Capt. Spencer “Memphis” Bell, 40th Flight Test Squadron Pilot and Tech. Sgt. John Raven, 40th FLTS Photographer fly near White Sands National Monument near Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, Apr. 24, 2019. This was the first time this AIM-9X was used against a QF-16. (U.S. Air Force photo by …
Read More »When U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle Almost Accidentally Shot Down Another F-15 Fighter Jet
on Mar. 19, 1990 a U.S. Air Force (USAF) Elmendorf Air Force Base (AFB) F-15 Eagle accidentally hit by an AIM-9M Sidewinder missile fired from another USAF F-15. As can be seen by looking at the photo, the missile caused extensive damage to the tail section of the aircraft and …
Read More »Here’s The Only Pilot To Shoot Down A Satellite By A Fighter Jet
In the midst of the Cold War, the U.S. began to develop anti-satellite aircrafts to combat Russia’s vast space expansion. On 13 September 1985, Maj. Wilbert D. “Doug” Pearson, flying the “Celestial Eagle” F-15A 76-0084 launched an ASM-135 ASAT about 200 miles (322 km) west of Vandenberg Air Force Base …
Read More »U.S. Air Force’s Testing Of Airborne Laser Weapon Aboard Fighter Jet Has Been Delayed
Laser warfare could soon be a reality (Image: Northrop Grumman) The US Air Force’s highly touted SHiELD airborne laser weapon has hit yet another setback, raising questions about the program’s long-term viability. The U.S. Air Force’s long-planned test delayed until 2023 due to technical challenges and complications spurred by the …
Read More »35 Years Ago Today U.S. Air Force Received First Operational Rockwell B-1B Lancer Bomber
The B-1B lancer entered service in 1986 and was designed as a strategic bomber with supersonic speed. Photo by Senior Airman Jeffrey Withrow Thirty-five years ago, the first B-1B Lancer long-range, multi-mission, supersonic conventional bomber was delivered to the U.S. Air Force. The Strategic Air Command received the first operational Rockwell …
Read More »Air Force Links F-35, F-22, F-15, and F-16 Fighter Jet In Multiplayer Combat Simulator At Nellis AFB
F-35 Distributed Mission Training connects simulators across the world in a virtual environment. Source: Lockheed martin Lockheed Martin, the Joint Program Office and the U.S. Air Force successfully connected the F-35, F-22, F-16, and E3 Sentry in a “highly contested simulated environment” during a Distributed Mission Training (DMT) final acceptance …
Read More »U.S. Air Force Urgently Buying General Electric F110-GE-129 Engines For New F-15EX Fighters Jets
Source: Boeing The U.S. Air Force is urgently buying an unspecified number of General Electric F110-GE-129 jet engines to power its new F-15EX Eagle fighter jets. The service says this is an “unusual and compelling urgency acquisition” and comes ahead of a formal competition to decide on the F-15EX’s powerplant, …
Read More »U.S. Air Force F-16CM Fighting Falcon Crashes At Shaw Air Force Base, Pilot Dead
A 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron tactical aircraft maintainer marshals an F-16CM Fighting Falcon at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Sept. 12, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Maldonado) A Lockheed-Martin F-16CM Fighting Falcon, operated by the 20th TW, crashed at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, during …
Read More »To Attract More Female Pilots U.S. Air Force Removes Initial Height Requirement For Officer Aviators
Capt. Betsy Hand, 20th Operations Group standard evaluations liaison officer and 77th Fighter Squadron F-16 pilot, walks up to an F-16 to perform a pre-flight inspection, March 30. The Air Force has had women in fighter pilot roles since 1993. Photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Phelps The Air Force has …
Read More »Russian MOD Released Video Of Sukhoi Su-30 Fighter Jet Intercepting U.S. Aircraft Over Black Sea
Filmed from a Russian Su-30: RC-135W refuels from KC-135 over the Black Sea. (Image via Russian MOD). The Russian Ministry of Defense (MOD) has released a video filmed on June 26, 2020, showing the intercept of a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon ISR (Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and MPA (Maritime Patrol …
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