Maj Benjamin “Torch” Naumann and Maj Mark “Smack” Smith from the 40th Flight Test Squadron flying the F-15EX Eagle II prepares to fire an AIM-120D missile during a test mission near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla, Jan 25, 2022. The F-15EX can hold up to 12 AIM-120D missiles. (U.S. Air …
Read More »Lt. David J. “Goose” Lortscher: The Real-Life Top Gun RIO Who Died In His Fifth Ejection
Credits: Paramount Pictures Top Gun’s Maverick and Goose make one of cinema’s most iconic duos, with the two pilots having complete trust in each other during life-or-death situations. As the duo passes through trials to achieve the TOPGUN status, they’re paired with Iceman to help take down enemy fighters for …
Read More »USAF F-16 Pilot Wants To Fly F-35 Instead of F-22 In War Against Russia or China
An F-22 Raptor from the 325th Fighter Wing flies alongside an F-35 Lightning II from the 33rd Fighter Wing over the Emerald Coast. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt Savanah Bray) Many people think that F-22 would easily crush an F-35. F-22 is credited with better stealth and maneuverability, …
Read More »Every Fighter Jet Featured in Top Gun: Maverick’s Trailer
The latest trailer for Top Gun: Maverick features a number of real-life fighter jets. But what do these specific jets bring to the table? Top Gun: Maverick is a direct sequel to Top Gun, and will hit theaters 34-years after the original debuted in 1986. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, Top …
Read More »Ukraine Offering Up to $1 Million to Defecting Russian Pilots
Credits: Ukroboronprom Ukroboronprom a Ukrainian defense contractor is offering to pay Russian pilots who defect with working aircraft payments of up to $1 million and “the issuance of citizenship in a free country”. Ukroboronprom has promised to pay up to $1 million in U.S. dollars for fighter jets and $500,000 …
Read More »Here’s how much it will cost to restore An-225 Mriya aircraft
Credits: @DmytroKuleba / Twitter As we have reported earlier that Antonov An-225, the biggest plane in the world was destroyed by Russian troops in the second air attack on the Hostomel (Gostomel) airport near Kyiv. The aircraft was burnt in the Russian attack. Ukrainian state arms manufacturer Ukroboronprom said that …
Read More »Here’s how a foreigner can help Ukraine’s military
As Ukraine’s allies in the West send military aid to bolster the country’s defenses against the Russian military full-scale Ukraine invasion, there are ways for individual foreigners to help Ukraine, too. Here’s how foreign citizens can participate in defending Ukraine against Russia, should there be an invasion: 1) Donating money …
Read More »Here’s How Much It Cost To Rent Air Force Aircraft
The Air Force has planned for every mission, but those planes aren’t always doing missions for the Air Force. The annual report from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) lists rates for “other DoD component users,” which are aircraft handled within the Defense Department, and “all other …
Read More »Here’s Why The SR-72 Son Of Blackbird Could Be A Mach 6 Spy Plane
In 2013, Lockheed Martin announced the development of the successor to the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane. The SR-72 Son Of Blackbird is the successor to the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane, which was the fastest plane to ever exist. The SR-71 was capable of reaching speeds over three times the speed …
Read More »Holden’s Lightning Flight: The Story Engineer Who Accidentally Took Off In A Fighter Jet
Credits: Youtube thumbnail / Paper Skies Anyone with a passion for aviation will have heard the tale of the Royal Air Force ground technician who accidentally took off in an English Electric Lightning after an error on what was supposed to be a ground engine run. On 22 July 1966 …
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