Focke Wulf FW 187 is a little-known German fighter from the late 1930s. It’s equipped with a twin-engine design and promised to deliver high performance. In fact, this fighter should be listed as a textbook definition of a missed opportunity. Origins To understand why it’s considered a missed opportunity, we need to go back to […] More
The United States is one of the most prolific producers of planes in the world. Over the years, it has given us some of the most iconic planes. But for every stunning aircraft produced in the US, there were at least three abominations lurking in the shadows. Let’s take a look at the ten ugliest […] More
Despite tensions of the Cold War, the Soviet Union sought to enhance its air defenses by developing the MiG-31, which would eventually play a key role in Soviet air defenses. The plane’s impressive speed, altitude, and climb capabilities, along with its groundbreaking Zaslon radar, would eventually become a formidable threat against high-flying threats. A Remarkable […] More
The B-29 Superfortress earned its reputation as a legendary aircraft. It was the pinnacle of the WWII heavy bomber, but it’s not without flaws. Ultimately, Boeing proposed the development of the ultimate variant of the Superfortress, the B-54. 1. It was initially type designated to the B-50 C However, the changes were significant enough that […] More
These two are seen by many as some of the finest fighters of WWII. Through upgrades later in their service, both of them became formidable fighters which were feared by both sides. But how did the Focke-Wulf 190 stack up against the North American P-51 Mustang? Origins The tale of these two planes that would […] More
In April 1985, the fastest planes in the world went to test out the latest star in the world of aviation- the BAC Concorde, a supersonic plane that can supercruise up to Mach 2.04. Famous planes from NATO Allied countries were offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to go head-to-head with the iconic plane but failed. Only […] More
The Northrop Grumman’s F-5 tactical fighter is one of the most enduring military aircraft designs for over 50 years because of the company’s initial objective in designing a cost-effective plane that’s easy to operate and maintain. The F-5 earned the reputation for being a highly maneuverable and supersonic fighter that can do both air-to-air and […] More
During the early days of the jet era, engineers from de Haviland came up with a remarkable aircraft – second only to the renowned Gloster Meteor – the Vampire. This iconic plane was not only the second jet fighter that joined the ranks of the Royal Air Force, but it was also the first plane […] More
In 1943, Frank Piasecki and Harold Venzie invented the PV-2 helicopter, the second most successful helicopter ever to fly in the US. By March 7, 1945, the company created the PV-3, the biggest helicopter in the world at the time, and the first successful use of the tandem rotor design. In the 1940s, a few […] More
While meant to be the renaissance of Soviet fighters, the MiG-29 ended up being the worst fourth-generation fighter. After a lengthy development, its successor was all this jet needed to be. It was developed to be a multi-purpose fighter with an array of weaponry and electronics that can “go head to head” with whatever the […] More
At the start of the 1950s, the US Navy was looking for an interceptor that could defend carrier battle groups against the threat of air-to-surface missiles from Soviet bombers and submarines. The Navy wanted a plane with a more powerful radar and longer-range missiles than the F-4 Phantom II. Origins The Navy awarded a contract […] More
Ukraine is finally getting F-16s to help in its efforts against the ongoing Russian invasion. While this is a massive advantage for Ukraine, it’s important to understand what these highly capable jets can (and can’t do) and how this will change the fight for Ukraine’s independence. Analysis Regardless of the type, F-16s will be a […] More
