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
The North American XB70 Valkyrie is considered one of the most beautiful bombers ever built to fly faster than any other bomber plane, delivering American-style justice. However, in today’s world, super-fast nuclear bombers aren’t needed anymore. So what if we turn this into a passenger plane? A Proposal In the 1960s, North American Aviation sat […] More
The P-61 fighter plane produced by Northrop, nicknamed “Black Widow,” was a formidable presence in the skies. However, its history is equally fascinating. Here are five interesting facts about the P-61 Black Widow: 1. The plane would have boasted an impressive eight-hour loiter time The P-61 could patrol the skies above a city like London […] More
Rare Aerial Footage In this clip, we get to see the 65th Fighter Wing’s gun camera footage. We have to say, this footage is absolutely amazing. Glad that someone placed cameras there back in the day, and we hope we get to see more of these old archives. There must of millions of wing cameras […] More
In August 1941, three lumbering Soviet bombers headed toward German-occupied territory. But these were no ordinary bombers – they were flying aircraft carriers designed to enter enemy lines to deploy a swarm of fighter planes and dive bombers. Nothing like it had ever been seen before. These massive juggernauts are about to make history as […] More
During the Battle of Britain, although destroying 7 aircraft, Nazi ace and engineer, Walter Horten was still unhappy. Lesser talented pilots under his command were being taken down by the dreaded British Spitfire. Futuristic Fighter It was at this moment that Horton decided to create a futuristic fighter that he had been dreaming of since […] More
Although the C-2A Greyhound had a long career with the US Navy since the 1960s, it’s now being replaced with the CMV-22 Osprey. Perfect Replacement? Can the Osprey do everything that the C-2 is doing right now? Absolutely, it can do so much more. It’s a tiltrotor that can take off and land like a […] More
Despite having a sleek design and impressive maneuverability, the SU-57 Felon is a rather underwhelming fifth-generation fighter. Here’s why: The SU57’s Shortfall Although a great-looking plane with decent maneuverability and speed – with an interesting noise to boot, the aircraft is still inadequate when it comes to modern air-to-air combat. How Does it Compare? The […] More
On February 21, 1944, Squadron leader Arthur Oxlade and navigator Lt. Donald Shanks of the 464 Squadron, prepared to take off on what turned out to be an almost impossible mission. Their plane was the De Havilland Mosquito, Mark IV with tail number mm-401. This wasn’t your ordinary Mosquito though, as it’s been fitted with […] More
A group of advanced and experimental aircraft known as the X Planes are quietly maturing toward changing the way we incorporate aviation technology. Developed by a combination of Defense Department insiders and America’s leading aerospace contractors, these X planes provide an exciting glimpse into the future of air power. History X Planes have always been […] More
During WWII, there was a remarkable aircraft that defied the odds, the formidable Japanese Kawanishi H8K. The H8K became the most massive and fearsome flying boat striking terror to the Allies. However, the true genius behind his aeronautical marvel is its staggering range. This feature was pushed to its limit in March 1942 when these […] More
