Labor Day marks the unofficial end to summer and is one of the busiest times to travel. As you gaze out onto the tarmac at the massive Boeing 747 you're going to board, take a moment to reflect on the wonder of the man-made flying machine and how it's about to carry over 500 people [...]
KC-135 Stratotankers serve a crucial role in several areas of the military--their main mission being to refuel long-range military bombers. Four turbofans power the massive machine under swept wings and allow it to carry up to 83,000 pounds of cargo while refueling F-105 and F-4 fighter bombers. The aircraft has been servicing the United States Air [...]
Model airplanes allow children and adults to get up-close and personal with aviation without becoming a pilot or buying a plane ticket. Models made to scale can mark the beginning of a journey into aviation through its history and fascinating stories associated with real life versions of a plane. Assembling model airplanes requires patience, skill, [...]
Traveling by air does wonders. It transforms long, grueling drives into manageable flights and allows people to go places impossible to reach by car. The convenience is unparalleled. However, like anything, flying does not come without frustrating features for both passengers and those on the ground. Passengers sometimes undergo lengthy commercial flights (in addition to [...]
The C-130's versatility is second to none. The C-130 Hercules is considered one of history's most important aircraft. It has landed on high air-strips in the Himalaya Mountains, as well as those in the middle of the ocean on ships. Harsh environments are no stranger to this aircraft as it's usually the first plane landing [...]
If you’re a fan of National Geographic or the Discovery Channel, you may have heard of storm chasers. These people dedicate themselves to following a storm—usually a tornado—and getting video footage of clouds forming and hail falling. For some, the purpose behind storm chasing is more than just getting a thrill. They’re hired to gather [...]
If you’ve ever ridden a roller coaster, you may have felt a sense of weightlessness followed by abrupt heaviness. Going over bumps, through corkscrews, and around loops nearing a speed of 100 mph contributes to all those sensations—it’s also why you may feel a little queasy after getting off the ride. Roller coasters cause you [...]
The Lightweight Fighter Mafia contributed to the F-16 Fighter Falcon design used today. As founding members of the Fighter Mafia, John Boyd and Tom Christie did more than attract controversy by advocating for a new US air combat doctrine. The informal group wanted military reform in one way—do more with less. Boyd made his mark [...]
With how popular commercial flying is today, it's hard to believe the multi-billion-dollar industry ever served anyone other than its passengers. Airplane development in World War 1 encouraged officials to consider the potential of using planes for fast commercial and mail transportation. By early 1918, Congress approved $100,000 to experiment with an air mail route. [...]
In between Iceland, Scotland, and Norway lies the Faroe Islands’ Vágar Airport—an airport completely reliant on a satellite-based navigation system. The airport has one runway and grass-covered hills surrounded by steep, rocky cliffs. Clouds above the water make landing on the remote island difficult to maneuver at times. Satellite-based landing increases flight safety. Europe's regional satellite-based augmentation [...]
