Finding A Replacement America’s leading ground-attack aircraft in the early days of the Vietnam War was the A-1 Skyraider. The Skyraider carried a large payload, but its propeller design was already outdated by the 1960s. In September of 1966, US Air Force Chief of Staff General John McConnell ordered the development of a rugged and […] More
The Petlyakov Pe-8 was a Soviet heavy bomber developed during WWII. It was designed by Vladimir Petlyakov in 1939 and was one of the largest aircraft built in the Soviet Union at that time. Despite its size and capabilities, the Pe-8 was plagued by problems, forcing the Soviets to retire the bomber earlier than expected. […] More
Flying a fighter plane through the Eiffel Tower only happens in the movies, right? Well, apparently not. This is the story of William Overstreet – the American pilot who flew his P-51B through the Eiffel Tower to chase a German Bf-109G. A Daredevil At Heart William “Bill” Overstreet Jr. enlisted in the US Army when […] More
A top-secret Soviet project from the late ‘50s could have been the fastest military aircraft ever built. It was expected to fly at supersonic (or even at hypersonic speeds) and was designed to “bring destruction” to any western city using its stealth and nuclear capability. However, as you might have known by now, the USSR […] More
When you think about WWII planes, you think of the Mustangs, Lightnings, and Spitfires. However, one aircraft seems to have evaded everyone’s radar – the P-80 Shooting Star. Lockheed’s creation enabled the US to have its own jet fighter by the 1940s. Here are 5 facts about the lesser-known Shooting Star of WWII: The first […] More
Have you ever wondered why an F-4 Phantom is somehow faster than the F-35? For reference, the Phantom can fly 450 mph faster than the US’ latest fighter jet. Fighter jets haven’t gotten faster in the past 50 years, and here’s why. When Intuition Meets Reality The Vietnam War went on for twenty years. During […] More
When thinking about spy planes, we tend to think of the U-2 and the SR-71. However, one aircraft with the designation “A-12 Archangel”, was actually made to be the U-2’s successor. Nobody knew it existed because it was only declassified thirty years after its retirement. Here’s everything you need to know about the A-12, the […] More
Once considered an innovative aircraft quickly turned into an obsolete plane in just half a decade. The A-12 Shrike peaked way too early and was already considered a liability before the start of the Second World War. Structurally Innovative – (X)A-8 Model 59, as it was called, was the first Curtiss with an all-metal low-wing […] More
Prior to the Cold War, most submarines had a somewhat pointed bow. That’s because most submarines were more like boats as they spent more time on the surface. Older submarines needed fresh air intake for their diesel engines to work. Turning Point Launched in 1954, USS Nautilus became the first nuclear-powered submarine in the world. […] More
Obviously, the B-24 is a highly regarded aircraft and was a tremendous help to the Allies in WWII. However, having a distinguished war record doesn’t mean you don’t have flaws. Davis Wing The attribute that gave the Liberator its strength is also its weakness. Its wings allowed for a high cruise speed, heavy bomb load, […] More
Sam Eckholm gets a chance to talk to the people who made the Darkstar from Top Gun: Maverick. Here are the five most interesting questions asked in the video: 1. Can the Darkstar actually fly? Skunk Works Engineer and DarkStar Project Leader, Brian Hershberger, confirmed that the aircraft couldn’t fly unless you use Hollywood magic. […] More
Nothing comes close to providing as much battlefield capability as the E-3 Sentry, commonly known as the AWACS. Here are ten facts about the Air Force’s eye in the sky. Acts like a flying control tower As an Airborne Warning and Control System, the E-3 helps identify enemies and friendlies on a battlefield. Instead of […] More
