Dreaming Big Airacudas were Bell Aircraft’s attempt to break into the aviation scene. This attempt came with the intention to make a sleeker and more futuristic design compared to other aircraft at that time. However, in the world of aviation, looks don’t matter as much as performance and reliability. Bold Design One of its many […] More
Thanks to Mark Allen, we are given a detailed walkaround tour of the Commemorative Air Force’s P-63. Here are the ten things you need to know about the King Cobra: 1. F Variant has an enlarged tail The CAF’s P-63 is an F variant, featuring a larger vertical tail than other versions. This change came […] More
Here’s what you need to know about the AgustaWestland AW101, a medium-lift helicopter that’s been in service for more than two decades: 1. Can be flexed in other roles When not performing search and rescue missions, the AW101 can be used for cargo transport and as a multi-purpose utility helicopter, with its MH1 variant able […] More
Huge Losses At the start of the Vietnam War, the US Air Force and Navy suffered losses to Soviet aircraft and missiles over North Vietnam. By 1968, about 22% of American planes were lost to MiGs alone. Their losses could be partially attributed to the pilots’ lack of training in air-to-air combat, with just ten […] More
1. Decided to be a pilot when she was young Campbell dreamt of being a fighter pilot when she was just in fifth grade. However, her dream didn’t stop there – ultimately, she wanted to become a pilot to be an astronaut. 2. First flew the T-37 She spent the first year of training operating […] More
1. Size of Holes Initially, the SBD’s flaps would cause its tail to shake violently during an attacking dive, highly affecting the bomber’s accuracy. After some time, they finally realized that putting 3in-diameter holes in its flaps would slow the Dauntless down without causing too much drag. 2. Wings Don’t Fold Nobody can blame anyone […] More
Reporting For Duty Loyce Edward Deen first worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Douglas Aircraft Company before he joined the US Navy. Deen underwent basic training in San Diego and enrolled in a gunner’s school to learn about the weapons systems aboard the Grumman TBF Avenger. On April 29, 1944, Deen reported for […] More
The Siege of Huế On January 31, 1968, a massive group of North Vietnamese soldiers launched an offensive against the fortified city of Huế. They successfully occupied almost all of the city for several weeks while resisting the South Vietnamese and US troops’ advancements. Why Huế? The city was the ancient imperial capital of Vietnam. […] More
The US has decommissioned three Littoral Combat Ships, all of them being relatively new to the scene. Here are five reasons why: 1. Way Over Budget A decade ago, the US Navy originally projected the ship’s cost to be around $220 million. However, by June 2009, the development and construction of USS Independence were 220% […] More
Simple, Sturdy, and Reliable The Soviets aimed to close the gap between Western fighters by introducing the MiG-21. The aircraft could achieve Mach 2 speeds and had unique triangular delta wings. Its simple yet effective, and cheap design allowed it to become the most-produced supersonic jet aircraft in history. First Time Ever In total, the […] More
The Short Brothers’ Short Sunderland was a flying boat patrol bomber that could carry 4,950lbs of bombs, mines, and depth charges. Here is how and why this flying boat earned the respect of Germany in WWII. Fuselage Design Its interior was divided into two decks – the lower containing bunks, a pressure stove, a machine […] More
On The Radar America knew about the Mitsubishi A6M Zero in the summer of 1940 after they easily picked off outdated Chinese biplanes. Flying Tigers’ leader, Claire Lee Chennault, warned the West about the fighter yet they paid little to no attention. After all, the West was confident that Japan’s technology was highly inferior. First […] More
