The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II – also known as Warthog – is an impressive aircraft. Well-liked by crews and servicemen, it is legendary in every sense of the word. It also has a fandom that few other jets can rival. Popular with both aviation geeks and military enthusiasts worldwide, the A-10 even has its own rallying…

This lightweight, multi-role fighter can be found in air forces throughout the world—and for good reason. When U.S. Air Force Captain Gary “Nordo” North took off as leader of a flight of four F-16s on a December morning in 1992, the Fighting Falcon was already a globally respected—and feared—fighter. By then, more than 2,500 F-16s…

Mi-17V-5 (domestic designation Mi-8MTV-5) is a military transport variant in the Mi-8/17 family of helicopters. It is produced by Kazan Helicopters, a subsidiary of Russian Helicopters. Designed to transport cargo inside the cabin and on an external sling, the Mi-17V-5 is one of the world’s most advanced transport helicopters. It can also be deployed in troop…

Essentially, the Harrier Jet may have suffered losses by virtue of its high-risk mission, similar to the A-10. Yet unlike the A-10, the Harrier Jet is not built with the redundancy or titanium hull sufficient to withstand incoming enemy fire. Meet the Harrier: It may not seem possible to determine which fighter jet or proposed fighter jet might be…

Taking flight in 1958, the F-4 Phantom was an envelope-pusher, setting 16 different performance records, including for speed and altitude. Meet the Timeless F-4 Phantom: One of the most adaptable airframes ever used in the U.S. Armed Forces, undoubtedly, was the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. During a four-decade service run, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and…

On the 24th of August 2001, a fully loaded Airbus A330 on a transatlantic flight from Toronto to Lisbon ran out of fuel over the middle of the ocean, forcing the pilots to attempt a harrowing 121-kilometer glide to a remote island airfield. And yet, with no fuel, no engines, minimal braking power, and only…

Here’s What You Need to Remember: Capable of delivering huge payloads at vast distances, the B-52 bomber quickly became a U.S. Air Force staple in the Vietnam War. The strategic bombers flew hundreds of combat sorties and dropped over fifteen tons of bombs on North Vietnamese targets during Operation Linebacker II. More recently, the B-52 bomber distinguished…

In late February, Boeing Aerospace confirmed that production of the new-build F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet would end by late 2025. The manufacturer’s Vice President noted that as the U.S. “invests in and develops the next era of capability, we are applying the same innovation and expertise that made the F/A-18 a workhorse for the U.S. Navy and air forces worldwide…

Here’s What You Need to Remember: Capable of delivering huge payloads at vast distances, the B-52 bomber quickly became a U.S. Air Force staple in the Vietnam War. The strategic bombers flew hundreds of combat sorties and dropped over fifteen tons of bombs on North Vietnamese targets during Operation Linebacker II. More recently, the B-52 bomber distinguished…

Here’s What You Need to Remember: A chorus of concern from lawmakers — and the A-10’s exemplary performance in the ongoing air attacks against ISIS — led the Air Force to extend the planned service life of the aircraft into the 2020s. Known for an ability to keep flying after taking multiple rounds of enemy machine…