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 […]