Aerospace

Japanese F-35

Japan F-35 Buy Is No Surprise Since the 1950s they’ve sold us Toyotas, and we’ve sold them fighters

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As the 1980s German synthpop band Alphaville proclaimed in their hit single, “Things are easy when you’re big in Japan.”

American fighter aircraft are just that. On Dec. 20, 2011 …

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F-35B lands aboard Wasp

F-35B STOVL Fighter Is Off “Probation”

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced on Jan. 20 that he is ending the “probation” of the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) version of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), the F-35B …

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Charles Kaman Flying the K-125

Less Than a Year After His Death, Charlie Kaman’s Helicopters Achieve Another First

On Dec. 17, 2011, the Marine Corps 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing used a Kaman K-MAX unmanned helicopter to make the first unmanned helicopter cargo delivery on a battlefield. The K-MAX …

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Red Tail Leaders

“Red Tails” Historical Photos Images of the Tuskegee Airmen

This week the movie Red Tails debuts in American theaters. The film depicts, in true Hollywood style, the exploits of the Tuskegee Airmen who flew in the 332nd Fighter Group …

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K-MAX USMC VUAV cargo

Looks Like Everybody Wants Unmanned Cargo Capabilities

A multi-service general officer panel appearing at one industry conference in late 2011 was faced with an audience question of when the coming fiscal environment might force the services to …

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Red Tails Movie

Red Tails Movie Review

Although the amazing story of the Tuskegee Airmen has been told by Hollywood before (HBO’s The Tuskegee Airmen), Red Tails might be the best telling yet. Set for general release …

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FAM T-6C+

T-6C+ Texan II Sale to Mexico a Welcome Boost for Planemaker

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On Jan. 9, 2012, Wichita-based Hawker Beechcraft announced its first sale of T-6C+ Texan II primary trainers to the Mexican air force. Mexico has ordered six of the aircraft, but …

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Three F-35As over Edwards

Air Force Flight Test Center Has a Tradition of Exploring the Unknown Air Force Materiel Command: 20th Anniversary

It’s the home of the right stuff.

The motto of the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) is ad inexplorata, usually rendered as “toward the unknown.”

Dealing with the unexplored …

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Super Tucano

Air Force Suspends Light Air Support Contract After Less Than Two Weeks

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Less than two weeks after making a source selection, the U.S. Air Force has suspended work on the $355 million Light Air Support (LAS) contract under which it agreed to …

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F-107A color in flight

North American’s F-107 Was the “Ultra Sabre” and Perhaps the “Ultra Might-Have-Been”

On Sept. 10, 1956, test pilot Bob Baker took off from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to complete the maiden flight of the knife-like YF-107A. Baker reached Mach 1.03. The …

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