SR-71 Crews Carried Suppressed Pistols
Share this story Quick Facts Weapon Smith & Wesson Model 41, .22 LR calibre Ordered March 1967, by the U.S. Air Force Quantity 30 pistols Modifications Threaded 5-inch barrel, slide lock mechanism, factory-fitted sound suppressor, extra magazines Special Feature...
Blue Angels Grounded: War Cancels the Airshow Season
Quick Facts Team U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron — the Blue Angels Aircraft Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (transitioned from legacy Hornets in 2021) Founded 1946 — celebrating their 80th anniversary in 2026 Shows Cancelled NAS El Centro (March 14) and NAS...
Warthog’s Last War: A-10s Deploy Before Retirement
Share this story Quick Facts Units Deploying 124th Fighter Wing (Idaho ANG) and 127th Wing (Michigan ANG) Aircraft Approximately 20 A-10C Thunderbolt II “Warthogs” Operation Epic Fury (ongoing since February 28, 2026) Staging Route Portsmouth, NH → RAF...
Behind Enemy Lines: The Most Daring Rescue Since Bosnia
Share this story Quick Facts EventCombat Search and Rescue of downed F-15E Strike Eagle crew deep inside Iran DatesApril 3–5, 2026 Aircraft LostF-15E Strike Eagle (48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath), A-10C Thunderbolt II, two MC-130J Commando IIs, at least one MH-6...
30 Hours, 11,000 Miles: The Longest Combat Mission Ever Flown
Share this story Quick Facts AircraftNorthrop Grumman B-2A Spirit stealth bomber Mission DurationOver 30 hours non-stop (some missions exceeded 33 hours) Distance~11,000 miles round trip OriginWhiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, USA Target AreaSerbia and Kosovo —...
Pentagon Orders 85 F-35s and a $6.6 Billion Engine Deal
Share this story Quick Facts AircraftLockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II 2027 Budget Request85 F-35s total — 38 for the Air Force, remainder for Navy, Marines, and allies Engine Contract$6.6 billion for Pratt & Whitney F135 engines (Lots 18 and 19) Contract...
B-52s Now Dropping JDAMs Directly Over Iran
Share this story Quick Facts AircraftBoeing B-52H Stratofortress Deployment BaseRAF Fairford, England (8 B-52s and 15 B-1s forward-deployed) Primary WeaponGBU-31 JDAM (2,000-lb GPS-guided bomb, ~$80,000 each) Payload CapacityUp to 20 x 2,000-lb JDAMs or 30 x 1,000-lb...
CIA Deception Saved the Downed F-15E Weapons Officer
Share this story Related: F-15E Down Over Iran — Crew Fate Unknown Quick Facts EventRescue of F-15E Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) shot down over Iran DateApril 5, 2026 — approximately 36 hours after shootdown on April 3 Aircraft LostF-15E Strike Eagle (494th Fighter...
Albert Ball: The Boy Hero Who Hated Killing — And Couldn’t Stop
Share this story Quick FactsNationalityBritish 🇬🇧Aerial Victories44Aircraft FlownNieuport 17, SE.5, Bristol ScoutWarsWorld War IBorn / Died14 Aug 1896 – 7 May 1917 (age 20)UnitNo. 11 Sqn RFC, No. 56 Sqn RFC St. Louis Post-Dispatch of St. Louis, Missouri on August 2,...
Supercruise: The F-22 Outruns Everything Without Afterburner
Share this story Quick Facts: SupercruiseDefinitionSustained supersonic flight without afterburnerFirst Operational FighterF-22 Raptor (2005)Supercruise SpeedMach 1.5+ (approx. 1,000 mph / 1,600 km/h)Engine2x Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100Thrust (each, dry)~26,000...
Recent Comments