During the summer of 1944, the fight in the battle of Europe is approaching a crucial moment. This moment would end up being June 6, 1944, D-Day. As the soldiers on the ground prepare to storm the beaches, they would need cover from the air, from the brave men of the Eight Air Force, men […] More
The F-15 Eagle is a truly great aircraft that was developed over the lessons of air combat learned in Vietnam. In the 1970s, McDonnell Douglas proposed a navalized version of the F-15, the F-15N Sea Eagle. Most Capable Air Superiority Aircraft The Sea Engle was built to be the most capable air superiority aircraft possible […] More
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois (nicknamed “Huey”) is the first proper utility helicopter and the last chopper out of Saigon. In this post, we take a look at this iconic chopper. New Breed In the Korean War, the idea of having a flying ambulance became a reality. It was the first battlefield use of helicopters, offering […] More
Committing mistakes at your job can be stressful. However, it’s definitely not as stressful as Taffy Holden’s mistake on July 22, 1966. Scheduled Ground Testing That day, Walter “Taffy” Holden, a 39-year-old engineer of the RAF’s No.33 Maintenance Unit, was working on the two Rolls-Royce Avon turbojets fitted on the Mach 2.0-capable English Electric Lightning. […] More
Loud, unreliable, killed more pilots than most of the other bombers in the US fleet, yet more than seven decades after its first flight, it’s still in operational service. In this post, we’ll walk you through how the B-52 became what it is today, and why on earth hasn’t been replaced. Shiny New Bomber After […] More
On August 24, 1944, 1st Lt. William R. Preddy of the 503rd Fighter Squadron was on his P-51 Mustang nicknamed “Rusty.” “Rusty” Lt. William’s Mustang was nicknamed Rusty for a particular reason- it’s made of multiple scrapped Mustangs, and his old engine always had problems. On that day, he received a new engine, a new […] More
The F-104 Starfighter was an innovative aircraft that high-altitude flight during the Cold War. The plane was developed to be an interceptor and tactical fighter for the USAF as well as its NATO allies. The Starfighter MiG-15s were small, fast, and agile in combat. Some American fighters thought they were outmaneuvered by the enemy. Kelly […] More
The Valkyrie was the biggest and fastest nuclear strike bomber ever made and could fly its entire mission at an impressive Mach 3. It was a remarkable design with many innovations that pushed the boundaries of aeronautic propulsion and materials. Wake Vortex However, the Valkyrie’s history was cut short, and only two of these planes […] More
The Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler is a twin-engine, four-seat, mid-wing, electronic warfare plane that was used by the US Marine Corps and the US Navy. No other aircraft design can match its prowess when it comes to electronic warfare. It also accommodates a trio of electronic countermeasures officers. Electronic Warfare Initially, the Air Force and […] More
At the height of the Korean War, the F-84 Thunderjet was developed to be the P-47 Thunderbolt,’s successor. Soon, the aircraft would find itself face to face with its most deadly adversary, the Soviet-built MiG-15. Outmatched, outpaced, but never outdone, this jet created a legacy of its own. Beginnings In 1944, Alexander Kartveli, the mastermind […] More
This interceptor and multirole fighter plane combine impressive maneuverability and speed. This is the story of one of the greatest fighters ever built, just at the wrong time, and at the wrong place. Inception The Soviets built a new training center called 1521 in the Airbase Mary called the ‘Soviet Top Gun Program,’ and the […] More
The Blohm & Voss P 170 bomber is one of Blohm & Voss’s strange aircraft designs in a sense that strongly resembles the pod racers from Star Wars. The P 170 Measuring 13 meters long and 16 meters wide, the P17 would have a very unique-looking three-engine layout, one in the center and one in […] More
