Aircraft

News, explainers, and analysis about military aircraft.

Latest in Aircraft

Tech & Tactics

Trump: America’s F-35 pilots are ‘better-looking than Tom Cruise’ Trump: America’s F-35 pilots are ‘better-looking than Tom Cruise’

By

/ Dec 19 2019

Culture

Watch the actors of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ nearly puke in their helmets as they pull 7 to 8 Gs Watch the actors of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ nearly puke in their helmets as they pull 7 to 8 Gs

/ Dec 18 2019

Culture

The new trailer for ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ puts Tom Cruise back in the danger zone The new trailer for ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ puts Tom Cruise back in the danger zone

By Jared Keller

/ Dec 16 2019

News

The US claims Russian air defenses shot down a drone over Libya’s capital The US claims Russian air defenses shot down a drone over Libya’s capital

By

/ Dec 7 2019

News

3 soldiers killed in Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter crash in Minnesota 3 soldiers killed in Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter crash in Minnesota

By

/ Dec 6 2019

News

The Navy wants lasers to shoot down drones and missiles, but its ships lack the power to fire them The Navy wants lasers to shoot down drones and missiles, but its ships lack the power to fire them

/ Dec 5 2019

News

The Air Force photoshopped Shia LaBeouf’s face onto a B-52 for some reason The Air Force photoshopped Shia LaBeouf’s face onto a B-52 for some reason

By Jared Keller

/ Dec 4 2019

History

Two A-10 pilots receive the Distinguished Flying Cross for rescuing troops under heavy fire in Afghanistan Two A-10 pilots receive the Distinguished Flying Cross for rescuing troops under heavy fire in Afghanistan

/ Nov 27 2019

News

13 French troops killed in helicopter collision while pursuing militants in Mali 13 French troops killed in helicopter collision while pursuing militants in Mali

By

/ Nov 26 2019

News

Air Force identifies 2 airmen killed during T-38 training flight in Oklahoma Air Force identifies 2 airmen killed during T-38 training flight in Oklahoma

/ Nov 22 2019

News

Two airmen killed when training jets crash in Oklahoma Two airmen killed when training jets crash in Oklahoma

By Jeff Schogol

/ Nov 21 2019

News

Army identifies 2 soldiers killed in helicopter crash in Afghanistan Army identifies 2 soldiers killed in helicopter crash in Afghanistan

By Haley Britzky

/ Nov 21 2019

News

2 US troops killed in helicopter crash in Afghanistan 2 US troops killed in helicopter crash in Afghanistan

By Jeff Schogol

/ Nov 20 2019

Tech & Tactics

The F-35 breaks too easily and takes too long to fix, Pentagon says The F-35 breaks too easily and takes too long to fix, Pentagon says

By Jared Keller

/ Nov 14 2019

Tech & Tactics

SOCOM is working on a mechanical ‘third arm’ that may tout a drone-killing weapon system SOCOM is working on a mechanical ‘third arm’ that may tout a drone-killing weapon system

By Jared Keller

/ Nov 14 2019

News

Special tactics airman who fell from a C-130 was dedicated to ‘God, our freedoms, peace, and his family’ Special tactics airman who fell from a C-130 was dedicated to ‘God, our freedoms, peace, and his family’

By Jeff Schogol

/ Nov 10 2019

News

Coast Guard suspends search for special tactics airman who fell from C-130 Coast Guard suspends search for special tactics airman who fell from C-130

By Jared Keller

/ Nov 9 2019

News

The Air Force’s upgraded AC-130 gunship is working overtime in Afghanistan The Air Force’s upgraded AC-130 gunship is working overtime in Afghanistan

By Jared Keller

/ Nov 8 2019

News

Florida airman missing after falling from C-130 into Gulf of Mexico Florida airman missing after falling from C-130 into Gulf of Mexico

By Jared Keller

/ Nov 6 2019

Tech & Tactics

The Netherlands accidentally welcomed its first operational F-35 with a foam bath The Netherlands accidentally welcomed its first operational F-35 with a foam bath

By Jared Keller

/ Nov 4 2019

News

C-130J Super Hercules damaged by nose gear collapse at Little Rock Air Force Base C-130J Super Hercules damaged by nose gear collapse at Little Rock Air Force Base

By Jeff Schogol

/ Oct 30 2019

News

F-16 crashes during training flight near Holloman Air Force Base F-16 crashes during training flight near Holloman Air Force Base

By Jared Keller

/ Oct 30 2019

Military Life

Here’s what you need to do to receive a Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal Here’s what you need to do to receive a Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal

By

/ Oct 30 2019

Tech & Tactics

Drone footage shows devastated compound where ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died Drone footage shows devastated compound where ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died

By

/ Oct 29 2019

News

Move over A-10: The Air Force is picking up some brand new light attack aircraft Move over A-10: The Air Force is picking up some brand new light attack aircraft

By Jared Keller

/ Oct 26 2019

News

The A-10 Warthog will now BRRRT! in surround sound The A-10 Warthog will now BRRRT! in surround sound

By Jared Keller

/ Oct 24 2019

Tech & Tactics

A whistleblower lawsuit accusing Pratt & Whitney of doctoring F-22 engine inspection reports just got a major boost A whistleblower lawsuit accusing Pratt & Whitney of doctoring F-22 engine inspection reports just got a major boost

By

/ Oct 24 2019

News

When booty calls: A Vermont Air Guard commander allegedly used an F-16 for a romantic getaway When booty calls: A Vermont Air Guard commander allegedly used an F-16 for a romantic getaway

By Jared Keller

/ Oct 20 2019

News

The Marine Corps’s dream of ‘Lightning Carrier’ laden with F-35s is slowly becoming a reality The Marine Corps’s dream of ‘Lightning Carrier’ laden with F-35s is slowly becoming a reality

By Jared Keller

/ Oct 15 2019

Tech & Tactics

Meet the Ripsaw M5, the unmanned battlewagon that can launch drones and sneak up on enemies Meet the Ripsaw M5, the unmanned battlewagon that can launch drones and sneak up on enemies

By

/ Oct 14 2019

Tech & Tactics

This cockpit video of a C-17 zipping by skyscrapers in Australia will make you sht your flight suit This cockpit video of a C-17 zipping by skyscrapers in Australia will make you sht your flight suit

/ Sep 30 2019

News

‘Exceptional leader, warrior, officer, and pilot’ identified as soldier killed in JRTC helicopter crash ‘Exceptional leader, warrior, officer, and pilot’ identified as soldier killed in JRTC helicopter crash

By Haley Britzky

/ Sep 28 2019

Tech & Tactics

Pentagon official in charge of F-35 operating costs and privatized military housing resigns Pentagon official in charge of F-35 operating costs and privatized military housing resigns

By Jeff Schogol

/ Sep 26 2019

News

Soldier killed in Black Hawk accident at Fort Polk Soldier killed in Black Hawk accident at Fort Polk

By Haley Britzky

/ Sep 26 2019

News

This A-10 with a P-51 Mustang paint job makes us want to BRRRT like it’s 1945 This A-10 with a P-51 Mustang paint job makes us want to BRRRT like it’s 1945

/ Sep 25 2019

News

Here’s what it looks like on the receiving end of an A-10 Warthog’s scary-as-fck gun run Here’s what it looks like on the receiving end of an A-10 Warthog’s scary-as-fck gun run

By Jared Keller

/ Sep 24 2019

News

Marine F/A-18 Hornet squadron’s top leaders fired for lapses leading up to deadly 2018 crash Marine F/A-18 Hornet squadron’s top leaders fired for lapses leading up to deadly 2018 crash

By Jeff Schogol

/ Sep 23 2019

Tech & Tactics

US official claims ISIS fighters were hiding among Afghan civilians during deadly drone strike US official claims ISIS fighters were hiding among Afghan civilians during deadly drone strike

By

/ Sep 21 2019

News

Marine grunts’ next battle buddy: a robot .50 cal that fires kamikaze drones Marine grunts’ next battle buddy: a robot .50 cal that fires kamikaze drones

By Jared Keller

/ Sep 20 2019

Tech & Tactics

Built to win World War III, the F-35 is mostly being used to bomb caves and other stationary targets Built to win World War III, the F-35 is mostly being used to bomb caves and other stationary targets

By Jeff Schogol

/ Sep 19 2019

News

The Air Force is working on a ‘flying car’ to replace the V-22 Osprey — and it could take flight sooner than you think The Air Force is working on a ‘flying car’ to replace the V-22 Osprey — and it could take flight sooner than you think

By Jared Keller

/ Sep 18 2019

Tech & Tactics

These ‘kamikaze’ drones are believed to be the culprits of the attacks on 2 Saudi oil fields. Here’s what we know about them These ‘kamikaze’ drones are believed to be the culprits of the attacks on 2 Saudi oil fields. Here’s what we know about them

By

/ Sep 15 2019

Tech & Tactics

US F-15s nearly took out a pair of parachutists over southern England US F-15s nearly took out a pair of parachutists over southern England

By Jared Keller

/ Sep 12 2019

News

The Air Force’s entire A-10 Warthog fleet is getting a raft of lethal new upgrades The Air Force’s entire A-10 Warthog fleet is getting a raft of lethal new upgrades

By Jared Keller

/ Sep 12 2019

News

An A-10 accidentally fired a rocket near Tucson during training mission An A-10 accidentally fired a rocket near Tucson during training mission

/ Sep 8 2019

News

The Air Force’s latest challenge: getting 2 Dodge muscle cars across the Atlantic to help U-2 spy planes land The Air Force’s latest challenge: getting 2 Dodge muscle cars across the Atlantic to help U-2 spy planes land

By Jared Keller

/ Aug 27 2019

Tech & Tactics

US military drone shot down over Yemen US military drone shot down over Yemen

By

/ Aug 21 2019

News

The US military now has to ask the Iraqis for permission before flying some missions in Iraqi airspace The US military now has to ask the Iraqis for permission before flying some missions in Iraqi airspace

By Jeff Schogol

/ Aug 19 2019

Tech & Tactics

A pair of Blue Angels jets got a little too close for comfort during training in Florida A pair of Blue Angels jets got a little too close for comfort during training in Florida

By Jared Keller

/ Aug 16 2019

News

The A-10 Warthog will keep on BRRRTing in the free world for at least another decade The A-10 Warthog will keep on BRRRTing in the free world for at least another decade

By Jared Keller

/ Aug 13 2019

News

Marine Corps’ first female F-35 pilot makes history Marine Corps’ first female F-35 pilot makes history

By Jeff Schogol

/ Aug 8 2019

History

The son of a fighter pilot killed in the Vietnam War flew his father’s remains home after more than 50 years The son of a fighter pilot killed in the Vietnam War flew his father’s remains home after more than 50 years

/ Aug 8 2019

News

The Air Force is pulling a quarter of its C-130s out of service for wing crack inspections The Air Force is pulling a quarter of its C-130s out of service for wing crack inspections

By Jeff Schogol

/ Aug 8 2019

Tech & Tactics

64 years ago, the vaunted U-2 spy plane’s first flight happened totally by accident 64 years ago, the vaunted U-2 spy plane’s first flight happened totally by accident

By

/ Aug 7 2019

News

Navy identifies F/A-18E Super Hornet pilot killed in California crash Navy identifies F/A-18E Super Hornet pilot killed in California crash

By Jeff Schogol

/ Aug 2 2019

Culture

The original ‘Top Gun’ was a recruiter’s dream. The sequel will be anything but The original ‘Top Gun’ was a recruiter’s dream. The sequel will be anything but

By Carl Forsling

/ Aug 2 2019

Culture

Kelly McGillis claims she wasn’t asked to appear in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ because she’s ‘old and fat’ Kelly McGillis claims she wasn’t asked to appear in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ because she’s ‘old and fat’

By

/ Aug 1 2019

News

The Air Force has just 7 B-1B Lancer bombers ready for war. It’s supposed to have 10 times as many The Air Force has just 7 B-1B Lancer bombers ready for war. It’s supposed to have 10 times as many

By Jared Keller

/ Jul 31 2019

News

Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet crashes in California. Pilot’s status unknown Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet crashes in California. Pilot’s status unknown

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jul 31 2019

Culture

The real reason Maverick is still a captain 30 years after ‘Top Gun,’ according to this hilariously accurate alternate trailer The real reason Maverick is still a captain 30 years after ‘Top Gun,’ according to this hilariously accurate alternate trailer

By Jared Keller

/ Jul 30 2019

News

The F-35 ‘is kind of like the iPhone,’ according to the Air Force’s operational testing wing commander The F-35 ‘is kind of like the iPhone,’ according to the Air Force’s operational testing wing commander

By Jared Keller

/ Jul 30 2019

Tech & Tactics

The F-35 reportedly can’t use its afterburners without its critical stealth tech ‘bubbling and blistering’ The F-35 reportedly can’t use its afterburners without its critical stealth tech ‘bubbling and blistering’

By

/ Jul 25 2019

News

Marines may have bagged a second Iranian drone over the Strait of Hormuz Marines may have bagged a second Iranian drone over the Strait of Hormuz

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jul 23 2019

News

The Army is running a classified mission with black helicopters over Washington, D.C. The Army is running a classified mission with black helicopters over Washington, D.C.

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jul 22 2019