Aircraft (Page 3)

News, explainers, and analysis about military aircraft.

Latest in Aircraft

A tiltrotor aircraft flies across the plains.
Helicopters

101st Airborne tapped as first unit to get new Black Hawk replacement

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on May 17, 2025

An F-35A Lightning II performs a restricted climb over March Air Reserve Base during takeoff for a practice demonstration, April 11, 2025. The F-35A Demonstration Team showcases the power, precision, and lethality of the world’s most advanced multirole stealth fighter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Nathan Poblete)
Aircraft

F-35’s close call over Yemen raises questions about how it’s used

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on May 13, 2025

A soldier wearing goggles inspects a drone at a work station.
Drones

173rd Airborne builds its own FPV drone lab to get around procurement wait

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on May 12, 2025

Marine drones
Drones

Marine Corps stands up ‘attack drone team’ to take lessons from Ukraine and teach them to grunts

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Apr 4, 2025

An A-10 Thunderbolt II sits on a runway, mountains in the background.
Aircraft

More A-10 Warthogs deploy to the Middle East

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 30, 2025

Teams with a wagon in a black and white photo try to inflate a hot air balloon.
Aircraft

How the Union took to the skies in the Civil War

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 24, 2025

Capt. Jesse Guerin and Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Angulo were named the Army’s best medics of 2025 after winning a competition at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Drones

These are the Army’s best medics of 2025

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Feb 27, 2025

An X-37B onboard camera, used to ensure the health and safety of the vehicle, captures an image of Earth while conducting experiments in a highly elliptical orbit in 2024. As part of the X-37B's seventh mission, the vehicle executed a series of first-of-its-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel. (U.S. Space Force Courtesy Photo)
Aircraft

US military releases first photo from orbit from its mysterious space plane

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Feb 21, 2025

Local Marines fold flags for Lance Cpl. Joe Jackson’s family during his funeral May 4 at Tahoma Cemetery. Jackson was killed April 24 by an improvised explosive device blast in Afghanistan.
Aircraft

US Marine, 3 Pentagon contractors die in Philippines plane crash

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Feb 6, 2025

Capt. Jordan Wiggins, 23d Fighter Group pilot, speaks into his HGU-55/P helmet prior to departure July 2, 2020, at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. Wiggins is flying one of the two A-10s assigned to the 23d Fighter Group that are scheduled to conduct a flyover as a part of the 2020 Salute to America in Washington, D.C., celebrating the United States of America’s 244th birthday. The flyover provides the men and women of the 23d Fighter Group the opportunity to demonstrate capabilities and join in national celebration, while obtaining necessary training hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Kaylin P. Hankerson)
Aircraft

Cancer rates in military pilots and other aviators could get a closer look

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Jan 23, 2025

A F/A-18F moves down the runway of an aircraft carrier.
Aircraft

Navy shoots down its own F/A-18 in Red Sea fight

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Dec 22, 2024

An F/A-18F Super Hornet takes off at night, with a bright exhaust.
Aircraft

Carrier Air Wing 9 flew hundreds of combat sorties while fighting Houthis

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Dec 16, 2024

Seven C-130 aircraft are lined up along a runway.
Aircraft

C-130s from around the world gather for an ‘elephant walk’

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Dec 15, 2024

Archaeologists use measuring tapes and underwater cameras to record and document a WWII aircraft site in Papua New Guinea. Photo: Project Recover — Project Recover is a collaborative effort to enlist 21st-century science and technology in a quest to find and repatriate World War II MIAs to bring recognition to the service member, closure for their families, and to help a grateful Nation keep its sacred promise to bring our MIAs home. As a result of Project Recover’s missions, there are 84 MIAs awaiting recovery at this time (January 2020). Since 1993, Project Recover (formerly The BentProp Project) has located 30+ downed World War II US aircraft associated with scores of MIA service members.
Aircraft

Meet the team helping recover missing U.S. troops from deep underwater

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Nov 20, 2024

A man in uniform stands behind a four-legged robot.
Drones

That’s CHAPPIE: Why the Space Force has a nuclear material sniffing robot

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Nov 12, 2024

A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress, flies alongside a KC-10 Extender after receiving fuel on Jan. 6, 2021.
Bombers

US sending destroyers, B-52 bombers to the Middle East

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Nov 2, 2024

A F-16D Fighting Falcon assigned to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., sits on an alert mission during EXERCISE BAMBOO EAGLE 24-1 Feb. 1, 2024, at March Air Reserve Base, California. Bamboo Eagle is an exercise designed to provide an expeditionary air base environment where allied forces focused on Agile Combat Employment command and control, Air Superiority, and Joint War at Sea. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kekoa Santiago)
Fighter Aircraft

How a parked F-16 suffered $30 million in damage

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Oct 21, 2024

190401-N-HC646-0062 OAK HARBOR, Wash. (April 1, 2019) An EA-18G Growler assigned to the "Cougars" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139 takes off during a Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) at an outlying landing field attached to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. FCLP is a required flight training exercise that simulates conditions encountered during carrier landing operations while on deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Marc Cuenca/Released)
Aircraft

Growler crew dead at crash site, Navy says

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Oct 20, 2024

Army Basic Training
Drones

Army revamps basic training to simulate battlefield stalked by drone swarms

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Oct 17, 2024

A US. Air Force B-2 Spirt assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base receives fuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 assigned to the 185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard in the sky over northwest Missouri on August 29, 2018. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot
Bombers

B-2 bombers strike Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Oct 17, 2024

lakota crew
Helicopters

New York Guard helicopter crashed in Texas after ‘unanticipated’ spin, review board finds

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Oct 11, 2024

U.S. Air Force Capt. Elizabeth "Sully" Brakefield, 344th Air Refueling Squadron pilot, smiles for a photo in the cockpit of a KC-46A Pegasus May 28, 2024, over the midwestern United States. Capt. Brakefield experienced a reunion at 25,000 feet when she refueled her brother's U.S. Navy EA-18 Growler during an aerial refueling mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gavin Hameed)
Aircraft

Brother and sister meet in the sky during refueling mission

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Oct 4, 2024

Members of the Texas A&M Task Force 1 Search and Rescue Team work alongside Soldiers from the HHC 1-111th AVN GSAV (General Support Aviation) to conduct search and rescue operations after Hurricane Helene, Sept. 27, 2024. The Florida Army National Guard works closely with our civilian partner agencies and actively monitors all potential areas of impact. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Valeria M. Pete, 107th MPAD, FLARNG)
Helicopters

In wake of Helene, National Guard soldiers who lost their homes still reporting for duty

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Oct 3, 2024

A black and white photo of two U.S. Navy F-11 Tigers flying together.
Fighter Aircraft

That time a Navy fighter jet shot itself down

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Sep 22, 2024

The 354th Fighter Generation Squadron poses for a group photo for the final time at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., June 24, 2024. The 354th FGS maintained A-10C aircraft to conduct close air support, forward air control, airborne, and combat search and rescue for theater commanders worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class William Finn V)
Fighter Aircraft

The A-10 era is over for this legendary Air Force attack squadron

By Matt White

Posted on Sep 11, 2024

Air Force Zion National Park Rescue
Helicopters

Airmen rescue pregnant woman from flash flood during backcountry hike

By Jeff Schogol

Updated on Aug 27, 2024

An Army CH-47 Chinook chose an in-flight call sign of "FUKIRAN" for their flight.
Helicopters

Army Chinook takes flight with ‘FUKIRAN’ call sign

By Joshua Skovlund

Posted on Aug 26, 2024

mv-22 marine died reaching pilots
Aircraft

Marine Osprey crewman died trying to reach pilots on doomed plane

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Aug 10, 2024

A helicopter knocked on its side after storms hit Fort Carson.
Helicopters

Storms damage multiple helicopters at Fort Carson

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Aug 4, 2024

An aircraft maintainer, assigned to 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, prepares to marshal a U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer, assigned to 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, to takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to support a Bomber Task Force mission, June 29. Bomber Task Force missions provide opportunities to train alongside our allies and partners to build interoperability and bolster our collective ability to support a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Nicholas Priest)
Aircraft

B-1B crash result of pilot error and ‘culture of noncompliance’

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Jul 26, 2024

osprey grounded
Aircraft

V-22 Osprey flights to stay limited until mid-2025

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Jun 16, 2024

F-15E pilot, in a jet called ‘Mullet,’ packs Zyn and kills drones
Fighter Aircraft

F-15E pilot, in a jet called ‘Mullet,’ packs Zyn and kills drones

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on May 12, 2024

This video flies through the Army’s first small drone obstacle course
Drones

This video flies through the Army’s first small drone obstacle course

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on May 6, 2024

Air Force team designs, 3D prints, launches new drone in under 24 hours
Drones

Air Force team designs, 3D prints, launches new drone in under 24 hours

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on May 4, 2024

Civilian killed in 2023 US strike on Al Qaeda leader in Syria, investigation found
Drones

Civilian killed in 2023 US strike on Al Qaeda leader in Syria, investigation found

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on May 2, 2024

Update the safety brief: the flame-throwing robot dog is here
Drones

Update the safety brief: the flame-throwing robot dog is here

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Apr 26, 2024

Soldier earns ‘Ace of Syria’ nickname after downing 6 drones
Drones

Soldier earns ‘Ace of Syria’ nickname after downing 6 drones

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Apr 2, 2024

osprey 31st MEU bougainville
Helicopters

Osprey back in the air, but with no new parts or fix for ‘material failure’

By Matt White

Posted on Mar 8, 2024

Air Force puts newest training jet through extreme temperature tests
Aircraft

Air Force puts newest training jet through extreme temperature tests

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 3, 2024

CV-22
Aircraft

US military might lift ban on flying Ospreys

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 2, 2024

An Air Force A-10 Warthog heads to the 309 Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
Aircraft

The Air Force has started retiring its A-10 Warthogs at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Feb 10, 2024

A lost flashlight caused $4 million in damage inside an F-35 engine
Aircraft

A lost flashlight caused $4 million in damage inside an F-35 engine

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Jan 19, 2024

This is what 8 U-2 Dragon Lady spy planes look like on an ‘elephant walk’
Aircraft

This is what 8 U-2 Dragon Lady spy planes look like on an ‘elephant walk’

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Jan 7, 2024

B-1B ejection seat crash
Bombers

The ejection seats in a B-1B saved a crew of four this week. They haven’t always worked.

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Jan 5, 2024

Alaska helicopter collision happened in mountain pass, investigation finds
Helicopters

Alaska helicopter collision happened in mountain pass, investigation finds

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Dec 17, 2023

3 women osprey
Aircraft

Widows of Marines lost in 2022 Osprey crash release video calling for answers

By Matt White, Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Dec 9, 2023

osprey crash
Aircraft

Air Force identifies 7 more airmen killed in CV-22 Osprey crash

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Dec 5, 2023

CV-22B Osprey
Aircraft

Bodies of 5 airmen recovered from fuselage of crashed Osprey in Japan

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Dec 4, 2023

CV-22
Aircraft

One Airman confirmed dead in Osprey crash, 7 Air Force personnel still missing

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Dec 1, 2023

CV-22
Aircraft

8 Air Force service members missing after Osprey crashes off Japan

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Nov 29, 2023

Trench warfare
Drones

Trench warfare tips: What US troops need to know from Ukraine

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Nov 23, 2023

AC-130
Aircraft

AC-130 destroys truck after watching it launch ballistic missile at US troops in Iraq

By Jeff Schogol

Updated on Nov 21, 2023

F-15s
Fighter Aircraft

US launches another airstrike in Syria against target used by Iran

By Jeff Schogol

Updated on Nov 9, 2023

Navy rescues divers
Helicopters

Navy and Coast Guard rescue three lost scuba divers near Guam

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Nov 2, 2023

FILE: F-16 Fighting Falcons based in the Central Command area of operations conduct armed aerial patrols over Somalia on Jan. 2, 2021. (Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBride/U.S. Air Force)
Fighter Aircraft

US conducts airstrikes in Syria in response to drone and rocket attacks

By Jeff Schogol

Updated on Oct 27, 2023

Al Asad Air Base
Drones

19 US troops have Traumatic Brain Injury after drone attacks in Iraq and Syria

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Oct 26, 2023

C-RAM in Erbil
Drones

More than 20 US troops in Syria and Iraq have been injured in drone attacks

By Jeff Schogol

Updated on Oct 25, 2023

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
Drones

US expects Iran to continue to escalate Israel/Hamas war

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Oct 24, 2023

Military jet in the sky
Drones

Sky Wars: US pilots dodging “thuggery,” “risky” maneuvers from Russia, China

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Oct 20, 2023

iraq drone attack
Drones

One civilian killed in second day of drone attacks on US forces

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Oct 19, 2023

C-RAM
Drones

US military fights off two drone attacks in Iraq on the same day

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Oct 18, 2023

Inside Task Force 99, the Air Force’s custom drone builders
Drones

Inside Task Force 99, the Air Force’s custom drone builders

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Oct 4, 2023

AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter
Helicopters

For 13th time, sensitive military information leaked on ‘War Thunder’

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Sep 28, 2023

M1 Abrams tanks for Ukraine
Fighter Aircraft

M1 Abrams tanks arriving in Ukraine, F-16 training to follow soon

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Sep 25, 2023