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This glider was a terrifying way to enter battle. The troops in the fuselage couldn't see outside, and their first warning that they were about to go into action was [...]

The Supermarine Spitfire Mk 1 entered service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1938. It was the RAF's most modern fighter: sleek, fast, heavily armed and beautiful. Two years [...]

After being severely underfunded during the inter-war years, the Royal Navy entered the Second World War without a single modern carrier-borne fighter. The Hawker Hurricane was quickly adapted as the [...]

A 1960s design that first flew in 1974 and entered RAF service in 1982, the Tornado GRI proved to be one of the most versatile and longest-serving RAF jets. Created [...]

The Fairey Swordfish entered service with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm (FAA) in 1936. Already slow and outdated by modern standards, a requirement was issued in the same year [...]

On 17 August 1942, Major Paul Tibbets led a formation of 12 United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Boeing B-17E Flying Fortresses into a bomb-run over Rouen, France. Better known [...]

Despite being designed in the early 1930s, with its first flight in 1935, the Catalina was the most-produced amphibian of the Second World War. It entered service with the US [...]

The de Havilland Vampire was built to a 1941 requirement for a jet interceptor, issued against a fear that Germany would develop jet bombers. It first flew in September 1943, [...]

The General Dynamics (later Lockheed, then Lockheed Martin) F-16 Fighting Falcon is widely regarded as the world's most successful jet fighter. Originally designed in the early 1970s to meet a [...]

The Avro Lancaster is perhaps the most iconic aircraft of the Second World War. The mainstay of RAF Bomber Command, it symbolises all of the contradictions that their campaign encompassed--the [...]

Designed in the early 1950s, the F-104 was the first operational fighter intended to maintain sustained supersonic flight, with an optimum speed of Mach 1.4 but a top speed of [...]

In July 1944, the world's first two jet fighters began operational service. The Nazis' Messerschmitt Me 262 was being flown by an evaluation unit, as it had been for several [...]

The Su-24 (NATO reporting name Flanker) is what the Soviet Union called a 'frontal bomber', designed to act at tactical and operational levels. Although capable of deep penetration and nuclear [...]

The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver (not to be confused with the earlier, biplane Curtiss SBC Helldiver) was designed to an ambitious set of specifications published by the United States Navy (USN) [...]

In July 1944, the world's first two jet fighters began operational service. The Nazis' Messerschmitt Me 262 was being flown by an evaluation unit, as it had been for several [...]

In the mid-1790s, Great Britain's colonies in India were largely limited to widely separated coastal enclaves, where the East India Company (EIC) conducted trade while protected by its own armed [...]

The French multi-role delta jet that's still in service nearly seven decades after its first flight The Dassault Mirage III was the culmination of a series of deltawinged types designed [...]

This single-seat aircraft looks like an unlikely candidate to be one of the most successful fighters and fighter bombers of the Second World War. It lacks the streamlined grace of [...]

Germany entered the Second World War with a range of twinengined medium bombers, and by far the most successful was the Junkers Ju 88. It was fast (nearly 300mph/480kmh with [...]

ADJUSTABLE AIR INTAKES Adjustable ramps over the air intakes can narrow or even close to avoid sucking in detritus at low level or while operating on rough airstrips, with auxiliary [...]

When design of the F-14 started in 1967, it was already clear that US airpower had taken a step backwards since the Korean War. US fighters over Vietnam were struggling [...]

The United States Navy (USN) Fighter Weapons School was established in 1969 in an attempt to stem US losses in the air war over Vietnam. Soon dubbed 'Top Gun', the [...]

BELL P-39 AIRACOBRA COMMISSIONED: 1939 ORIGIN: UNITED STATES LENGTH: 9.2M(30FT2IN) WINGSPAN: 10.3M (34FT) ENGINE: 857KW (1150HP) ALLISON V-1710 CREW: 1 PRIMARY WEAPON: 1*37MM CANNON, 2 * 12.7MM AND 4 *7.62MM [...]

The Nieuport 17 entered service in the spring of 1916, when the Entente air forces were on the back foot. The 'Fokker Scourge' had been ongoing for months, with the [...]

The article discusses the development and service history of the Supermarine Seafire, a carrier-borne fighter aircraft used by the Royal Navy during World War II and beyond. The Seafire was a modified version of the Spitfire, with adaptations made to enable it to operate from aircraft carriers. Despite its limitations, such as short range and a fragile undercarriage, the Seafire saw valuable service in various theaters of war, including the Mediterranean and the Far East. The article provides technical details about the Seafire's design, engine, armament, and cockpit layout. [Extracted from the article]

The Tornado GR1, a Cold War bomber, made its combat debut during Operation Desert Storm. Designed by a tri-national consortium of the UK, West Germany, and Italy, the Tornado GR1 was known for its versatile swing-wing design optimized for low-level high-speed interdiction. During the war, the Tornado GR1 conducted night attacks on Iraqi airfields and infrastructure, with some aircraft switching to medium-level operations using laser-guided bombs. The Tornado GR1 also had a reconnaissance variant, the GR1a, which continued to fly at low levels throughout the war. The aircraft played a crucial role in the coalition's air campaign, although it suffered losses and its crew faced danger and captivity. [Extracted from the article]

The Albatros Flugzeugwerke produced a line of Germany's most successful fighters from 1916 onwards. The D.I had regained air superiority from the British over the Somme in the autumn of [...]

The Tupolev Tu-95, dubbed the 'Bear' in the NATO reporting system, was a Soviet icon during the Cold War, and it remains a highly visible symbol of Russian power. Designed [...]

It's not unusual for military formations to have to fight for the resources they need, or perhaps convince hidebound superiors of the validity of new technologies or techniques. Few, however, [...]

By 1944, the Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik made up around 30% of the Soviet Air Force's front line. This rugged and versatile aircraft packed a heavy punch that inflicted untold damage [...]

With its external bracing wires and fixed undercarriage, the Boeing P-26A looks antiquated compared to later 1930s aircraft, but looks can be deceptive. The P-26A came at a turning point [...]

Even its main proponent, US General Douglas MacArthur, only gave this desperate military gamble a one-in-5,000 chance for success, but it turned the tide of a war that still shapes [...]

The article provides a historical overview of the Airspeed Horsa glider, which was used as a one-way transport for airborne operations during World War II. The glider was designed to move fully equipped troops, artillery, and vehicles behind enemy lines. It could carry up to 25-28 troops, along with weapons and equipment. The Horsa glider was made of laminated wood and had large flaps for controlled dives. It relied on engines from the towing aircraft and had a modular design that allowed for easy disembarkation of personnel and vehicles. The gliders played a crucial role in various operations, including the invasion of Sicily, the Normandy beachheads, and Operation Market Garden. [Extracted from the article]

Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen was born into the Prussian nobility in 1892, in Kleinburg, Lower Silesia (now Wroclaw, Poland). 'Freiheer' ('Free Lord') was an honorific allowed to all male [...]

Designed in the 1920s as a general purpose trainer, crop duster and light transport aircraft, the Polikarpov U-2 (later reclassified the Po-2) saw distinguished service during World War II. It [...]

The given text provides a concise summary of the role played by the RAF during the invasion of Normandy in World War II. It highlights the establishment of Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) near the front lines to maintain air superiority. The RAF's Servicing Commando Units (SCUs) and Airfield Construction Service (ACS) were responsible for building and maintaining these temporary airstrips. Despite challenges, they successfully built and operated around 75 airfields, contributing to the Allied victory. The text also mentions that it is a caption for a series of images related to the launch preparations of a project called "IX," but does not provide further information about the project or its significance. [Extracted from the article]

The Fairey Swordfish, also known as the 'Stringbag', was a biplane that entered service with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm in 1936. Despite being slow and outdated, it proved to be an exceptional weapon of war and equipped 13 FAA squadrons by the outbreak of World War II. The Swordfish played a significant role in British naval successes, sinking or damaging several enemy battleships. It had a variety of armaments, including torpedoes, sea mines, air-dropped munitions, and rockets. The aircraft had folding wings and was designed for aircraft carrier operations. The cockpit was open, with the pilot at the front and the observer and air gunner sharing a compartment to the rear. The Swordfish saw active service around the world and played a crucial role in the attack on the Italian fleet in Taranto harbor and the crippling of the German battleship Bismarck. Its main role, however, was escort duties, protecting convoys and the fleet. The wings of the Swordfish could fold back, making it easy to move and store in small carriers. The aircraft had excellent control and clever gun storage features. [Extracted from the article]

The article provides a concise history of the Consolidated PBY Catalina, an amphibious aircraft that played a significant role in World War II. The Catalina was first introduced by the US Navy in 1936 and became the most-produced amphibian of the war. It was used for various purposes, including locating enemy ships, attacking submarines, and rescuing aircrew and sailors. The aircraft had a range of 2,500 miles and could carry up to 4,000 pounds of bombs or torpedoes. It was armed with machine guns for self-defense and had a spacious cockpit and crew compartment. The Catalina was involved in notable events such as the Battle of Midway and the sinking of German U-Boats. It served in various countries, including Australia and Brazil, and remained operational until 1982. [Extracted from the article]

The de Havilland Vampire was Britain's first post-war jet fighter, designed in response to a fear that Germany would develop jet bombers. It entered service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1946 and was the fastest aircraft at the time, with a top speed of 540mph. The Vampire had a unique design with a twin-boom tail and oval fuselage, demonstrating British designers' ability to think outside the box. It served in various roles, including as a night-fighter, trainer, and ground-attack aircraft, in over 30 air forces worldwide. The Vampire's main armament consisted of four Hispano 20mm cannon, and it had a highly recognizable appearance with its short undercarriage and twin-tail design. [Extracted from the article]