I am an historical archaeologist and my area of speciality is Modern Conflict Archaeology, a young discipline that is primarily an anthropological archaeology (in a broad material culture sense) that encompasses the 20th and 21st centuries. It is multi-disciplinary in outlook and my research draws on archaeology, anthropology, philosophy and history. My AHRC-funded doctoral research focuses on a cultural study of the experiences of Royal Flying Corps pilots, whether on the ground, inside the plane, or flying during training, reconnaissance or combat. I explore the potential for a sensory archaeology, thus acknowledging the increasing popularity of this nuanced focus on the materiality of human existence. Modern conflict archaeology and contemporary archaeology more widely need to consider ‘airspace’ as a distinct realm. Consequently, I am interested in the pilot body’s sensory experiences of ‘airscapes’ and the need to bring to life tangible aviation-related material culture. I also address heritage issues, especially in terms of how we remember and experience First World War aviation. I adopt participatory anthropology – I fly in early twentieth century planes – as a means of embodying the experience of being in the air, thus adding a dimension of authenticity and empathy to my research. I am a contributor to: Saunders, N.J. (ed.) (In Press) Beyond the Dead Horizon. Studies in Modern Conflict Archaeology (Oxbow).