In 1967, the Boeing-737 took its first flight. The narrow-bodied business jet was one of the most popular commercial airliners. The 737 series is the best-selling commercial plane in history. Lufthansa acted as the first company to use the plane commercially and over time other airlines ordered it. The most use came from airliners such as [...]
It may be slow, it may be simple, and it may be ugly, but this little piggy is tough as nails. If this warthog could talk, it might say “no worries.” Because even though the A-10 Thunderbolt II is old and ugly, it is most definitely still effective. But the question the military keeps asking [...]
The China Clipper, the Philippine Clipper, and the Hawaii Clipper are the names of three flying boats—Martin M-130s—designed by Glenn L. Martin Company in the 1930s. In fact, it’s the first of the three to have been built. With a complex and tragic story behind them, this boat-plane hybrid introduced the reality of scheduled, international [...]
As a nimble jet, the L-39 Albatros trains future pilots and prepares them to use heavier, larger planes in the future. Air force units and the military utilize the plane for tactical aircraft, as well as a light ground support fighter. Pilots refer to the plane as an aggressive, agile aircraft with speed and maneuverability. [...]
The World's First Operational Jet Fighter While the design for the Messerschmitt Me 262 began pre-World War II, it didn't reach operational status with the Luftwaffe until mid-1944. Even then, only small numbers of Me 262s actually appeared in combat. Design and Development Several years before the onset of WWII, Germans saw the potential for [...]
Design-wise, this plane was one to look at. It became one of the most copied and iconic aviation designs of all time. Famous pilots made history in their planes, and they opened the doors to many opportunities for England, this being more desirable to some than the Wright biplanes. Flying for the first time on January [...]
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 [...]
These Pitts Sure Don't Stink. For a reliable aerobatic biplane, you can't go wrong with a Pitts Special. Design & Development Curtis Pitts designed this series of light, aerobatic biplanes beginning in 1943-1944. He built his first design, the S1, in 1945. Since then, the Pitts Special (and its derivatives) have dominated the world of [...]
Designed by Lockheed Aircraft, this Vega monoplane holds a special place in the hearts of many. The record-setting plane was capable of long-ranges and was used in the discovery of jet streams. Design, Development, Operation John Knudsen Northrop, of Northrop Corporation, and Gerard Vultee, of Vultee Aircraft Corporation, designed the Vega in the earlier days [...]
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 [...]
