Creating a hypersonic missile involves solving a lot of extremely difficult problems. Yes, hypersonic technology is the future, but its utility is still up for debate. Here’s why: 1. What goes up, must come down To approach its target, the hypersonic missile would eventually need to come down to the warmer and denser atmosphere. The […] More
Northrop’s P-61 Black Widow was effectively used by USAF squadrons in Europe and the Pacific Theaters during WWII. This all-metal fighter wasn’t produced in large numbers compared to its contemporaries, yet left a big impact on the war. Here’s ten interesting facts about America’s storied night fighter: 1. First warbird designed as a night fighter […] More
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
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
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
December 7, 1941, is a day that will forever live in US infamy. It was the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, taking 2,400 American lives and kickstarting the full-scale US involvement in WWII. But what would have happened if an F-15 had been sent through time just before the Japanese attacked? Setting the scene […] More
For what it’s worth, these are merely gripes regarding some of the jeep’s functionalities. The Willys jeep itself was a respected and well-made machine that tremendously helped the Allied armies during WWII. Nevertheless, here’s what “Greendot 319” had to say about the jeep’s worst features. 1. Not enough space Let’s start off by stating the […] More
A lot of people think that the Doolittle Raid was the first foreign attack on Japanese mainlands. However, it was actually China who did it first in 1938 – this time, there were no napalm, bombs, or anything of the sorts. Here’s what you need to know about China’s “attack” on Japan: 1. Pair of […] More
This experimental two-stroke, sleeve-valved V12 engine was so powerful it would have bridged the gap between the piston and jet engine. Though it never had the chance to prove itself, it at least deserves to be remembered as the technological masterpiece it truly was. Here are ten things you should know about the Rolls Royce […] More
