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…
Who would win a fight between a MiG-29 and a Hornet
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the MiG-29 Fulcrum and the F/A-18 Hornet had plenty of opportunities to go head-to-head. There was the ever-present possibility of the Cold War turning hot, a potential meeting during Desert Storm, and again, an op…
This Navy ace shot down both German and Japanese planes during WWII
Naval air combat during WWII is often associated with the Pacific theater of the war. So, it may surprise some people to learn that Naval Aviators engaged German aircraft over…
This insane pilot conducted first combat search and rescue
It was Nov. 19, 1915. British pilots were attacking Ottoman forces at Ferrijik Junction, a rail and logistics hub. The tiny planes involved in the attack swooped and dove as they dropped bombs and fought off enemy fighters. But then, one of the bomb…
Why World War I pilot Eddie Rickenbacker is such a legendary aviation hero
In the early 1900s, heroes didn’t get much bigger than Eddie Rickenbacker. He grew up as a poor boy in Columbus, Ohio. He lost his dad at an early age,…
The real-life ‘Chappy’ Sinclair from Iron Eagle was an Air Force legend
Airmen and 80s movie buffs are likely to be familiar with the 1986 cult classic Iron Eagle. Sometimes called the “Top Gun of the Air Force,” Iron Eagle did not have the big budget, box office success or star power that its Naval-…
7 thoughts a fighter pilot has during a dogfight
Requirements officers at the Pentagon and defense companies like to tout the “beyond visual range” capabilities of modern aircraft. On paper, these days a pilot could earn ace status and never see his or her opponents.
However, air wars…
This Naval Academy grad and pilot is running for congress
Curtis Calabrese never planned on pursuing a career in politics or running for Florida’s 22nd Congressional District seat. But he is. Calabrese has always been passionate about finding a way…
This pilot has the most downs from WWII
In order to become a fighter ace, you have to be credited with five kills. The most successful pilot from World War II – and to date – broke that…
How one pilot single-handedly changed the course of a battle – and maybe World War II
The World War II Battle of Midway was a gamechanger for the United States. It came just six months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor thrust America into the…