zoom.us/webinar/regi... ) we are thrilled to welcome backour old friend Guillaume de Syon. Guillaume’s presentation is titled “Hot Air Stories? Figuring out the “real” Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin”.
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Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Aviation Cultures Searchlight: Print the Legend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Please join us as scholars, historians, biographers, practitioners and enthusiasts to explore the fascinating intersection of fact and fiction in aviation history. Inspired by the iconic quote, “When ...
unisq.zoom.us
January 22, 2026 at 1:22 AM
In the first presenter profile for Print the Legend, (27-28 February - register here: unisq.zoom.us/webinar/regi... ) we are thrilled to welcome backour old friend Guillaume de Syon. Guillaume’s presentation is titled “Hot Air Stories? Figuring out the “real” Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin”.
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Reposted by James D Kightly
Ray Morimura (Japanese Artist, born 1948)
"House in Tamugimata", 1999.
Japanese Woodblock Print, 45 × 30 cm.
Private Collection.
#art #painting #painters #BlueSkyArt
"House in Tamugimata", 1999.
Japanese Woodblock Print, 45 × 30 cm.
Private Collection.
#art #painting #painters #BlueSkyArt
August 22, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Ray Morimura (Japanese Artist, born 1948)
"House in Tamugimata", 1999.
Japanese Woodblock Print, 45 × 30 cm.
Private Collection.
#art #painting #painters #BlueSkyArt
"House in Tamugimata", 1999.
Japanese Woodblock Print, 45 × 30 cm.
Private Collection.
#art #painting #painters #BlueSkyArt
Reposted by James D Kightly
I just updated my explainer for why I don't allow generative AI in my classrooms with a new section and an expanded section.
New: Generative AI has a literal body count
Expanded: Generative AI is dehumanizing
CETERUM AUTEM CENSEO INTELLIGENTIA ARTIFICIALIS ESSE DELENDAM
New: Generative AI has a literal body count
Expanded: Generative AI is dehumanizing
CETERUM AUTEM CENSEO INTELLIGENTIA ARTIFICIALIS ESSE DELENDAM
January 16, 2026 at 2:36 AM
I just updated my explainer for why I don't allow generative AI in my classrooms with a new section and an expanded section.
New: Generative AI has a literal body count
Expanded: Generative AI is dehumanizing
CETERUM AUTEM CENSEO INTELLIGENTIA ARTIFICIALIS ESSE DELENDAM
New: Generative AI has a literal body count
Expanded: Generative AI is dehumanizing
CETERUM AUTEM CENSEO INTELLIGENTIA ARTIFICIALIS ESSE DELENDAM
Reposted by James D Kightly
No, these are very serious comments.
ChatGPT has absolutely no goddamn place in graduate education. It steals from other authors, routinely gets major facts wrong, hallucinates sources, and generally makes the prose flat and boring as hell.
And if you shill for it in my mentions, I'll block you.
ChatGPT has absolutely no goddamn place in graduate education. It steals from other authors, routinely gets major facts wrong, hallucinates sources, and generally makes the prose flat and boring as hell.
And if you shill for it in my mentions, I'll block you.
January 17, 2026 at 11:16 PM
No, these are very serious comments.
ChatGPT has absolutely no goddamn place in graduate education. It steals from other authors, routinely gets major facts wrong, hallucinates sources, and generally makes the prose flat and boring as hell.
And if you shill for it in my mentions, I'll block you.
ChatGPT has absolutely no goddamn place in graduate education. It steals from other authors, routinely gets major facts wrong, hallucinates sources, and generally makes the prose flat and boring as hell.
And if you shill for it in my mentions, I'll block you.
For #FridayReads, May I suggest The Vintage Aviation Echo’s ( @vintageavecho.bsky.social ) new Vol II?
As well as a range of other splendid articles, it has my feature on the Martin Mars saga, that goes in many unexpected directions, inc from Mary Pickford to Typhoon Freda.
Details: www.vaemag.com
As well as a range of other splendid articles, it has my feature on the Martin Mars saga, that goes in many unexpected directions, inc from Mary Pickford to Typhoon Freda.
Details: www.vaemag.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:34 AM
For #FridayReads, May I suggest The Vintage Aviation Echo’s ( @vintageavecho.bsky.social ) new Vol II?
As well as a range of other splendid articles, it has my feature on the Martin Mars saga, that goes in many unexpected directions, inc from Mary Pickford to Typhoon Freda.
Details: www.vaemag.com
As well as a range of other splendid articles, it has my feature on the Martin Mars saga, that goes in many unexpected directions, inc from Mary Pickford to Typhoon Freda.
Details: www.vaemag.com
Reposted by James D Kightly
An exciting opportunity in Kelowna. Great to see the twin Merlins on this Mozzie in action!
@avculturesconf.bsky.social and the Canadian Aviation Historical Society will be at the KF Centre for Excellence in June, so see you and the Mozzie there, then! -JDK
kfcentre.ca/mosquito-eng...
@avculturesconf.bsky.social and the Canadian Aviation Historical Society will be at the KF Centre for Excellence in June, so see you and the Mozzie there, then! -JDK
kfcentre.ca/mosquito-eng...
Mosquito Engine Run - January 16
Experience a rare Mosquito engine run in Kelowna at the KF Centre for Excellence. A historic aviation moment. Free event. RSVP required.
kfcentre.ca
January 16, 2026 at 5:54 AM
An exciting opportunity in Kelowna. Great to see the twin Merlins on this Mozzie in action!
@avculturesconf.bsky.social and the Canadian Aviation Historical Society will be at the KF Centre for Excellence in June, so see you and the Mozzie there, then! -JDK
kfcentre.ca/mosquito-eng...
@avculturesconf.bsky.social and the Canadian Aviation Historical Society will be at the KF Centre for Excellence in June, so see you and the Mozzie there, then! -JDK
kfcentre.ca/mosquito-eng...
Important article on the lack of redundancy and robustnesses in Australia's rural emergency public comms network. Knowledgeable input welcome.
theconversation.com/no-power-no-...
theconversation.com/no-power-no-...
No power, no phone, no radio: why comms dropped out during the central Victorian fires
We need reliable communications during climate emergencies like bushfires and floods. But changes have left regional communities exposed.
theconversation.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:26 AM
Important article on the lack of redundancy and robustnesses in Australia's rural emergency public comms network. Knowledgeable input welcome.
theconversation.com/no-power-no-...
theconversation.com/no-power-no-...
A thing I didn’t expect to see.
It’s an Iguanodon (Victorian reconstruction) one of the Crystal Palace dinosaurs.
It’s an Iguanodon (Victorian reconstruction) one of the Crystal Palace dinosaurs.
Rutger Hauer having a drink with a dinosaur.
Via Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs on Facebook.
www.facebook.com/cpdinosaurs/...
Via Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs on Facebook.
www.facebook.com/cpdinosaurs/...
December 23, 2025 at 4:05 AM
A thing I didn’t expect to see.
It’s an Iguanodon (Victorian reconstruction) one of the Crystal Palace dinosaurs.
It’s an Iguanodon (Victorian reconstruction) one of the Crystal Palace dinosaurs.
OK, @six18sfoundry.bsky.social , you have my attention, I think we need to hear more, please!
Ninjin Club — founded by Arima, Kishi & Kuga —produced some huge films in Japan in the 50s
December 18, 2025 at 6:33 AM
OK, @six18sfoundry.bsky.social , you have my attention, I think we need to hear more, please!
Tonight’s entertainment: Theodore Drew III: “Mother says I'm a throwback to my great-grandfather. He was a pirate.”
Regi Allen: “Honest?”
Theodore Drew III: “No, a pirate.”
Regi Allen: “Honest?”
Theodore Drew III: “No, a pirate.”
December 15, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Tonight’s entertainment: Theodore Drew III: “Mother says I'm a throwback to my great-grandfather. He was a pirate.”
Regi Allen: “Honest?”
Theodore Drew III: “No, a pirate.”
Regi Allen: “Honest?”
Theodore Drew III: “No, a pirate.”
Reposted by James D Kightly
Bonjour #histscalemodels !
Now that #HeaviesGB has concluded, I would like to propose a new group build for 2026. I floated the idea a while back and people seemed interested, so here we go:
#BastilleBuild will run from May 1st to July 14th!
Details in comments or at
bastille.videospectre.net
Now that #HeaviesGB has concluded, I would like to propose a new group build for 2026. I floated the idea a while back and people seemed interested, so here we go:
#BastilleBuild will run from May 1st to July 14th!
Details in comments or at
bastille.videospectre.net
December 3, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Bonjour #histscalemodels !
Now that #HeaviesGB has concluded, I would like to propose a new group build for 2026. I floated the idea a while back and people seemed interested, so here we go:
#BastilleBuild will run from May 1st to July 14th!
Details in comments or at
bastille.videospectre.net
Now that #HeaviesGB has concluded, I would like to propose a new group build for 2026. I floated the idea a while back and people seemed interested, so here we go:
#BastilleBuild will run from May 1st to July 14th!
Details in comments or at
bastille.videospectre.net
Reposted by James D Kightly
#histscalemodels group build concluded.
Have a great holidays season, we will do something similar again in 2026 to make the coummunity come together.
Have a great holidays season, we will do something similar again in 2026 to make the coummunity come together.
Here's the final sitrep for our #HeaviesGB:
We have a fantastic turnout of 17 builds completed, really amazing ideas turned into reality. Congrats to all of you, including those additional 20 aircraft which didn't get airborne the past 3 months.
Thank you all so much, video to come this month.
We have a fantastic turnout of 17 builds completed, really amazing ideas turned into reality. Congrats to all of you, including those additional 20 aircraft which didn't get airborne the past 3 months.
Thank you all so much, video to come this month.
December 1, 2025 at 1:46 PM
#histscalemodels group build concluded.
Have a great holidays season, we will do something similar again in 2026 to make the coummunity come together.
Have a great holidays season, we will do something similar again in 2026 to make the coummunity come together.
Formal photos of the completed model. Thanks to @jaaaagirr.bsky.social for leading the project, and all the other contributions to see - good luck to everyone else racing to the finish line of #HeaviesGB in #histscalemodels !
If there's interest I can share some build photos and saga, say the word!
If there's interest I can share some build photos and saga, say the word!
November 30, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Formal photos of the completed model. Thanks to @jaaaagirr.bsky.social for leading the project, and all the other contributions to see - good luck to everyone else racing to the finish line of #HeaviesGB in #histscalemodels !
If there's interest I can share some build photos and saga, say the word!
If there's interest I can share some build photos and saga, say the word!
Well, with an hour and a half to go (local time) and a BIG push to the end, it's DONE*. The Focke Wulf Fw 200 airliner prototype D-ACON, as on the 24 hour non-stop flight from Flugplatz Berlin-Staaken, Germany, to Floyd Bennett Field, New York, USA, 10-11 August 1938. #HeaviesGB in #histscalemodels
November 30, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Well, with an hour and a half to go (local time) and a BIG push to the end, it's DONE*. The Focke Wulf Fw 200 airliner prototype D-ACON, as on the 24 hour non-stop flight from Flugplatz Berlin-Staaken, Germany, to Floyd Bennett Field, New York, USA, 10-11 August 1938. #HeaviesGB in #histscalemodels
Did you miss me? Current status. It was a silver monster, then a lumpy blue monster (masking tape) now a shiny black lumpy monster, but I'm surprisingly pleased to be here - nearing the end of the build and (fingers crossed) the end of #HeaviesGB in #histscalemodels, thanks, @jaaaagirr.bsky.social!
November 29, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Did you miss me? Current status. It was a silver monster, then a lumpy blue monster (masking tape) now a shiny black lumpy monster, but I'm surprisingly pleased to be here - nearing the end of the build and (fingers crossed) the end of #HeaviesGB in #histscalemodels, thanks, @jaaaagirr.bsky.social!
Tonight’s entertainment brought to you by a ‘working’ ‘nun’ and a p.i.
Punctuation deliberate.
Punctuation deliberate.
November 13, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Tonight’s entertainment brought to you by a ‘working’ ‘nun’ and a p.i.
Punctuation deliberate.
Punctuation deliberate.
Reposted by James D Kightly
Richard Overy and Lord Russell at KCL History department.
November 8, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Richard Overy and Lord Russell at KCL History department.
Reposted by James D Kightly
8 Hrs to Aviation Cultures Spotlight on Logbooks and AvDocs! Join us free, online on Zoom to join our distinguished international speakers, followed by the rare opportunity to ask questions of the experts.
Full details aviationcultures.org/spotlights/l...
Full details aviationcultures.org/spotlights/l...
November 8, 2025 at 1:07 AM
8 Hrs to Aviation Cultures Spotlight on Logbooks and AvDocs! Join us free, online on Zoom to join our distinguished international speakers, followed by the rare opportunity to ask questions of the experts.
Full details aviationcultures.org/spotlights/l...
Full details aviationcultures.org/spotlights/l...
Good long form read.
Mike Jay's "What Were Drugs?" never stops being relevant:
November 8, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Good long form read.
I'll be there - after all, I co-organised it. But it you're interested in aviation history, how it's created, researched and examined, the maybe you should be too.
After all we've made it free, online, and accessible, because we think it should be. See you there!
After all we've made it free, online, and accessible, because we think it should be. See you there!
Reminder! Only 2 days to the free online Logbooks & AvDocs.
Did Guy Gibson 'fudge' his logbook? And one of our experts' 'smoking gun' document: "...reminding audiences that you can’t always trust the people you think you should be able to trust."
Join us! -JDK
aviationcultures.org/spotlights/l...
Did Guy Gibson 'fudge' his logbook? And one of our experts' 'smoking gun' document: "...reminding audiences that you can’t always trust the people you think you should be able to trust."
Join us! -JDK
aviationcultures.org/spotlights/l...
November 6, 2025 at 4:45 AM
I'll be there - after all, I co-organised it. But it you're interested in aviation history, how it's created, researched and examined, the maybe you should be too.
After all we've made it free, online, and accessible, because we think it should be. See you there!
After all we've made it free, online, and accessible, because we think it should be. See you there!
Cleared that up.
Archivists. Be nice, they know where the bodies are buried.
Archivists. Be nice, they know where the bodies are buried.
Hoping this helps our colleagues across the industry
November 6, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Cleared that up.
Archivists. Be nice, they know where the bodies are buried.
Archivists. Be nice, they know where the bodies are buried.
Not just you, the internet's worse.
NB: You aren't powerless, you can adapt and overcome. Your actions are important. As elsewhere, making thoughtful smart choices is work, but make a crucial difference.
(Bonus dog on the internet New Yorker cartoon too...)
theconversation.com/the-internet...
NB: You aren't powerless, you can adapt and overcome. Your actions are important. As elsewhere, making thoughtful smart choices is work, but make a crucial difference.
(Bonus dog on the internet New Yorker cartoon too...)
theconversation.com/the-internet...
The internet is worse than it used to be. How did we get here, and can we go back?
In the early days the internet was a free, egalitarian space for anyone to surf. Now, commercial interests rule – but users do still have some control.
theconversation.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Not just you, the internet's worse.
NB: You aren't powerless, you can adapt and overcome. Your actions are important. As elsewhere, making thoughtful smart choices is work, but make a crucial difference.
(Bonus dog on the internet New Yorker cartoon too...)
theconversation.com/the-internet...
NB: You aren't powerless, you can adapt and overcome. Your actions are important. As elsewhere, making thoughtful smart choices is work, but make a crucial difference.
(Bonus dog on the internet New Yorker cartoon too...)
theconversation.com/the-internet...
Very proud of what @avculturesconf.bsky.social team have achieved. It's 2 sessions this weekend, but packed in there are world class experts ready to share their expertise AND answer YOUR questions, free.
I can't quite believe what we've got! Full details on the website, shares & visits v welcome!
I can't quite believe what we've got! Full details on the website, shares & visits v welcome!
Engaged in aviation history research? We've got a VERY useful, FREE, online Spotlight this weekend. In-depth WWII British Commonwealth insight in Sess 1, many wider insights inc legal docs & getting your P-51 papers in Tech Order: Sess 2. Join us! -JDK.
Details: aviationcultures.org/spotlights/l...
Details: aviationcultures.org/spotlights/l...
November 3, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Very proud of what @avculturesconf.bsky.social team have achieved. It's 2 sessions this weekend, but packed in there are world class experts ready to share their expertise AND answer YOUR questions, free.
I can't quite believe what we've got! Full details on the website, shares & visits v welcome!
I can't quite believe what we've got! Full details on the website, shares & visits v welcome!
Reposted by James D Kightly
* And extra points if you can tell us about something YOU put in a logbook. (Or better still, left out!)
You can DM us in confidence, this account isn’t monitored by any retro aviation authorities (probably). -JDK
You can DM us in confidence, this account isn’t monitored by any retro aviation authorities (probably). -JDK
a man in a military uniform is sitting in a classroom with other men and says `` it 's classified . ''
Alt: I’ma just gonna leave the auto descriptor there: “a man in a military uniform is sitting in a classroom with other men and says `` it 's classified . ''
media.tenor.com
October 7, 2025 at 11:13 AM
* And extra points if you can tell us about something YOU put in a logbook. (Or better still, left out!)
You can DM us in confidence, this account isn’t monitored by any retro aviation authorities (probably). -JDK
You can DM us in confidence, this account isn’t monitored by any retro aviation authorities (probably). -JDK
Reposted by James D Kightly
Logbook oddities? We’re interested. What’s the strangest, funniest or most unexpected thing that you’ve found* in an aviation logbook?
We’ll be talking ‘Logbooks & Avdocs’ in our next Spotlight event, free, online, in just over a month. Can you tease us with an odd fact first? -JDK
We’ll be talking ‘Logbooks & Avdocs’ in our next Spotlight event, free, online, in just over a month. Can you tease us with an odd fact first? -JDK
October 7, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Logbook oddities? We’re interested. What’s the strangest, funniest or most unexpected thing that you’ve found* in an aviation logbook?
We’ll be talking ‘Logbooks & Avdocs’ in our next Spotlight event, free, online, in just over a month. Can you tease us with an odd fact first? -JDK
We’ll be talking ‘Logbooks & Avdocs’ in our next Spotlight event, free, online, in just over a month. Can you tease us with an odd fact first? -JDK