Built by Boeing, designated as B-47 and named the Stratojet it was a quantum leap in aircraft development. Initially Boeing entered the unknown when they started this project, but soon it would be evident that Strategic Air Command would have its multi-engine jet bomber with a speed performance similar to the latest jet fighters...

The most successful British jet fighter produced was without doubt the sleek and graceful Hawker Hunter. As usual for every new aircraft type it had its share of teething problems, but when these were all adequately solved in the U.K. had at that time one of the best jet fighters available. It was build in large numbers and exported to many countries.

When the B-58 Hustler bomber entered service in 1958 it was a very futuristic looking delta wing bomber creating a lot of sensation. Intended as a successor of the B-47 Stratojet it was capable of reaching twice the speed of sound.

However, development went not without problems and costs risings went so out of control that the whole project was almost cancelled a few times. Strategic Air Command was initially against ordering the B-58 for service, not only because of its complexity but also s...

The Blackburn Buccaneer was the first jet aircraft specially designed for flying very low under the radar at high subsonic speeds. It was developed in the fifties and entered service at the Royal Navy in 1962. Later it also flew as an attack bomber at the R.A.F. and it even played a role in the Gulf War in 1991 before being retired in 1994 after an operational career that spanned three decades...

... the Glen Martin company started in 1937 the design of the model I62. This was a design for a twin engine high-wing monoplane flying boat with an inverted gull wing. As power plant one of the most powerful air-cooled radial engine then available was selected: the Wright R-200-6 Cyclone of 1600 hp maximuum take-off power ...

One of the lesser known fighter aircraft of World War 2 was the Brewster Buffalo, or, using the U.S. Navy designation system, the F2A. By some historians the Buffalo is regarded as an outright failure but this is a rating this stubby little fighter definitely did not deserve.

In the hands of well-trained pilots of the Finnish air force it was used with great success against invading Russian forces. Also at the Dutch ML-KNIL in the Netherlands East Indies it was the best fighter they used. Tha...

A-17 (Douglas Model 8)

The complete history of the Northrop attack planes and its export derivatives

The Northrop Corporation offered the single engined Gamma 2F attack plane to the US Army Air Corps in October 1934. After modification work this type evolved into the highly innovative A-17 attack aircraft of which 110 aircraft were ordered. Northrop integrated all modern aircraft technologies of the day, such as all metal monococque construction, two pitch propeller, flaps and dive brakes in...