Aircraft
Tactical and Strategic Heavy-Lifting Air Operations I
Lockheed C-130 Hercules (1954) In the twenty-first century air power manifests itself in many different ways. It is not always about applying kinetic effect. There is also a dimension of reach. Air power can be applied at a strategic, operational and tactical level, but it is important not to immediately equate the notion of strategic effect to range. That has…
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The Hurri-bomber
In late March 1941 the battle cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau reached Brest. Immediately a round-the-clock watch was put on the two battle cruisers to prevent a breakout. It was not practicable with heavy fleet units so it was aircraft. A nightly line patrol by one radar-equipped Wellington from dusk to…
Hellcats in the Royal Navy
The Royal Navy acquired large numbers of F4Fs as Grumman Martlets and made extensive use of the type. The F4F’s successor was the Grumman F6F Hellcat, designed as a private initiative in response to feedback from fleet aviators, which entered front-line service in mid-1943. It was powered by a 2,000…
The Demon-
Demons had a very active career, seeing combat duty around Quemoy and off the Lebanon in 1958. Last deliveries took place in 1959 and replacement by the McDonnell F-4 was complete by August 1964 (first line) and February 1965 (reserve), In service, the Demon performed dependably and gained praise from…
First Wartime Aeroplane Flight
Bleriot XI (French, early WWI). Single-seat/two-seat reconnaissance. Developed from Louis Bleriot’s 1909 cross-Channel monoplane; existed in several sizes/ forms. Used in Italo-Turkish War 1911-12, Balkan Wars, early months World War I; thereafter as trainer. 50hp or 80hp Gnome engine; max. speed 75mph (120kph); makeshift armament of pistols and/or rifle or…
THE FIRST WARPLANES
BE 2 The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 was a British single-engine tractor two-seat biplane designed and developed at the Royal Aircraft Factory. Most production aircraft were constructed under contract by various private companies, both established aircraft manufacturers and firms that had not previously built aircraft. Around 3,500 were manufactured in…
104 GRUPPO BT
The SM.79 Sparviero (“Sparrow Hawk”) bombers were constructed of a welded tubular steel frame, covered with duralumin forward, duralumin and plywood over the top, and fabric elsewhere. The wings were made of wood. They first saw service with the Aviazione Legionaria units serving in the Spanish Civil War, where over…