Aircraft

News, explainers, and analysis about military aircraft.

Latest in Aircraft

News

The US is sending B-52s and AC-130 gunships back in Afghanistan to slow its impending collapse The US is sending B-52s and AC-130 gunships back in Afghanistan to slow its impending collapse

By Jeff Schogol

/ Aug 10 2021

News

Air Force A-10s just made a ‘highway to the danger zone’ in Michigan Air Force A-10s just made a ‘highway to the danger zone’ in Michigan

/ Aug 7 2021

News

Here’s why the Air Force’s workhorse C-17 is called ‘the Moose’ Here’s why the Air Force’s workhorse C-17 is called ‘the Moose’

/ Aug 6 2021

News

An Air Force drone more costly than an F-35 just fell out of the sky in North Dakota An Air Force drone more costly than an F-35 just fell out of the sky in North Dakota

/ Aug 6 2021

History

Extortion 17: What really happened on America’s deadliest day in Afghanistan Extortion 17: What really happened on America’s deadliest day in Afghanistan

By

/ Aug 3 2021

News

Senate to Air Force: You’re gonna keep your A-10 Warthogs and you’re gonna like it Senate to Air Force: You’re gonna keep your A-10 Warthogs and you’re gonna like it

/ Jul 29 2021

News

No, Russia’s new fighter jet can’t fly at twice the speed of light No, Russia’s new fighter jet can’t fly at twice the speed of light

/ Jul 21 2021

News

The US proxy war with Iran grows murkier after the military denies a recent drone strike in Syria The US proxy war with Iran grows murkier after the military denies a recent drone strike in Syria

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jul 19 2021

News

Meet the ‘Mad’ Revolutionary War general who inspired this badass A-10 paint job Meet the ‘Mad’ Revolutionary War general who inspired this badass A-10 paint job

/ Jul 12 2021

News

Here’s why Army helicopters have Native American names Here’s why Army helicopters have Native American names

By Haley Britzky

/ Jul 5 2021

Tech & Tactics

The F-35 is an overpriced lemon that doesn’t work The F-35 is an overpriced lemon that doesn’t work

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jun 14 2021

News

Watch this A-10 pilot pull off a ballsy landing without landing gear or canopy Watch this A-10 pilot pull off a ballsy landing without landing gear or canopy

/ Jun 10 2021

Tech & Tactics

Why Portugal paints F-16s to look like tigers Why Portugal paints F-16s to look like tigers

/ Jun 8 2021

News

Pentagon: We have no evidence of aliens. UFO fans: So you’re telling me there’s a chance? Pentagon: We have no evidence of aliens. UFO fans: So you’re telling me there’s a chance?

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jun 5 2021

News

This WWII Navy pilot survived a 1,200-foot fall into the Pacific. Then he got back in the cockpit This WWII Navy pilot survived a 1,200-foot fall into the Pacific. Then he got back in the cockpit

/ Jun 4 2021

News

The Air Force wants $48 million to drop commandos into battle from orbit The Air Force wants $48 million to drop commandos into battle from orbit

/ Jun 3 2021

News

Why the Air Force wants to cut dozens of A-10s, everyone’s favorite close air support aircraft Why the Air Force wants to cut dozens of A-10s, everyone’s favorite close air support aircraft

/ May 28 2021

Military Life

Goodbye A-10s, hello pay raise: Inside the Pentagon’s $715 billion budget wishlist Goodbye A-10s, hello pay raise: Inside the Pentagon’s $715 billion budget wishlist

By Jeff Schogol

/ May 28 2021

News

Lawmakers just saved dozens of A-10 Warthogs from the boneyard Lawmakers just saved dozens of A-10 Warthogs from the boneyard

By Jared Keller

/ May 28 2021

News

This is what it looks like to fly straight into a thunderstorm This is what it looks like to fly straight into a thunderstorm

/ May 27 2021

News

Navy pilot remembers the ‘absurdity’ of her famous UFO sighting Navy pilot remembers the ‘absurdity’ of her famous UFO sighting

By Jeff Schogol

/ May 27 2021

Tech & Tactics

Why America’s first bomber was called ‘the flaming coffin’ Why America’s first bomber was called ‘the flaming coffin’

/ May 24 2021

News

How the Air Force turns a combat-ready F-16 into a high-flying Thunderbirds act How the Air Force turns a combat-ready F-16 into a high-flying Thunderbirds act

/ May 18 2021

News

Badass Air Force pilot recognized for belly-landing an A-10 with canopy ripped off Badass Air Force pilot recognized for belly-landing an A-10 with canopy ripped off

/ May 14 2021

News

An A-10 pilot walked away unharmed after an emergency belly landing at Moody AFB An A-10 pilot walked away unharmed after an emergency belly landing at Moody AFB

/ May 13 2021

News

‘That place is a dumpster fire’ — Inside the Air Force’s dilapidated Reaper school, which won’t be fixed anytime soon ‘That place is a dumpster fire’ — Inside the Air Force’s dilapidated Reaper school, which won’t be fixed anytime soon

/ May 12 2021

News

BRRRT vs. BRRAPP: How Americans describe the glorious sound of the A-10 firing, in 2 maps BRRRT vs. BRRAPP: How Americans describe the glorious sound of the A-10 firing, in 2 maps

By Jared Keller

/ May 10 2021

Culture

Awesome video shows Apache helicopters flying mere feet above the ground Awesome video shows Apache helicopters flying mere feet above the ground

By Haley Britzky

/ May 10 2021

News

French pilot claims he was strapped to a target and fired upon by fighter jets in deranged hazing incident French pilot claims he was strapped to a target and fired upon by fighter jets in deranged hazing incident

By Jeff Schogol

/ May 10 2021

News

This A-10’s new paint job pays tribute to the original flying tank of World War II This A-10’s new paint job pays tribute to the original flying tank of World War II

/ May 7 2021

News

Confessions of an A-10 pilot: What it’s like to fly a cannon with wings Confessions of an A-10 pilot: What it’s like to fly a cannon with wings

/ May 6 2021

News

‘The worst 4 hours of my life’ — Legendary astronaut Michael Collins on what it’s like to have a nicotine fit aboard a B-52 mid-flight ‘The worst 4 hours of my life’ — Legendary astronaut Michael Collins on what it’s like to have a nicotine fit aboard a B-52 mid-flight

/ Apr 30 2021

News

This Army pilot can teach you how to hover in a helicopter in just 54 seconds This Army pilot can teach you how to hover in a helicopter in just 54 seconds

/ Apr 29 2021

News

‘It’s like our warpaint’— Why some Black Hawk crew chiefs paint their face masks something fierce ‘It’s like our warpaint’— Why some Black Hawk crew chiefs paint their face masks something fierce

/ Apr 20 2021

Tech & Tactics

An F-35 pilot reveals why good fighter pilots never skip leg day An F-35 pilot reveals why good fighter pilots never skip leg day

/ Apr 19 2021

News

The Air Force’s troubled KC-46 aircraft has a toilet that leaks shit everywhere The Air Force’s troubled KC-46 aircraft has a toilet that leaks shit everywhere

/ Apr 16 2021

News

Hey, UFOs that keep buzzing Navy ships: Are you from China? Hey, UFOs that keep buzzing Navy ships: Are you from China?

By Jeff Schogol

/ Apr 12 2021

News

At $39,000, this C-130-styled handbag costs half the salary of an actual Air Force pilot At $39,000, this C-130-styled handbag costs half the salary of an actual Air Force pilot

/ Apr 7 2021

News

‘Wise Guy’ flies again — How the Air Force got a 60-year-old B-52 back up and running ‘Wise Guy’ flies again — How the Air Force got a 60-year-old B-52 back up and running

/ Mar 30 2021

Culture

How ‘Live Free or Die Hard’ revealed an actual problem with the F-35 How ‘Live Free or Die Hard’ revealed an actual problem with the F-35

By Jared Keller

/ Mar 28 2021

News

Same sht, different decade: the War on Terror just won’t end for these 2 Army pilots Same sht, different decade: the War on Terror just won’t end for these 2 Army pilots

/ Mar 24 2021

History

We salute Maj. Dick Bong, for obvious reasons We salute Maj. Dick Bong, for obvious reasons

/ Mar 8 2021

Culture

This LEGO ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ trailer looks better than the actual movie This LEGO ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ trailer looks better than the actual movie

/ Mar 1 2021

Culture

The Crew Of ‘Top Gun 2’ Built A Bar On The Beach In San Diego The Crew Of ‘Top Gun 2’ Built A Bar On The Beach In San Diego

By Paul Szoldra

/ Mar 1 2021

Culture

The Lego SR-71: Because Being A Grown Up Is For Suckers And Spy Planes Are Awesome The Lego SR-71: Because Being A Grown Up Is For Suckers And Spy Planes Are Awesome

/ Mar 1 2021

News

Air Force identifies pilot killed in training jet crash in Alabama Air Force identifies pilot killed in training jet crash in Alabama

/ Feb 21 2021

Military Life

Military pilots, show us the lucky charms you fly with! (we know you’re out there!) Military pilots, show us the lucky charms you fly with! (we know you’re out there!)

/ Feb 12 2021

News

Meet the Air Force’s most adorable aircraft: the mini C-17 Meet the Air Force’s most adorable aircraft: the mini C-17

/ Feb 12 2021

Tech & Tactics

DARPA is developing an air-launched drone missile that fires air-to-air missiles DARPA is developing an air-launched drone missile that fires air-to-air missiles

By Jared Keller

/ Feb 9 2021

Tech & Tactics

Drones pose the biggest threat to US troops in the Middle East since IEDs, top general says Drones pose the biggest threat to US troops in the Middle East since IEDs, top general says

By Jeff Schogol

/ Feb 8 2021

News

No enemy has downed an Air Force AC-130 gunship in 30 years. Here’s why No enemy has downed an Air Force AC-130 gunship in 30 years. Here’s why

/ Feb 8 2021

News

Air Force investigating intruder who broke into Joint Base Andrews and boarded C-40 aircraft Air Force investigating intruder who broke into Joint Base Andrews and boarded C-40 aircraft

/ Feb 5 2021

News

Idaho National Guard identifies 3 soldiers killed in helicopter crash Idaho National Guard identifies 3 soldiers killed in helicopter crash

/ Feb 4 2021

News

Watch the Air Force’s first new F-15 in nearly 20 years make its maiden flight with a ‘Viking’ takeoff Watch the Air Force’s first new F-15 in nearly 20 years make its maiden flight with a ‘Viking’ takeoff

By Jared Keller

/ Feb 2 2021

News

The Army just got its hands on its most advanced Apache helicopter yet The Army just got its hands on its most advanced Apache helicopter yet

By Jared Keller

/ Jan 29 2021

News

The Marine Corps is eyeing a long-range robot boat that can nail targets with kamikaze drones The Marine Corps is eyeing a long-range robot boat that can nail targets with kamikaze drones

By Jared Keller

/ Jan 27 2021

Tech & Tactics

The adorable story of Scoff, the plushy ducky who flies in an F-15 The adorable story of Scoff, the plushy ducky who flies in an F-15

/ Jan 26 2021

News

This futuristic twin-blade helicopter may be the Army’s replacement for the iconic Black Hawk This futuristic twin-blade helicopter may be the Army’s replacement for the iconic Black Hawk

By Jared Keller

/ Jan 26 2021

News

National Guard identifies 3 soldiers killed in helicopter crash in New York National Guard identifies 3 soldiers killed in helicopter crash in New York

By Paul Szoldra

/ Jan 22 2021

News

Engine failure, pilot error behind deadly Air Force E-11 plane crash in Afghanistan Engine failure, pilot error behind deadly Air Force E-11 plane crash in Afghanistan

/ Jan 22 2021

News

3 New York National Guardsmen killed in helicopter crash 3 New York National Guardsmen killed in helicopter crash

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jan 21 2021

News

An Air Force F-16 just fired off a pair of swarming munitions for the first time An Air Force F-16 just fired off a pair of swarming munitions for the first time

By Jared Keller

/ Jan 20 2021

Tech & Tactics

This Gulf War footage of an F-16 dodging 6 Iraqi missiles is insane This Gulf War footage of an F-16 dodging 6 Iraqi missiles is insane

/ Jan 20 2021

News

B-52s fly over Middle East in yet another display of force for Iran B-52s fly over Middle East in yet another display of force for Iran

/ Jan 18 2021