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Military aviation: questions and answers

Military aviation: the most searched Aviation questions, with a direct answer, an explanation and sources.

Military aviation
Did you know the F-104 was tested being launched like a rocket, with no runway?
Yes: the F-104 was tested with Zero-Length Launch (ZeLL), with the fighter on a short ramp and a booster rocket underneath that fired it into the air within… more…
William Pretrina (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How many Luftwaffe pilots achieved five or more P-38 kills?
Twenty-three. That is the number of Luftwaffe pilots who achieved five or more P-38 kills. The Germans feared its firepower and nicknamed it… more…
Military aviation
How did American aviation solve the shortage of escort fighters over Germany?
Ronald Harker, a Rolls-Royce test pilot, proposed fitting the Mustang with a Merlin 61 engine. That produced the P-51B/C, the first long-range fighter able to… more…
Military aviation
How many victories was Pappy Boyington ultimately credited with?
There is no single figure: official sources today credit him with between 24 and 28 aerial victories. The discrepancy comes from China, where the Flying… more…
William Pretrina (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
What P-38 aircraft did the Dominican Air Force have in 1947?
Six F-5s, the reconnaissance version of the Lightning, and two unarmed two-seat P-38s painted black, operating from San Isidro Air Base. The Dominican… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
How many Eurofighters does Spain have?
Spain has around 70 Eurofighter Typhoons in service (as of September 2026), from the 73 delivered between 2003 and 2020, and has ordered 45 more Tranche 4… more…
Military aviation
What did some US aircraft carriers do to stop the kamikaze?
The answer was the "big blue blanket," an air defense system devised by John Thach against the kamikaze. Blue-painted Hellcats and Corsairs intercepted… more…
paullymac (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Why are military aircraft on flight radar?
Military aircraft appear on flight-tracking sites because many carry the same Mode S and ADS-B transponders as airliners and must broadcast their position… more…
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
How many international operators does the H-47 Chinook have besides the US Army?
Twenty. According to Boeing, the H-47 Chinook is the heavy-lift helicopter chosen by the US Army and 20 international operators (as of October 2026)… more…
Military aviation
Why did VF-17's Corsairs carry a skull on the nose?
The emblem was chosen by VF-17's commander, Lieutenant Commander Tom Blackburn, who wanted an intimidating, characterful name for the unit. Since they flew… more…
Military aviation
What nickname did Pappy Boyington's squadron have, and where did "Pappy" come from?
Boyington's squadron was VMF-214, nicknamed the "Black Sheep Squadron." Its pilots had earlier called themselves "Boyington's Bastards," a name public… more…
Flickr Chad Kainz : https://www.flickr.com/photos/smaedli (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What was the practical purpose of the Sunderland's four fixed forward machine guns?
To strafe the submarine during the dive itself: it was the Australians' countermeasure against the U-boats' growing defensive armament, letting the pilot add… more…
Military aviation
How did Boeing turn a twin-engine contest into a four-engine one?
There was no contest restricted to twin-engined types: in August 1935 the US Army Air Corps evaluated prototypes from several manufacturers at Wright Field… more…
Military aviation
Why are fighter jets so loud?
Fighter jets are loud because their engines push a small mass of air out at very high speed, and jet noise rises with roughly the eighth power of exhaust… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
What did the US Navy use four Constellations for in the Vietnam War?
To broadcast television. The Navy converted four C-121Js into airborne TV broadcast aircraft, designated NC-121J, for use in Vietnam under Project Jenny… more…
Foto: USAF, TSgt. Gary Tomoyasu (dominio público)
Military aviation
What is the MiG-29?
The MiG-29 is a twin-engine air-superiority fighter designed by the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau to counter the American F-16 and F-15. It first flew on 6… more…
Military aviation
Why did the US Navy prefer radial engines?
The US Navy knew radial engines were much simpler to maintain and that their rugged design could absorb combat damage and keep flying. An inline engine was… more…
Military aviation
When was the Mexican Air Force created?
The Mexican Air Force was born on 5 February 1915, when Venustiano Carranza created the Military Aviation Arm of the Constitutionalist Army by decree. Its… more…
Military aviation
How much fuel did a Bf 109E carry and how far did it get?
Its internal capacity was limited: it gave the Bf 109E a maximum range of 660 km (410 miles) and just 10 minutes of flight time over a British target before… more…
Military aviation
What kill ratio did the F-86 Sabre achieve in Korea?
American sources initially credited F-86 pilots with shooting down 792 MiGs for the loss of 78 Sabres in air combat, a 10:1 ratio. The USAF later halved that… more…
David Monniaux (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
What is the Rafale?
The Rafale is a twin-engine, multirole fighter built by France's Dassault Aviation, capable of performing air-to-air, strike, reconnaissance and nuclear… more…
Military aviation
Which Vought aircraft was born from a cancelled fighter and was the first in its class to exceed 320 km/h?
The SBU Corsair, whose design grew out of the two-seat F3U-1 fighter abandoned when the Navy decided not to acquire more two-seat fighters. It was the first… more…
Military aviation
Why is the history of the Corsair with serial number 124541 known in such detail?
Because it is a survivor whose trail is recorded step by step: built on 31 December 1950 and delivered to the US Navy as Bu. 124541, it passed to the… more…
Richard Opitz (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
At what altitude did the Ju 87 recover automatically?
About 450 m (1,480 ft): that was the usual minimum height at which the contact altimeter's light marked the bomb release point, and on release the Ju 87… more…
Military aviation
How many tons of bombs did the Lancaster drop?
The Lancasters dropped 608,612 long tons (618,378,000 kg) of bombs between 1942 and 1945. That load corresponded to a total of 156,000 sorties. 7,377 aircraft… more…
Military aviation
What nickname did young US Navy pilots give the Corsair because it was so hard to land on a carrier?
It was known as the "Ensign Eliminator," and not without reason. Early Navy pilots also called it the "hog," "hosenose," or "bent-wing Widow Maker." Its long… more…
William Pretrina (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Why was the P-38 Lightning such a good gun platform?
Because it packed all its weapons into the nose: four Browning M2 machine guns and a 20 mm Hispano cannon fired almost in parallel, without relying on a… more…
Military aviation
What Latin American countries operated the Corsair after World War II?
The F4U Corsair flew with Honduras and El Salvador, which used it in their 1969 conflict, and with Argentina, whose naval aviation kept it in inventory… more…
Military aviation
What did Specification B.14/46, which gave rise to the V bombers, call for?
There's a mistake in the premise: the Vulcan did not come from B.14/46, but from Specification B.35/46 of January 1947, which called for carrying a 10,000 lb… more…
Military aviation
What program did Lockheed create to improve the reliability of the German F-104s?
Lockheed created SURE (Starfighter Utilization Reliability Effort), which sent aerodynamicists, pilots and service representatives to solve problems as they… more…
Military aviation
Which flying boats rescued the crew of the Kensington Court in 1939?
They were two RAF Sunderland flying boats: according to uboat.net, an aircraft of Squadron 228 and L5802 of Squadron 204 landed on the water next to the… more…
Military aviation
Who founded Hispano-Suiza, and where?
Hispano-Suiza was founded in 1904 by Swiss engineer Marc Birkigt and by Damián Mateu. Birkigt, born in Geneva in 1878, had lived in Barcelona since Emilio de… more…
Kilyann Le Hen (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What made the A-6 Intruder special in Vietnam?
Its all-weather attack capability: it was described as the first genuinely all-weather attack bomber in history. It combined long range and 18,000 lb (8,200… more…
Military aviation
What advantage did the Bf 109E's Bosch fuel injection pump give it?
Fuel injection in the DB 601: unlike the gravity-fed carburettor engines of the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane, which cut out under negative g, the… more…
Military aviation
Which aircraft does the Pakistan Air Force claim as the first kill by a Mach 2 aircraft?
An Indian Dassault Mystère IV, shot down on the morning of September 6, 1965, by a Pakistani F-104A with an AIM-9B missile. The PAF claims this kill as the… more…
Military aviation
How many Hispano-Suiza 8 engines were built during the First World War?
49,893 Hispano-Suiza 8 engines were built during the First World War, the most-produced series of aero engines of the conflict. France produced 35,189 of… more…
Military aviation
What engine and weapons did the Australian Sabre Mk 30 carry?
The CAC Sabre Mk 30 carried the Avon 20 engine and two 30 mm ADEN cannon, which replaced the F-86F's six machine guns. It was the first production batch built… more…
Military aviation
How fast do fighter jets fly?
Modern fighters reach between Mach 1.6 and Mach 2.5: the F-15 exceeds Mach 2.5 (over 3,000 km/h at altitude), the F-16 and Eurofighter Typhoon reach Mach 2… more…
Nick-D (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How many conventional bombs could the Vulcan's bomb bay hold?
Up to 21 conventional 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs. This was the alternative load to a free-fall nuclear bomb, and on the B.2 also to a Blue Steel missile. The… more…
Military aviation
Why did they call the F-104 "Zipper"?
American pilots called it "Zipper" or "Zip-104" for its prodigious speed. Lockheed trademarked the nickname "missile with a man in it" for advertising… more…
Military aviation
Why did Yamamoto declare Operation I over in April 1943?
Because he believed it had been a success: he thought Allied losses were greater than they actually were. He ended it on 16 April, and Japanese carrier… more…
Military aviation
What cross was repainted over the Maltese cross on the Dr.I?
The Balkenkreuz, the black straight-armed cross outlined in white. It was applied in the field over the earlier cross pattée, whose points are still visible… more…
Military aviation
What proportion of the fighter pilots aboard British carriers off Japan in 1945 were New Zealanders?
Towards the end of the war, around 50% of the aircrews in the Fleet Air Arm's carrier-based fighter squadrons were New Zealanders. New Zealand supplied more… more…
Military aviation
What anti-ship missiles did German Navy F-104s carry?
The naval variant first used AS.30 command-guided missiles and later the AS.34 Kormoran, a more sophisticated, longer-range, radar-guided weapon enabling… more…
User:The Land (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
What did a Sunderland I carry on board for long flights?
The lower deck carried six bunks and a galley fitted with a twin-burner pressurised kerosene stove. On board there was also a small workshop for carrying out… more…
Military aviation
Did the captured Zero influence the Hellcat's design?
Not decisively: tests of the recovered Zero did not drastically influence the Hellcat's design. The XF6F-1 prototype first flew on June 26, 1942, four days… more…
Military aviation
What was found in the propeller of Klingman's Corsair after he brought down an enemy with it?
Not in the engine, but in the propeller: a photograph shows Robert Klingman cleaning off what might be a piece of the Japanese aircraft. Klingman had rammed… more…
Image pending
Military aviation
Why do aircraft carriers have angled decks?
Angled flight decks let a carrier launch and recover aircraft at the same time and give a pilot who misses the arresting wires a clear path to go around. The… more…
Military aviation
What nickname did the Marines give the Corsair in Okinawa?
Ground personnel in World War II's last great campaign called the Corsair the "Sweetheart of Okinawa," for its close air support. Marines also nicknamed it… more…
Military aviation
What happened to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln?
The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is undamaged and in service. Modernized between 2013 and 2017, it operates out of San Diego; in 2024 its F-35Cs carried out… more…
Military aviation
Why did the US Navy train its carrier pilots on Lake Michigan during World War II?
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, large ships were needed that could become dedicated training carriers. On the Great Lakes, planes were out of reach of enemy… more…
Military aviation
What designation did the F-104 receive in the Spanish Air Force?
The 21 Spanish Starfighters received the classification identity C.8 and CE.8. They came from the Military Assistance Program: 18 F-104Gs built by Canadair… more…
Military aviation
How many Canadian Sabres did the RAF receive around 1950?
The RAF received 428 Canadair Sabre Mk 4s, designated Sabre F.4, plus three more from a batch built mainly for the RCAF. Of the 438 Mk 4s, around 70 were… more…
Military aviation
Who was the first ace of US naval aviation?
The first ace of US naval aviation was David Sinton Ingalls. With six credited victories, he was also the only US Navy ace of World War I. He flew Sopwith… more…
Military aviation
What is the b-21?
The B-21 Raider is the US Air Force's next stealth bomber, built by Northrop Grumman to replace the B-1B and B-2 from the late 2020s. A two-crew flying wing… more…
Military aviation
What did Kelly Johnson say after the 1967 Kinmen air battle?
Kelly Johnson, the F-104's designer, said the engagement illustrated the Starfighter's strengths and weaknesses: "We out-accelerated them, and we… more…
Military aviation
Was a Hurricane ever towed in flight?
Yes: a Hurricane was towed behind a Wellington IC with an off-centre bridle, as part of trials to tow several fighters at once behind a single bomber. With… more…
Military aviation
What did the Marines change on their Corsairs to operate from land bases?
The Corsair's long nose severely restricted visibility, especially with the aircraft on the ground. The changes focused on the cockpit: the seat was raised 7… more…
Military aviation
What did France demand after testing the Hispano-Suiza 8 at Chalais-Meudon?
That production of the 8A begin as soon as possible: that was how French officials reacted. The HS-31 had returned to Chalais-Meudon on 21 July 1915 and… more…
Dmitry Terekhov from Odintsovo, Russian Federation (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How many anti-aircraft missile launchers did Soviet PVO have?
In 1989 the Soviet PVO's Anti-Aircraft Missile Troops operated 12,000 strategic surface-to-air missile launchers at 1,400 sites inside the USSR. With the… more…
Military aviation
Where are the military planes in Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico's main military air facility is Muñiz Air National Guard Base, inside Luis Muñoz Marín Airport in San Juan, home to the 156th Wing. Army National… more…
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
Why did the RAF's Chinook HC3s not fly in service for years?
Because their avionics software could not be certified. The eight Chinook HC3s, ordered in 1995 for special forces, were delivered in 2001 but never received… more…
Military aviation
What did pilots jokingly call carrier landings?
A carrier landing was described as a "controlled crash" — a very fast stop as the hook caught a wire and halted the plane abruptly. The F4U Corsair… more…
Motohide Miwa from USA (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
Why were some Catalinas called "Black Cats"?
Because some U.S. Navy PBYs were painted matte black for night bombing, torpedo, and strafing missions against Japanese supply ships and warships during the… more…
Military aviation
How did the British solve the problem of landing the Corsair on carriers?
The Corsair was dangerous to land because the set-back cockpit and long nose blocked the deck from view, the gear bounced and the left wing stalled without… more…
RuthAS (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
How many Vulcans were converted for maritime reconnaissance?
Nine. In the mid-1970s, nine Vulcan B.2s were adapted for radar maritime reconnaissance missions and redesignated B.2 (MRR). They were operated by No. 27… more…
Military aviation
Whose military aircraft are sunk in Lake Michigan?
They're US Navy aircraft: the cold fresh water at depths of over 300 feet has preserved them as the finest collection of sunken historic aircraft in the US… more…
The original uploader was Andywebby at English Wikipedia. (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
What changed on the Vulcan to turn it into the B.Mk 1A?
Mainly its defensive electronics. Between 1959 and 1963 Armstrong Whitworth upgraded 28 surviving Vulcan B.1s, those fitted with Olympus 102/104 engines, with… more…
Military aviation
Why are fighter jets flying over my house today?
Fighter jets over a home almost always mean routine training, a transit between bases, a flypast for a public event or, rarely, an air-defence scramble… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What is the Eurofighter?
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine air superiority and strike fighter developed by a consortium of Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain through… more…
Military aviation
What did Birkigt invent for the SPAD S.VII besides the engine?
A synchronisation gear: when the SPAD S.VII entered service in September 1916, it was armed with a single Vickers synchronised by a new mechanism Birkigt… more…
Murgatroyd49 (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Until when did a converted Sunderland fly commercially?
Until 1974: Ansett Flying Boat Services flew the Short Sandringham on scheduled service between Sydney (Rose Bay) and Lord Howe Island. The Sandringham was… more…
Military aviation
How much do fighter jets cost?
A state-of-the-art fighter jet costs between $70 and $120 million per unit at the factory: the F-35A runs around $80-85 million, the Rafale or Eurofighter… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How many years was the EC-121 Warning Star in service?
The EC-121 Warning Star entered service in 1954 and was retired in 1978, though a single modified aircraft remained with the US Navy until 1982. It served as… more…
Military aviation
What happened to the ball turret before a belly landing?
In a belly landing the ball turret would likely be destroyed by the lack of clearance under the fuselage. The B-17 "Carolina Queen", unable to lower its gear… more…
Andrew Basterfield (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
What material is the A-10's ammunition penetrator made of?
Depleted uranium: the PGU-14/B projectile has a lightweight cast aluminum body wrapped around a smaller-caliber depleted uranium penetrator core. That… more…
Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
When did the Lightning prototype break Mach 2?
On 25 November 1958: that day the P.1B XA847 prototype, flown by Roland Beamont, reached Mach 2 for the first time in a British aircraft. The same aircraft… more…
Military aviation
Why was No. 23 Squadron RNZAF called the "Ghost Squadron"?
Because of its unofficial emblem: a figure resembling the Grim Reaper or a ghost, which earned it the nickname "Ghosts" or "Ghost Squadron". The design was… more…
Military aviation
What brought down almost all the A-6s lost in their first Vietnam deployment?
Over the course of the entire Vietnam War, not just the first deployment, the US Navy and Marine Corps lost 84 A-6s of various series, of which 56 fell to… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What are fighter jets?
Fighters are military aircraft designed to destroy other aircraft. They emerged in the First World War, with the Fokker Eindecker's synchronised machine gun… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Which Constellation was part of the Blue Angels?
A US Navy Lockheed C-121J. It was one of four C-121J converted into VIP transports and served as the Blue Angels' support aircraft until 1971, when a Lockheed… more…
Military aviation
What did the Hurricane "Hurricat" achieve?
There were eight combat launches from CAM ships, destroying eight German aircraft — three Fw 200 Condors, four He 111s and one Ju 88 — with one damaged and… more…
Military aviation
How did Ike Kepford escape the Zeros after shooting down four aircraft over Rabaul on January 29, 1944?
The fighter that wrecked his Corsair was a Tony, not a Zero: it attacked head-on, and its guns, of larger caliber than the Zero's, tore open the right wing… more…
Military aviation
Where did the F-104 carry the ammunition for its Vulcan cannon?
In a 725-round drum located behind the pilot's seat. The cannon was mounted low in the fuselage, on the port side, and was fed from that drum. With a rate of… more…
Military aviation
How many straight-wing FJ-1 Furys were built?
30 FJ-1 Furys were built: the initial order for 100 units was cut back to just 30 and the other 70 were cancelled. Its design was finalised before German… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
When did the Eurofighter come out?
The Eurofighter first flew on 27 March 1994, when the DA1 prototype took off from Manching, Germany. The first production aircraft were delivered in 2003 to… more…
Military aviation
How fast do military drones fly?
There's no single speed: military drones range from 50-70 km/h for a reconnaissance quadcopter to 570 km/h (310 kn) for the RQ-4 Global Hawk. The MQ-9 Reaper… more…
Military aviation
How did drones change warfare?
Drones changed warfare in two waves. First, from 2001, aircraft such as the Predator and the MQ-9 Reaper allowed surveillance and strikes for more than 24… more…
Military aviation
How many victories did René Fonck achieve?
René Fonck was credited with 75 confirmed victories, 72 solo and three shared, out of 142 claimed. He still holds the title of "top-scoring Allied ace of all… more…
Military aviation
Why was it said that Catalina crews needed a calendar?
The joke was about the navigator: critics mockingly said the Catalina was so slow that its navigator needed a calendar more than a stopwatch. Its top speed… more…
Military aviation
What does "Guba", the name of Richard Archbold's Catalinas, mean?
"Guba" is a male name from Papua New Guinea meaning "a rain squall at sea". Richard Archbold gave this name to the modified PBY-1, registered as model 28-1… more…
Military aviation
What did the Boeing 299 do on its flight to Wright Field?
It covered the route from Seattle to Wright Field on 20 August 1935 in nine hours and three minutes, at an average ground speed of 252 mph (219 kn; 406 km/h)… more…
Military aviation
What was the result of the US Navy's test between the Corsair and the Mustang P-51B?
The Navy compared them at Patuxent River in late January and early February 1944 and concluded the F4U-1 was the superior fighter for naval or Marine use… more…
Military aviation
Did you know the F-104 was born from interviews with fighter pilots in the middle of the Korean War?
Yes. Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson, vice president of engineering and research at Lockheed's Skunk Works, toured USAF bases in South Korea in November 1951 to… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What are fighter jets like?
A fighter jet is a small, highly maneuverable military aircraft with high thrust, designed to destroy other aircraft. Modern fighters weigh between 10 and 30… more…
Military aviation
How many tanks is Hans-Ulrich Rudel credited with?
Hans-Ulrich Rudel is credited with 519 tanks destroyed, severe damage to the battleship Marat and the sinking of a cruiser, although no primary source… more…
Military aviation
How many B-17s did He 111s destroy in a single night at Poltava?
Forty-four: He 111s from IV. Fliegerkorps, drawn from Kampfgeschwader 4, 53, and 55, dropped 91 tonnes (100 tons) of bombs and destroyed 44 B-17s and 15… more…
Military aviation
How high do fighter jets fly?
Fighter jets operate almost always between 9,000 and 12,000 m (30,000-40,000 ft), like airliners, and climb to their service ceiling for interception: above… more…
Roland Turner from Birmingham, Great Britain (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Where did the Vulcan rank among the three V bombers to enter service?
Second. The Vulcan was the second of the Royal Air Force's three "V bombers"; together with the Valiant and the Victor it sustained Britain's nuclear… more…
Military aviation
Why was the sr 71 blackbird decommissioned?
The SR-71 was retired in 1990 because the Air Force judged it too expensive to keep flying, at hundreds of millions of dollars a year, when satellites and… more…
Military aviation
What became of the Jordanian F-104s after retirement?
After being replaced by more modern fighters around 1983, the surviving Jordanian F-104s ended up as decoys on airfields. Earlier, in the 1970s, the aircraft… more…
RuthAS (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
How many rounds per second did the Ju 87G's BK 3.7 fire?
The Ju 87G's BK 3.7 had a rate of fire of 160 rounds per minute. Each of the two 37 mm cannons was mounted in an underwing gondola with a six-round magazine… more…
Military aviation
How long could a Fokker Dr.I stay in the air?
About an hour and a half: the Fokker Dr.I's endurance is put at 1.5 hours; published endurance is 1.50 hours with a possible payload of 30 kg, and operational… more…
AndrewRT on behalf of Wing Cmdr (retd) Derek Martin (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Why did the Sunderland end up with swept wings?
Because of a balance adjustment. When the planned defensive armament changed — the 37 mm COW nose gun gave way to turrets with 0.303 machine guns — the centre… more…
Military aviation
Why are military aircraft grey?
Military aircraft are grey because neutral grey blends best with the sky and haze at the distances where a pilot tries to spot them. Against a bright sky a… more…
Kilyann Le Hen (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What were "cab ranks"?
A close air support procedure: fighter-bombers were held available from "cab ranks," orbiting holding points near the forward edge of the battle area… more…
Military aviation
Was the Bf 109's roll really as bad as it's said to be?
Yes at high speed: between 350 and 400 mph the ailerons stiffened so much that reaching a 45° bank took four seconds. The short-travel, short-arm stick was… more…
Military aviation
Who makes US military aircraft?
US military aircraft are mainly manufactured by three major groups: Lockheed Martin (F-35, F-22, F-16, C-130), Boeing (F-15EX, F/A-18, KC-46, P-8, T-7, and… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
What was the NC-121D "Tripple Nipple"?
It was a US Navy WV-2 Warning Star, the flying radar derived from the Super Constellation, converted to observe objects moving at high speed through the… more…
Military aviation
Which country was the largest F-104 operator in the mid-1980s?
Italy: in 1986 the Aeronautica Militare was the largest Starfighter operator, with eleven units flying it operationally. The AMI had bought 205 examples… more…
Military aviation
What mystery surrounds the Fw 190 the US Navy pitted against the Corsair and Hellcat?
The Fw 190 tested by the Navy at Patuxent River was a G-3 captured intact in Sicily on September 9, 1943. It flew without two of its four 20 mm cannons, which… more…
Military aviation
What TV series was inspired by Pappy Boyington's life?
The series was Baa Baa Black Sheep, which aired on NBC from September 23, 1976, to April 6, 1978, across two seasons and 36 episodes. Its premise drew on the… more…
Military aviation
Why did the US military prefer the C-54 over the C-69 Constellation?
Because the C-69 arrived late and troubled: its Wright R-3350 engines suffered fires and overheating, the B-29 had priority for those engines, and the war was… more…
William Pretrina (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Who became an "ace in a day" with a P-38F named "Oriole"?
Murray "Jim" Shubin. With a P-38F, a less powerful model than later ones, which he named Oriole, he shot down five confirmed Zeros, and possibly six, over… more…
Military aviation
What affectionate nickname did Sunderland crews give their own aircraft?
Its own crews sometimes called it "The Pig," because early models were underpowered. Its better-known nickname, "flying porcupine" (Fliegendes… more…
David Monniaux (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How many Rafale jets does France have?
France has about 150 Rafales in service (as of September 2026): around 110 with the Air and Space Force and 41 Rafale Ms with the Navy, embarked on the… more…
Andrew Basterfield (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How much did an A-10 cost in 1970 dollars?
The A-X competition set a unit cost of $1.4 million, a requirement of the specification rather than the price of a delivered aircraft. The same specification… more…
Military aviation
Who has the world's largest aircraft carrier?
The world's largest aircraft carrier is the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) of the United States Navy: about 100,000 tons at full load, 337 m in length… more…
Military aviation
Why was the cockpit of the early F4U-1 called a "birdcage"?
Because of the latticed canopy: the nickname marks the early production models, whose intricate frame structure resembled the bars of a birdcage. That framed… more…
Military aviation
What was special about the B-17 "5 Grand"?
It was the 5,000th B-17 built by Boeing since Pearl Harbor, signed by every worker before leaving the Seattle factory. It flew with the 338th BS, 96th BG at… more…
Military aviation
Which fighter did most of the British Pacific Fleet's large aircraft carriers carry?
The Vought F4U Corsair, though not on every deck: of the British Pacific Fleet's six fleet carriers, Formidable, Illustrious and Victorious each carried 36… more…
Military aviation
What design change was introduced in the Corsair starting from aircraft No. 125 on the line?
It wasn't aircraft No. 125: the change came in November 1942, when the fifth production aircraft was modified to raise the pilot's seat. That produced the… more…
David Monniaux (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Where is the Rafale manufactured?
The Rafale is built entirely in France by Dassault Aviation. Final assembly and test flights take place in Mérignac, near Bordeaux; fuselage sections are… more…
Military aviation
At what speed do military aircraft fly?
Military aircraft fly anywhere from about 300 km/h for helicopters and surveillance drones to over Mach 2 (2,400 km/h) for fighters. Transports like the C-130… more…
Matt Morgan (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How much does the MiG-29 cost?
A new MiG-29 cost between 25 and 50 million dollars per unit in the export contracts of the 1990s and 2000s: Malaysia paid around 30 million per MiG-29N and… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
Where is the Eurofighter Typhoon made?
The Eurofighter Typhoon is built on four final assembly lines: Manching (Germany) and Getafe (Spain) by Airbus, Warton (UK) by BAE Systems, and Caselle… more…
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What were the Chinooks called in Australia?
"Chooks." In Australia, the Chinook's first export customer in 1973, the helicopters earned that nickname, Australian slang for chicken. They were CH-47Cs… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
How many fighter jets does Spain have?
Spain operates about 150 fighter jets (as of September 2026): around 70 Eurofighter Typhoon and about 80 F/A-18 Hornet in the Air and Space Force, plus about… more…
Milan Nykodym (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Who makes the Gripen fighter jet?
The Gripen fighter jet is built by Saab, the Swedish defense group, at its plant in Linköping. Brazil also assembles part of its Gripen E fleet at Embraer's… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Which aircraft caused the largest loss of American crew members in a single Cold War shoot-down?
A Navy Lockheed EC-121M Warning Star, call sign Deep Sea 129. Two North Korean MiG-21s shot it down on 15 April 1969 over the Sea of Japan, killing all 31… more…
Andrew Basterfield (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How many companies responded to the A-X competition in 1967?
Six companies submitted aircraft proposals for the A-X, and of these, Northrop and Fairchild Republic were chosen to build prototypes. The year 1967 refers to… more…
Military aviation
Who was the B-17 XC-108 converted for?
For General Douglas MacArthur. The conversion started from a B-17E with serial number 41-2593, brought to the VIP transport standard. A B-17F, the 42-6036… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Which was the first VC-121A with weather radar?
The "Bataan", serial number 48-613. Delivered as a C-121A in January 1949, it took part in the Berlin Airlift and in 1950 was converted into a VC-121A for VIP… more…
Military aviation
What was special about the Hellcat's design among American World War II fighters?
It was a carrier fighter designed to be easy to build and to withstand damage, with widely spaced, hydraulically operated landing gear legs that rotated 90°… more…
Military aviation
Which aircraft located the battleship Bismarck in May 1941?
A Consolidated PBY Catalina from RAF Coastal Command: aircraft "Z" of 209 Squadron, flying from the Castle Archdale flying boat base on Lower Lough Erne… more…
Military aviation
What happened to the first squadron commander who took the Corsair into combat?
Major William E. Gise, commander of VMF-124, disappeared during an air battle and never returned to base. He was flying a Corsair F4U-1 02178 on May 13, 1943… more…
Military aviation
How many times was Kenneth Walsh, the first Corsair ace, shot down?
Japanese cannon fire forced him into a dead-stick landing off Vella Lavella on 30 August 1943, after he destroyed four fighters; he was picked up later. That… more…
Military aviation
How long did Catalina convoy escort flights to the USSR last?
Many of the Catalina flights protecting convoys to the Soviet Union lasted between 15 and 20 hours and ended at Gryaznaya Bay (Murmansk) or at Arkhangelsk… more…
Military aviation
Did Israel use the B-17?
Yes: in early 1948, before the State of Israel was created, the Haganah ordered three Boeing B-17s in the United States, evading the US arms embargo. The… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
When are the fighter jets in Gijón?
Fighter jets fly in Gijón at the International Air Festival, held every summer over San Lorenzo beach, usually on a Sunday in the second half of July, with… more…
Military aviation
What was the heaviest bomb ever dropped?
The Grand Slam, at 22,000 lb (10,000 kg), was the largest and most powerful conventional, non-nuclear aerial bomb used by either side during the war, and… more…
Military aviation
Which is better, the F-22 or the Su-57?
In stealth, operational maturity and numbers, the F-22 Raptor is ahead: it's a fighter proven since 2005 with about 187 operational units. The Su-57 bets on… more…
Kilyann Le Hen (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What problem do Sukhoi Su-7s share in close support?
Fuel: the Su-7 was rugged in its simplicity, but its Lyulka AL-7's consumption limited its payload so much that even short-range missions forced at least two… more…
Military aviation
Did you know there was an F-16 powered by the same type of engine as the F-104?
Yes: the F-16/79, a downgraded export version of the F-16 fitted with the General Electric J79 turbojet, the same engine used in the F-104 and the F-4. The… more…
Foto: USAF, TSgt. Gary Tomoyasu (dominio público)
Military aviation
How many MiG-29s does Peru have?
Peru bought 21 MiG-29s: 18 secondhand from Belarus in 1996 and 3 new MiG-29SEs from Russia in 1998. After several accidents and years of low availability… more…
Military aviation
Which aircraft launched V-1s against England?
From the Heinkel He 111: the H-16/R3 and H-20/R2, in pathfinder configuration, carried V-1 flying bombs to their targets in London as part of Adolf Hitler's… more…
David Monniaux (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
What is the most modern Rafale?
The most modern Rafale in service is the F4 standard, qualified in 2023 and delivered to France since then in its F4.1 and F4.2 versions, with an upgraded… more…
William Pretrina (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Where did the German nickname "Gabelschwanz-Teufel" (fork-tailed devil) for the P-38 come from?
According to Life magazine in August 1943, it came from a recently shot-down German airman, after 26 P-38Fs of the 82nd Group claimed 31 enemy aircraft… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
How high does the Eurofighter fly?
The Eurofighter Typhoon has a service ceiling of 16,765 m (55,000 ft), according to the manufacturing consortium and the Royal Air Force. On routine missions… more…
L-Bit (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Who was the Avro Anson originally designed for?
For Imperial Airways: in 1933 the airline issued Avro a specification for a light airliner for four passengers, with a range of 420 miles (676 km) and a… more…
Military aviation
Did the Corsair fight for France outside Indochina?
Yes. Flotillas 14.F and 15.F took part in the Anglo-French-Israeli seizure of the Suez Canal in October 1956. F4U-7s from Flotillas 12F, 14F, 15F and 17F flew… more…
Military aviation
When does the aircraft carrier arrive in the Caribbean?
The aircraft carrier has already arrived: the USS Gerald R. Ford entered the Caribbean Sea on 16 November 2025, according to US Southern Command, after… more…
Andrew Basterfield (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Which rival lost to the A-10?
The Northrop YA-9, built as the YA-9A, was the rival prototype to the YA-10A in the A-X competition. It fully met the USAF's requirements, but on January 18… more…
Military aviation
What did Vought change on the Corsair to make it carrier-capable?
Vought had to redesign the main landing gear, tailwheel and arrestor hook, add a bleed valve in the struts to curb bouncing, fit a bulged canopy and raise the… more…
Military aviation
What altitude did a Canberra reach on a rocket motor in 1957?
On 28 August 1957, the Canberra B.2 WK163, fitted with a Napier Double Scorpion rocket motor, achieved an altitude record of 70,310 ft (21,430 m). In 1953… more…
David Monniaux (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
When did the Rafale come out?
The Rafale is already in service: the Rafale A demonstrator flew on 4 July 1986, the first production prototype C01 on 19 May 1991, and the French Navy… more…
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
What were the armed ACH-47As nicknamed?
"Guns A Go-Go." That was the unofficial nickname for the ACH-47As, the four CH-47As that Boeing Vertol converted into gunships in late 1965, with armor, two… more…
David Monniaux (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How much does the rafale cost?
A Rafale costs roughly €75–90 million flyaway for France, but export contracts run to €200–250 million per aircraft once weapons, spares, training and support… more…
Military aviation
How much lift did Gouge's patented flaps add to the Sunderland on landing?
30% more. Gouge's patented flaps slid backward along curved tracks and lowered as they moved, increasing wing area and generating 30% more lift for landing… more…
Military aviation
What did Ken Gatward do with a Beaufighter over Paris?
Gatward circled the Eiffel Tower at 12:27, Fern dropped a tricolour flag over the Arc de Triomphe, and Gatward strafed the Naval Ministry in Place de la… more…
Military aviation
How many victories did No. 604 Squadron, the RAF night-fighter squadron, claim?
Around 127 aerial victories over the course of the war, 41 of them since May 1944. No. 604 (County of Middlesex) Squadron RAF spent most of the Second World… more…
Military aviation
Why did the Canberra carry no defensive armament?
Because the requirement demanded it: the Air Ministry's 1944 specification to succeed the Mosquito, in its initial E.3/45 revision, called for a fast… more…
David Monniaux (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How big is the Dassault Rafale?
The Dassault Rafale is 15.27 m long, has a 10.90 m wingspan and stands 5.34 m tall, with a 45.7 m² wing area. It's a compact twin-engine fighter: it weighs… more…
Richard Opitz (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
What does "Stuka" mean?
"Stuka" is short for Sturzkampfflugzeug, which in German means "dive bomber". That was the nickname for the Junkers Ju 87, which dived at angles of 60 to 90°… more…
Anthony Noble (GFDL), vía commons
Military aviation
Why did the Vulcan switch from high-altitude bombing to low-level flying?
To survive increasingly capable Soviet air defences. In the mid-1960s the Vulcan adopted a new mission profile: fly high in transit and drop to ground level… more…
Military aviation
Who was the top-scoring Australian flying ace?
The top-scoring Australian ace was Clive Caldwell, Australia's leading flying ace of World War II, officially credited with 28.5 enemy aircraft shot down over… more…
Military aviation
Why did kamikazes do little damage to the hull of the British carrier HMS Victorious?
Thanks to its armored flight deck. The Victorious was hit on 4 and 9 May and suffered a near miss on 1 April, and its armored deck withstood the worst of the… more…
Neozoon (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How many Ju 52s were lost in the airborne invasion of Crete?
The Luftwaffe lost 170 aircraft and 4,500 men in the airborne invasion of Crete in late May 1941. In it, 493 Ju 52/3m carried most of the 22,750 soldiers… more…
This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would much appreciate if you send me an email tagooty@yahoo.com or write on my talk page, for my information. Please contact me before commercial use. Please do not upload an edited image here without consulting me. I would like to make corrections only at my own source to ensure that the changes improve the image and are preserved.Otherwise you may upload an edited image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract. (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
What wavelength did early radars use, and why wouldn't it fit on a plane?
The 10 cm wavelength radar only became reality in 1940, when John Randall and Harry Boot developed the cavity magnetron. Before that, the Chain Home stations… more…
Military aviation
How did the Upkeep bomb work?
Upkeep weighed 9,250 lb (4,200 kg), of which 6,600 lb (3,000 kg) was Torpex. It was dropped at 60 ft (18 m) above the water with a backspin of 500 rpm: the… more…
Foto: USAF, TSgt. Gary Tomoyasu (dominio público)
Military aviation
How much does the mig 29 weight?
A MiG-29 weighs about 11,000 kg (24,250 lb) empty, around 15,000 kg (33,000 lb) at normal take-off weight with internal fuel and air-to-air missiles, and up… more…
Military aviation
How much do military aircraft cost?
Military aircraft range from about $10 million for a basic trainer like the T-6 Texan II to over $600 million for a B-21 stealth bomber. In between sit… more…
Military aviation
What are military aircraft like?
Military aircraft don't follow a single pattern: they range from 15-tonne supersonic fighters to transports of nearly 400 tonnes like the C-5 Galaxy. They… more…
Military aviation
Why are fighter jets flying today?
Fighters fly on most weekdays because training never stops: squadrons must log sorties to stay qualified, and bases publish weekly flying schedules. Busier… more…
Neozoon (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
What was the 1943 "Palm Sunday Massacre"?
It was the day of 18 April 1943, when Allied fighters intercepted a German air convoy to Tunis over the Mediterranean: 24 Ju 52s were shot down and another 35… more…
David Monniaux (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How much does the rafale weight?
A Rafale weighs about 10 t (22,000 lb) empty in the single-seat C version, roughly 10.6 t for the carrier-borne Rafale M with its strengthened landing gear… more…
Military aviation
What caused the most damage to the Tirpitz in Operation Tungsten's first strike?
The bombs from the 21 Barracudas: in under 60 seconds they struck the Tirpitz with one general-purpose bomb, three 500-pound semi-armor-piercing bombs, and… more…
Military aviation
What did Jordan's F-104s do during the Six-Day War?
Nothing in combat: controlled by the United States, Jordan's F-104s were temporarily moved to Turkey during the Arab-Israeli Six-Day War. Jordan had received… more…
Military aviation
How was the engine of the Corsair flown by the Royal Navy started?
With a cordite cartridge. The F4U Corsair is one of the best-known examples of American aircraft with a Coffman starter, the so-called "shotgun starter". The… more…
Military aviation
How many passengers did BOAC's Hythe class carry?
The H.1 had 16 seats on a single deck, the H.2 added a promenade deck, and the H.3 carried 24 seats or bunks for 16. The six demilitarised Mark IIIs from late… more…
Chairboy (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
When were military aircraft created?
Military aircraft were born almost alongside aviation itself: the US Army bought the Wright Military Flyer in 1909, the first aircraft acquired by any armed… more…
Military aviation
What milestone did the USAF achieve by flying F-104s to Taiwan in 1958?
It was the first time airlift had been used to move fighters over a long distance. The first F-104s reached Taiwan on September 10, 1958, disassembled, aboard… more…
Military aviation
What top speed was the F2G Super Corsair rated for?
The F2G's top speed was 431 mph (694 km/h; 374 kn) at 16,400 ft (5,000 m). It was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-4360-4 Wasp Major, a 28-cylinder radial in… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
How long does it take a Eurofighter to cross Spain?
About one hour. The peninsula measures roughly 1,000 km from east to west, from Creus to Fisterra, and a Eurofighter in subsonic cruise flies at about 900-950… more…
Military aviation
How many Hurricanes were there compared to Spitfires in the Battle of Britain?
By the end of June 1940, after the fall of France, 31 of Fighter Command's 61 fighter squadrons were equipped with Hurricanes. According to Fighter Command… more…
Anidaat (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How long did it take to convert the first Vulcan into a tanker aircraft?
Just 50 days. The conversion of six Vulcans into tanker aircraft was approved on 4 May 1982, during the Falklands War, and 50 days after the order the first… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
How fast does the Eurofighter Typhoon fly?
The Eurofighter Typhoon reaches Mach 2.0 (about 2,125 km/h) at high altitude and around 1,390 km/h (750 kn) at sea level. It can also sustain supersonic… more…
Military aviation
What is the largest aircraft carrier in the world?
The world's largest aircraft carrier is the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) of the US Navy: about 337 m long, 78 m wide at the flight deck, and roughly 100,000… more…
Military aviation
How much did BOAC improve the cruising speed of its unarmed Sunderlands?
It was a significant improvement, achieved with only minor tweaks: the angles of the engines and the aircraft's flight angle were slightly modified — a… more…
Military aviation
How many machine guns did the Sunderland end up with, compared to the original six?
Up to 16 machine guns. The initial defensive armament included an FN-13 tail turret with four .303s and a pair of manually operated .303s, one on each side of… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Which Warning Star was called "Triple Nickel," and why is it historic?
It was the US Air Force EC-121D with serial number 53-0555, hence the nickname. On October 24, 1967, over the Gulf of Tonkin, it radar-guided a US fighter to… more…
Military aviation
Did Corsairs ever face German fighters in combat?
No: the Corsair never met a German fighter in combat, though both Grumman types did. Its main European operations were the Operation Tungsten strikes on the… more…
Peter Gronemann (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
How high do military aircraft fly?
Anywhere from about 75 m to over 20,000 m, depending on the mission. Transports and tankers fly like airliners, at 9,000-12,000 m (30,000-40,000 ft); fighters… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
How long did it take an R7V-1 to convert from a passenger plane to a freighter?
Two hours. The R7V-1, the US Navy's transport version derived from the L-1049B Super Constellation, could be quickly converted from a passenger aircraft… more…
Military aviation
What are drones?
Drones are aircraft with no pilot on board, controlled remotely or with varying degrees of autonomy; official terminology refers to UAS (unmanned aircraft… more…
Military aviation
What did the early Corsair's cockpit lack that today would seem essential?
They lacked forward visibility: the cockpit sat far aft and the nose was very long, and that combination made landings dangerous for newly trained pilots. The… more…
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK (CC BY), vía commons
Military aviation
Did some Chinooks become attack helicopters in Vietnam?
Yes. In late 1965 Boeing Vertol converted four CH-47A helicopters into gunships, the ACH-47A, with armor, upgraded engines, two 20 mm cannons, a 40 mm grenade… more…
Mateo fzo (CC BY SA), vía commons
Military aviation
Which aircraft made the EC-121R Batcat obsolete in Vietnam?
The QU-22B. It reached full operational status on October 1, 1970, reducing the need for the EC-121R Batcat; the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing, which had operated… more…
Military aviation
What did the XP-86 and Republic's XP-84 have in common?
The same projected performance: early studies indicated the XP-86 would have identical performance to its rivals, the XP-80 and the XP-84. The USAAF chose one… more…
Military aviation
Why did German Bf 109 aces rack up far more victories than Allied pilots?
American pilots rotated home, usually after 25 to 50 missions. The Luftwaffe had no equivalent policy, and its pilots flew until Germany surrendered. Erich… more…

Military aviation: questions and answers

Did you know the F-104 was tested being launched like a rocket, with no runway?

How many Luftwaffe pilots achieved five or more P-38 kills?

How did American aviation solve the shortage of escort fighters over Germany?

How many victories was Pappy Boyington ultimately credited with?

What P-38 aircraft did the Dominican Air Force have in 1947?

How many Eurofighters does Spain have?

What did some US aircraft carriers do to stop the kamikaze?

Why are military aircraft on flight radar?

How many international operators does the H-47 Chinook have besides the US Army?

Why did VF-17's Corsairs carry a skull on the nose?

What nickname did Pappy Boyington's squadron have, and where did "Pappy" come from?

What was the practical purpose of the Sunderland's four fixed forward machine guns?

How did Boeing turn a twin-engine contest into a four-engine one?

Why are fighter jets so loud?

What did the US Navy use four Constellations for in the Vietnam War?

What is the MiG-29?

Why did the US Navy prefer radial engines?

When was the Mexican Air Force created?

How much fuel did a Bf 109E carry and how far did it get?

What kill ratio did the F-86 Sabre achieve in Korea?

What is the Rafale?

Which Vought aircraft was born from a cancelled fighter and was the first in its class to exceed 320 km/h?

Why is the history of the Corsair with serial number 124541 known in such detail?

At what altitude did the Ju 87 recover automatically?

How many tons of bombs did the Lancaster drop?

What nickname did young US Navy pilots give the Corsair because it was so hard to land on a carrier?

Why was the P-38 Lightning such a good gun platform?

What Latin American countries operated the Corsair after World War II?

What did Specification B.14/46, which gave rise to the V bombers, call for?

What program did Lockheed create to improve the reliability of the German F-104s?

Which flying boats rescued the crew of the Kensington Court in 1939?

Who founded Hispano-Suiza, and where?

What made the A-6 Intruder special in Vietnam?

What advantage did the Bf 109E's Bosch fuel injection pump give it?

Which aircraft does the Pakistan Air Force claim as the first kill by a Mach 2 aircraft?

How many Hispano-Suiza 8 engines were built during the First World War?

What engine and weapons did the Australian Sabre Mk 30 carry?

How fast do fighter jets fly?

How many conventional bombs could the Vulcan's bomb bay hold?

Why did they call the F-104 "Zipper"?

Why did Yamamoto declare Operation I over in April 1943?

What cross was repainted over the Maltese cross on the Dr.I?

What proportion of the fighter pilots aboard British carriers off Japan in 1945 were New Zealanders?

What anti-ship missiles did German Navy F-104s carry?

What did a Sunderland I carry on board for long flights?

Did the captured Zero influence the Hellcat's design?

What was found in the propeller of Klingman's Corsair after he brought down an enemy with it?

Why do aircraft carriers have angled decks?

What nickname did the Marines give the Corsair in Okinawa?

What happened to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln?

Why did the US Navy train its carrier pilots on Lake Michigan during World War II?

What designation did the F-104 receive in the Spanish Air Force?

How many Canadian Sabres did the RAF receive around 1950?

Who was the first ace of US naval aviation?

What is the b-21?

What did Kelly Johnson say after the 1967 Kinmen air battle?

Was a Hurricane ever towed in flight?

What did the Marines change on their Corsairs to operate from land bases?

What did France demand after testing the Hispano-Suiza 8 at Chalais-Meudon?

How many anti-aircraft missile launchers did Soviet PVO have?

Where are the military planes in Puerto Rico?

Why did the RAF's Chinook HC3s not fly in service for years?

What did pilots jokingly call carrier landings?

Why were some Catalinas called "Black Cats"?

How did the British solve the problem of landing the Corsair on carriers?

How many Vulcans were converted for maritime reconnaissance?

Whose military aircraft are sunk in Lake Michigan?

What changed on the Vulcan to turn it into the B.Mk 1A?

Why are fighter jets flying over my house today?

What is the Eurofighter?

What did Birkigt invent for the SPAD S.VII besides the engine?

Until when did a converted Sunderland fly commercially?

How much do fighter jets cost?

How many years was the EC-121 Warning Star in service?

What happened to the ball turret before a belly landing?

What material is the A-10's ammunition penetrator made of?

When did the Lightning prototype break Mach 2?

Why was No. 23 Squadron RNZAF called the "Ghost Squadron"?

What brought down almost all the A-6s lost in their first Vietnam deployment?