If requested, the orbiting crews would open their top-secret decoders and confirm the “Go Codes” radio-transmitted from SAC’s Omaha headquarters. Crews were given the go-ahead to complete their dreaded missions…
The C-5 pilot, who was twice saved by his guardian angel during the same mission
“On this winter C-5 mission to Bodo, Norway, he (she?) saved me twice,” Jay Lacklen, former C-5 pilot Jay Lacklen is a former C-5 pilot with 12,500 flying hours and the author…
The only dedicated fixed-wing Personnel Recovery platform in the Air Force’s inventory is the HC-130P/N “King” On March 6, 2017, King 52, the first HC-130 designed for U.S. Air Force…
“The F-14, however, flown by “nasal radiators,” kicked our ass. Most incredibly, the Tomcat got immediately on our ‘six’ despite coming at us head-on and having to turn 180 degrees…
The oldest U.S. Navy electronic attack squadron, VAQ-130 Zappers, flies the EA-18G Growler Called “VAQ-130 Zappers Cruise 2016,” the following cool video is probably the best EA-18G Growler footage you…
Why the renowned Boeing B-29 Superfortress was disliked by the RAF
“Washington” was the Royal Air Force (RAF) designation for the famous Boeing B-29, one example of which, the Enola Gay, dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. “Washington” was the…
From bolter to hook skip: former US Navy A-7 pilot explains why naval aviators advanced throttle to full power when they land on an aircraft carrier
‘Upon contact with the flight deck, the throttle is advanced to full power. Prior to that, the pilot modulates throttle to maintain the proper rate of descent, but upon touchdown,…
An F-15 and F-22 join forces to attain a stunning 41-1 kill ratio during mock combats over Tyndall AFB
“We flew 4 F-15s and 4 F-22s against 14 ‘red air’ fighters: Blue Air killed 41 enemy aircraft and lost just one. While pretty phenomenal, perfection is our goal so…
An ex-SR-71 pilot explains the purpose of the Blackbird’s post-takeoff refueling
“We had to refuel right after takeoff for only one reason, and it wasn’t because we leaked JP-7 fuel on the ground…” Col. Richard H. Graham, former SR-71 Blackbird pilot…
A flight control system test for F-16 Vista at Edwards test pilot school
When outfitted as a C-17, for example, VISTA’s highly modified F-16 will react like a C-17, not an F-16, simulating the flight characteristics of many different aircraft Students at Edwards…