Featured in Must Read FeaturesBYChris CrootSep 11, 2022ShareStories From The Eyes In The Sky On 9/11Recollections from a RAF E-3 Sentry air controller and a USAF F-16 pilot, both of whom plowed the empty skies on 9/11. BYChris CrootSep 11, 2022ShareBYEmma HelfrichSep 11, 2022ShareAir Traffic Controller Details Sea Of Red Tape That Mired 9/11 ResponseA bizarrely convoluted process for handling hijackings and contacting the Air Force to launch fighters made a prompt response impossible. BYEmma HelfrichSep 11, 2022ShareBYTyler RogowaySep 1, 2022ShareWhy An Officer On EC-135C Doomsday Planes Packed A RevolverWhile it may seem like a fictional detail from a Cold War thriller, select crew did pack pistols aboard Air Force Looking Glass jets. BYTyler RogowaySep 1, 2022ShareBYEmma HelfrichAug 19, 2022ShareThis Crazy Il-62 Airliner’s Grass Landing Has A Great Story Behind ItThe Il-62’s nail-biting landing in a grassy and dusty field happened so it could become a memorial to Germany’s rich aviation history. BYEmma HelfrichAug 19, 2022ShareBYJoe “Smokin” RuzickaAug 15, 2022ShareWhat Top Gun 2 Got Right And Wrong About Navy Fighter CultureWith a career that put him in the cockpits of Tomcats and Super Hornets, Joe “Smokin” Ruzicka is well placed to assess the blockbuster. BYJoe “Smokin” RuzickaAug 15, 2022ShareBYJamie HunterAug 8, 2022ShareNellis AFB Is The Epicenter Of The USAF’s FutureInside Nellis Week: Aggressors, testers, Weapons School, cyber warfare, and advanced communications makes Nellis the ultimate future air combat melting pot. BYJamie HunterAug 8, 2022ShareBYKevin NoonanJul 28, 2022ShareThe Time A Navy Sub Hunter Found A Lost B-58 Hustler In Great Salt LakeThe tragic loss of a B-58 Hustler bomber over Utah resulted in the Air Force calling on the Navy for help. BYKevin NoonanJul 28, 2022ShareBYRebecca SimonJul 25, 2022ShareEverything You Know About Pirates Is WrongBooks, movies, and amusement rides have warped the reality surrounding the golden age of piracy, but the truth is just as fascinating. BYRebecca SimonJul 25, 2022ShareBYEmma HelfrichJul 22, 2022ShareVeteran Air Traffic Controller On Dealing With Stranger Things In The SkyA retired air traffic controller and FAA liaison to the military gives firsthand insights on the unidentified aerial phenomena topic. BYEmma HelfrichJul 22, 2022ShareBYThomas NewdickJul 14, 2022ShareWhy The Legacy Of Robin Olds Lives On In Today’s Fighter PilotsA century after his birth, we look at the strong bonds between legendary U.S. pilot Robin Olds and one British fighter squadron. BYThomas NewdickJul 14, 2022ShareBYTyler RogowayJul 9, 2022ShareThis Is The Navy Weaponry That Top Gun 2’s Box Office Haul Could BuyTop Gun: Maverick has made a carrier-load of money. Here’s what Navy aircraft, ships, and munitions it could buy. BYTyler RogowayJul 9, 2022ShareBYJamie HunterJun 29, 2022ShareBlending Live Enemies With Virtual Ones Is Transforming The Way Fighter Pilots TrainFlying missions against enemies that are physically there and others that aren’t is the key to simulating complex real world threats. BYJamie HunterJun 29, 2022ShareBYEmma HelfrichJun 16, 2022ShareThis Shot Of 11 Japanese Hatsuyuki-Class Destroyers Is Damn ImpressiveThe photo shows Japan’s Hatsuyuki destroyers in a row, and if the formation isn’t impressive enough, they’re also in numerical order! BYEmma HelfrichJun 16, 2022ShareBYThomas NewdickJun 14, 2022ShareElite British SAS Soldier’s Action-Packed Account Of The Falklands WarMark ‘Splash’ Aston, of the legendary U.K. Special Air Service, recalls his time fighting in the Falklands War. BYThomas NewdickJun 14, 2022ShareBYHoward AltmanJun 9, 2022ShareThe Afghan Army’s Last Commander On How His Country Really FellHaibatullah Alizai recounts the final five harrowing days of his government and how he reluctantly became the Afghan Army’s last general. BYHoward AltmanJun 9, 2022ShareBYHoward AltmanJun 7, 2022ShareLow, Fast And Dangerous: A Firsthand Account Of Ukraine’s Secret Helicopter Rescue MissionsIn an exclusive interview, one rescuer describes the helicopter missions into the besieged Azovstal Steel plant in Russian-occupied Mariupol. BYHoward AltmanJun 7, 2022ShareBYOliver ParkenJun 6, 2022ShareI Bet You’ve Never Seen A Private Jet Fly An Approach To An Aircraft Carrier BeforeIt’s not everyday you see an Embraer Phenom private jet fly an approach on a U.S. Navy carrier, but Top Gun: Maverick made it happen. BYOliver ParkenJun 6, 2022ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 2, 2022ShareSkunk Works On How They Brought Top Gun: Maverick’s Darkstar To LifeSkunk Works says Darkstar isn’t necessarily real, but that the capabilities depicted are not necessarily “mere fiction.” BYJoseph TrevithickJun 2, 2022ShareBYHoward AltmanMay 31, 2022ShareNavy Finally Sends Littoral Combat Ship To Middle EastThe Navy wants to retire USS Sioux City and other LCSs like it despite the deployment that comes 14 years after the type entered service. BYHoward AltmanMay 31, 2022ShareBYThomas NewdickMay 27, 2022ShareRemembering The Navy’s Doomed Aircraft-Carrying AirshipsParasite fighters operating from airships sounds like science fiction, but it was reality for the U.S. Navy in the 1930s. BYThomas NewdickMay 27, 2022ShareBYEmma HelfrichMay 9, 2022ShareNavy Nearly Got A Single-Seat A-6 Intruder Instead Of The A-7 Corsair IIThe story of how a major modification of Grumman’s A-6 Intruder almost replaced the A-4 Skyhawk in the Navy’s light attack role. BYEmma HelfrichMay 9, 2022ShareBYJoe “Smokin” RuzickaMay 6, 2022ShareBehold The Lost F-14 Tomcat Demo TapesNever before seen F-14 Tomcat demonstration videos put you right in the cockpit of the original flying star of Top Gun. BYJoe “Smokin” RuzickaMay 6, 2022ShareBYEmma HelfrichApr 29, 2022ShareThe B-52 Flight Simulator Trains Of The Cold WarStrategic Air Command KC-135 and B-52 crews trained inside trains during the Cold War. BYEmma HelfrichApr 29, 2022ShareBYThomas NewdickApr 22, 2022ShareThe One Time North Vietnam’s MiGs Attacked U.S. Navy WarshipsFifty years ago, the Vietnamese People’s Air Force launched a one-of-its-kind air raid against U.S. Navy warships in the Gulf of Tonkin. BYThomas NewdickApr 22, 2022ShareBYTyler RogowayApr 22, 2022ShareSR-71 Blackbird’s Predecessor Looked Even Cooler With CanardsAn early design of the SR-71’s predecessor had massive canard foreplanes. This is what it would’ve looked like if it had flown. BYTyler RogowayApr 22, 2022ShareBYDan ParsonsApr 18, 2022ShareThis Is What It Takes For An MV-22 To Fly Halfway Across The PacificThe vast Pacific gives even the Marines’ long-range vertical-takeoff-and-landing phenom, the MV-22 Osprey, a major logistics workout. BYDan ParsonsApr 18, 2022ShareBYThomas NewdickApr 16, 2022ShareA Look Back At All The B-52 Variants As The Iconic Bomber Hits 70With the legendary B-52 marking its 70th anniversary, here are all the versions of the bomber to have served the U.S. Air Force. BYThomas NewdickApr 16, 2022ShareBYHoward AltmanApr 14, 2022ShareThis Is The Shadowy Special Operations Mothership You’ve Never Heard OfFor a ghost of a special operations ship, the Carolyn Chouest has an amazing history but lack of funding may spell the end of her mission. BYHoward AltmanApr 14, 2022ShareBYThomas NewdickApr 2, 2022ShareUkrainian MiG-29 Pilot’s Front-Line Account Of The Air War Against RussiaA MiG-29 pilot talks tactics and tribulations in the desperate fight to keep Ukraine’s skies free from Russian domination. BYThomas NewdickApr 2, 2022ShareBYTyler RogowayMar 22, 2022ShareWatch This B-52 ‘Crabwalk’ Down The Runway In A Heavy Crosswind Like Only It CanWatch this B-52’s unique swiveling landing gear get a full workout during this windy recovery at RAF Fairford. BYTyler RogowayMar 22, 2022ShareBYBrett Tingley and Tyler RogowayFeb 21, 2022ShareBondo Gave The Secret Tacit Blue Demonstrator Jet Its Smooth Stealthy SkinVeteran Northrop engineer recollects his time on the top-secret Tacit Blue program, including some of its oddest quirks. BYBrett Tingley and Tyler RogowayFeb 21, 2022ShareBYJamie HunterFeb 17, 2022ShareThe Extraordinary Story Of The Last Fighter Mission Over AfghanistanWith chaos on the ground and in the sky, and nowhere to divert to in an emergency, F-15Es watched over the tumultuous withdrawal from Afghanistan. BYJamie HunterFeb 17, 2022ShareBYJames DeboerFeb 10, 2022ShareInside The World’s Only Privately Owned F-16s That Are Flying As Advanced AggressorsTop Aces has used major upgrades to turn some of the oldest F-16s around into the most potent private aggressors on the planet. BYJames DeboerFeb 10, 2022ShareBYBrett TingleyFeb 4, 2022ShareX-32’s Test Pilot On Why It Lost To What Became The F-35The Boeing X-32 is most remembered for its goofy looks, but its lead test pilot reveals why appearances can be deceiving. BYBrett TingleyFeb 4, 2022ShareBYColin 'Farva' PriceFeb 1, 2022ShareWhy Fighter Pilots Work Intensely For Eight Hours Just To Fly For 30 MinutesIt’s not glamorous, but much of what it takes to become a good fighter pilot happens on the ground before and after the mission. BYColin 'Farva' PriceFeb 1, 2022ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJan 28, 2022ShareSpace Shuttle Carrying 747 Was Secretly Modified To Defend Itself From Heat-Seeking Missiles (Updated)NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft was secretly equipped with infrared countermeasures for its high-profile 1983 European tour. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJan 28, 2022ShareBYBrett TingleyJan 22, 2022ShareNASA Once Built This Armored HAZMAT Response Vehicle That Was Loaded With Futuristic FeaturesThe space agency owned a small fleet of APCs to be used in emergencies but envisioned a broader role for its more ambitious prototype HAZMAT vehicle. BYBrett TingleyJan 22, 2022ShareBYThomas Newdick and Tyler RogowayJan 10, 2022ShareRussia’s Su-34 Fullback Strike Jet Is The King Of Hauling GasWith prodigious quantities carried inside and out, the Fullback is the undisputed champion of the tactical jet fuel load. BYThomas Newdick and Tyler RogowayJan 10, 2022ShareBYThomas NewdickJan 6, 2022ShareThe Secretive U-2 Spy Plane Missions Flown Out Of Norway’s Bodø AirbaseAs Bodø closes as a fighter base, we look back at its Cold War legacy when it launched U-2 espionage flights aimed at the Soviet Union. BYThomas NewdickJan 6, 2022ShareBYThomas NewdickJan 4, 2022ShareWatch These Russian Su-30 Fighter Jets Fire Eight Air-To-Air Missiles SimultaneouslyThe live-fire exercise is one of the biggest of its kind that we’ve seen and has an important training function. BYThomas NewdickJan 4, 2022ShareBYJoseph TrevithickDec 31, 2021ShareWatch This C-130 Run For Its Life At Low Level From A Mock Enemy Missile CrewRealistic threats on the ground are an important if often underappreciated aspect of the Air Force’s Red Flag air combat exercises. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 31, 2021ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 30, 2021ShareBehold The Naked Warplanes Of Tinker Air Force BaseWith the depot maintenance mission for a number of big jets, Tinker AFB offers rare glimpses of what these planes look like without their paint. BYTyler RogowayDec 30, 2021ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 22, 2021ShareThe F-117 Tested A Mirror-Like Skin Decades Before The F-22 DidWe have more on the ‘mirrored’ F-22 Raptor mystery that includes a historical connection and an official Air Force statement. BYTyler RogowayDec 22, 2021ShareBYRandy SmithDec 22, 2021ShareWhat It’s Like To Live And Work Inside White Sands Missile RangeA fascinating snapshot of 1990s life at the birthplace of the atomic bomb, numerous modern missile systems, and so much more. BYRandy SmithDec 22, 2021ShareBYThomas NewdickDec 17, 2021ShareUkraine Once Had The World’s Largest Tu-160 Blackjack Bomber FleetOn the 40th anniversary of its first flight, we look back to when Ukraine possessed an entire regiment of Tu-160 strategic bombers. BYThomas NewdickDec 17, 2021ShareBYThomas NewdickDec 8, 2021ShareFlying Boats Flew Japan’s Little-Known Follow-On Raid On Pearl HarborThe second attempted attack on Pearl Harbor indirectly changed the course of the war in the Pacific. BYThomas NewdickDec 8, 2021ShareBYKevin NoonanDec 2, 2021ShareAn S-3 Viking Once Flew A Captured Terrorist On A Record-Breaking Flight To The United StatesThe carrier-based S-3 anti-submarine jet transported the terrorist all the way from the Mediterranean to Washington on a high-stakes mission. BYKevin NoonanDec 2, 2021ShareBYTyler RogowayNov 26, 2021ShareWatch A P-3 Submarine Hunter’s Sonobuoy Dramatically Transform Once In The WaterTightly-packed sonobuoys can transform significantly once they hit the water and start assisting in a submarine hunt. BYTyler RogowayNov 26, 2021ShareBYJoseph TrevithickNov 17, 2021ShareTop Gun: Maverick’s Massive Support From The U.S. Military Is Laid Out In These DocumentsOfficial documents detail the use of Navy aircraft, carriers, and bases, as well as provide details about the actual production of the movie. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 17, 2021ShareBYTyler RogowayNov 17, 2021ShareUSS Desert Ship Sits In A Sea Of Sand And Launched The Navy To The Forefront Of Missile TechThis unique and historic facility has played an essential role in developing the U.S. Navy’s missile technology since the dawn of the Cold War. BYTyler RogowayNov 17, 2021ShareBYTyler RogowayNov 17, 2021ShareConfessions Of A B-52 Stratofortress MaintainerWhat the job of the unsung heroes that keep America’s antique go-to bomber in the air is really like. BYTyler RogowayNov 17, 2021ShareBYTyler RogowayNov 12, 2021ShareCheck Out This Trio Of Special Operations Combatant Craft Tearing Across San Diego BayNo, this isn’t a scene from a Miami Vice or Thunder In Paradise remake. BYTyler RogowayNov 12, 2021ShareBYBrian O'RourkeNov 11, 2021ShareTails Of War: Animals Have Made The Rigors Of Combat More Bearable Wherever Troops Have ServedThis Veterans Day, we invite you to remember the four-legged friends who made troops’ service a little brighter. BYBrian O'RourkeNov 11, 2021ShareBYThomas NewdickNov 10, 2021ShareThis Myth-Busting Walk-Around Of The Soviet MiG-23 Flogger Fighter Is A Must-WatchOne civilian MiG pilot is on a mission to rectify some Cold War-era misunderstandings about the notorious MiG-23 Flogger. BYThomas NewdickNov 10, 2021ShareBYThomas NewdickNov 9, 2021ShareThe Soviet Meteorit Mach-3 Cruise Missile Was A Colossal Cold War OddityThe missile was designed to fly thousands of miles at over Mach 3 and 80,000 feet before diving onto its target and detonating its nuclear payload. BYThomas NewdickNov 9, 2021ShareBYKevin NoonanNov 3, 2021ShareThe Navy Isn’t Prepared To Face The Growing Diesel Submarine ThreatA veteran submarine hunter explains how the proliferation of ever more capable diesel-electric submarines is a major problem for the U.S. Navy. BYKevin NoonanNov 3, 2021ShareBYThomas NewdickOct 29, 2021ShareDisembodied Voices Were Blasted Into The Jungle By The U.S. In Vietnam To Spook The EnemyDuring the Vietnam War, Operation Wandering Soul used ghost stories and creepy sounds to encourage the enemy to surrender. BYThomas NewdickOct 29, 2021ShareBY‘Danno’Oct 28, 2021ShareAn OV-10 Bronco Pilot’s Adventure Teaching Thai Flyers Forward Air ControlA mission to train Thai aircrew gave one U.S. Air Force OV-10 pilot unique insight into a shadowy local counter-narcotics mission. BY‘Danno’Oct 28, 2021ShareBYJuan RiveraOct 21, 2021ShareLife On The High Seas Aboard A Tin Can Destroyer During The Cold WarA sailor’s life is never easy, but there can be some great times among the challenges. BYJuan RiveraOct 21, 2021ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 15, 2021ShareFeel The Speed In These Incredible Photos From The Air Force’s Rocket Sled TrackThe Air Force is now looking at modernizing the High Speed Test Track at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico to support new hypersonic developments. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 15, 2021ShareBYTyler RogowayOct 11, 2021ShareWhy Multi-Billion Dollar Nuclear Submarines Still Run Into Things UnderwaterA veteran submariner explains the challenges crews face navigating complex undersea environments that they can’t even see. BYTyler RogowayOct 11, 2021ShareBYTyler RogowayOct 7, 2021ShareHave You Ever Seen An AV-8B Harrier Use The Meatball To Land On An Amphibious Assault Ship?This awesome video shows how Marine vertical landing jets use a Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System like their supercarrier-based counterparts. BYTyler RogowayOct 7, 2021ShareBYTyler RogowayOct 5, 2021ShareThese Images Of Aussie C-17s Flying Among Skyscrapers In Brisbane Are The Best We’ve Ever SeenOne photographer has captured the Royal Australian Air Force’s low-flying action for the Riverfire festival like no other. BYTyler RogowayOct 5, 2021ShareBYTyler RogowayOct 1, 2021ShareThe Story Behind The Modified Falcon Business Jets That Bring America’s Fallen Heroes HomeAn inside look at how one of the most challenging, heart-wrenching, and critical aviation missions in the country gets done. BYTyler RogowayOct 1, 2021Share12345…13
BYChris CrootSep 11, 2022ShareStories From The Eyes In The Sky On 9/11Recollections from a RAF E-3 Sentry air controller and a USAF F-16 pilot, both of whom plowed the empty skies on 9/11. BYChris CrootSep 11, 2022Share
BYEmma HelfrichSep 11, 2022ShareAir Traffic Controller Details Sea Of Red Tape That Mired 9/11 ResponseA bizarrely convoluted process for handling hijackings and contacting the Air Force to launch fighters made a prompt response impossible. BYEmma HelfrichSep 11, 2022Share
BYTyler RogowaySep 1, 2022ShareWhy An Officer On EC-135C Doomsday Planes Packed A RevolverWhile it may seem like a fictional detail from a Cold War thriller, select crew did pack pistols aboard Air Force Looking Glass jets. BYTyler RogowaySep 1, 2022Share
BYEmma HelfrichAug 19, 2022ShareThis Crazy Il-62 Airliner’s Grass Landing Has A Great Story Behind ItThe Il-62’s nail-biting landing in a grassy and dusty field happened so it could become a memorial to Germany’s rich aviation history. BYEmma HelfrichAug 19, 2022Share
BYJoe “Smokin” RuzickaAug 15, 2022ShareWhat Top Gun 2 Got Right And Wrong About Navy Fighter CultureWith a career that put him in the cockpits of Tomcats and Super Hornets, Joe “Smokin” Ruzicka is well placed to assess the blockbuster. BYJoe “Smokin” RuzickaAug 15, 2022Share
BYJamie HunterAug 8, 2022ShareNellis AFB Is The Epicenter Of The USAF’s FutureInside Nellis Week: Aggressors, testers, Weapons School, cyber warfare, and advanced communications makes Nellis the ultimate future air combat melting pot. BYJamie HunterAug 8, 2022Share
BYKevin NoonanJul 28, 2022ShareThe Time A Navy Sub Hunter Found A Lost B-58 Hustler In Great Salt LakeThe tragic loss of a B-58 Hustler bomber over Utah resulted in the Air Force calling on the Navy for help. BYKevin NoonanJul 28, 2022Share
BYRebecca SimonJul 25, 2022ShareEverything You Know About Pirates Is WrongBooks, movies, and amusement rides have warped the reality surrounding the golden age of piracy, but the truth is just as fascinating. BYRebecca SimonJul 25, 2022Share
BYEmma HelfrichJul 22, 2022ShareVeteran Air Traffic Controller On Dealing With Stranger Things In The SkyA retired air traffic controller and FAA liaison to the military gives firsthand insights on the unidentified aerial phenomena topic. BYEmma HelfrichJul 22, 2022Share
BYThomas NewdickJul 14, 2022ShareWhy The Legacy Of Robin Olds Lives On In Today’s Fighter PilotsA century after his birth, we look at the strong bonds between legendary U.S. pilot Robin Olds and one British fighter squadron. BYThomas NewdickJul 14, 2022Share
BYTyler RogowayJul 9, 2022ShareThis Is The Navy Weaponry That Top Gun 2’s Box Office Haul Could BuyTop Gun: Maverick has made a carrier-load of money. Here’s what Navy aircraft, ships, and munitions it could buy. BYTyler RogowayJul 9, 2022Share
BYJamie HunterJun 29, 2022ShareBlending Live Enemies With Virtual Ones Is Transforming The Way Fighter Pilots TrainFlying missions against enemies that are physically there and others that aren’t is the key to simulating complex real world threats. BYJamie HunterJun 29, 2022Share
BYEmma HelfrichJun 16, 2022ShareThis Shot Of 11 Japanese Hatsuyuki-Class Destroyers Is Damn ImpressiveThe photo shows Japan’s Hatsuyuki destroyers in a row, and if the formation isn’t impressive enough, they’re also in numerical order! BYEmma HelfrichJun 16, 2022Share
BYThomas NewdickJun 14, 2022ShareElite British SAS Soldier’s Action-Packed Account Of The Falklands WarMark ‘Splash’ Aston, of the legendary U.K. Special Air Service, recalls his time fighting in the Falklands War. BYThomas NewdickJun 14, 2022Share
BYHoward AltmanJun 9, 2022ShareThe Afghan Army’s Last Commander On How His Country Really FellHaibatullah Alizai recounts the final five harrowing days of his government and how he reluctantly became the Afghan Army’s last general. BYHoward AltmanJun 9, 2022Share
BYHoward AltmanJun 7, 2022ShareLow, Fast And Dangerous: A Firsthand Account Of Ukraine’s Secret Helicopter Rescue MissionsIn an exclusive interview, one rescuer describes the helicopter missions into the besieged Azovstal Steel plant in Russian-occupied Mariupol. BYHoward AltmanJun 7, 2022Share
BYOliver ParkenJun 6, 2022ShareI Bet You’ve Never Seen A Private Jet Fly An Approach To An Aircraft Carrier BeforeIt’s not everyday you see an Embraer Phenom private jet fly an approach on a U.S. Navy carrier, but Top Gun: Maverick made it happen. BYOliver ParkenJun 6, 2022Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 2, 2022ShareSkunk Works On How They Brought Top Gun: Maverick’s Darkstar To LifeSkunk Works says Darkstar isn’t necessarily real, but that the capabilities depicted are not necessarily “mere fiction.” BYJoseph TrevithickJun 2, 2022Share
BYHoward AltmanMay 31, 2022ShareNavy Finally Sends Littoral Combat Ship To Middle EastThe Navy wants to retire USS Sioux City and other LCSs like it despite the deployment that comes 14 years after the type entered service. BYHoward AltmanMay 31, 2022Share
BYThomas NewdickMay 27, 2022ShareRemembering The Navy’s Doomed Aircraft-Carrying AirshipsParasite fighters operating from airships sounds like science fiction, but it was reality for the U.S. Navy in the 1930s. BYThomas NewdickMay 27, 2022Share
BYEmma HelfrichMay 9, 2022ShareNavy Nearly Got A Single-Seat A-6 Intruder Instead Of The A-7 Corsair IIThe story of how a major modification of Grumman’s A-6 Intruder almost replaced the A-4 Skyhawk in the Navy’s light attack role. BYEmma HelfrichMay 9, 2022Share
BYJoe “Smokin” RuzickaMay 6, 2022ShareBehold The Lost F-14 Tomcat Demo TapesNever before seen F-14 Tomcat demonstration videos put you right in the cockpit of the original flying star of Top Gun. BYJoe “Smokin” RuzickaMay 6, 2022Share
BYEmma HelfrichApr 29, 2022ShareThe B-52 Flight Simulator Trains Of The Cold WarStrategic Air Command KC-135 and B-52 crews trained inside trains during the Cold War. BYEmma HelfrichApr 29, 2022Share
BYThomas NewdickApr 22, 2022ShareThe One Time North Vietnam’s MiGs Attacked U.S. Navy WarshipsFifty years ago, the Vietnamese People’s Air Force launched a one-of-its-kind air raid against U.S. Navy warships in the Gulf of Tonkin. BYThomas NewdickApr 22, 2022Share
BYTyler RogowayApr 22, 2022ShareSR-71 Blackbird’s Predecessor Looked Even Cooler With CanardsAn early design of the SR-71’s predecessor had massive canard foreplanes. This is what it would’ve looked like if it had flown. BYTyler RogowayApr 22, 2022Share
BYDan ParsonsApr 18, 2022ShareThis Is What It Takes For An MV-22 To Fly Halfway Across The PacificThe vast Pacific gives even the Marines’ long-range vertical-takeoff-and-landing phenom, the MV-22 Osprey, a major logistics workout. BYDan ParsonsApr 18, 2022Share
BYThomas NewdickApr 16, 2022ShareA Look Back At All The B-52 Variants As The Iconic Bomber Hits 70With the legendary B-52 marking its 70th anniversary, here are all the versions of the bomber to have served the U.S. Air Force. BYThomas NewdickApr 16, 2022Share
BYHoward AltmanApr 14, 2022ShareThis Is The Shadowy Special Operations Mothership You’ve Never Heard OfFor a ghost of a special operations ship, the Carolyn Chouest has an amazing history but lack of funding may spell the end of her mission. BYHoward AltmanApr 14, 2022Share
BYThomas NewdickApr 2, 2022ShareUkrainian MiG-29 Pilot’s Front-Line Account Of The Air War Against RussiaA MiG-29 pilot talks tactics and tribulations in the desperate fight to keep Ukraine’s skies free from Russian domination. BYThomas NewdickApr 2, 2022Share
BYTyler RogowayMar 22, 2022ShareWatch This B-52 ‘Crabwalk’ Down The Runway In A Heavy Crosswind Like Only It CanWatch this B-52’s unique swiveling landing gear get a full workout during this windy recovery at RAF Fairford. BYTyler RogowayMar 22, 2022Share
BYBrett Tingley and Tyler RogowayFeb 21, 2022ShareBondo Gave The Secret Tacit Blue Demonstrator Jet Its Smooth Stealthy SkinVeteran Northrop engineer recollects his time on the top-secret Tacit Blue program, including some of its oddest quirks. BYBrett Tingley and Tyler RogowayFeb 21, 2022Share
BYJamie HunterFeb 17, 2022ShareThe Extraordinary Story Of The Last Fighter Mission Over AfghanistanWith chaos on the ground and in the sky, and nowhere to divert to in an emergency, F-15Es watched over the tumultuous withdrawal from Afghanistan. BYJamie HunterFeb 17, 2022Share
BYJames DeboerFeb 10, 2022ShareInside The World’s Only Privately Owned F-16s That Are Flying As Advanced AggressorsTop Aces has used major upgrades to turn some of the oldest F-16s around into the most potent private aggressors on the planet. BYJames DeboerFeb 10, 2022Share
BYBrett TingleyFeb 4, 2022ShareX-32’s Test Pilot On Why It Lost To What Became The F-35The Boeing X-32 is most remembered for its goofy looks, but its lead test pilot reveals why appearances can be deceiving. BYBrett TingleyFeb 4, 2022Share
BYColin 'Farva' PriceFeb 1, 2022ShareWhy Fighter Pilots Work Intensely For Eight Hours Just To Fly For 30 MinutesIt’s not glamorous, but much of what it takes to become a good fighter pilot happens on the ground before and after the mission. BYColin 'Farva' PriceFeb 1, 2022Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJan 28, 2022ShareSpace Shuttle Carrying 747 Was Secretly Modified To Defend Itself From Heat-Seeking Missiles (Updated)NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft was secretly equipped with infrared countermeasures for its high-profile 1983 European tour. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJan 28, 2022Share
BYBrett TingleyJan 22, 2022ShareNASA Once Built This Armored HAZMAT Response Vehicle That Was Loaded With Futuristic FeaturesThe space agency owned a small fleet of APCs to be used in emergencies but envisioned a broader role for its more ambitious prototype HAZMAT vehicle. BYBrett TingleyJan 22, 2022Share
BYThomas Newdick and Tyler RogowayJan 10, 2022ShareRussia’s Su-34 Fullback Strike Jet Is The King Of Hauling GasWith prodigious quantities carried inside and out, the Fullback is the undisputed champion of the tactical jet fuel load. BYThomas Newdick and Tyler RogowayJan 10, 2022Share
BYThomas NewdickJan 6, 2022ShareThe Secretive U-2 Spy Plane Missions Flown Out Of Norway’s Bodø AirbaseAs Bodø closes as a fighter base, we look back at its Cold War legacy when it launched U-2 espionage flights aimed at the Soviet Union. BYThomas NewdickJan 6, 2022Share
BYThomas NewdickJan 4, 2022ShareWatch These Russian Su-30 Fighter Jets Fire Eight Air-To-Air Missiles SimultaneouslyThe live-fire exercise is one of the biggest of its kind that we’ve seen and has an important training function. BYThomas NewdickJan 4, 2022Share
BYJoseph TrevithickDec 31, 2021ShareWatch This C-130 Run For Its Life At Low Level From A Mock Enemy Missile CrewRealistic threats on the ground are an important if often underappreciated aspect of the Air Force’s Red Flag air combat exercises. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 31, 2021Share
BYTyler RogowayDec 30, 2021ShareBehold The Naked Warplanes Of Tinker Air Force BaseWith the depot maintenance mission for a number of big jets, Tinker AFB offers rare glimpses of what these planes look like without their paint. BYTyler RogowayDec 30, 2021Share
BYTyler RogowayDec 22, 2021ShareThe F-117 Tested A Mirror-Like Skin Decades Before The F-22 DidWe have more on the ‘mirrored’ F-22 Raptor mystery that includes a historical connection and an official Air Force statement. BYTyler RogowayDec 22, 2021Share
BYRandy SmithDec 22, 2021ShareWhat It’s Like To Live And Work Inside White Sands Missile RangeA fascinating snapshot of 1990s life at the birthplace of the atomic bomb, numerous modern missile systems, and so much more. BYRandy SmithDec 22, 2021Share
BYThomas NewdickDec 17, 2021ShareUkraine Once Had The World’s Largest Tu-160 Blackjack Bomber FleetOn the 40th anniversary of its first flight, we look back to when Ukraine possessed an entire regiment of Tu-160 strategic bombers. BYThomas NewdickDec 17, 2021Share
BYThomas NewdickDec 8, 2021ShareFlying Boats Flew Japan’s Little-Known Follow-On Raid On Pearl HarborThe second attempted attack on Pearl Harbor indirectly changed the course of the war in the Pacific. BYThomas NewdickDec 8, 2021Share
BYKevin NoonanDec 2, 2021ShareAn S-3 Viking Once Flew A Captured Terrorist On A Record-Breaking Flight To The United StatesThe carrier-based S-3 anti-submarine jet transported the terrorist all the way from the Mediterranean to Washington on a high-stakes mission. BYKevin NoonanDec 2, 2021Share
BYTyler RogowayNov 26, 2021ShareWatch A P-3 Submarine Hunter’s Sonobuoy Dramatically Transform Once In The WaterTightly-packed sonobuoys can transform significantly once they hit the water and start assisting in a submarine hunt. BYTyler RogowayNov 26, 2021Share
BYJoseph TrevithickNov 17, 2021ShareTop Gun: Maverick’s Massive Support From The U.S. Military Is Laid Out In These DocumentsOfficial documents detail the use of Navy aircraft, carriers, and bases, as well as provide details about the actual production of the movie. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 17, 2021Share
BYTyler RogowayNov 17, 2021ShareUSS Desert Ship Sits In A Sea Of Sand And Launched The Navy To The Forefront Of Missile TechThis unique and historic facility has played an essential role in developing the U.S. Navy’s missile technology since the dawn of the Cold War. BYTyler RogowayNov 17, 2021Share
BYTyler RogowayNov 17, 2021ShareConfessions Of A B-52 Stratofortress MaintainerWhat the job of the unsung heroes that keep America’s antique go-to bomber in the air is really like. BYTyler RogowayNov 17, 2021Share
BYTyler RogowayNov 12, 2021ShareCheck Out This Trio Of Special Operations Combatant Craft Tearing Across San Diego BayNo, this isn’t a scene from a Miami Vice or Thunder In Paradise remake. BYTyler RogowayNov 12, 2021Share
BYBrian O'RourkeNov 11, 2021ShareTails Of War: Animals Have Made The Rigors Of Combat More Bearable Wherever Troops Have ServedThis Veterans Day, we invite you to remember the four-legged friends who made troops’ service a little brighter. BYBrian O'RourkeNov 11, 2021Share
BYThomas NewdickNov 10, 2021ShareThis Myth-Busting Walk-Around Of The Soviet MiG-23 Flogger Fighter Is A Must-WatchOne civilian MiG pilot is on a mission to rectify some Cold War-era misunderstandings about the notorious MiG-23 Flogger. BYThomas NewdickNov 10, 2021Share
BYThomas NewdickNov 9, 2021ShareThe Soviet Meteorit Mach-3 Cruise Missile Was A Colossal Cold War OddityThe missile was designed to fly thousands of miles at over Mach 3 and 80,000 feet before diving onto its target and detonating its nuclear payload. BYThomas NewdickNov 9, 2021Share
BYKevin NoonanNov 3, 2021ShareThe Navy Isn’t Prepared To Face The Growing Diesel Submarine ThreatA veteran submarine hunter explains how the proliferation of ever more capable diesel-electric submarines is a major problem for the U.S. Navy. BYKevin NoonanNov 3, 2021Share
BYThomas NewdickOct 29, 2021ShareDisembodied Voices Were Blasted Into The Jungle By The U.S. In Vietnam To Spook The EnemyDuring the Vietnam War, Operation Wandering Soul used ghost stories and creepy sounds to encourage the enemy to surrender. BYThomas NewdickOct 29, 2021Share
BY‘Danno’Oct 28, 2021ShareAn OV-10 Bronco Pilot’s Adventure Teaching Thai Flyers Forward Air ControlA mission to train Thai aircrew gave one U.S. Air Force OV-10 pilot unique insight into a shadowy local counter-narcotics mission. BY‘Danno’Oct 28, 2021Share
BYJuan RiveraOct 21, 2021ShareLife On The High Seas Aboard A Tin Can Destroyer During The Cold WarA sailor’s life is never easy, but there can be some great times among the challenges. BYJuan RiveraOct 21, 2021Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 15, 2021ShareFeel The Speed In These Incredible Photos From The Air Force’s Rocket Sled TrackThe Air Force is now looking at modernizing the High Speed Test Track at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico to support new hypersonic developments. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 15, 2021Share
BYTyler RogowayOct 11, 2021ShareWhy Multi-Billion Dollar Nuclear Submarines Still Run Into Things UnderwaterA veteran submariner explains the challenges crews face navigating complex undersea environments that they can’t even see. BYTyler RogowayOct 11, 2021Share
BYTyler RogowayOct 7, 2021ShareHave You Ever Seen An AV-8B Harrier Use The Meatball To Land On An Amphibious Assault Ship?This awesome video shows how Marine vertical landing jets use a Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System like their supercarrier-based counterparts. BYTyler RogowayOct 7, 2021Share
BYTyler RogowayOct 5, 2021ShareThese Images Of Aussie C-17s Flying Among Skyscrapers In Brisbane Are The Best We’ve Ever SeenOne photographer has captured the Royal Australian Air Force’s low-flying action for the Riverfire festival like no other. BYTyler RogowayOct 5, 2021Share
BYTyler RogowayOct 1, 2021ShareThe Story Behind The Modified Falcon Business Jets That Bring America’s Fallen Heroes HomeAn inside look at how one of the most challenging, heart-wrenching, and critical aviation missions in the country gets done. BYTyler RogowayOct 1, 2021Share