The F-35 remains the most technologically advanced fighter in service today. But as capable as they are, those in charge of its development are already planning for the fighter’s next upgrade. Here’s what we know so far: A New Brain Some of the fighter’s onboard systems are decades old. To get them up to date, […] More
The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force was alerted by the presence of two Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighters on February 7, 2013. After the encounter, Russia denied the allegations and claimed that they were merely conducting routine flights near the Kuril Islands. However, they failed to realize just how capable the Japanese F-2s were. FS-X Program The […] More
It didn’t take long for another type of war to come in after the end of WWII. Across each side of the Iron Curtain, military factions raced against each other to produce the ultimate strategic bomber – one that had unprecedented range and was capable of piercing through any line of defense to deliver immense […] More
Movies play a big role in the perception of historical events. In the video, YouTuber OTD Military History compares how the movie Fury showed combat versus how it was covered in the historical footage from WWII. Unsurprisingly, the movie and historical footage share many similarities – but some have critical differences. Advance over open ground […] More
1. World’s first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft Me 262s were one of the most advanced combat aircraft introduced in WWII. The aircraft was effective in dogfighting, but was also used for scouting, light bombing, and even dabbled in night fighting. German pilots who flew the Schwalbe claimed that they shot down at least 542 Allied […] More
While ships were the preferred method of deployment overseas for centuries, the introduction of jets gave rise to a bigger and faster form of travel in the 1960s. One great example is the Boeing 747, which flew for the first time in 1969. Then, enter Lockheed. CL-1201 Proposal Lockheed took inspiration from the 747 and […] More
This F-15 had perhaps the most diverse range of duties of any F-15 ever built. It rolled out the shop in 1973 as the first two-seat variant of the Eagle and the sixth-ever F-15 built by McDonnell Douglas. The aircraft would later serve as a trainer, a test bed for the F-15E Strike Eagle, and […] More
Just last year, South Korea announced the maiden flight of their newest fighter jet – the KF-21 Boramae. With still three more years before its planned introduction to service, here are five things we know about the KF-21. 1. Single-seater that is larger than most fighters According to Korea Aerospace Industries, the KF-21 has a […] More
The X-15 was a North American-made hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft developed in the 1950s by the United States Air Force and NASA. Here are ten facts about the X-15: 1. First manned aircraft to reach hypersonic speeds It was the first manned aircraft to reach hypersonic speeds, with a top speed of up to Mach 6.7. […] More
The Apache has been THE preeminent attack helicopter for more than three decades. With so many years under its belt, one might ask if the Apache’s still got it. Advanced Attack Helicopter Program The US Army was determined to have its own advanced attack helicopter after the cancellation of the AH-56 Cheyenne. In August 1972, […] More
A Tutorial You Didn’t Need Have you ever wondered how WWII pilots started their Spitfires? If you did, then you’re in luck. John Romain takes us inside the Spitfire’s cockpit and teaches us how they used to start this beast up. First, they check if the undercarriage is selected to the down position. Elevator trims […] More
Though it might look “plain and simple”, this aircraft is considered to be one of the most important aircraft in the history of aeronautics. Of course, we are talking about the Bell X-1. Here are ten things you should know about this “boring” plane: 1. First aircraft to cross the sound barrier The X-1 was […] More
