How to fly a supersonic Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum right now
The MiG-29 may not be the most advanced fighter in the Russian arsenal but it still has all the features it needs to do what it was designed to do:…
This legendary Soviet aircraft’s engines were basically two missiles jammed into a fuselage
What’s the fastest fighter jet in the world? If you’re thinking F-15, F-22, or F-35, or even the Su-57, then go back and read the headline – there is a…
The Air Force flies government officials in these modified Boeing 737s
As VIP aircraft go, none are as iconic as Air Force One. The U.S. President’s specially-configured Boeing VC-25, the military version of the famous 747 jetliner, and its famous white,…
When the bomber boys went at it: Dogfights in slow motion
Considering World War II was the largest conflict in human history, it is not surprising that some really bizarre episodes of armed combat occurred. From the start of the war…
Aces High: Over the Volga with Lydia Litvyak
In all of history, women have played a pivotal role in military campaigns. From the Israelites’ Deborah, to female machine gunners in the 1948-49 War of Independence, to the vicious…
The Soviet Union used a massive plane to spread Twitter-like propaganda
The Soviet-built Tupolev ANT-20 – also known as the Maxim Gorky – was the largest aircraft in the world while it flew. First taking off in 1934, it was an…
5 important differences between China and Russia’s military planning
Russia’s war in Ukraine is, at best, not going entirely how Russia planned. Russian forces’ continuing struggle to make significant gains against Ukrainian defenders has caused many in the U.S….
How the Huey drastically increased chances of surviving the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was long and arduous. It cost the United States a total of 58,220 troops, with 40,934 of them killed in action. The overall number of wounded sits at 304,000. These staggering numbers gave the military time to reflect on how effectiv…
Why the F-117 Nighthawk had such a relatively short service life
The F-117 Nighthawk was the U.S. Air Force’s first operational stealth aircraft. It made its maiden voyage in 1981 and reached operational status by 1983. Nighthawks participated in the U.S….
The mathematician who saved hundreds of flight crews
Abraham Wald, a Jewish mathematician, was driven out of Romania and Europe by the Nazi advance and emigrated to the U.S. where he would serve in the Statistical Research Group, a bunch of egg heads who used math to make the military better at everyt…