Aviation History

Israeli Fulcrums! The saga of IAF’s MiG-29 fighter jets

Israeli Fulcrums! The saga of IAF’s MiG-29 fighter jets

Unlike the other frontline fighters of the past, the Israelis seemed unable to obtain MiG-29 Fulcrum through clandestine measures.… Read More

1 month ago

In 1949 Tuskegee Airmen won the first ever USAF Weapons’ Meet flying obsolete F-47 Thunderbolts. But their victory was hidden and the trophy stored at the USAF Museum for years.

The 332nd Fighter Group, formed by Tuskegee Airmen, had impressive scores, and despite the racial tension at that time, was… Read More

1 month ago

Did you know ‘wrong’ MiG-29 Kill Markings representing no known country were applied to USAF F-15C Jets after Operation Allied Force?

At the time, Google wasn’t really thing, so it was hard to just look up what a Serb flag… Read More

1 month ago

F-15C #86-0156, the only Eagle to score two MiG-29 kills, retires to the National Museum of the US Air Force

On Apr. 25, 2023 F-15C #86-0156, the only Eagle to score two MiG-29 kills, has been retired to the National… Read More

1 month ago

The 100th Fighter Squadron Red Tails bids Farewell to the F-16 Viper

A farewell flyaway ceremony held on Apr. 21, 2023 paid tribute to the airmen and technical crew who helped put… Read More

2 months ago

All Airworthy B-17 Flying Fortress Warbirds expected to be Grounded by Coming FAA Airworthiness Directive

On Apr. 15, 2023 the Yankee Air Museum, owner of Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Yankee Lady, announced that it has… Read More

2 months ago

The Story of when Ford UK Refused to Build Rolls Royce Merlin Engines because the Tolerances Rolls Royce allowed were Looser than Ford was Willing to Work With

Ford re-drew the blue-prints for the Merlin, making it more suitable for mass production, and by 1944, over 400 engines… Read More

2 months ago

Legendary German Ace Adolf Galland explains why Operation Bodenplatte, the final large-scale low-level attack on Allied airfields was Luftwaffe’s Death Blow

'The Luftwaffe received its death blow at the Ardennes offensive. In unfamiliar conditions and with insufficient training and combat experience,… Read More

2 months ago

Former USAF Master Sergeant reveals the Fastest Speed ever Recorded by Lockheed Blackbird

A-12 pilot Jim Eastham dropped the nose down a bit to see if he could at least reach Mach 3.0.… Read More

2 months ago

A quick look at why the Nakajima Ki-49 and other WWII Japanese heavy bombers were an Epic Fail

The IJAAF remained convinced that fast attack bombers like the Ki-21, Ki-49 and, eventually, the Ki-67 were the best option,… Read More

2 months ago

USAF retires its last MC-130H Combat Talon II, #89-0280, after delivering the aircraft to the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan AFB

“There’s special things you do whenever plane leaves. With the MC-130H, I used to give it a big hug… Read More

2 months ago

Concorde wasn’t the first Airliner to Break the Sound Barrier: how the DC-8 became the first commercial transport to go supersonic

The first airliner to go supersonic wasn’t the famous Concorde, which wouldn’t break the sound barrier until an October ’69… Read More

2 months ago

Here’s why USAF put B-52 and B-1B Strategic Bombers on Giant Trestle

Due to their higher flight altitude and nuclear payload, SAC bombers were the primary object of the tests, but fighters,… Read More

2 months ago

Last of only six pilots to fly the A-12 for the CIA legendary Oxcart program passed away

Frank Murray, the last of only six pilots to fly the A-12 for the CIA legendary Oxcart program, passed away… Read More

2 months ago

The story of Marta Bohn-Meyer, the only woman to fly in the SR-71 Blackbird as crewmember

The only other woman to have flown aboard the legendary SR-71 Blackbird was Congresswoman Beverly Byron who rode as a… Read More

2 months ago

Hanoi Taxi: the story of the C-141 StarLifter that became the first Aircraft to Return Vietnam Prisoners of War to the US

Although C-141 StarLifter aircraft had flown many military and humanitarian missions, none was more significant than the mission flown by… Read More

2 months ago

This B-17 was hit by an 88mm shell, remained in formation and gave the chance to those who survived to bail out safely. The story of the headless Flying Fortress.

As seen from the right waist of an accompanying B-17, this 463rd Bomb Group Flying Fortress received direct hit… Read More

2 months ago