The successor to McDonnell’s FH-1 Phantom, the F2H Banshee proved to be a fast and capable high-altitude fighter, making it the aircraft of choice to escort B-29 bombers over Korea. The airplane’s official nickname derived from the fact that its engines “screamed like a banshee.” To its pilots, however, it was affectionately called the “Banjo.” The F2H-2 was...
The day he scored his fifth victory, World’s first jet-versus-jet ace Capt. James Jabara was nearly s… – The Aviation Geek Club
The world’s first jet-versus-jet ace was US Air Force USAF Capt. James Jabara. Having shot down his fifth MiG during the late afternoon of May 20, 1951, thereby becoming the first “ace” of the jet age, Jabara of the 334th FS/4th FW dived solo after his sixth in F 86A 5 49 1318 as his wingman, 1Lt Salvadore “Jack” Kemp, had become separated early on in the engagement. As told by Peter E...
Combat Lancer: The Debut of the F-111 – The Aviation Geek Club
In the fall of 1967, PACAF began deployment planning for its first General Dynamics F-111As, the initial Air Force version of the TFX (for “Tactical Fighter Experimental”), the most controversial of all of the McNamara era’s joint-service “commonality” airplanes, intended as “cost effective” alternatives to aircraft procured via traditional acquisition...
Sikorsky RAIDER X competitive prototype for US Army’s FARA is more than 85 percent complete – The Aviation Geek Club
The Sikorsky RAIDER X competitive prototype (CP) for the US Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) is more than 85 percent complete, progressing 50 percent faster through production and assembly compared to legacy programs and resulting in a cost-effective, transformational aircraft. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has made significant progress on RAIDER X, which is now weight...
Did you know 414 B-29s were lost bombing Japan? For every Superfortress lost to the enemy, almost two were … – The Aviation Geek Club
One of the most technologically advanced airplanes of World War II, the B-29 Superfortress had many new features, including guns that could be fired by remote control. Two crew areas, fore and aft, were pressurized and connected by a long tube over the bomb bays, allowing crew members to crawl between them. The tail gunner had a separate pressurized area that could only be entered or left at...
Red Flag training area expanded by almost three times the size as prior iterations during exercise Red Flag… – The Aviation Geek Club
The 414th Combat Training Squadron and the Federal Aviation Administration have collaborated to expand the available training area during exercise Red Flag-Nellis 22-3 by almost three times the size as prior iterations. As explained by Airman 1st Class Makenna Gott, 57th Wing Public Affairs, in the article FAA, Nellis AFB partner to expand Red Flag airspace arena, this is the first Red Flag...
The future of tourist fighter jet flying doesn’t look bright. But Well-Known MiGFlug company has projects… – The Aviation Geek Club
We recently published an article on how world famous MiGFlug company had to cancel all jet rides in Russia due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. ‘It is coming to an end due to this tragic and unnecessary war,’ MiGFlug said on its Facebook page. ‘Any profits generated from flights in Russia in the last two years will be used to support Ukraine. We are currently looking for the most effective way...
USAF F-15 Eagle Aviatrix tells the story of when she beat two USMC F/A-18 Hornets in a mock dogfight after … – The Aviation Geek Club
First flown in 1972, the F-15 Eagle entered US Air Force (USAF) service in 1974. The Eagle’s most notable characteristics are its great acceleration and maneuverability. It was the first US fighter with engine thrust greater than the basic weight of the aircraft, allowing it to accelerate while in a vertical climb. Its great power, light weight and large wing area combine to make the Eagle very...
DARPA looks to leverage laser-equipped KC-46 and KC-135 tankers to recharge drones wirelessly – The Aviation Geek Club
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) published a request for information on Jun. 14, 2022 seeking industry feedback on a concept to wirelessly recharge unmanned air vehicles using a high-powered laser mounted on an external pod of aerial refueling aircraft like the US Air Force’s KC-46 and KC-135, noted Alert 5. According to Inside Defense The solicitation, which lays out a July...
US Navy Block III F/A-18 Super Hornet test jet controls three UAVs – The Aviation Geek Club
Boeing and the US Navy have completed a series of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) flight tests in which a Block III F/A-18 Super Hornet successfully demonstrated command and control of three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Boeing system engineers connected Block III’s adjunct processor, known as the Distributed Targeting Processor – Networked (DTP-N), with a third-party tablet to team with the...
