Aircraft | War History

Weird Military Aircraft: de Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle

Selmer Sundby aboard a de Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle

Many unusual military vehicles have been developed throughout history, yet there are few as strange as the de Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle. Designed to be piloted…

MD-160: The Aircraft-Ship Hybrid Known as the ‘Caspian Sea Monster’

MD-160 sitting on the beach

There have been some really unusual military vehicles built over the course of history, but none have amazed us more than the Lun-class MD-160. A…

A ‘Spooky’ Aircraft Known as Puff, the Magic Dragon – The Story of the Douglas AC-47

Douglas AC-47 Spooky in flight

“Puff, the Magic Dragon” wasn’t just a popular ’60s song by Peter, Paul and Mary, it was also the nickname for the Douglas AC-47 Spooky,…

Lockheed YO-3 Quiet Star: The American Aircraft That Flew Over Vietnam’s Treetops Undetected

Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star in flight

When discussing American stealth aircraft, designs like the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, Northrop B-2 Spirit and the Lockheed U-2 “Dragon Lady” are often brought up. However,…

Bell P-39 Airacobra: World War II’s Most Controversial Low-Altitude Fighter

Two Bell P-39 Airacobras in flight

A substantial portion of combat during World War II occurred in the skies as countries developed their aerospace technology. That included the United States, which…

Avro Arrow: The Groundbreaking Jet Interceptor Canada Will Never Forget

Illustration of two Avro Arrows in flight

The Avro Arrow is the subject of a frustrating and tragic story about a world-class aircraft that was simply too ambitious for the nation that…

These Large Military Aircraft Make Us Wonder How They Ever Got Off the Ground

MD-160 on a beach + Convair B-36 Peacemaker in flight

As with every list about extreme machinery, equipment designed for the military typically ranks high in comparison to its civilian counterparts, which often have far…

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt: The Most Produced American Fighter of World War II

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in flight

The “Juggernaut,” the “Jug” – whatever you want to call it, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was an absolute beast in the skies over Europe and…

Facts About the North American P-51 Mustang – The USAAF’s Most Versatile Fighter

North American P-51D Mustang 'Ferocious Frankie' in flight

Considered by many aviation enthusiasts to be one of the greatest fighter aircraft of all time, the North American P-51 Mustang saw extensive service with…

Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum: The Versatile Air Superiority Fighter That Could Launch Ground Attacks

Mikoyan MiG-29S in flight

The Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum is a Soviet air superiority fighter that’s earned the respect of many pilots throughout the world. It entered service in the…

Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack: The Soviet-Era Supersonic Bomber That Broke 44 World Records

Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack in flight

In 1972, the unusual story of the Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack began when the aircraft won a competition aimed at designing a new supersonic bomber that…

Photos of Nature Reclaiming the Fiercest Weapons of War: Tanks and Aircraft

Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk half-buried in the sand + Rusty Churchill M2 tank in a grassy field

Nature always endures, and every war has its end. No matter what people try to do, the earth and time will always find ways to…