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The story of the Russian Mi-24 Hind Attack helicopter painted in US Coast Guard colors
2+ hour, 55+ min ago (195+ words) This combat helicopter is a flying infantry fighting vehicle, which blends features of both transport and attack helicopters. Soviet pilots called the aircraft "letayushiy tank" or flying tank. The Hind in fact was painted in USCG colors to play the…...
The P-51 that flew under the Eiffel Tower in hot pursuit of a Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109
2+ hour, 54+ min ago (261+ words) The Mustang The P-51 was designed as the NA-73 in 1940 at Britain's request. The design showed promise, and AAF purchases of Allison-powered Mustangs began in 1941, primarily for photo recon and ground support use due to its limited high-altitude performance. But in…...
In 1990s Argentina wanted to buy F/A-18s or F-16s to replace its A-4 fleet but had to purchase former USMC Skyhawks: the story of the A-4 AR
1+ day, 2+ hour ago (297+ words) By 1982, the backbone of the Argentine combat aviation, both in the Air Force and the Navy, was formed by three batches of Douglas A-4 Skyhawks, with the A-4 B and C of the Air Force and the A-4 Qs of the Navy. The…...
Delta Force Operator on EC-130 E hit by RH-53 during Operation Eagle Claw remembers the accident that plagued the ill-fated bid to end the Iran hostage crisis
1+ day, 2+ hour ago (136+ words) Following months of negotiations after the seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979, President Jimmy Carter ordered the newly formed Delta Force to conduct a raid into Iran on Apr. 24, 1980 to free the hostages. In the weeks before…...
Here's why the F-35 is better than the F-22 and why the gap in performance will continue to grow: Q & A with renowned F-35 expert Abraham Abrams
2+ day, 3+ hour ago (340+ words) As the only fighter of its generation in production in the Western world, evaluations made across multiple tenders have consistently concluded that the F-35 operates in an entirely different league to other Western combat jets, with this superiority giving the program…...
SR-71 pilot recalls the mission where a Soviet Mi G-25 fired a missile at his Blackbird
2+ day, 3+ hour ago (866+ words) The Mikoyan-Gurevich Mi G-25 (Foxbat) was one of the fastest and most feared combat aircraft ever built. Entering Soviet service in 1970, it was designed as a high-speed interceptor and reconnaissance platform capable of reaching Mach 2. 83. The Mi G-25s capabilities were so impressive…...
Boeing Personnel explain why the 777 features the yoke and not the sidestick although it has fly-by-wire controls
2+ day, 19+ hour ago (197+ words) The "Triple Seven" is the most produced wide-body jet airliner in history and remains a fixture for many of the world's great airlines today. The 777 was the first Boeing airliner to be designed using digital software, and the first to…...
Little more agility than a snow sled: CG-4 A and Horsa allied gliders and the Preview of mission airborne triumph and tragedy
2+ day, 19+ hour ago (764+ words) Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of "The Aviation Geek Club" one of the world's most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news…...
Yes, you can fire the GAU-8 A Avenger gun while the A-10 is inverted but you'd better not do it.' Warthog pilot explains why.
3+ day, 21+ hour ago (299+ words) The GAU-8 itself weighs 620 pounds (280 kg), but the complete weapon, with feed system and drum, weighs 4, 029 pounds (1, 828 kg) with a maximum ammunition load. It measures 19 ft 5 12 in (5. 931 m) from the muzzle to the rearmost point of the ammunition system, and the…...
The XC-99, the forgotten cargo version of the B-36 Peacemaker
3+ day, 21+ hour ago (197+ words) As told by Jim Dunn and Nicholas A. Veronico in their book'AMARG: Americas Strategic Military Aircraft Reserve, Army Air Force planners asked themselves, if a B-36 could carry 72, 000lbs of bombs, what could a cargo version of the bomber carry? Stripping out all…...