Royal Air Force

The story of the “Messerspit:” when Germans fitted a Spitfire with a DB 605A, they found it was better than the Merlin Version.

The story of the “Messerspit:” when Germans fitted Spitfire with a DB 605A, they found it was better than the Merlin Version.

A new engine support structure was built onto the Spitfire’s fuselage and the DB 605 engine and cowling panels added.… Read More

15 hours ago

The Spitfire Mk.XIV (and not the P-51D) was the best piston-engined fighter of WWII in Europe even according to Adolf Galland. Here’s why.

There were around 20 high performance fighter types at least nominally in service in Europe when World War II there… Read More

2 weeks 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

Here are some cool photos of the first dual-control Panavia Tornado GR1T in its original colour scheme

The sunset/night photo shoot featured not only the Panavia Tornado GR1T ZA319, but also the Hawk T1 XX154 and the… Read More

2 months ago

RAF Tornado F3 crew members tell the story of tense mission flown to intercept an IrAF MiG-25 Foxbat the night before the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom

‘We had practised in the sim against the “Foxbat” and knew if he decided to run at the AWACS or… Read More

3 months ago

As Poland sends MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, UK considers supplying RAF Eurofighters for gifted Fulcrums to Ukraine

On Mar. 16, 2023 Poland pledged it would send four MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, the first NATO member to… Read More

3 months ago

Here are some cool night photos of the venerable Blackburn Buccaneer strike aircraft

The cool photos in this post were taken at the former RAF Kemble base (now known as the Cotswold airport)… Read More

3 months ago

MiG Eater! The story of the RAF Tornado GR1 that destroyed an Iraqi fighter landing at Al Asad air base using the JP233 runway denial weapon during the first night of Operation Desert Storm

Sqn Ldr Pete Batson and Wg Cdr Mike Heath caught an Iraqi Air Force Mirage F1EQ, rather than ‘MiG’,… Read More

5 months ago

In late 1970s the British MoD concluded that the F-14 was the only fighter that could meet Britain’s defence needs but RAF never bought the Tomcat. Here’s why.

The prospect of an RAF F-14 Tomcat buy was discussed. One method of lowering the bill might have been to… Read More

5 months ago

UK, Italy and Japan team up for the Tempest, the sixth-generation fighter that will be able to use artificial intelligence

The Tempest will be sixth-generation fighter jet. The aircraft will replace the RAF Eurofighter Typhoon fleet, and will be… Read More

6 months ago

In 1980s the US offered the UK the chance to buy the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter to equip RAF Squadrons but the British MoD declined the proposal. Here’s why.

US President Ronald Reagan had offered Margaret Thatcher the chance to work on US advanced military programs during the 1980s… Read More

6 months ago

Time to cry because it’s ended: Vulcan XH558 to start her engines for one last time on Nov. 20 before being put to sleep forever

Anyone that wants to hear the Vulcan engine's iconic "howl" for the last time has been invited to stand on… Read More

7 months ago

With total of 53 missiles successfully launched, RAF Typhoon and F-35B Lightning II aircraft conducted their largest ever mass firing of ASRAAMs

Over the space of 10 days, pilots from eight different squadrons successfully launched a total of 53 ASRAAM missiles at… Read More

7 months ago

This RAF Phantom was stenciled with an “F-117 DON’T ASK” zap after it made an emergency landing at Tonopah AFB

A RAF Phantom FGR.2 (F-4M in US speak) diverted there during RED FLAG 90-1, arriving back at Nellis with an… Read More

7 months ago

Russian Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker fighter jet fires missile near RAF RC-135W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft

On Sep. 29 Russian Sukhoi Su-27 (NATO reporting name: Flanker) fighter jet “released a missile” near a British RC-135… Read More

8 months ago

During recent sinking exercise USS Boone frigate was hit by 2 SM-6 missiles, 3 Harpoon missiles, 4 Paveway IV PGMs, 2 Martlet missiles and 2 JDAMs. She had to be scuttled with sub-launched munition and Explosive Ordnance Disposal live charges.

The recently concluded sinking exercise (SINKEX) called Atlantic Thunder 22 allowed Combat Air Crew Six (CAC-6) from VP-9 to execute… Read More

8 months ago

Preserved [Non-flyable] Avro Vulcan XM655 suffered Runway Excursion during fast taxi run

Avro Vulcan XM655 suffered runway excursion at Wellesbourne-Mountford airfield, UK, on Sep. 16, 2022 during the trial run for… Read More

9 months ago
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