How Northrup’s YF-17 ‘Cobra’ became the Navy/Marine Corps F/A-18
The F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet have been the mainstay of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviation for the last four decades. The Hornet is also in service with the…
The impressive Cheyenne attack helicopter was way ahead of its time
The Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne is one of the greatest what-ifs in helicopter history. This unique chopper was arguably decades ahead of its time, reaching an incredible top speed of 245 miles per hour. Although it never made it past the prototype stage…
This is what would happen if a Hind took on a Cobra
In the early 1980s, the Mil Mi-24 Hind and the Bell AH-1 Cobra were the major attack helicopters on either side of the Cold War. Had the Russians tried to storm the Fulda Gap, these two choppers would’ve butt heads — often — in betwe…
How a Montana businessman built a Cobra attack helicopter from spare parts
Every year, tons of military supplies are labeled as “surplus” by the U.S. military, and these can be anything from rucksacks to rocket launchers. But when weapons or weapons systems…
When the Army experimented with mounting artillery to helicopters
High-Mobility Artillery Rockets systems are trucks that can take highly capable rockets right to the frontlines in combat, but before HIMARs, the Army experimented with strapping rockets onto helicopters in Vietnam and using them as true helicopter …
MIGHTY STORIES: Art Jetter and Vietnam’s Blue Max Aerial Rocket Artillery Unit
Mighty Stories is a weekly WATM feature highlighting the stories of veterans, active duty and military families. This week’s feature is Art Jetter, Vietnam Veteran.
“I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. I was the oldest of six bo…