Aircraft
MiG-15 and Sabre
The appearance of the MiG-15 jet fighter in November 1950 threatened UN air superiority over Korea because the MiG outperformed available U. S. aircraft. FEAF requested the newest and best jet fighters, and on December 6, less than a month later, the 27th Fighter-Escort Wing, flying F-84 Thunderjets, arrived at Taegu. Then, on December 15 the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing flew…
Most Recent
Surprise! Surprise!
The first ballistic interception trials were carried out in the winter of 1962/3 by the RAF Air Fighter Development Squadron, using a pair of English Electric Lightning F1As. The ‘target’ was an unsuspecting USAF Lockheed U2 from Upper Heyford, flying at its invulnerable altitude of 72000ft over the arctic on…
Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion
The massive elastomerically-articulated titanium rotor head uses fewer fastenings and connections than legacy helicopters, reducing weight, maintenance time and effort. The USMC’s heavy-lift replacement program, the CH-53K, conducted its first flight on October 27, 2015. The CH-53K will replace the Corps’ CH-53E, which is now 28 years old. Although “unexpected…
Italian Air Raids on Gibraltar
Raid on the Rock – Tribute to the Crews of the Regia Aeronautica by Ivan Berryman. The only four engined heavy bomber to serve with the Regia Aeronautica, the Piaggio P. 108 was built in too few numbers to have any significant effect in the Italian air campaign in World…
Horten H.XVIIIB
In 1944 the RLM issued a requirement for an aircraft with a range of 11000 km (6835 miles) and a bomb load of 4000 kg (8818 lbs). This bomber was to be able to fly from Germany to New York City and back without refueling. Five of Germany’s top aircraft…
“Flying Fortress” Boeing B-17 Part I
BIRTH OF THE B-17 In the early summer of 1934, the US Army Air Corps released a requirement for a multi-engined medium bomber intended primarily for the coast-defence role. The requirement called for the ability to deliver a 2000 lb (907 kg) bomb load over a range of at least…
“Flying Fortress” Boeing B-17 Part II
Although it is sometimes introduced as the most famous of all US World War II aircraft, there are many who will argue that Boeing’s B-17 Flying Fortress ranks equally with several other superb machines which became available to the US Army at just the right moment. The North American P-51…