"The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, single-engined jet fighter aircraft manufactured by General Dynamics and later Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force (USAF). Though designed as a lightweight fighter, it has evolved into a successful multirole aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven its worth in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. The Falcon is the largest Western fighter program with over 4,000 aircraft built since its production in 1976. Though no longer produced for the Air Force, it is still being made for export. Its relatively low cost and high performance has made it popular in the United States and allied nations, serving a total of 24 countries. USAF pilots gave the F-16 the unofficial nickname of “Viper” in homage to the fictional Battlestar Galactica starfighter. From the very beginning, the Falcon was intended to be a cost-effective workhorse that could perform various missions. Advanced aerospace science and proven reliable systems from other planes such as the F-15 and F-111 were integrated into the F-16. These simplified the aircraft and reduced its size, weight, purchase price and maintenance costs. Other innovations include a frameless, bubble canopy for better visibility, a side-mounted control stick to ease control while under high g-forces, and a reclined seat to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot. The F-16 has excellent acceleration, being one of the few jets with a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than one. It can also be armed with a wide variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, rockets or bombs. An all-weather capability allows it to accurately deliver ordnance during non-visual bombing conditions. "
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"The F-15 Eagle is an air superiority fighter type of aircraft. It was manufactured by McDonnell Douglas now known as Boeing IDS. Its maiden flight was on the 27th of July 1972 and was introduced on the 9th of January 1976. Its primary users are the United States Air Force, Israeli Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and Royal Saudi Air Force. It was designed and developed as an all-weather tactical. 567 of this type of aircraft are still active. The Air Force was worried about the new aircrafts that were built by the Soviet Union for combat so they issued their own requirements after they rejected the United States Navy VFX program which they think was not suited to their needs. Three companies submitted their proposals and on the 23rd of December 1969 the selection for McDonnell Douglas was announced. The F-15C Eagle was operated by Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. The Israel Air Force has been operating the aircraft since 1977. The Japan Air Self-Defence Force received 203 F-15Js and 20 F-15DJs in 1980 -- two of the F-15Js and twelve F-15DJs were made in United States. The Royal Saudi Air Force operated four squadrons of F-15C/D in 1981. And currently the United States Air Force operates 396 F-15C/Ds while the Air National Guard operates 126 F-15C/Ds in 2006. "
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"The F15-C Eagle was designed by Tim Taylor. It was developed to give air superiority to the US Air Force. It served as the main attack aircraft with performance and brains. The F-15C flew in early 1979. Most F-15Cs were delivered with Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-100 turbofans but they were replaced with more reliable F100-PW-220 engines in 1985. With its updated features it is much more capable as a fighter aircraft. The aircraft is an improved single-seat all-weather air-superiority fighter version of the Eagle models. The systems of the aircraft like its weapons and flight control systems were designed for only one pilot. F-15C aircrafts were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 like the D and E models. This is to give support to the Operation Desert Storm. "
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"The Boeing E-4 Advance Airborne Command Post (Nightwatch), is an aircraft operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) and is specially built to serve as a survivable mobile command post for the National Command Authority, including the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense and successors. The E-4B evolved form the E-4A, which had been in sevice since late 1974. The first B-model was delivered to the Air Force in January 1980. By 1995, all aircraft were converted to E-4B standard. In August 1994, the E-4B assumed an additional role. The E-4B will support the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) request for assistance when disasters occurs. There are four E-4B currently operated by the United States Air Force and are assigned to the 1st Air Combat Command Control Squadron (1ACCS) of the 55th Wing at United States Strategic Command. The first mission for the aircraft was known as NEACP (National Emergency Airborne Command Post) The E-4B is a militarized version of the Boeing 747-200. It provides approximately triple the floor space of its predecesor, the EC-135 Looking Glass airborne command post. The aircraft has electomagnetic pulse protection, an electrical system designed to support advanced electronics and a wide variety of new communications equipment. Other improvements include nuclear and thermal effects shielding, acoustic control, an improved technical control facility and an upgraded air-conditioning sytem for cooling electrical components. The E-4B still serves as the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) for the National Command Authorities. "
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"The C-17 Globemaster III is a high-wing, T-tailed aircraft with a rear loading ramp manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and operated by the USAF, British Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force and the Canadian Air Command, as well as NATO, who plans to acquire the airlifter. The C-17 was built in Long Beach, California and the first C-17 was declared operational by the USAF on January 1995. In July 2006, Boeing decided to end the C-17A production in 2009 unless they received a follow-on order in sufficient time. Likewise, by 2010, Boeing will begin the C-17B production, which is capable to land on sandy beaches and other areas off-limits to the C-17A. On March 2, 2007, however, Boeing announced the C-17 production line may end in mid-2009 due to lack of additional U.S. government and international orders. As of October 24, 2007, there are a total of 190 C-17s contracted for delivery to the USAF. The C-17 has been involved with numerous operations including the Operation Joint Endeavor and the Allied Operation in Kosovo. In 1998, eight C-17s had flown more than 8,000 nautical miles from the United States to Central Asia, dropping troops and equipment after more than 19 hours in the air. The aircraft completed the longest airdrop mission in history. The C-17 received the Collier Trophy in 1995 for its aeronautical achievement in 1994. The maker of the C-17, the Boeing Airlift and Tanker programs, was also awarded the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality in February 1999 by President Bill Clinton for business excellence and quality."
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"The C-9A Nightingale is an adapted version of DC-9 which was from McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Corporation. It was mainly used for missions like medical and evacuations. The aircraft also transported high ranking government officials on air missions. It demonstrated its distinctiveness and flexibility by serving throughout the world, not only in the military, but also in some civilian hospitals and the Department of Veterans Affairs. In June 17 1968, the first C9A Nightingale was rolled out and distributed in August. The standard crew of the aircraft aboard consisted of a pilot, a co-pilot, two nurses, three technicians and a flying crew chief. It was used in the Pacific Theater and was assigned to the 374th Airlift Wing based in Japan. The C-9A Nightingale was also stationed in Germany."
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"The Boeing E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) is a United States Air Force (USAF) airborne battle management and command and control asset. Its primary role is to provide dedicated support of ground and air theater commanders. The E-8C can respond quickly and effectively to support worldwide military contingency operations, capable of evaluating enemy situation by conducting ground surveillance. It is a jam-resistant system, able to operate despite experiencing heavy electronic countermeasures. The aircraft can stay airborne for 9 hours without refueling. The E-8C was derived from the Boeing 707-300 series commercial airframe. It was modified with radar, communications, operations and control subsystems required to perform its mission. The radar and computer subsystems on the E-8C can gather and display broad and detailed battlefield information. Data, including position and tracking information on enemy and friendly ground forces, is collected as events occur. The information is then relayed in near-real time to the US Army's common ground stations. This information is vital in air-to-ground operations and allows air and land commanders to gain and maintain control of the battlespace and execute against enemy forces. As a battle management and command and control platform, the E-8C can support a wide range of roles and missions from peacekeeping operations to major theater war. "
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"Joint STARS uses a sophisticated radar system that can scan an entire region and then send the data to a computer which analyzes movement and alerts reconnaissance specialists of any suspicious activity in near-real time. Operators onboard the aircraft can provide ground and air commanders with command and control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance information on ground-based enemy activities from hundreds of miles away. With the ability to see vehicle movement around the clock and in any weather conditions, the system provides invaluable information to ground and air commanders that allow friendly forces to delay, disrupt and destroy their enemy. The reliability, fuel efficiency and increased operational effectiveness inherent in the engine upgrade translates to increased Joint STARS availability to the warfighter and decreased costs. Replacing all of the engines in the Joint STARS fleet will pay for itself through the reduced operation and maintenance costs of the current engines. The new engines can also provide added power generation for future upgrades to the radar sensor and mission equipment. A recent Air Force study indicated the fleet could stay in service beyond 2050 because of the investment made when the airframes were refurbished during production. The engine upgrade program is based on the Propulsion Pod System incorporating Pratt & Whitney's commercially-proven JT-8D-219 jet engine and Seven Q Seven pylons, thrust reversers, and instrumentation. "
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"The B-52H Stratofortress, manufactured by Boeing, is a strategic bomber capable of supporting large-scale, global missions in a nuclear or a conventional role. The B-52H plays an important role in these specialized missions until 2035. It had its first flight in April 1952. The B-52H Stratofortress entered service in 1961 and 104 were built. The last was delivered in 1962; however, its service life is expected to continue beyond the year 2030, due to extensive system and structural upgrades. The B-52H, a B-52 variant, is a very large aircraft, with a length of 159ft 4in and a take-off weight of 488,000lb. The all-metal skin bears a high proportion of the flight loading. When on the ground, the surface of the aircraft on the forward section of the fuselage has a wrinkled appearance. The skin expands and becomes smooth as the crew compartment is pressurised when the aircraft gains altitude. Later on in the decade, the B-52H was fitted to carry the new ""Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)"" and ""Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW)"" guided glide bombs. These weapons use the ""Global Positioning System (GPS)"" satellite constellation to zero in on target coordinates. Use of the JDAM and other GPS weapons was enabled by yet another Buff avionics upgrade, the ""Conventional Enhancement Modification (CEM)"" program, which was begun in 1994. "
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"The A-10A Warthog’s official name came from the P-47 Thunderbolt of World War II. Known for its nickname Warthog or Hog, the A-10A aircraft provides airborne forward air control to guard all aircraft against ground targets. The A-10A Warthog aircraft is a single seat twin engine and one of the variants of A-10 aircrafts. Developed by the Fairchild Republic for the United States Air Force, the A-10A Warthog provides close air support of ground forces and attacks tanks, armored vehicles and other ground targets. It is the first US Air Force aircraft designed for CAS use only. The first flight of the A-10A Warthog was on May 10, 1972. The A-10A aircraft has the following weapons: one single General Electric GAU-8/A 30mm, avenger cannon, AGM-65 maverick, AIM-9M sidewinder, conventional low drag and retarded bombs, cluster bombs, the OA/A-10A’s also carry the AN/ ALQ-119 ECM pod or the AN/ALQ-131 ECM. The A-10A Warthog is built around single 300 mm cannon which can disable a main battle tank from 6.580 m distance. Moreover, the A-10A is well armored for the protection of its pilot and systems. The pilot of the A-10A Warthog is shielded by a bullet proof wind screen and encircled by a titanium armor weighing 544 kg and varies in thickness up to 3.8 cm. 144 A-10A Warthog were deployed by the USAF from January to February 1991. The A-10A Warthog was used in various roles such as a daytime tank killer, Scud hunter, suppressed Iraqi air defenses, attacked early warning radars and shot down two Iraqi air defenses. "
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"The EA-6B Prowler, manufactured by Grumman (now Northrop Grumman Aerospace), is a twin-engine, mid-wing aircraft designed as a modification of the basic A-6 Intruder airframe. The EA-6B's primary mission is to protect fleet surface units and other aircraft by jamming hostile radars and communications. The Prowler has the ability to passively detect enemy radars without making its own presence known. The Prowler can carry up to five tactical jamming pods which allow it to effectively degrade enemy radars. The Prowler also carries a High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM), which provides the capability to destroy enemy radars and the capability to track and destroy radar. The Grumman EA-6B Prowler has a crew of four, a pilot and three Electronic Counter-measures Officers (known as ECMOs). The aircraft is capable of speeds of up to 950 km/h with a range of 1,840 kilometers and powered by two non-afterburning Pratt & Whitney J52-P408 turbojet engines. Since EW operations are very demanding, the Prowler is a high-maintenance aircraft and undergoes frequent equipment upgrades more than any other aircraft in the Navy. There are currently 19 Prowler squadrons in the military: four in the Marines and fifteen in the Navy. There are four ""Expeditionary"" squadrons manned by both Navy and Air Force personnel which deploy to overseas bases as a replacement for the EF-111. The Marine squadrons are stationed at Cherry Point, NC. The Navy has fourteen squadrons based at NAS Whidbey Island, WA, and one permanently deployed in Atsugi, Japan. "
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"The A-4 Skyhawk is an American attack aicraft designed and prosuced by Douglas Aircarft Corporation originally designed for the United States Navy aircraft carriers. In 1951, just after Operation Desert Storm, the United States Marine Corps used the A-4 during the Vietnam War. In May 25, 1972, the Douglas A-4F Skyhawk aircraft of Attack Carrier Wing 21 (CVW-21) are parked on the flight deck of the attack aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19), armed for a mission over Vietnam. It was the most popular US naval aircraft exports of the post-war era. In 1967, it was removed from front line squadrons, with the last one retiring in 1975. The A-4F Skyhawk has a maximum speed of 585 knots and a range of 1,700 nm and it incorporates a 2 x 20 mm Colt Mk 12 cannon, 100 rounds/gun and a 4 x AIM-9 Sidewinder. It has a low-mounted delta , tricycle undercarriage and a dingle turbojet engine in the rear fuselage sides. The tail has a cruciform design, with the horizontal stabilizer mounted above the fuselage. The armament consists of two 20 mm Colt Mk 12 cannon. There's a total of 2,960 A-4 Skyhawks built, including 555 two-seat trainers. "
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"The TA-4J Skyhawk is a two-seat, lightweight, high performance aircraft with a modified delta wing manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company of Long Beach, CA. The TA-4J's maiden flight was on December 17, 1968 and first entered service in the mid-1969. TA-4J deliveries were supplemented by conversion of numerous TA-4Fs to the ""J"" designation through removal of ordnance system components. In 1968, a contract was let to produce the TA-4J, a trainer version of the TA-4F. The TA-4J Skyhawk differed from the TA-4F through the removal of tactical weapons system and aerial tanker components and the installation of the J52-P6 engien instead of the higher rated engine J52-P8. The TA-4J is primarily used for training and various other contract duties such as Electronic Warfare, Adversary and Threat Simulation. A total of 277 TA-4Js were built. "
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"During the 1950s, the Strategic Air Command (SAC) identified the requirement for an Airborne Command Post (ABCP). The idea was for specially-equipped aircraft to be airborne at all times, should the SAC's underground command center become inoperable. The first aircraft adapted for the role of ABCP were 17 Boeing KC-135B Stratotankers. The nickname “Looking Glass” was adopted because the mission mirrored ground-based command, control and communications of US strategic nuclear forces. Operations began on February 3, 1961. By 1964, the aircraft was considered dedicated to the ABCP role and redesignated EC-135. The EC-135 Looking Glass was vital to US strategic forces. Its highly trained crew and staff ensured that there was always an aircraft ready to direct bombers and missiles from the air. Members of the battle staff formed seven operational teams and represented all branches of the armed services. When airborne, the staff was under the command of a flag officer, either an Air Force general officer or a Navy admiral. The EC-135 fleet was equipped with comprehensive, high-tech communications equipment, which allowed the airborne commander to link with national command authorities, theatre forces, assets on the ground and other airborne command posts. The Looking Glass was a versatile airframe with excellent airspeed, range and endurance. It was also capable of air refueling which allowed missions to be extended almost indefinitely. This gave the aircraft range to conduct nonstop operations to any location in the world as well. "
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"The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated as TBM by General Motors) was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps and was also used by a large number of air arms around the world. Grumman's first torpedo bomber was the heaviest single-engine plane of WWII and it was the first to feature a new wing-folding mechanism intended to maximize storage space on an aircraft carrier. The Grumman TBF Avenger entered service in 1942 and first saw action during the Battle of Midway. On the afternoon December 7, 1941, Grumman held a ceremony to open a new manufacturing plant and display the new TBF to the public. Ironically, on that day, the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor, as Grumman soon found out. The plant was quickly sealed off to ward against possible enemy action. By June 1942, a shipment of more than 100 planes was sent to the Navy. On August 24, 1942, the next major naval battle occurred at the Eastern Solomons. With only the carriers USS Saratoga (CV-3) and Enterprise, the 24 TBFs present were able to sink the Japanese aircraft carrier Ryujo and claim one dive bomber, at the cost of seven planes. After hundreds of the original TBF-1 models were built, the TBF-1C began production. By 1943, Grumman began to slowly phase out production of the Avenger to produce F6F Hellcat fighters, and the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors took over, with these aircraft being designated TBM. Starting in mid-1944, the TBM-3 began production with a more powerful powerplant and wing hardpoints for drop tanks and rockets. The dash-3 was the most numerous of the Avengers with about 4,600 produced. However, most of the Avengers in service were dash-1s until near the end of the war in 1945. TBF/TBMs sank the two Japanese ""super battleships"", the Musashi and the Yamato. The Avengers played a major role in the American victory during World War II."
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"The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor is a single engine, military trainer aircraft which was derived from the Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. A 15-year production hiatus of the Model 73 Jet Mentor led to the Turboprop era, wherein in 1973, the T-34C Turbine Mentor was a powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25 turboprop engine. From the late 1940s to the 1950s, earlier versions of the T-34s were piston-engined and it was eventually succeeded by an upgraded model with a turboprop engine. The T-34C Turbo Mentor is a variant of the T-34, with a two-seat primary trainer fitted with turboprop engines. The T-34C was used by the Argentine Navy during the Falklands War. It was a primary trainer aircraft for the United States Navy and Marine Corps pilots. The T-34C was replaced by the T-6 Texan II but it was still considered as the primary aircraft at NAS Corpus Christi and NAS Whiting Field. The T-34C has a crew of two. It has a maximum speed of 280 kt IAS and a range of 600 nm."
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"The T-6A Texan II is designed by Pilatus Aircraft AG and manufactured by Raytheon Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas, USA. The T-6A Texan II is a single-engine, two-seat primary trainer aircraft, which is designed to train Joint Primary Pilot Training, or JPPT, students in basic flying skills common to U.S. Air Force and Navy pilots. The T-6A Texan II offers better performance and significant improvements in training effectiveness, safety, cockpit accommodations and operational capabilities than present aircraft. Powered by a single, Pratt & Whitney PT6A-68 turboprop engine with a four-blade propeller, it features a stepped-tandem, and cockpit configuration, with the instructor's rear seat rose slightly to improve visibility from the rear cockpit; modern avionics; and improved egress systems. Both T-6A cockpits are covered by a single, side-opening, non-jettisoned canopy. The T-6A offers increased bird strike protection over current training aircraft, and will improve the safety of landing and low-level training at Air Force and Navy bases. It has a pressurized cockpit to permit training at higher, less-congested altitudes and reduce the stress on student pilots. The aircraft is equipped with an onboard oxygen-generating system that reduces the time needed to service the aircraft between flights. The T-6A provides the highest degree of flexibility of any primary trainer. It is equally capable of training the beginner pilot or performing training missions well into an advanced training curriculum. The T-6A is currently used by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, the Hellenic Air Force of Greece and the NATO Flying Training in Canada program as a primary trainer and weapons and navigation trainer. "
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"The Spad S. XIII is a French biplane fighter aircraft of World War II, developed from the earlier highly successful SPAD S. VII. The S. VII had been surpassed by the latest German scouts. SPAD designer Louis Bechereau initially produced the S. XII, though it had limited success which eventually led to the development of the S. XIII. The SPAD XIII's maiden flight was on April 4, 1917, and was delivered the following month to the French Air Service. The Spad XIII was flown by famous French fighter pilots such as Georges Guynemer and Rene Fonck. Italy's Francesco Baracca and the United States Army Air Service's Eddie Rickenbacker, also became leading aces with 34 and 26 confirmed victories, respectively. The SPAD XIII differed form its predecessor since it incorporates a number of aerodynamic and other refinements, including a more powerful Hispano-Suiza engine and a second VIckers .303-cal. machine gun for added firepower. The improvements greatly increased its flight and combat performance. It was also faster than its main contemporaries. The SPAD XIII has a maximum speed of 218 km/h and has an armament of 2 x .303-cal. (7.7-mm) Vickers machine guns. The SPAD XIII was one of the most capable fighters of the war and one of the most produced. There were 8,472 built and orders for around 10,000 more cancelled at the Armistice."
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"The Fairchild PT-19 was a monoplane trainer aircraft that served with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), British Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. It was used by the USAAF during the primary flying training phase as the introductory pre-solo trainer for new pilots before passing them on to the more agile Kaydet biplane. Prior to World War II, basic flight training in the United States was generally provided in light biplanes, such as the Kaydet, which tended to be slow, stable and tolerant of fledgling pilots. However, given the increasingly high performance nature of the world's combat aircraft, the USAAF reasoned that the primary training was too easy, giving the student a false sense of mastery that could slow down his learning or even cause him to fail. Experienced instructors wanted the primary trainer to be a monoplane, with higher wing loading that required more careful flying. After its first flight in May 1939, the Fairchild M-62 two-seat monoplane won a fly-off competition later that year against 17 other designs for the new Army training airplane. With a wing loading factor about 43 percent higher than the Kaydet, the M-62 had a higher stalling speed and required more care at low speeds, making it exactly what the Army was looking for. It was a trainer that was more similar to the fighter aircraft the trainees would eventually fly. On September 22, 1939, the USAAF ordered 270 of the craft, with two open cockpits, as the PT-19 Cornell. Compared to the earlier biplane trainers, the PT-19 provided a more advanced type of aircraft. Speeds were higher and its flight characteristics demanded more precision and care. It was inexpensive and simple to maintain. It was one of a handful of primary trainer designs that were the first stop on a cadet's way to becoming a combat pilot. Thousands of the PT-19 series were rapidly integrated into the US and Commonwealth training programs, serving throughout World War II and beyond. Even after their retirement in the late 1940s, a substantial number found their way into civilian hands. Approximately 100 PT-19s are still flyable today. "
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"The Stearman Model 75 is a biplane, military trainer aircraft with 8,854 built in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s. It is perhaps the most famous biplane in the US since it was the primary basic trainer throughout World War II. The PT-17 Stearman is a variant of the Stearman 75, with a Continental R-670 engine. The PT-17 has a crew of two, for a student and an instructor. It has a maximum speed of 124 mph and a range of 505 mi. During the war, almost all American pilots undeertook basic training on either the PT-13s or the PT-17s. The PT-17 was exported to Canada as the Kaydet, Britain and other nations. After the war, the aircraft's rugged construction and good low speed handling saw large numbers converted for agricultural spraying work. Conversions involved the replacement of the aircraft's fabric covering with metal, while many were fitted with more powerful 335kW P&W R985A61 radials. There are hundreds of Stearmans which were currently flown in private hands, although its not used for crop spraying any more. "
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"The Martin PBM Mariner was a United States Navy patrol bomber flying boat of World War II and the early Cold War period. It was designed to compliment the PBY Catalina in service. 1,285 PBM Mariner were built, with the first example flying on February 18, 1939 and the type entering service in September 1940. The U.S. Navy Martin PBM-5 Mariner patrol bomber Bureau of Aeronautics (Bureau Number 59172) was one of the 1,367 PBM Mariners constructed by Navy Martin. It was delivered to the Navy in January 1945. During the World War II and Cold War eras, the PBM-5 Mariner was in service with various Navy units in a number of capacities. Its last operational assignment was Naval Air station, Seattle, Washington in late 1948. The PBM-5 Mariner was wrecked on May 6, 1949 while being ferried across Lake Washington from Naval Air Station, Seattle to the Boeing seaplane ramp at Renton, Washington, where it was intended to be placed in storage. As of today, the wreck of PBM-5 Mariner remains where the aircraft came to rest in 1949, in the Southernmost end of Lake Washington, in the vicinity of Renton, just off the old seaplane ramp at the Boeing plant. The PBM-5a is an amphibian plane with retractable landing gear. The aircraft was fitted with five gun turrets and bomb bays that were in the engine nacelles. The British Royal Airforce acquired 32 Mariners. They were not used operationally and some were returned to the United States Navy and twelve were transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force for transporting troops and cargo. The Dutch Navy acquired seventeen PBM-5a Mariners at the end of 1955 for service in former Dutch New Guinea. "
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"The P-51D Mustang was the most widely produced variant. It was equipped with an Aeroproducts propeller in place of the Hamilton Standard propeller, as well as a larger, differently configured canopy and other minor alterations. The P-51D Mustang has a crew of 1. It has a maximum speed of 437 mph and a range of 1,650 mi. It has armament of 6 0.50 in machine guns, 2 hardpoints and 10 in rockets. More famous as the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound than his wartime achievements, Chuck Yeager became an Ace in Europe flying a P-51. After he was promoted to captain, he added 1 Me-262 and 4 Fw-190s for a total of 11 career victories. "
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"The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is a long-range single-seat fighter aircraft that served with Allied forces in the middle years of World War II, becoming one of the conflict's most effective and recognizable aircraft. The P-51 flew most of its wartime missions as a bomber escort in raids over Germany to help ensure Allied air superiority from early 1944. In late 1939, with the likelihood of full scale war in Europe a major concern, the British Royal Air Force (RAF) was looking for methods of quickly increasing its fighter strength. In April 1940, the British Air Purchasing Commission approached North American Aviation with the intent of having them build P-40s for the RAF. Since the P-40 design went back to 1933, James H. ""Dutch"" Kendelberger, president of North American, offered to build an entirely new advanced fighter. The British agreed and the P-51 took its maiden flight on October 26, 1940. As well as being economical to produce, the Mustang was a fast, well-made and highly durable aircraft. It also saw combat against the Japanese in the Pacific War. During the Korean War, the P-51 started out as the United Nations' main fighter, but was relegated to a ground attack role when it was supplanted by jet fighters early in the conflict. One of the very few fighter pilots in World War II to achieve ace status in both the Pacific and European theaters, Colonel John Landers flew the P-51D Mustang named ""Big Beautiful Doll"". His reputable flying career was concluded with 14.5 victories, 4.5 of which and an additional 20 ground victories were achieved in the Mustang. Big Beautiful Doll was one of the most colourfully painted P-51s of the era. "
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"The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is a long-range, single-seat fighter aircraft that served with Allied forces in the middle years of World War II, becoming one of the conflict's most effective and recognizable aircraft. The P-51 flew most of its wartime missions as a bomber escort in raids over Germany to help ensure Allied air superiority from early 1944. In late 1939, with the likelihood of full scale war in Europe a major concern, the British Royal Air Force (RAF) was looking for methods of quickly increasing its fighter strength. In April 1940, the British Air Purchasing Commission approached North American Aviation with the intent of having them build P-40s for the RAF. Since the P-40 design went back to 1933, James H. “Dutch” Kendelberger, president of North American, offered to build an entirely new advanced fighter. As well as being economical to produce, the Mustang was a fast, well-made and highly durable aircraft. The British agreed and the P-51 took its maiden flight on October 26, 1940. The P-51D variant is considered the definitive Mustang. Ordered in 1943, it had a bubble canopy which provided the pilot with a valuable all-around view. It was also fitted with additional armament. The P-51D became the most widely produced version. Between 1941 and 1945, the US Army Air Force ordered 14,855 aircraft, 7,956 of which were P-51Ds. During the Korean War, the P-51D was used primarily for close support of ground forces until withdrawn from combat in1953. "
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"The P-51D Mustang Old Crow was an American fighter aircraft which was most widely produced by Mustang. The P-51D was equipped with a larger canopy and an aero products propeller to replace the Hamilton Standard propeller. The Old Crow arrived in Europe in mid 1944 and quickly became the primary USAAF fighter in the theater. In the same year, 1944, Captain Clarence “Bud†Anderson returned to the 375th Fighter Group for a second combat tour. He was assigned a new P-51D Old Crow in the dark green mask. Captain Bud was on a mission when the first drop of snow in Germany fell. Thus he noted a mixed flight of dark green and silver aluminum Mustangs below him. After his mission, he told his ground crew that the one painted the dark green stood out against the snow background and silver ones appeared to the have the best camouflage. Because of that Bud suggested to paint the Old Crow silver color the next time it was down for heavy maintenance. The next morning, Captain Bud arrived at the station to find his P-51D Old Crow to use for his mission. To his surprise he found the Old Crow in a gleaming aluminum paint scheme ready for flight. Three members of his crew worked on it through the night scrapping, rubbing and remarking. They were all tired and their hands were raw due to the cold and solvents they used. The change made to P-51D Old Crow was dedicated to Bud Anderson and all 357th crew chief and ground support personnel who maintained the P-51 Mustang during World War II. Signed by Col. Clarence ""Bud"" Anderson."
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"The P-40E Warhawk is the identical version of the P-40D. The only difference is the six wing-mounted machine guns. The P-40 aircrafts series were America’s leading fighters as World War II began. The P-40 E was engaged in the battle against Japanese aircrafts during the attack on Pearl Harbor and the incursion of the Philippines on December 1941. The Flying Tigers group used the P-40E as it fulfilled its missions in China in 1942. On the other hand, the Army Air Forces used the P-40E in North Africa in 1943. As for the P-40E Warhawk, the general characteristics are as follows: Its primary function was being a fighter. Its span is 37 feet 4 inches, length is 31 feet 9 inches, height is 12 feet 4 inches and weight is 9,100 pounds loaded. For the service ceiling, it is 30,000 feet. Its maximum speed is 362 mph, cruising speed is 235 mph, and range is 850 miles. The P-40E armament had six 50-cal machine guns which are 700 pounds of bombs externally. The P-40E Warhawk was used in copious combat areas specifically, Aleutian Islands, Italy, Middle East, Far East, Southwest Pacific and Russia. Despite being outclassed by its competitors on speed, the P-40E gained its reputation in battles for its great ruggedness. At the end of the P-40s series career, 2,320 P-40E were produced. "
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"The Super Elite P-40B Warhawk was one of the planes used by an American Volunteer Group known as the “Flying Tigersâ€. The group consisted of United States Army Forces, United States Navy and Unites States Marine Corps. Under a secret presidential sanction, the pilots of the said group were recruited by Claire Chennault. They formed a fighter group with three squadrons that were trained in China. The said group defended Burma supply line to China. This happened before the American entered World War II to fight against Japan. The P-40B Warhawk was managed and obtain by Chennault as it was in production for British and Americans. The major difference between the P-40B Warhawk and Tomahawk –IIB is the P-40B had an exterior fuel tank membrane while the Tomahawk had an interior membrane which is more effective for fuel tanks leaks. The P-40B was purchased without gun sights, radios and wing guns. As a result, there was a continual difficulty for the AVG in Burma and China. On the other hand, the good qualities of the Warhawk included the pilot armor, self sealing fuel tanks, sturdy construction, heavy armament and a diving speed that’s faster than most Japanese planes. In the year 1941, one hundred P40B aircrafts were sent to Burma on third country freighters packed in crates. At Ragoon, the Warhawk was assembled and test flown by a personnel of the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company before they delivered it to the AVG training unit. The P-40B was the first fighter flown in action against the Japanese forces in Burma on March 13, 1941 before the US entered World War II. The Warhawk also played a vital role in the middle stages of World War II."
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"The Bell P-39 Airacobra was an all-metal, low-wing, single-engine fighter that entered service at the start of World War II. Manufactured by Bell Aircraft Corporation, the P-39 was flown by Robert Goebel and Bud Anderson in April 1939. The P-39 Airacobra had a tricycle landing gear, which was the first such gear ever used on a production fighter. The Airacobra battled throughout the world, particularly in the Southwest Pacific, Mediterranean and Russian theaters. Because its engine was not equipped with a supercharger, the P-39 performed best below 17,000 feet (5,200 m) altitude. It often was used at lower altitudes for such missions as ground strafing. Same with the P-63 Kingcobra, the P-39 aircraft was considered to be the most victorious mass-produced, fixed-wing aircraft manufactured by Bell Aircraft Corporation. Primarily used by the U.S Army Air Force, over 9,500 P-39s built. The P-39D variant of the Aircobra has maximum speed of 368 mph (592 km/h) @ 12,000 ft (3,658 m), a service ceiling of 32,100 ft (9,784 m) and a range of 1,545 miles (2,486 km). The first P-39D Airacobras entered service with the USAAC in February 1941, first with the 31th Pursuit Group (39th, 40th, and 41st Pursuit Squadrons) based at Selfridge Field, Michigan. Between February 12 and March 21, 1941, 27 USAAC pilots flew three P-39Ds over 160 accelerated service test hours at Patterson Field in Osborne, Ohio. In March of 1941, Bell's test pilot Vance Breese drove an Airacobra 15,000 feet to pass the final Army Air Corps test. The 39th PS participated in the ""Carolina Maneuvers"" from September to November of 1941, which was a series of war games during which five different squadrons flew Airacobras. The P-39D (along with the P-400) was the first to see combat in US service. A total of 1,767 P-39D built. "
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"The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft. The P-38 was used most extensively and successfully in the Pacific Theater of Operations and the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, where it was flown by the American pilots with the highest number of aerial victories to this date. America's top ace Richard Bong earned 40 victories (in a lightning he called Marge) and Thomas McGuire scored 38 (in Pudgy). The P-38 Lightning was designed in 1937 as a high-altitude interceptor. The P-38 was the only American fighter aircraft in active production throughout the duration of American involvement in the war, from Pearl Harbor to VJ Day. The P-38 introduced a new dimension to American fighters - a second engine. The multi-engine configuration reduced the Lightning loss rate to anti-aircraft gunfire during ground attack missions. As with any long-term production aircraft, the P-38 underwent many modifications. The fastest of the modifications was the P-38J with a top speed of 420 mph and the version produced in the greatest quantity was the ""L,"" of which 3,735 were built by Lockheed and 113 by Vultee. The P-38M was a two-seat radar-equipped night fighter, a few of which had become operational before the war ended. The P-38 was the Army's fastest and most heavily armed fighter. The concentration of firepower in the Lightning's nose was so effective that a one-second burst could destroy an enemy plane. In the Pacific Theater, Lightning pilots downed more Japanese aircraft than pilots flying any other allied plane. By the end of production in 1945, 9,923 P-38s had been built. Only 27 of the aircraft exist today."
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"The P-3 Orion is an American aircraft used for maritime patrol, reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare manufactured by Lockheed. The P-3 Orion was originally designated as P3V based on the Lockheed L-188 Electra and served as replacement for the postwar era P-2 Neptune. The first production version of the P-3 was designated as P-3V-1 and its maiden flight was on April 15, 1961. Many variants of the P-3 Orion was developed. The Orion has four turboprops, giving it a speed comparable to fast propeller powered fighters and slow turbofan jets such as the A-10. The P-3 was also designed to compete with the British Nimrod. It has an internal bomb bay under the front fuselage and underwing stations, carrying missiles such as the AGM-84 Harpoon, having a long stinger in the tail which houses the magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) and convex windows for observation. The primary users and operators of the P-3 Orion are the United States Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Royal Australian Air Force and the Republic of Korea Navy. Civilian agencies also operates a number of P-3s and have been N-registered. "
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