The Northrop YF-23 was in the competition, head-to-head with the demonstrator version of the F-22, and the Northrop/McDonnell Douglas team came up with a very impressive aircraft. Several experimental US aircraft pushed aeronautical limits, but never saw service. The F-15 STOL MTD, the F-16XL, and the F-18 HARV to name a few. But there is […]

For a brief, harrowing moment during the Korean War, MiG Alley was considered the most lethal place on earth. This narrow strip of airspace where the Yalu River meets the Yellow Sea in northwest North Korea became the arena for the most brutal dogfights since World War 2. Here, American and Soviet pilots, engaged in […]

Becoming a military pilot requires a staggering amount of training. And while simulators can help, there’s no perfect substitute for the real thing. In this video, we take you inside the newest, most advanced, and one of the only supersonic jet trainers – the Boeing Saab T-7 Red Hawk. The Boeing–Saab T-7 Red Hawk, initially […]

The Grumman XF5F Skyrocket was a prototype twin-engined shipboard fighter interceptor. The United States Navy ordered one prototype, model number G-34, from Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation on 30 June 1938; its designation was XF5F-1. The aircraft had a unique appearance: The forward “nose” of the fuselage did not extend forward of the wing. Provisions were […]

AWACS aircraft are indispensable components of modern military operations, providing essential surveillance, command, and control capabilities. Their advanced technology, strategic operational tactics, robust protective measures, and the deterrent effect of potential escalations contribute to their relative safety in conflicts. Consequently, despite their significant importance, AWACS aircraft remain largely unscathed, highlighting their strategic and tactical invulnerability […]

In the 1950s, the aviation industry was trending towards bigger, heavier, and more expensive fighter jets. But a small British company decided to challenge this direction by demonstrating that there was a viable market for affordable, lightweight fighters. This is the story of the Folland Gnat. A Revolutionary Concept The Gnat was a game-changer. Smaller […]

TOPGUN adversary pilot Kris Caldwell had the opportunity to pilot the SW-51 MUSTANG “Double-O-Seven” – and was immediately captivated. This interview was taken at SUN´n FUN Aerospace Expo 2024. Double-O-Seven it serial number 007 of the ScaleWings SW-51 MUSTANG, a state-of-the-art carbon high performance aircraft and the most true-to-scale 70% recreation of the legendary P-51 […]