Now viewing articles in the category U.S. Air Force.
Boeing 737 Variants
May 4th, 2023
The Boeing 737 is by far the most numerous aircraft type in the skies. Over 11,377 airframes have been built since its introduction over 56 years ago in 1967, and it has achieved much success mainly do to its reliability, such as one of the early landings of 737-100 on a grass and gravel runway in B...
6 minute readThe Doolittle Raid
April 18th, 2023
81 years ago today, April 18th, 1942, the Doolittle Raid occurred and was America's first attack on the Japanese mainland during World War II. Here is the background of the raid: after the Pearl Harbor Attack, the US government wanted to get revenge against the Japanese and they agreed to a plan tha...
3 minute readBoeing EC-135 Variants:
April 11th, 2023
The Boeing EC-135 was one of the many variants of the Boeing 367-80 in the world, as well as the first successful jetliner. The 367-80 was built as a prototype for the 707 as well as all of the EC/RC-135 aircraft. This post is about the EC-135 variants - the RC-135 variants as well as the other 367-...
3 minute readBoeing E-4B Nightwatch
April 7th, 2023
The Boeing E-4B Nightwatch is an Airborne Command and Control aircraft that is designed to survive a nuclear blast. It is also capable of completely destroying cities of billions, in seconds! Total, there are four E-4s and they were originally stationed at Andrews Air Force Base as well as Langley A...
1 minute readBoeing 367-80 Variants:
January 11th, 2023
The Boeing 367-80 was one of the first jetliners in the world, as well as the first successful jetliner. The 367-80 was built as a prototype for the 707. The 367-80 was later evolved into the following on this list below, except for the EC-135/RC-135 variants that will be included on two other posts...
3 minute readJames Doolittle
December 14th, 2022
126 years ago today, December 14th, 1896, James Doolittle was born. Doolittle was famous for hundreds of aviation-related feats such as setting several world records for aircraft and entering (and winning) every air race worth entering in the 1920s and '30s. He also lead the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo,...
2 minute readBoeing 747
December 2nd, 2022
53 years ago today, December 2nd, 1969, the Boeing 747 was FAA certified. For about 50 years the Boeing 747 has been known by many names, such as: "The Queen of the Skies" and "Jumbo Jet". The Boeing 747 first rolled out of the Boeing Everett plant in February 1969, which was a remarkable feat, due ...
2 minute readAircraft of the U.S. Air Force in the Vietnam War
November 8th, 2022
F-105 Thunderchief "Thud" bombing North Vietnam The Vietnam War started in 1955 and ended in 1975. The U.S. involvement of this war was between 1965 and 1972, and again in 1975. The U.S. Air Force operated quite a few different aircraft in the Vietnam War theater. This post is about the main on...
5 minute readThe Wild Weasels
November 6th, 2022
The Wild Weasels is a group of elite airmen who mission requirements are to be the first aircraft in on a bombing mission and the last ones out of the mission area. They also are tasked to destroy any SAM (Surface to Air Missile) launching sites before any aircraft get shot down. The Wild Weasels we...
1 minute read4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron
November 5th, 2022
The Red Eagles (as the 4477th was know as) primary mission was to teach pilots the abilities of the MiG's and how to beat them in a dogfight. The legend was that the name 4477 is likely from the first commanding officer, who was 44 in 1977, the year that they were made a fight. The Red Eagles were b...
1 minute readEast Coast Trip Part One
November 3rd, 2022
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force At our second stop on our East Coast Trip was Dayton, OH, were we went to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force twice! I saw a Wright Military Flyer (replica), the B-17 Flying Fortress, Memphis Bell,a B-24, a B-26, Me 109, Me 190, Me 163 Komet, Me 262, P-...
1 minute readThe U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
November 3rd, 2022
The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Team, The Thunderbirds, has been an Air Force active duty fighter squadron officially known as the 3600 Air Demonstration Team. They were based at Luke AFB outside of Phoenix, AZ and originally activated on June 1st, 1953. The team is now located at Nellis AFB, o...
2 minute read