Monthly Archives: May 2011
Pentagon to double UAV force
The Department of Defense has released its long term procurement plan, which reveals that UAV force is expected to double by 2021. The Army’s got a Reaper-esque drone called Gray Eagle. The Marines want a similar UAV as part of … Continue reading
Beast of Kandahar used to target Bin Laden
Two years ago, pictures leaked of a previously unknown, bat-winged drone operating out of Afghanistan’s Kandahar airport. Speculation spiked about the mission of the mysterious aircraft, instantly nicknamed “the Beast of Kandahar” by secret plane-spotter extraordinaire Bill Sweetman. The drone’s smooth, … Continue reading
Lockheed A-12
The Lockheed A-12 was a reconnaissance aircraft built for the Central Intelligence Agency by Lockheed’s famed Skunk Works, based on the designs of Clarence “Kelly” Johnson. The A-12 was produced from 1962 through 1964, and was in operation from 1963 … Continue reading
Lockheed YF-12
In the late 1950s the United States Air Force (USAF) sought a replacement for the F-106 Delta Dart. As part of the Long Range Interceptor Experimental (LRI,X) program, North American Aviation’s F-108 proposal, a Mach 3-capable interceptor was selected. However, … Continue reading
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
The Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” is an advanced, long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft which was in service with the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1998. It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in … Continue reading
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft designed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later McDonnell Douglas. It was originally … Continue reading
Heinkel He 162
The Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger (German, “People’s Fighter”) was a German single-engine, jet-powered fighter aircraft fielded by the Luftwaffe in World War II. Designed and built quickly, and made primarily of wood as metals were in very short supply and … Continue reading
Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was a German aircraft designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter in the early 1930s in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Often described as a “Wolf in sheep’s clothing”, it masqueraded as a transport aircraft, but … Continue reading