German Panzer and Tiger tanks were amongst the best the world has ever seen during WWII. These tanks had heavy protection from the front and sides, making it harder for American tanks to score a fatal hit. However, these German tanks had one big weakness – they were incredibly vulnerable from the top. Growing Restless […] More
During the first night of the war, the Whitley had a crucial mission to bomb several German cities. However, surprisingly, as it approached its target, it didn’t precisely bombs that fell on top of enemy territory. Ugly Yet Reliable The Whitley’s prototypes didn’t impress many, but this unappealing yet reliable heavy bomber excelled during the […] More
The Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet is a light attack jet and advanced jet trainer aircraft developed during the 1960s, during the height of the Cold War. Both the French and West German air forces built this aircraft to specifically do trainer and light attack missions. It was also made to do duties better than its predecessors. […] More
Germany was in possession of the world’s first operational jet-powered bomber. Fast, graceful, and maneuverable – yet its existence is glossed over when discussing WWII-era planes. Here’s 10 things you need to know about Arado Ar 234, the world’s first jet bomber. First envisioned as a reconnaissance aircraft The Ar 234 was made in response […] More
NASA has been a part of countless bizarre experiments all done in the name of advancing our understanding of aeronautics. In order to do this, they would oftentimes have to dig deep in their bag of tricks to push the limits of our current technology. One of these experiments included designing a variable sweep wing […] More
RMS Laconia was carrying almost 2,800 passengers when it was hit by a German U-boat off the coast of West Africa on September 12, 1942. Among those aboard the British troopship were thousands of Italian prisoners, Allied soldiers, and crewmembers. Returning Back When U-156 surfaced, its captain Werner Hartenstein, saw over 2,000 people struggling in […] More
The US Navy’s convoy ships were extremely vulnerable during WWII. Their ships were particularly having a hard time against air attacks, so a bunch of companies proposed their design for a defensive fighter/interceptor. Glenn Martin entered the competition with their optimistic design – the Martin 262. Three Different Designs During its development phase, Martin created […] More
The Douglas TBD-1 Devastator is a torpedo bomber from the late 1930s. Despite the name, it didn’t do a lot of devastation at all. In fact, it’s often remembered for its own devastation during the most famous battles in the Pacific. Here are the ten interesting facts about this obsolete bomber that was sent to […] More
Back in the ‘90s, Lockheed Martin had their own idea for a double-decked super transport plane. The optimistic design was planned to be bigger than the 747 and would have carried more passengers than the A380. Lockheed came up with the name “Very Large Subsonic Airplane,” which had a takeoff weight of 1,400,000 lbs, a […] More
The F15E Strike Eagle can reach up to 2.5 Mach speeds and equip with laser-guided missiles. It’s also equipped with the APG70 radar detecting hostile forces even from a long-range and two LANTIRN pods that can strike at pinpoint accuracy. Ultimately, though, this is a plane that would eventually wipe out the Iraqi Air Force […] More
Airborne aircraft carriers would allow fighter jet sorties to get into the action in one-third of the time of a battle group, carrying more firepower than a ground-based fighter squadron. It can also be used for everything from bomber defense, deep strike attacks, or interception against Soviet bombers. The Race to Building an Airborne Aircraft […] More
The Martin 262 Convoy Fighter was to be the cornerstone of the US Navy- this defensive fighter has propellers moving at supersonic speeds and can take off and land vertically. It was supposed to begin an era of the helicopter-like plane, but this never happened. The Search for a New Convoy Fighter World War II […] More
