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aircraft

The first operational loss of a B-2 Stealth Bomber

by Till Daisd June 21, 2022

written by Till Daisd

According to the ACC accident report, “classified material” had been loaded the morning the B-2 Spirit crashed

The video in this post shows the first-ever crash of a U.S. Air Force (USAF) B-2 Spirit Stealth strategic bomber. It was recorded on February 23, 2008, at Andersen Air Force Base (AFB), Guam.

On board the B-2 Spirit of Kansas, 89-0127, two pilots from the Whiteman AFB, Missouri-based 509th Bomb Wing ejected.

According to an Air Combat Command (ACC), accident investigation report published on June 5, 2008, distorted data introduced by a B-2 Spirit’s air data system skewed information entering the bomber’s flight control computers ultimately causing the crash of the aircraft on takeoff.

The information in the bomber’s air data system was corrupted during air data calibration due to moisture in the Port Transducer Units (PTUs), which led the flight control computers to calculate an incorrect airspeed and a negative angle of attack (AOA) upon takeoff. This resulted in a “uncommanded 30-degree nose-high pitch-up on takeoff, causing the aircraft to stall and its subsequent crash,” according to the report.

This accident was significantly influenced by moisture in the PTUs, erroneous airspeed, a negative AOA calculation, and low altitude/low airspeed. Another substantial contributing factor was the ineffective communication of critical information regarding a suggested technique of turning on pitot heat in order to remove moisture from the PTUs prior to performing an air data calibration.

The co-pilot sustained a spinal compression fracture during ejection whereas the pilot suffered only minor wounds. He received care at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii before being released. The lost aircraft was estimated to be worth $1.4 billion.

The bomber had “classified material” placed onboard it the morning it was returning to Whiteman AFB “after a four-month deployment in support of Pacific Air Force’s continuous bomber presence,” according to the ACC accident report.

After the disaster, a B-2 that was already in the air was called back to Andersen, where it and the other B-2s were grounded while the crash’s preliminary investigation was being conducted. Six B-52s from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana’s 2d Bomb Wing’s 96th Bomb Squadron were sent to replace the B-2s.

Following the incident, Brig. Gen. Garrett Harencak, the commander of the 509th Bomb Wing, briefly suspended flying operations for all 20 of the remaining B-2s in order to evaluate procedures. According to Harencak, the suspension was a “safety pause,” and the B-2s will resume flying if necessary for urgent operations. On April 15, 2008, the B-2 fleet resumed its flight operations.

Photo by Federal Aviation Administration

June 21, 2022 0 comment

F 105 Moral Booster 1170x585 1

Infamous F-105 Thunderchief as an Incredible Morale Booster

by Till Daisd June 13, 2022

written by Till Daisd

There were shouts of “SHE’S HERE!” as soon as Ms. Galore arrived, and Vic can see crew members crowding the boom operator window for a peek as camera flashes also go off

The F-105D was one of the most famous—or infamous, depending on your perspective—planes and was also called P***y Galore. Captain Victor “Vic” Vizcarra piloted this aircraft.

The first Py Galore I marking was painted in July 1965, according to an intriguing Reddit thread. Py Galore was painted directly on the nose so that her, uh, “Strategic Part” was just above the receptacle as an inside joke for the KC-135 tanker crews, especially the boom operators who had difficulties placing the boom into the receptacle! She was given the same name as the executive pilot who flew the evil Goldfinger in the eponymous James Bond movie.

Ms. Galore and the tankers had a difficult first encounter. The tanker crew was informed by the pilot—not Vizcarra—that “she” was a virgin and that this was “her” first experience. To the amusement of all the involved Thud pilots, the boom operator mistook the phrase as the pilot’s first in-flight refuel and talked him all the way in. To their disappointment, Galore was not mentioned.

Later flights turned out to be considerably more enjoyable. There were shouts of “SHE’S HERE!” as soon as Ms. Galore arrived, and Vic can see crew members crowding the boom operator window for a peek as camera flashes also go off. There were snickers when the boom operator inserted the boom into Galore’s “Strategically Positioned” receptacle, completing the equivalent of an umm… oh yeah! After coming off the boom, there were cries of “Was that good for you?” “Ok, just how much did it cost me this time?” “Take good care of her now!” and “God damn it! There go another 100 bucks down the drain!” can be heard. Both sides reacted to those with a good deal of laughter, snickering, and smiles. Sadly, everything eventually came to an end.

During a dreaded journey “downtown,” the original Py Galore was shot down in 1967, leaving the pilot missing (not Vic). By that point, she had changed from a silver-painted finish to the typical South-East Asian three-tone finish, sadly with Ms. Galore painted over. Vic had already completed a Py Galore II by that point, in October 1966. The typical three-toned SE camouflage was used on this F-105D. Vic had to go through three hoops to obtain authorization to do Py Galore II. The tankers found it to be equally as popular as Py Galore I.

Sadly, this aircraft likewise failed to land. P***y Galore II was dispatched to Taiwan for a crucial significant maintenance and overhaul operation during the bombing lull LBJ authorized in 1968. She, unfortunately, sustained severe damage in a ground collision accident and was written off completely.

The marking itself though didn’t last that long. It was found out by the new Wing commander three weeks after application. Robert Scott, a legendary pilot from World War II, served as the commander. He suddenly grew apoplectic and demanded Galore be removed right away! So the P***y Galore tale comes to a close.

How well-known was P***y Galore? On a necessary R&R trip to Guam, Vic and his fellow Thud pilots broke into the local watering hole. They were immediately met by several KC-135 tanker crews. Their Thud patches allowed them to identify them. The tanker crew immediately inquired about a unique and really impressive Thud since it had a huge naked chick sprawled on the nose, with her special part strategically covering the receptacle.

They claimed that in addition to giving everyone involved an “eyeful,” Thud also significantly improved morale during an otherwise dull tanker sortie and made the life of the boom operator much simpler. They prayed every day that this Thud would appear and make the tanker crew’s day a little bit better. This is why her eventual, permanent disappearance was so disappointing.

They enquired as to who had thought up the idea and who was driving the Thud. They also said this wasn’t their first time asking this question. Well, someone on Vic’s team ratted him out as the guy who came up with THE P***y Galore concept! The tanker crew actually cheered when they realized not only did they find out the pilot, but got a name to go with the plane also! For the rest of that night, Vic couldn’t buy a drink without someone from the tanker crew picking up his tab!

No matter where it came from, never EVER undervalue the power of a good morale boost!

Photo by U.S. Air Force and Kits World

June 13, 2022 0 comment

Roland Garros’s life story: the playboy inventor of air combat and the first fighter pilot

by Till Daisd June 13, 2022

written by Till Daisd

Thanks to his machine gun system, by Apr. 18, 1915, Garros had three kills under his belt. At this time, the entire French Air Force had managed to down five German planes. Roland Garros accounted for three of these. Never before had a lone pilot hunted other men in the air.

The life of Roland Garros was thrilling. He was an early aviation pioneer who, despite wrecking his bamboo aircraft at Versailles, learned himself to fly it. He was a world-class athlete, an airshow pilot, a lawyer who refused to learn Latin, a sports car dealer on the Champs-Elysées, and a racer. He performed flight demonstrations for large crowds across the Americas.

In the end, Roland Garros became the first fighter pilot in history. He left his comfortable life in Paris and took to the skies during the First World War to fight and fly.

The story of Roland Garros: the Playboy who Invented Air Combat and became the First Fighter Pilot — Early French aviator Roland Garros

In fact, throughout the fighting, Roland Garros, Jules Hue, and Raymond Saulnier thought the use of a single-seat fighter plane outfitted with a machine gun ring would transform the war, as described by Ed Cobleigh in his book The First Fighter Pilot-Roland Garros. They were unable to present a functional synchro device, though. Plan B, which involved firing through the propeller, was the team’s backup strategy. While it wasn’t an elegant engineering solution, it did function in part. Garros hoped to prove the combat utility of a fixed gun with the jury-rigged mechanism.

Success would encourage greater investment and development. Garros reported to MS 26 squadron with his dependable mechanic and was the sole pilot given clearance to test his theory in battle.

When not in flight, Garros and Jules Hue worked in a hangar used to store spare components to find a solution to the propeller/gun issue. Two triangular steel plates were created and attached to a propeller’s back surface. Each plate would deflect bullet impact away from the thin wood beneath. Metal grooves were carved into the surfaces of the plates so that a bullet would be caught and thrown forth as opposed to ricocheting back at the pilot.

Steel straps held the miniature shields to the hub of the propeller. To avoid strong rotating forces, the entire assembly is required to be delicately balanced. Only 5-10% of the hot lead output from the gun, according to Raymond Saulnier’s calculations, would hit the propeller. The plates did not need to deflect constant impacts. Deflector plates were a brute-force way to fire through a prop arc by diverting a few bullets, but would they be effective in combat? Surprisingly, Garros and Hue’s original invention made it through the war intact and is now on exhibit in Germany.

Spad fighter plane

The first gun-equipped aircraft of Garros and Hue was parked outdoors when a storm folded it up into a crumpled ball. They saved the modified propeller and put it on the first real fighter aircraft’s other airframe. The first of April 1915 dawned clear and cool. It was time to try the deflector plates, which had only been around-tested. Garros and Hue were aware that their piece of ironwork was not the final answer. Its objective was to show generals and businessmen the tactical use of the real fighter plane.

Though not for the side they fought for, they would be enormously successful.

Garros had three kills under his belt by April 18, 1915, all thanks to his machine gun system. Five German aircraft had been shot down by the French Air Force as a whole at this point. Three of these were at Roland Garros. Never before had a lone pilot hunted other men in the air.

On April 18, 1915, Garros’ engine failed while he was flying a second sortie behind enemy lines at low altitude in search of his fourth victory. According to some stories, the cause of this was a plugged fuel line, but other reports—mostly those from Germany—claim that ground soldiers shot him down and that a bullet severed a delicate copper tube. In either scenario, he was compelled to glide to a landing in occupied Belgium behind the lines. In order to prepare for this scenario, Great War aviators carried matches. To prevent the bird from coming into enemy hands, they were instructed to set their aircraft on fire.

Dry timber buildings coated with extremely flammable doped cloth were purportedly simple to destroy. Garros set his Type L alight, but it did not spread quickly enough. German foot soldiers quickly arrived, held Garros at gunpoint, and put out the fires. The fabric of the craft was presumably soaked by the cold, wet spring weather, preventing a quick bonfire. Importantly, the gun and armored propeller survived. Both were passed up the chain of command; the ground troops had no idea what these odd devices meant for the war effort, but they recognized the value of the ironmongery. They were true.

Anthony Fokker

The downing of three observation planes at Roland Garros in less than three weeks caught the attention of French command authorities. General Foch, the Deputy Commander of the French army, commanded him. However, for some reason, his exploits were treated as an outlier, the actions of a random hero, not the start of a new phase in warfare.

On the other hand, the Germans carefully considered the tactical implications of Garros’ victories. Their men and planes were the ones that were shot down. An intense young man with a reputation as a smart engineer, a skilled pilot, and a slick socializer, but a man with questionable business ethics, meticulously studied Garros’ propeller with its deflector plates following removal from his aircraft. His name is Anthony Fokker. Tony Fokker acted immediately after being aware of Garros’ skein of killings and seeing the armored propeller. His accomplishments brought to a catastrophe for the Allies and a victory for the Central Powers. A renegade Dutchman named Fokker soon unleashed the dreaded Fokker Scourge.

The First Fighter Pilot-Roland Garros is available to order here.

June 13, 2022 0 comment

Remembering Ken Dyson

The First Man to fly “Have Blue” and “Tacit Blue” Experimental Stealth Aircraft died

by Till Daisd June 3, 2022

written by Till Daisd

When an engine fire produced a strong oscillation of the fly-by-wire aircraft in July 1979 while Norman “Ken” Dyson was piloting Have Blue No. 2, he was forced to eject. Dyson survived the crash and went on to pilot the Northrop “Tacit Blue,” even though the jet was destroyed

Norman “Ken” Dyson, a U.S. Air Force (USAF) test pilot and civilian who is most known for his work on the experimental stealth aircraft “HavenBlue” and “Tacit Blue,” passed away on August 15, 2019, at the age of 81.

Dyson, according to Air Force Magazine, was a fighter pilot who later transitioned to test flying. He flew the F-100 and F-4 during the Vietnam War before returning to the Air Force as a test pilot. During this time, he conducted weapons development tests in the F-100, F-101, and F-4 as well as early F-15 test flights. He was appointed director of the Air Force’s top-priority combat aircraft program at the time, the F-15 Joint Test Force.

He started working on top-secret projects, such as the Lockheed “Have Blue” stealth demonstrator that served as the basis for the 1976 F-117 Nighthawk, the first stealth attack jet. When an engine fire produced a dramatic oscillation of the fly-by-wire aircraft in July 1979 while Dyson was piloting Have Blue No. 2, he was forced to eject. Dyson survived the crash and went on to pilot the Northrop “Tacit Blue,” even though the jet was destroyed.

The ground-breaking Tacit Blue aircraft, which was constructed in the early 1980s in great secrecy, tested cutting-edge radar sensors and novel stealth technology.

Contrary to the faceted surfaces of the F-117 Nighthawk, Tacit Blue demonstrated that a stealthy aircraft could have curved surfaces, which had a significant impact on succeeding aircraft like the B-2. The design of Tacit Blue also reduced the heat signature given off by the engines, further masking their presence. Tacit Blue was aerodynamically unstable, but it had a digital fly-by-wire system to help control it.

Dyson flew the B-1 bomber through a large portion of its test program after retiring as a lieutenant colonel and starting working for Rockwell, which is now a part of Boeing. Additionally, Dyson piloted the X-31 demonstrator of enhanced fighter maneuverability. In order to collect data on the control in the post-stall flight domain, a multinational project with Germany to study the X-31’s post-stall flight was test-flown at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, in the early 1990s. With the aid of cutting-edge flight control technology and thrust vectoring, which directs engine exhaust flow, the X-31 program successfully demonstrated the value of controllable flight at extremely high angles of attack.

In 1993, Dyson left Rockwell after serving as the company’s chief test pilot and director of flight tests. Dyson got the Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Cross medals, nine Air Medals, and other decorations for his combat and test flying in the Air Force.

Dyson, a past president of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, was also recognized as a distinguished alumnus of the USAF TestnPilot School, an Engineering Fellow of the University of Alabama, and a Distinguished Aerospace Engineering Alumnus of Texas A&M University.

When Have Blue and Tacit Blue (retroactive to 1982) were both declassified, Dyson earned the SETP’s Iven C. Kincheloe award, the highest distinction given by peers, in 1989 for his work on Have Blue and again in 1996 for Tacit Blue. He was inducted into the Aerospace Walk of Honor in Lancaster, California, in 1997.

Norman “Ken” Dyson, the First Man to fly “Have Blue” and “Tacit Blue” Experimental Stealth Aircraft, Passed Away — The Tacit Blue aircraft was nicknamed “The Whale” for its unusual shape. Also, the single-engine intake on the top of the fuselage was reminiscent of a whale’s blowhole.

Photo by U.S. Air Force

June 3, 2022 0 comment

The C-141 aircraft: a history of service

by Till Daisd May 19, 2022

written by Till Daisd

The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter debuted in 1963. It was the first aircraft designed to carry troops and cargo on the same flight, which is accomplished by using a double-deck fuselage configuration. The maiden flight occurred on December 17, 1963; however, it wasn’t until October 1967 that active service began with the United States Air Force (USAF). The last aircraft delivered was retired from active service in May 2006 and was replaced by the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III.

The total number of aircraft built was 285; however, only 284 were delivered because one crashed during training at McChord AFB in 1978 due to mechanical failure due to contaminated fuel supply from an engine fuel pump module (FPM) which had cracked on previous flights but went undetected until it caused catastrophic engine failure during takeoff roll for this final mission.

The C-141B was designed to be more powerful and have more range than the original version. It can carry up to 120,000 pounds of cargo, or 70 tons of cargo compared to the 60-ton capacity of its predecessor. It also has a maximum speed of over 500 miles per hour and a range of 3,900 miles—over 1,000 miles greater than the C-141A.

During its time in the Air Force, the C-141 made many advances in the travel industry. The C-141 has been part of the Air Force since 1964 and has played a major role in many areas of service. In its early days, the C-141 was used for medical evacuations between hospitals on American soil. This allowed injured soldiers to receive treatment without having to travel far from their homes or bases.

The next use for this aircraft was as an airlift plane when it was required to transport cargo across long distances with little personnel needed to operate it. The Department of Defense (DoD) started using this plane as transportation for troops who were being deployed overseas or moved around within bases within the US itself. It could also be used during humanitarian missions such as helping out with relief efforts after natural disasters struck various locations around the world, such as earthquakes in Haiti or tsunami warnings at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Its most recent use before retirement was by DoD officials who wanted equipment sent overseas quickly but didn’t want them shipped through commercial airlines because they thought this would take too long and could potentially cause delays due to flight cancellations due to bad weather conditions during the winter months which may hinder delivery times beyond expectation levels set forth by military commanders overseeing operations abroad.

The C-141 set many aviation records, including the most passengers carried over the longest distance in 100 hours.
In February of 1967, a C-141 made the first nonstop flight from Tokyo to London carrying 141 crew members and 112 passengers. The flight took 10 hours and 45 minutes without refueling. The aircraft flew at an average speed of 752 miles per hour (1,203 kph) during this time—which was faster than a Boeing 747 on its initial commercial flight! By carrying so many people at once, this record-breaking flight demonstrated that it would be possible for future military operations to transport large numbers of people quickly around the globe.

The C-141 also holds records for any twin-engine cargo aircraft and any four-engine cargo aircraft that has flown between New Orleans and Phoenix, Dallas and St. Louis, or Toronto and Los Angeles. These flights were completed on March 6th, 1972 by a crew of six including two pilots and four loadmasters in 1 hour and 50 minutes.

The fastest flight time between New Orleans to Phoenix was set by Air Force Reserve Colonel Paul Wittenberg who piloted the aircraft flying 2 hours 35 minutes at an average speed of 711 miles per hour; while the fastest flight speed between Dallas/Ft Worth International Airport (DFW) and Lambert-St Louis International Airport (STL) was set by Captain William Fogleman who piloted another C-141A on October 22nd, 1975 reaching 710 miles per hour over a distance of 921 nautical miles with an average cruise altitude of 43,000 feet. In 2002, the last flight of a C-141 Starlifter was made by Lt. Col. Bob Broome on May 6.

The C-141 has been retired from active duty, but the aircraft still flies in civilian hands as well as with the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard.

The C-141 was an important part of military history serving our country for nearly 40 years. The aircraft served in numerous missions, including support for the Berlin Airlift, Vietnam War, and Operation Desert Storm.
The C-141 also played a vital role in President Dwight Eisenhower’s 1953 trip to Korea, where he met with South Korean president Syngman Rhee at Kimpo Air Base near Seoul. The plane carried Ike and his entourage from San Francisco to Hickam AFB in Hawaii then onwards to Tokyo where they boarded another plane for Korea.

The aircraft is no longer used for the majority of the transport flights that it was initially designed for. Many of these duties have been shifted to the C-17 aircraft, but the C-141 will continue to be used in some capacities through 2017. The length of time that this aircraft is flown around the world will ensure that it marries its history with future endeavors.

More than 700 men and women of the 7th Airlift Squadron of the 315th Air Mobility Wing delivered the final flight to Dover Air Force base by way of Dover, Bermuda, and Bangor, Maine. This was the finale for the military version of this aircraft; however, there are some commercial airlines that still use this plane.

May 19, 2022 0 comment

The aircraft used in Operation Red Wings – what made them ideal for the task at hand?

by Till Daisd May 19, 2022

written by Till Daisd

Operation Red Wings was a military operation launched in 2005 by the United States Armed Forces. The goal of the mission was to capture or kill Ahmad Shah, a Taliban leader responsible for several attacks against U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan. The operation ended with four SEAL team members being killed: Marcus Luttrell, Michael P. Murphy, Matthew Axelson, and Danny Dietz. They became known as the “Lone Survivor” survivors because Luttrell was the only one who survived this operation (a fifth man named Thomas Keefe also survived but left before its conclusion).

To help secure their objective while keeping it under secretive conditions, they used three modified MH-47D Chinook helicopters with four pilots each flying overhead at around 5:30 AM local time on June 28th, 2005; this meant that there were two backups available should any problems arise during flight operations – which they did! One pilot experienced engine failure shortly after takeoff which forced him back down onto base while another suffered from mechanical issues causing him to abort his mission before reaching its target area altogether (he later made repairs).

mh-47e-chinook — MH-47D

After the Taliban fighters fled and Gulab returned, he told the local village elders about what he had seen. They then sent word to other villages, who in turn spread the news to neighboring towns. By midday on June 28th, reports of a U.S. military operation in Shah-e-Kot were broadcast across local radio stations and television channels. The official version was that two helicopters had been shot down while attempting to evacuate two soldiers injured during an earlier raid on a Taliban stronghold.

The publicity surrounding this incident led to rumors that members of SEAL Team 10 had been captured and executed by their captors after they refused to convert from Christianity back into Islam (although there is no evidence supporting this claim). This sparked outrage among some members of Congress who wanted answers as well as a swift action against those responsible for violating international law by killing unarmed prisoners without any legal process whatsoever; however, others argued that these actions were justified given how much danger American forces face when fighting overseas—and besides which revenge killings have always been part of warfare since time immemorial anyway!

The MH-47s that were used in the operation were modified Chinook helicopters. These choppers are known for their durability, speed, and cargo capacity. They’re also armed with M-240 machine guns, which allow them to fire on enemy targets without having to land first.

The terrain of Afghanistan is mountainous, rough, and hilly in places, making it ideal for sneaking up on an enemy target from above or below ground level. The MH-47s could use this advantage to sneak up on their prey during Operation Red Wings.

The Apaches sent in to rescue the survivors had a variety of features that made them ideal for the task. They have laser-guided rocket and missile systems, as well as a 25mm automatic gun. However, the most important feature of these aircraft is their LANTIRN system. The LANTIRN system allows pilots to pinpoint targets during low visibility conditions through infrared targeting systems. This can be extremely helpful in night operations when it would otherwise be difficult to see what you’re shooting at or where your shot will land (since you can’t see it).

While these aircraft were able to help save some of the SEALs’ lives during Operation Red Wings through air support, they were ultimately unable to prevent all casualties from taking place—which is why this mission has been so controversial since its inception.

CH-47

The CH-47 Chinook is a robust aircraft, designed to withstand heavy loads and extreme conditions. The fuselage is constructed from titanium, which can withstand significant damage from small arms fire or shrapnel. In addition to its ability to resist puncture by bullets, the fuel tanks have a self-sealing capability that prevents them from leaking when damaged by gunfire or shrapnel. Even if the plane were shot down, it is so well-built that there would be very few casualties among the crew and passengers. The engines are also quite strong: they are powerful enough for rapid climbs at higher altitudes (which means less time spent in enemy territory) but also don’t overheat easily under normal flight conditions. Finally, thanks to its sophisticated flight management system and easy-to-use cockpit controls, virtually anyone could fly this craft with minimal training – even someone who had never flown before!

All things considered, the aircraft used in Operation Red Wings were ideal for their respective missions. However, the helicopters often came as secondary transportation to both personnel and much-needed supplies. While it was likely not an easy decision by any means, it is important to consider that even if the pilots on board had managed to avoid those three RPG rounds hitting them, they would have most likely been one of many aircraft shot down during the battle. Each life is priceless, but must not be considered above the success of a mission by any means. And for at least one of the — Marcus Luttrell — he will tell you that this mission was worth its weight in gold.

In the end, it all boils down to the fact that the MH-47 was the ideal aircraft for a mission like Operation Red Wings. We don’t know exactly what went wrong or who was to blame. And given that there is an ongoing investigation into the event, it’s not our place to point fingers. But looking just at the parameters of this operation, you can quickly see why this aircraft worked so well for the job at hand. It remains one of the fastest helicopters in existence, and it has routinely proven its usefulness and durability time and time again.

May 19, 2022 0 comment

The MiG-41: Russia’s answer to the F-22 Raptor?

by Till Daisd May 19, 2022

written by Till Daisd

The MiG-41 is a mysterious aircraft. It is a successor to the MiG-31, which was developed in the 1970s as a long-range interceptor. Unlike the F-22 Raptor, it can approach its targets at Mach 2.83 or 3,000 kilometers per hour at an altitude of 20 kilometers (more than 65 thousand feet).

The MiG-31 is a high-altitude interceptor, not an air superiority fighter. The MiG-31’s predecessor, the MiG-25 Foxbat, was famous for its ability to fly at Mach 2 and reach altitudes above 70,000 ft., but it was not designed to engage enemy aircraft.

Russian_Air_Force_MiG-31_inflight_Pichugin — MiG-31

Instead, Foxbat’s primary mission was to intercept cruise missiles and other high-speed targets at extreme ranges (and at extreme speeds). If you’ve ever seen Top Gun or any other movie where jets are trying to shoot down enemy fighters they probably used footage of a supersonic MiG-25 flying past them before they could get close enough to fire their missiles.

Russian_Air_Force_MiG-25 — MiG-25

The MiG-31 also was one of the first aircraft to be equipped with an electro-optical sensor system, which could track up to ten airborne targets at once, and was also equipped with passive infrared detectors and radar as well as active infrared detectors.

The MiG-31 “Foxhound” interceptor is considered a highly capable aircraft. It has a maximum speed of Mach 2.83 or 2,200 mph (3,540 km/h) at high altitudes; however, its maximum speed at low levels is about Mach 1.2 (1,300 mph/2,092 km/h). The Foxhound’s service ceiling is 62 miles (100 km).

The MiG-31’s armament consists of 12 medium-range R36 air to air missiles or six larger long-range missiles R 100 PFM 3 or R 96 PFM 3 with a range of 25 nautical miles (46 km)

The U.S., however, does have some concerns about the MiG-31’s weapons capability, particularly its ability to carry out anti-satellite operations and conduct ballistic missile defense missions. The MiG-31 can intercept cruise missiles and has an electro-optical sensor system that allows it to track up to 10 targets at once. It also has a weapons bay for launching air-to-air missiles or anti-radiation missiles against enemy aircraft or ground targets.

The F/A 24 Super Hornet is also equipped with an infrared search and track (IRST) system similar to those on the Mig 31 and other Russian combat jets, but unlike those systems, it cannot track multiple targets simultaneously like its Russian counterparts can do because of their advanced radar systems which allow them to do so at long ranges without having to be in visual range first before using their IRSTs, instead of having just one primary sensor system like those found on western fighters used by NATO members, such as France and Britain who may need more than one set of eyes when fighting against advanced adversaries such as China’s People Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) which already has fighter jets armed with long-range air-to-air missiles/weapons capable enough reach Mach 5 speeds!

The MiG-41 is reportedly a fifth-generation fighter, which will be capable of operating from aircraft carriers. The Russian Ministry of Defense recently announced that it was developing a fifth-generation fighter capable of operating from aircraft carriers. The announcement came after the unveiling of Russia’s first sixth-generation T-50 PAK FA supersonic stealth multirole fighter at MAKS Air Show 2018 in August.

The MiG 41 is expected to make its maiden flight in 2025 and then enter service with the Russian military. It is currently unclear whether this new fighter will replace or supplement existing equipment in Russia’s arsenal, or if it will take on a different role entirely (for example, replacing older models).

In December 2017, the Russian Navy tested a new shipborne radar system called the Shipborne Radar System (SSR). The SSR is designed to be used on ships, aircraft carriers, and submarines as well as other vessels. It can detect ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and other threats at long distances with high precision. The system also can detect stealth aircraft and ships.

The Russian Navy is developing a new generation of aircraft carriers, called Project 23000E Shtorm, which will be capable of serving as the basis for nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The MiG-41 fighters developed to operate from these carriers are expected to enter serial production in 2020 and begin replacing the MiG-29K/KUB fighter jets currently operating on Russia’s Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier by 2023.

According to different sources, the MiG-41 may be equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar that could provide a better detection range than existing systems on other Russian military aircraft. The rumored engine powering this fighter includes two RD-33MK engines that could produce up to 60 tons (about 600 kilonewtons) of thrust each—an improvement over current engines used by Mikoyan’s MiG 29 Fulcrum (Fulcrum) fighters—and have increased fuel efficiency compared with previous models

The MiG-41 and the F-22 Raptor are both some of the most advanced fighter jets in the world. But, when comparing their capabilities, it’s easy to see that the MiG-41 is not a match for the American jet in terms of raw performance. Despite this, the Russian government plans to spend billions to procure these planes until 2020, and many aviation experts expect China to order similar planes from Russia soon. Only time will tell if these fighter jets will be worth their price tag.

The MiG-41 will likely be able to outperform the F-22 in terms of technology, resulting in heightened performance and defense capabilities. While Russia does not have the luxury of fielding more than a relatively small number of MiG-41 fighters, we’ll wait to see what Russia’s next move is. The United States will probably respond with a more advanced model in the next few years, which could spur Russia to further intensify its efforts to ensure that it keeps its technological edge.

May 19, 2022 0 comment

Aircraft on USS America CV 66 during attacks on Libya 1986

The El Dorado operation: How aircraft carriers changed naval warfare

by Till Daisd May 18, 2022

written by Till Daisd

It is hard to imagine how naval warfare would be conducted had it not been for the inspiration of the British Admiral John Fisher, who saw in 1909 how a string of islands distributed over the vast Pacific Ocean could be turned into aircraft carriers.

The advantages of using aircraft carriers over traditional naval warfare are obvious: instead of sending ships close enough to battle each other and risk being sunk by enemy fire, you can keep them at a safe distance from each other. Aircraft could then fly out and attack enemy vessels with little danger to themselves or your own ships. The same cannot be said about land bases; any country that establishes an airfield on land will have made itself vulnerable to attacks by other nations’ planes as well as ground troops and artillery units positioned nearby (unless they have some sort of agreement).

A year later, in 1910, he obtained the support of King Edward VII and by 1914 the Royal Navy already had three operational aircraft carriers.

HMS_Hermes_R12_underway_on_16_March_1982_6350754 — HMS Hermes

HMS_Ark_Royal — HMS Hermes

The first aircraft carrier was the HMS Hermes, which was converted into an aircraft carrier in 1913. The plane employed on this ship were Fairey IIID seaplanes. The first ship designed from the start as an aircraft carrier was HMS Ark Royal, which entered service in 1914. This vessel had a deck that extended over most of its length, with a single tall funnel located near amidships where most of the machinery and crew spaces were located. Later on, by 1918 when World War I ended, both Great Britain and Japan had built several warships that could carry up to 24 aircraft each; these included HMS Argus (a converted merchant ship) and Akagi (a battlecruiser).

Fisher’s idea was that naval forces used to be deployed in small groups in order to observe enemy movements, but radar observation had become much easier, so it was no longer necessary for ships to remain near each other for mutual protection.
Early aircraft carriers, like the HMS Argus, were too small to carry more than a few planes at a time. As jet propulsion technology advanced and aircraft became more capable, however, the size of naval aircraft carriers grew to accommodate them.

Aircraft carriers are used in naval warfare as mobile bases for planes and helicopters that can conduct reconnaissance over long distances and launch bombing raids on enemy positions. They are also equipped with defensive weaponry to protect themselves from attack by submarines or surface ships.

The result was that smaller elements could cover a larger area at a lower cost. It is a lot cheaper to build a small ship than a large ship, it is easier to train a smaller crew, easier to maintain one, easier to maneuver one and there are logistical advantages as well. The aircraft carrier has been called “the most valuable single piece of machinery ever built by man” because it allowed naval forces to project power anywhere on earth at will. This led Fisher to suggest that instead of adding any other type of vessel to naval fleets (such as fleet airships or submarines), what should be added were aircraft carriers for reconnaissance purposes.

Fisher’s idea of using aircraft carriers for reconnaissance and bombing missions was not a new one. The concept had been around since World War I, and by the 1930s, several countries were experimenting with it. However, that did not stop Fisher from proposing his own radical approach to naval warfare. In 1919 he suggested that instead of adding any other type of vessel to naval fleets (such as fleet airships or submarines), what should be added were aircraft carriers for reconnaissance purposes. He argued that these would be more useful than other options because they could move from place to place quickly when needed.

The aircraft would have been small and light enough to be launched and landed on a ship. They would also have been cheap enough to be expendable weapons, in case they were shot down during the battle. Finally, these aircraft could have been used for observation purposes or bombing runs against the enemy

Without Fisher’s insight, we would probably still see large ships closely maneuvering and firing off broadsides against each other.

El Dorado Canyon taught the Pentagon that Tomahawk cruise missiles, launched from an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean, could strike at a distant target with pinpoint accuracy. The operation was an important milestone in the evolution of carrier-based airpower and the ever-tightening cooperation between the Navy and the Air Force. Though nearly forgotten, it remains one of the most strategically significant air attacks since World War II.

Today, aircraft carriers are truly the “capital ships” of the modern era, a feat made possible through the lessons learned through operation El Dorado and other operations. They have become virtually irreplaceable on the modern battlefield and will remain so for years to come. The future is bright for carrier systems, and it is hard to imagine a major conflict where they don’t play an integral role.

May 18, 2022 0 comment

The Tempest: An aviation game-changer

by Till Daisd May 18, 2022

written by Till Daisd

The Tempest is expected to be more capable, more flexible, and more lethal than the F-35. The Tempest will be a 6th generation aircraft and the F-35 is a 5th generation aircraft. It will also have other advantages over earlier models of unmanned combat aircraft such as greater range, speed, and endurance.

The Tempest is designed to be capable of both manned and unmanned operations, according to its creator BAE Systems.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said that it will decide whether or not it will proceed with the project by 2020.
The aircraft can be outfitted with both defensive and offensive capabilities, though details remain scarce.

The aircraft is a multi-role aircraft and will be able to fly with or without a pilot. It has the advanced avionics and sensors necessary for performing stealth operations and electronic warfare, as well as for providing data about enemy activities on the ground.

It will also have advanced weapons capabilities, including both defensive and offensive systems. Specific details about these capabilities remain sparse, but we do know that they will include an ability to engage targets from all altitudes ranging from low level up into outer space (where such targets exist).

If it can enter service as soon as 2035, the Tempest will be one of the most advanced aircraft in history. It’s expected that the Tempest will quickly replace Eurofighter Typhoon fighters currently used by many NATO countries, including Germany and Italy.

The UK is likely to be one of the first countries to deploy a fleet of Tempests once they come online—and they’ll probably make good use of them against Russia if Moscow decides to invade another neighbor (like Ukraine).

While several nations have expressed interest in the Tempest, it will likely be fielded primarily by the UK. The United Kingdom is the only nation to have invested in the Tempest, having already ordered two squadrons. Additionally, no other country has made any concrete plans regarding fielding this aircraft type.

The Tempest’s laser cannon could take out an incoming missile from 10 miles away, instead of the 1-mile range at which a Sidewinder missile would have to be fired to intercept it. In addition, lasers may well be more effective than conventional weapons in combat situations against stealth aircraft because they are harder for defenses to detect and counter. For example, if a pilot flies through clouds or darkness into enemy territory and encounters hostile aircraft, lasers will allow him or her to immediately engage those targets with no need for search and tracking systems that may give away their position.

Furthermore, while traditional guns require large magazines of ammunition (and eventually run out), a laser cannon only requires power—and that means fewer logistical issues when traveling long distances on patrol missions over enemy territory where resupply might not be possible due to bad weather conditions (as we’ve seen in Syria).

The Tempest is a game-changer and will be the first aircraft ever capable of launching and landing vertically. The implications would be enormous, both for military and commercial aviation. The Navy hopes that the new technology will allow them to operate from smaller carriers, which means fewer ships in their fleet will need to be built at great expense.

The Tempest is also set to have a much longer range than any other fighter jet currently flying—it could fly almost twice as far on one tank of fuel than F-22 Raptors or F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) can today—and will come with cutting edge avionics, sensors and weapons systems that could pave the way for even more advanced fighters down the road:

The Tempest, or T-70, is a remarkable plane. Despite being a matter of debate whether it was successful or not, the aircraft and its performance really cannot be underestimated. Even today, it compares well to advanced modern aircraft, and would likely surpass many wartime designs that have been in operation for 60 years. The Tempest was even dubbed as possibly the most effective fighter ever designed by the British, and that is no small feat. The future of aerial combat may very well still see the Tempest, or something like it, prowling the skies in many years to come.

May 18, 2022 0 comment

Russian Air Force MiG 25

Interesting facts about the MiG-25

by Till Daisd May 17, 2022

written by Till Daisd

The MiG-25 is a supersonic interceptor aircraft that was first designed in the USSR. The Mig-25 designation stands for Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau, 25 being the approximate speed of sound at sea level. Unlike most modern fighters, it has twin engines and a T-shaped tailfin with large wing fences to prevent them from entering airflow near the wingtips.

The MiG-25 was originally created as an air defense fighter by the Soviet Union during the 1960s as they felt that they needed an aircraft capable of replacing their existing fleet of aging MiG-19 fighters, which were used by other countries such as China (J6), Cuba (F-86F) and North Korea (MiG 15). However, due to its high cost, this didn’t happen initially so instead they decided upon producing variants specifically designed for reconnaissance missions instead.

The Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau, or MIG for short, was a Russian aircraft design firm that created the MiG-25. The bureau was founded in 1939; its lead designer was Artem Mikoyan (1903–1970) and his nephew Mikhail Gurevich (1908–2002). They were both born in Tbilisi, Georgia but moved to Moscow after graduating from the Moscow Aviation Institute in 1930.

The MIG-25 was first conceived as a high-speed interceptor by the Soviet government in response to reports of American spy planes flying over Russia during the Cold War era. It entered service with the Russian Air Force in 1964 and retired by 2003 due to a lack of maintenance funding after being superseded by newer fighters like MiG-31s and Sukhoi Su-27s.

The MiG-25 first flew in 1964 and entered service with the Soviet Air Forces in 1970. The MiG-25 was used by a number of nations, including Syria and Egypt, who still operate it today. It is also still in service with Russia, although it has been replaced by newer aircraft for most non-Soviet air forces.

The MiG-25 was the fastest plane on planet Earth for several years, until it was surpassed by the SR-71 Blackbird in 1976. The Blackbird had a top speed of Mach 3.3 (3 times the speed of sound), whereas the MiG’s maximum speed was Mach 3.2.

The SR-71 used two large afterburners to achieve its incredible acceleration and climb rate, but these engines were designed with efficiency in mind rather than power. To maximize their effectiveness at high altitudes, they burned through fuel so fast that they could only be used for a few minutes at a time before being shut down and allowed to cool off between missions—a process that would take hours depending on how badly damaged they’d been during combat operations!

In contrast, the MiG used four turbojets instead of just two; this made it possible for each engine to contribute more thrust than its American counterpart could produce on its own (which meant less waiting around between flights).

The MiG-25 was used in several important conflicts:

The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. In this conflict, the Indian Air Force flew the MiG-25 and used it to destroy 10 Pakistani F-6 aircraft. The IAF also used its MiG-25s to attack a Pakistan Navy warship and other naval vessels.
The Six-Day War between Israel and Egypt in 1967 saw Israeli fighters shoot down four Egyptian MiGs (three with air-to-air missiles, one by cannon fire). A fifth was heavily damaged but managed to return safely despite significant damage from an explosion on board; its pilot was awarded a medal for his actions during the battle.

The MiG-25 was the first operational aircraft to have a variable-sweep wing. In addition, it’s able to reach supersonic speeds while carrying an external fuel load. It remains in service with Russia today and is still considered an “air superiority” fighter jet by its users.

The MiG-25 has several variants but was never exported to any NATO nations. In addition to the MiG-25R and MiG-25RB, there are several variants of the MiG-25 that were produced for different purposes:

The MiG-25P was a reconnaissance aircraft designed to perform photo reconnaissance missions at low altitudes. It had an advanced camera system that could photograph targets up to 100 km away and at a resolution of 2 meters.
The MiG-25PD was a modified version of the original -P model that had upgraded engines and avionics systems, but it still lacked certain features such as ECM equipment.
The MiG-25R is a long-range interceptor designed to engage enemy aircraft while flying at high speeds and altitudes (usually above 50,000 ft). It could reach speeds up to Mach 3 due to its unique turbojet engine design which generates both thrusts and lift simultaneously; this allowed it to fly faster than any other airplane ever built before or since!

The MiG-25 was designed to be as easy to fly as possible, with a very simple cockpit and control layout. The plane is basically controlled by two sticks: one for the throttle and one for steering. Most pilots are trained on the MiG-25 in a simulator before they ever get in an actual aircraft because it’s so easy to learn how to fly.

This makes sense when you consider that this warplane was designed primarily as an emergency interceptor—an aircraft that needs no training whatsoever because it has no place in peacetime airspace. Successors to the MiG-25 are still being designed and produced today. This includes not only interceptors but also strike fighters.

The MiG-25’s success in the export market did not go unnoticed by the Soviet Air Force (VVS), which began looking for a replacement for the MiG-25. The result was the Mikoyan Project 1.44/1.42, a heavy air superiority fighter that would eventually become known as the MiG-31 “Foxhound”.

The Foxhound is much larger than its predecessor—its wingspan is more than twice as long—and it can carry up to 12 tonnes of ordnance in addition to its internal cannons and missiles. While it does not have the same speed or agility as its older brother, it does have better range and carries more weapons internally: six short-range R-33 air-to-air missiles and two medium-range R-37 missiles instead of four short-range missiles and one medium-range missile.

MiG-31s continue to serve with Russia’s VVS today alongside Su-27s; both are based on aircraft designs from 1977!

The MiG-25 has participated in dogfights against F-15s and F-16s (and won).

In 1978, the MiG-25 flew into Israeli airspace and engaged several F-15s. Soviet air forces had been flying reconnaissance missions over Israel since the end of the Yom Kippur War, and they often came across American fighters. This time, one MiG pilot scored a kill against an F-15. The American pilot, Mark Skliar, didn’t even realize what hit him: he was blown out of his plane in midair by a missile from another MiG that hadn’t yet been detected by radar.

The MiG-25 was designed in response to a requirement for an interceptor designed expressly to shoot down American bombers at high altitudes.

The design team at Mikoyan-Gurevich had been working on their first supersonic fighter since 1955. The company already had a great deal of experience designing high-performance aircraft; they’d previously designed swept winged fighters such as the MiG 21, which set all sorts of speed records when it entered service with both Poland and Egypt during the 1960s (and remains in limited production today).

As you can see, there is a lot of information about the MiG-25. It’s one of the longest-serving aircraft in the world and has seen action in many different corners of the globe. And even though it is over fifty years old, it is still used today by elite air forces and maintained for parts by specialty firms to this day. However, the MiG-25 has seen so many variants that it would take an incredible amount of time to cover them all, so instead, I’ll leave you with a sampling of non-SR versions and then let you do some more research on your own.

May 17, 2022 0 comment

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