Tag: air force

• RQ-4 Global Hawk

  The Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) began operational service in 2000 and remains in service with the United States Air Force. The Global Hawk is a high-altitude aircraft that has been used extensively for acquiring reconnaissance images in the Iraq War. These high-resolution images are received by battlefield commanders in almost real-time. The Global […]

• P51 Mustang

  The P-51 Mustang was a long-range, high-speed fighter airplane that played a critical role for Allied forces in World War II. North American Aviation produced the first prototype and the Mustang completed its inaugural flight on October 26, 1940. It was the Royal Air Force (RAF) that first expressed interest in the MK I Mustang. […]

• PBY Catalina

  The PBY Catalina aircraft was used heavily in World War II as a defense against submarines and as convoy escorts, search and rescue aircraft, transports, and patrol bombers. Its versatility and long-range capability made it invaluable. It could be fitted just as easily with depth charges or bombs, torpedoes, or other ordnance. Many thousands of […]

• T38 Talon

  The T-38 Talon is a swept wing, twin-engine supersonic jet trainer capable of flying at high altitudes. It completed its first flight in 1959, and between 1961 and 1972, the U.S. Air Force received 1,100 of these impressive aircraft. Though improvements and upgrades for the T-38A, T-38B, and T-38C Talon continue to this day, Northrop […]

• T6 Texan

  The T-6 aircraft is considered to be one of the foremost military trainers in history. It was used extensively as a trainer during World War II, not only by the United States Army Air Force and Navy, but also by the Royal Air Force (RAF). Known as the “SNJ” by the U.S. Navy, the U.S. […]

• Boeing 707

  On July 15, 1954 Boeing’s 707 (367-80) prototype completed its inaugural flight. It marked a new era for commercial air travel and set a standard for jetliners that continues today. On every flight, the 707 prototype established new speed records. On October 26, 1958, Pan American World Airways began a regular service between New York […]

• U2 Lockheed

  Though the U-2 remains in service after 50 years, it will probably always be most associated with the “Garry Powers incident” or “U-2 Crisis.” Since the 1950’s, the U-2 has only been used as a high-altitude surveillance aircraft for the United States Air Force. The U-2 airplane was born out of necessity: The need by […]

• Bell UH-1

  Though early versions of Bell’s Huey helicopter first appeared in 1956, it wasn’t until 1962 that the rotary aircraft gained recognition during its service in the Vietnam War. The Huey’s original Army designation was the HU-1 (Helicopter Utility-1) Iroquois, though no one referred to it as the Iroquois., and it became known simply as the […]

• Australia Airports

  The total number of Australian airports and airfields comes to 455, of which some are used for international and domestic flights, some for only domestic purposes, and others that divide their attention between chartered flights and privately owned aircraft. Each territory in Australia has its own international airport, and smaller airports are scattered across the […]

• A1 Skyraider

  The Douglas A-1E Skyraider entered service in World War II as a replacement for the SBD dive-bomber. The Skyraider‘s original designation was the “AD” and it made its inaugural flight on March 18, 1945. The A-1E Skyraider had a middle compartment which allowed it to be used for carrying passengers, supplies, or heavy cargo. Modifications […]

• Odessa International Airport

  The Odessa International Airport can be found in Odessa in Ukraine and was built in 1961, providing both domestic and international flights. Odessa is considered the fourth largest city in Ukraine, being home to more than a million people, and serves as an important port on the Black Sea. As a public airport, the Odessa […]

• C-141 Starlifter

  The C-141 Starlifter is manufactured by Lockheed-Georgia Co. (now Lockheed Martin) and entered service for the United States Air Force in 1964 though it didn’t actually begin operations until 1965. In 1979, the U.S. Army took delivery of its first C-141. The aircraft has been primarily used for long range troop and equipment transportation and […]