History

In March 1986, U.S. Navy aviators out-flew, out-maneuvered and jammed the Libyan Arab Air Force so badly that the Libyans stopped flying their interceptors over the Gulf of Sidra. As a result, Tripoli had to give up its claim on this part of the Mediterranean. Equally damaging, the lack of …

In 1964 during the Vietnam War U.S. aviators were captured by the North Vietnamese. Paul F Crickmore shares the story of how two SR-71 Blackbirds generated tri-sonic booms to free captured US prisoners of war in his book Lockheed Blackbird: Beyond the Secret Missions (Revised Edition): On Jun. 10, 1970, …

In 1995, Pepsi had launched a campaign called ‘Drink Pepsi, Get Stuff’, one that allowed customers to earn points on every Pepsi product they purchased and then exchanged for things like Pepsi branded t-shirts and hats. The commercial for the campaign also stated that a Harrier Jet would be given for 7 million points. …

On 20 August, B-2’s manufacturer, Northrop Grumman, hosted an event to mark the legendary stealth bomber’s 30th anniversary of its first flight at an event at Plant 42, according to 412th Test Wing Public Affairs Thirty years ago, on July 17, 1989, an oddly-shaped and dark-colored new plane took to the …

Poland, which was invaded by both the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany at the start of WW II, intends to present German President Frank Walter Steinmeier with its view that Germany should reopen the issue of compensation for Poles when he visits Poland in September, the Sun reported. The German …

The below video taken on Oct. 9, 1999 at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) shows the last ever flight of an SR-71 Blackbird. This flight took place at the Edwards AFB Open House Airshow.Thirty minutes after the take off the SR-71 had climbed to 80,100ft and was travelling at a speed …

On 10 August 1999, 20 years ago, an Indian Air Force MiG-21 shot down a Pakistan Navy Dassault ‘Atlantique’ over the Rann of Kutch. The French-built Breguet Atlantic, c/n 33, flight Atlantic-91, of 29 Squadron, was one of the Pakistan Navy’s frontline aircraft, used primarily for patrol and reconnaissance. Atlantic-91 …

On Apr. 21, 1989, SR-71 Blackbird #61-17974, better known as Ichi-Ban departed Kadena Air Base (AB) on a mission. At the controls were Pilot Lt. Col Dan House, and RSO Blair Bozek. As #974 accelerated through three times the speed of sound, the left compressor bearing froze, causing the immediate …

In Greek mythology, the phoenix was a bird that, after death, rose from its own ashes, ready to fly again. In this article we will share with you the story of the real phoenixes of modern aviation. 1) C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft (Juliet Delta 321) Recovery On December 4, 1971 C-130 …

Erich Alfred Hartmann (19 April 1922 – 20 September 1993) was a German fighter pilot during World War II and the most successful fighter ace in the history of aerial warfare. He flew 1,404 combat missions and participated in aerial combat on 825 separate occasions. He was credited with shooting …