The Boeing P-26 ‘Peashooter’ was an American-built single-seat fighter aircraft that entered service in the 1930s. It became the first all-metal monoplane fighter operated by the US Army Air Corps, ushering in a new era in military aviation. From The Start The P-26 was a design created in response to a USAAC requirement for a […] More
Variable Geometry Wings The F-111’s wings were designed to help manage its weight while improving its speed at various altitudes. If needed, the wings can fully extend to triple their surface area. If fully swept back, the Aardvark benefits in the reduction of drag making supersonic flights possible. Its wings also enabled it to carry […] More
Suppresses Air Defenses The Prowler plays a key role in suppressing air defenses since its inception. Due to its specific and important role in modern combat, the Prowler has helped many of its allies operate and return safely. In fact, the only time the F-117 lost was because of the absence of EA-6Bs which were […] More
1. It Doesn’t Need To Dogfight We’ve all heard what people said about the F-35’s dogfighting capabilities – or lack thereof. It is true that it had a disadvantage in a turning fight and was ineffective in surviving attacks due to its lack of maneuverability. However, in a real-life situation, the F-35 wouldn’t need to […] More
1. Became Its Own Plane Initially, the F-20 was supposed to be the F-5G but it became a different aircraft during development. Though it did share similarities with the F-5 in terms of its sharp nose and cockpit, the F-20 only had one engine – a single General Electric F404 engine. 2. Improved Engine The […] More
Demonstration Practice The mission was to practice the maneuvers they would be performing in an airshow 3 days away. First, the plane takes off and turns left at an 80-degree angle. After a while, the C-17 is expected to turn right at a 260-degree angle. After this turn, the plane would then be aligned to […] More
1. Routine Checks Like any other airplane, the C-5 gets its wheels checked first by the ground crew. Its 28 wheels can be individually raised for maintenance. In this step, the brakes of the C-5 are also tested. A well-maintained set of wheels is very important for a massive plane like the C-5. 2. Loading […] More
1. State of Japanese Cities Houses in Japan’s cities were predominantly made of wood and paper. Combine that with the fact that Japan’s urban areas were densely populated, and you’ll get flammable cities. Furthermore, their military plants were surrounded by these crowded areas and some of the industrial work was actually done inside the homes […] More
1. Detailed Briefings Pre-flight operations always start with briefings. In these meetings, the pilots are fed with intel from the Carrier Intelligence Center. It covers any flight-related information such as the current and forecasted weather and ship position. In addition, they are also told about the critical operations in the area and the recent data […] More
1. Night Vision Lens Contrary to what its name suggests, the Javelin’s night vision lens can be used for day and night missions. It provides an option to use a 4x or 9x magnification and infrared sight. The lens is part of the Command Launch Unit which can be detached from the main tube. When […] More
1. Almost Impossible Requirements In 1955, the specifications were readied and named GOR.339. According to the paper, the TSR-2 had to be able to deliver nuclear weapons over long range, reach Mach 2, and have STOL or VTOL capabilities. These changes were due to the effects of nuclear strikes on runways and airfields, making them […] More
7:05 PM, March 27th, 1999 4 F-117 Nighthawks prepare for take-off at Aviano Air Base in Northern Italy. The mission was to strike targets in former Yugoslavia as part of a NATO air offensive. However, the weather was quickly deteriorating which grounded other aircraft. Nevertheless, the Nighthawks still proceeded with their mission. Spies Spots The […] More
