Circling high above Bougainville, Gregory “Pappy” Boyington peered through the glass of his F4U Corsair’s cockpit at the Japanese air base below. He was in charge of 24 other Marine Corsairs from the legendary Black Sheep Squadron, and their plan was simple: lure as many Japanese pilots into the sky as they could and kill them.…

The USMC AH-1Z Viper is a twin-engine attack helicopter by the United States Marine Corps (USMC). It is an upgraded version of the AH-1W Super Cobra designed to provide close air support for ground troops and engage enemy targets. The AH-1Z Viper has a top speed of approximately 230 mph and a range of over…

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…

Here’s What You Need to Remember: Unlike its higher-end Su-27 counterpart, the base MiG-29 configuration lacked a fly-by-wire system. The MiG-29 also boasted relatively low fuel capacity (resulting in a shorter range) and as little as six hardpoints, limiting its operational value in long-range and high-intensity combat missions. Flown by everyone from the current President of Bulgaria to…

Because of its versatility, the F-14 served as an air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor, and even tactical reconnaissance platform. Here’s What You Need To Remember: Though it made its first deployment in 1974, the F-14 Tomcat continues to be used to this day, including by Iran. During its three decades in service with the United States…

Ukrainian fighter pilots are now training to operate F-16s provided by a growing list of Western partners. Ukrainian fighter pilots are now training to operate F-16s provided by a growing list of Western partners. The F-16 jet promises to offer the embattled nation a significant increase in combat capability. Perhaps the biggest benefit the F-16 can offer Ukraine (beyond…

As this old fighter won’t ever return to active service.  The Northrop Grumman F-14 Tomcat was already well known when it became famous by Hollywood in the widely loved Top Gun movie as a two-seater, carrier-launched, twin-engine supersonic air superiority fighter. The Backstory: The aircraft first flew as far back as 1970 and deployed from…

Here’s What You Need To Remember: The Apache continues to evolve in the twenty-first century. The latest AH-64E Guardian model boasts uprated engines, remote drone-control capabilities, and a sensors designed to highlight muzzle flashes on the battlefield below. The Army has also experimentally deployed Apaches on U.S. Navy ships and had them practice anti-ship missions,…

The B-2 is a technology marvel, and even today, many years after its first introduction, it remains one of the most feared aircraft in existence. The idea of an aircraft that could avoid missiles and interceptors was something that was first considered by the American military aircraft designers in the mid-1970s. A few years later,…

Why did people think it was a stealth fighter? Here’s What You Need to Remember: In order to be classified as a “fighter” aircraft and carry that F prefix, a plane usually needs to be designed specifically to be capable of engaging other aircraft in the battle space. The F-117, however, was built specifically for engaging ground targets under…