Finding a Stealth Replacement for the Intruder The Grumman A-6 Intruder was a legendary long-range US Navy attack aircraft that could operate in all weather conditions, day or night. They served from 1963 through to the 1990’s with the US Navy and US Marine Corps and saw extensive combat in Vietnam during the 1960’s and early… Read More What Might Have Been – The A-12 Avenger II
Imagine bomber aircraft being launched from Imperial Japanese Navy submarines at dawns early light or in total darkness, striking targets along the West coast of the United States and spreading chaos in their wake! That was what was intended with the design of the Aichi M6A1 Seiran (“Clear Sky Storm“) floatplane light bomber. The Seiran was… Read More The Survivors: The Last Imperial Japanese Navy Aichi M6A1 Seiran Floatplane Bomber
Designed during World War Two to provide air cover for Imperial Japanese forces deployed for amphibious beach landings in advanced locations that lacked prepared airstrips or aircraft carriers, the Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū (“Strong Wind” or “Mighty Wind” depending on the translation, Allied reporting code name “Rex”) floatplane fighter must have seemed a great idea to the Imperial Japanese… Read More The Survivors: Imperial Japanese Navy Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū Floatplane Fighter
The USAF Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) Program commenced in the 1970’s, then continued through the 1980’s and 1990’s, as a development, demonstration and evaluation program for a new USAF fifth generation fighter with stealth technology to complement and eventually replace the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. Lockheed and Northrop proposals were accepted in… Read More The Survivors: Northrop-McDonnell Douglas YF-23A Black Widow II Advanced Tactical Fighter
The Kawanishi N1K1-J Shiden (“Violet Lightning“, Allied Code Name: George) and N1K2-J Shiden Kai (Modified) are regarded as the best land based fighter operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War Two. The George was reasonably fast (top speed 595 Km/h / 369 mph – a bit less than the planned 656 km/h / 408mph),… Read More The Survivors: Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden Kai – When Violet Lightning Strikes!
The Hill Aerospace Museum at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah has an incredible collection of USAAF/USAF aircraft. One of the more amusing sights within the Hadley Gallery of the museum is the nose art for “Short Bier“, a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress bomber sporting the markings of the 493rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) of the… Read More Hill Aerospace Museum – Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress “Short Bier”
Aviatik “Berg Scout“ When you think of military aircraft operated by the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary during World War One, aircraft manufacturers like Fokker, Albatros and Gotha generally spring to mind. The German Aviatik aircraft company is probably lesser known to most and the aircraft produced by the Austro-Hungarian branch of Aviatek probably even… Read More Austrian Aviation Heritage: Aviatik (Berg) D.I – A Hidden Treasure from World War One!
de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito T.Mk.III (TV959) is currently a work in progress at the Flying Heritage Collection (FHC) located at Paine Field, Washington. This particular one is currently the third flying Mosquito example (with more to follow) and the second reconstructed and restored to flight by Avspecs Ltd. in New Zealand (FB.Mk.26 fighter bomber KA114… Read More FHC Mosquito TV959 – Putting a “Wooden Wonder” Back Together Again
The PBY – Naval Air Museum (operated by the PBY Memorial Foundation) can be found in downtown Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island in Washington state. The Oak Harbor section of Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island was once a thriving seaplane base and during World War Two the Consolidated PBY Catalina amphibious patrol bomber (also used for Search… Read More PBY – Naval Air Museum – Whidbey Island
Aviation Nation 2016 celebrated “75 Years of Airpower” at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The base was established in 1941 and has remained in continuous use ever since. Nellis is the premiere USAF combat training base and home to the USAF Warfare Centre. It is famous for the Red and Green Flag combat training exercises… Read More Aviation Nation 2016: 75 Years of Airpower – Part I
Aces Flying High 