Us Fighter Jet History

Advertisement



  us fighter jet history: Latin American Fighters I-igo Guevara, Moyano Guevara, 2009-11-19 This book for the first time describes the military fighter jet aviation in Latin America. It covers the eventful history of fighter jets in 17 countries ranging from Mexico in the north down to Argentina in the south. Each country is covered type by type in chronological order. Information on each type is being provided related to purchase, squadron service, losses, upgrades and service history. Each type ends with a table covering the number of delivered aircraft, different types and subtypes, delivery dates and known serial numbers. Each of the over 100 aircraft types mentioned could be covered with at least one picture. An appendix lists the existing plastic scale model kits in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scale as wells as decal sheets in regards to the 17 Latin American air forces featured in the book.
  us fighter jet history: A Concise History of the U.S. Air Force Stephen Lee McFarland, 1997 Except in a few instances, since World War II no American soldier or sailor has been attacked by enemy air power. Conversely, no enemy soldier orsailor has acted in combat without being attacked or at least threatened by American air power. Aviators have brought the air weapon to bear against enemies while denying them the same prerogative. This is the legacy of the U.S. AirForce, purchased at great cost in both human and material resources.More often than not, aerial pioneers had to fight technological ignorance, bureaucratic opposition, public apathy, and disagreement over purpose.Every step in the evolution of air power led into new and untrodden territory, driven by humanitarian impulses; by the search for higher, faster, and farther flight; or by the conviction that the air way was the best way. Warriors have always coveted the high ground. If technology permitted them to reach it, men, women andan air force held and exploited it-from Thomas Selfridge, first among so many who gave that last full measure of devotion; to Women's Airforce Service Pilot Ann Baumgartner, who broke social barriers to become the first Americanwoman to pilot a jet; to Benjamin Davis, who broke racial barriers to become the first African American to command a flying group; to Chuck Yeager, a one-time non-commissioned flight officer who was the first to exceed the speed of sound; to John Levitow, who earned the Medal of Honor by throwing himself over a live flare to save his gunship crew; to John Warden, who began a revolution in air power thought and strategy that was put to spectacular use in the Gulf War.Industrialization has brought total war and air power has brought the means to overfly an enemy's defenses and attack its sources of power directly. Americans have perceived air power from the start as a more efficient means of waging war and as a symbol of the nation's commitment to technology to master challenges, minimize casualties, and defeat adversaries.
  us fighter jet history: Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems: Post-World War II bombers, 1945-1973 Marcelle Size Knaack, 1978
  us fighter jet history: Curtiss Fighter Aircraft Francis H. Dean, 2006-11 Making use of primary Curtiss documents, as well as the combined resources of the world's leading historians of the subject, the authors have skillfully resolved myths and woven a comprehensive study of the often very confusing story of these classic airplanes. Making use of previously unpublished documents and photographs, this massive, life-long work will stand as a legacy to the memory of those wonderful shapes, the men and women who built them, flew them and took them to war, and the lasting contributions they have made, collectively, to aviation history and the defense of democracy.
  us fighter jet history: Fighter Planes Jeffrey Zuehlke, 2005-08-01 Who flies fighter planes? The U.S. military uses fighter planes to help protect our country. Featuring some of the most recognizable machines in the military, this book shows how these awesome planes work.
  us fighter jet history: Early US Jet Fighters Tony Buttler, 2013 A fascinating, highly illustrated insight into early post-war jet fighter development by an expert aviation historian and author, Early US Jet Fighters is set to become a standard reference.
  us fighter jet history: The Big Book of X-Bombers & X-Fighters Steve Pace, 2016-03-15 They're all here--every X-bomber and X-fighter since 1942. On October 2, 1942, the Bell XP-59 Airacomet soared up and away from present-day Edwards AFB, launching the US Army Air Forces into the Jet Age. In the several decades since, hundreds of new variations of experimental and test turbojet-powered bombers and fighters--X-bombers and X-fighters--have taken explosive flight. These aircraft blazed a trail leading to today's B-2 Stealth Bomber and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The Big Book of X-Bombers & X-Fighters showcases all of the USAF jet-powered X-bombers and X-fighters that have flown since 1942--more than 90 in all, including the alphabet soup of their variants. From experimental to prototype service bombers and fighters--from the XB-43 to the B-2A and the XP-59A to the F-35A--they're all here, with their inside stories revealed. Some of these aircraft were further developed. Others were canceled. All stretched the performance and design envelopes. More than 250 photos illustrate all of these experimental aircrafts' cutting-edge features and zeroes in on histories of their design, flight testing, and weapons testing. Specification tables detailing performance, design, and armaments help round out this compendium of information on truly groundbreaking aviation designs. X-bombers and X-fighters in The Big Book of X-Bombers & X-Fighters include: Bell P-59 Airacomet Republic P/F-84 Thunderjet Douglas B-43 Jetmaster North American B-45 Tornado Boeing B-47 Stratojet Curtiss P/F-87 Blackhawk McDonnell P/F-85 Goblin Convair P/F-92 Dart Northrop F-17 Cobra Boeing B-1 Lancer And all the rest! Specifications included for each aircraft include: Length Height Wingspan Empty weight Gross weight Maximum range Ceiling Maximum speed Armament In addition, veteran aviation author Steve Pace shows readers some of the designs that could have been and offers a peek into what might be lurking in the future, making this the definitive guide to USAF jet-powered experimental aircraft!
  us fighter jet history: U.S. Naval Air Superiority Tommy H. Thomason, 2008 Naval Air Superiority examines the Navys internal struggle to adapt the jet engine to its style of warfare as well as the development and evolution of carrier-borne fighters, their airframes and engines, from the closing days of World War II through Vietnam.
  us fighter jet history: Inside Fighter Planes Chris Oxlade, 2017-08-01 Follow the powerful story of fighter aircraft—from the earliest six-winged inventions used during World War I right up to modern supersonic stealth fighters. Along the way, explore inside the cockpit of a Supermarine Spitfire, the engine of the jet-powered Messerschmitt Me 262, and the inner workings of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning. From dogfight tricks to ejector seats, learn how fighter plane technology and strategy have developed throughout military history, and see life through the eyes of a fighter pilot.
  us fighter jet history: The Cutting Edge Mark A. Lorell, Hugh P. Levaux, Elizabeth Giddens, Jennifer Gross, Erik Moller, 1998-10-20 The proposition that innovation is critical in the cost-effective design and development of successful military aircraft is still subject to some debate. RAND research indicates that innovation is promoted by intense competition among three or more industry competitors. Given the critical policy importance of this issue in the current environment of drastic consolidation of the aerospace defense industry, the authors here examine the history of the major prime contractors in developing jet fighters since World War II. They make use of an extensive RAND database that includes nearly all jet fighters, fighter-attack aircraft, and bombers developed and flown by U.S. industry since 1945, as well as all related prototypes, modifications, upgrades, etc. The report concludes that (1) experience matters, because of the tendency to specialize and thus to develop system-specific expertise; (2) yet the most dramatic innovations and breakthroughs came from secondary or marginal players trying to compete with the industry leaders; and (3) dedicated military R&D conducted or directly funded by the U.S. government has been critical in the development of new higher-performance fighters and bombers.
  us fighter jet history: Lost Fighters William Holder, 2006-12-06 This book, by Bill Holder, discusses the Lost Fighter turbojet and turboprop propulsion systems of the exciting jet fighter era in the United States since the mid-1940s. Until now, very little has been published about these fascinating fighter activities that, for a variety of reasons, did not reach fruition. Covering fighters that did not reach beyond an artist's concept stage, to those that were cancelled after an evaluation of flight capabilities, to others that were cast aside after losing a fly-off competition, this book makes use of previously unpublished, primary-source material. It provides a coherent picture of U.S. jet fighter development and evolution. This book also includes hundreds of photos, drawings, and illustrations of the many Lost Fighters.
  us fighter jet history: The World Encyclopedia of Fighter Aircraft Francis Crosby, 2019-08-08 Explores the development and history and an A-Z of over 170 aircraft, with 600 photographs, in a new fully updated edition.
  us fighter jet history: Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters Dennis R. Jenkins, Tony R. Landis, 2008 Experimental and Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters examines the development of fighter airframes and engines since the end of World War II. The book covers each design that reached the hardware development stage and received an XF or YF designation from the Air Force. Sometimes the airframe/engine combination worked, as it did in the North American F-86 Sabre. Other times, technology failed, as it did in the Convair XP-92 ducted-rocket interceptor. In addition to the changing aerodynamic technologies, the evolution of offensive weapons for each evolution of fighter is also reviewed. Much of the data used in the book came from previously classified Air Force program documents. Dozens of never-before-seen photos highlight this review of Air Force fighter aircraft.
  us fighter jet history: The World's Greatest Military Aircraft Thomas Newdick, 2015-07-15 Military Aircraft features 52 of the most important military aircraft, from biplane fighters to tactical bombers, transports, multirole fighters and stealth bombers. Packed with over 200 illustrations, each entry includes a description of the model’s development and history, a profile view, key features and specifications.
  us fighter jet history: Illustrated Book of Fighter Aircraft Francis Crosby, 2014-10-27 This illustrated book provides both the general enthusiast and the historian with key information about the world's fighter aircraft, from the pioneering days of WWI through to the present day, and includes the Spitfire, P-51 Mustang, MiG-15, Hunter, Harrier and F-14 Tomcat.
  us fighter jet history: Aviation in the U.S. Army, 1919-1939 Maurer Maurer, 1987
  us fighter jet history: Sierra Hotel : flying Air Force fighters in the decade after Vietnam , 2001 In February 1999, only a few weeks before the U.S. Air Force spearheaded NATO's Allied Force air campaign against Serbia, Col. C.R. Anderegg, USAF (Ret.), visited the commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Colonel Anderegg had known Gen. John Jumper since they had served together as jet forward air controllers in Southeast Asia nearly thirty years earlier. From the vantage point of 1999, they looked back to the day in February 1970, when they first controlled a laser-guided bomb strike. In this book Anderegg takes us from glimmers of hope like that one through other major improvements in the Air Force that came between the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. Always central in Anderegg's account of those changes are the people who made them. This is a very personal book by an officer who participated in the transformation he describes so vividly. Much of his story revolves around the Fighter Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada, where he served two tours as an instructor pilot specializing in guided munitions.
  us fighter jet history: Air Force Combat Units of World War II Maurer Maurer, 1961
  us fighter jet history: American Military Aircraft Jim Winchester, 2015 After World War II, the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps retained their technological superiority through the dangerous years of the Cold War. The next generation of aircraft and weapons, with the emphasis on flexibility and affordability, has proven their worth in the recent conflicts in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Iraq. This is a comprehensive gui
  us fighter jet history: Competition and Innovation in the U.S. Fixed-Wing Military Aircraft Industry John Birkler, Anthony G. Bower, Jeffrey A. Drezner, Gordon T. Lee, Mark A. Lorell, 2003-11-07 Assess prospects for innovation and competition in the military combat-aircraft industry. o
  us fighter jet history: Century Jets David Donald, 2004-06 This title contains in-depth profiles of the six operational 'Century Series' fighters developed during the Cold War: F-100 Super Sabre, F-101 Voodoo, F-102 Delta Dagger, F-104 Starfighter, F-105 Thunderchief and F-106 Delta Dart. Includes type development history, variants, service record, operators, specifications, weapons, avionics and mission systems.--Publisher description.
  us fighter jet history: Troubled Partnership Mark Lorell, 2020-03-09 During World War II. Japanese fighters, such as the famed Zero, were among the most respected and feared combat aircraft in the world. But for decades following the defeat of Japan in 1945, a variety of political and economic factors prevented Japan from developing its own modern national fighter. This changed in the 1980s. Japan began independently developing its first world-class fighter since World War II. After several years of contentious negotiations, the Japanese agreed to work with the United States to cooperatively develop a minimally modified F-16, the FS-X. The new fighter, however, has evolved into a world-class aircraft developed largely by Japanese Industry primarily due to errors committed by the U.S. side. By the fall of 1995, fifty years after the end of World War II, the Zero for the 1990s will have made its first flight, catapulting Japan into the elite ranks of nations capable of developing the most advanced weapon systems. In Troubled Partnership, Mark Lorell traces the evolution of the FS-X, disclosing the conflicting economic and security objectives advanced by U.S. officials, the flawed U.S. policy of technology reciprocity, and the challenges of International collaboration. Its deep Intimacy with the Interplay of policy and economy will make this volume of Intense Interest to political Scientists, military studies specialists, historians, and government officials.
  us fighter jet history: From F-4 Phantom to A-10 Warthog Steve Ladd, Steven K. Ladd, 2020-09-30 This behind-the-scenes account of a USAF career is “an absorbing read, written with the classic humor fighter pilots seem to have” (Flight Line Book Review). From Baron von Richthofen to Robin Olds, the mystique of the fighter pilot endures. The skill, cunning, and bravery that characterizes this distinctive band of brothers is well known, but there are other dimensions to those who take to the skies to do battle that have not been given the emphasis they deserve—until now. You don’t have to be an aviation aficionado to enjoy Colonel Steve Ladd’s fascinating personal tale, woven around his twenty-eight-year career as a fighter pilot. This extremely engaging account follows a young man from basic pilot training to senior command through narratives that define a unique ethos. From the United States to Southeast Asia, Europe to the Middle East, the amusing and tongue-in-cheek to the deadly serious and poignant, this is the lifelong journey of a fighter pilot. The anecdotes are absorbing, providing an insight into life as an Air Force pilot, but, in this book, as Colonel Ladd stresses, the focus is not on fireworks or stirring tales of derring-do. Instead, this is an articulate and absorbing account of what life is really like among a rare breed of arrogant, cocky, boisterous, and fun-loving young men who readily transform into steely professionals at the controls of a fighter aircraft. “This book will appeal to a variety of readers with its Vietnam War combat stories and accounts of flying the Warthog in Cold War Europe. Fun, flying, international experiences—you won’t want to put it down.” —Aviation News
  us fighter jet history: MiG Alley Thomas McKelvey Cleaver, 2019-11-28 Following the end of the Korean War, the prevailing myth in the West was that of the absolute supremacy of US Air Force pilots and aircraft over their Soviet-supplied opponents. The claims of the 10:1 victory-loss ratio achieved by the US Air Force fighter pilots flying the North American F-86 Sabre against their communist adversaries, among other such fabrications, went unchallenged until the end of the Cold War, when Soviet records of the conflict were finally opened. Packed with first-hand accounts and covering the full range of US Air Force activities over Korea, MiG Alley brings the war vividly to life and the record is finally set straight on a number of popular fabrications. Thomas McKelvey Cleaver expertly threads together US and Russian sources to reveal the complete story of this bitter struggle in the Eastern skies.
  us fighter jet history: Introduction to the United States Air Force , 2001 To lead the US Air Force into the future, it is necessary to understand the past and present nature of the force. With this in mind, Air Force leaders have always sought to arm members of the force with a basic knowledge and understanding of Air Force culture and history. This volume is a contribution to that ongoing educational process, but as the title states, this is only an introduction. The information provided here merely scratches the surface of the fascinating stories of the people, equipment, and operations of the Air Force Topics that are covered here in only a few short paragraphs have been, and will continue to be the subject of entire books. We hope this volume will be a starting point and a reference work to facilitate your continuing study of aerospace power. The reader should keep in mind that all the people, operations, and aerospace craft included in this book have been important to the US Air Force, but they are not the only ones that have been important. The US Air Force has gained much from other nations, other US military services, and civilian organizations and these outside influences on the US Air Force are not included in this volume. This Introduction to the United States Air Force is organized into two parts and five appendices. The first part is organized chronologically and groups significant operations and personalities together in several critical periods in the development of the US Air Force. The second part covers aerospace craft and is organized by type (fighters, bombers, missiles, etc,) in order to show the development of each type over time. Following Part II are appendices listing the senior leaders of the early air forces (before the creation of the US Air Force in 1947), the Air Force Chiefs of Staff, the Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force, Fighter Aces, and Medal of Honor Winners.
  us fighter jet history: Flying Camelot Michael W. Hankins, 2021-12-15 Flying Camelot brings us back to the post-Vietnam era, when the US Air Force launched two new, state-of-the art fighter aircraft: the F-15 Eagle and the F-16 Fighting Falcon. It was an era when debates about aircraft superiority went public—and these were not uncontested discussions. Michael W. Hankins delves deep into the fighter pilot culture that gave rise to both designs, showing how a small but vocal group of pilots, engineers, and analysts in the Department of Defense weaponized their own culture to affect technological development and larger political change. The design and advancement of the F-15 and F-16 reflected this group's nostalgic desire to recapture the best of World War I air combat. Known as the Fighter Mafia, and later growing into the media savvy political powerhouse Reform Movement, it believed that American weapons systems were too complicated and expensive, and thus vulnerable. The group's leader was Colonel John Boyd, a contentious former fighter pilot heralded as a messianic figure by many in its ranks. He and his group advocated for a shift in focus from the multi-role interceptors the Air Force had designed in the early Cold War towards specialized air-to-air combat dogfighters. Their influence stretched beyond design and into larger politicized debates about US national security, debates that still resonate today. A biography of fighter pilot culture and the nostalgia that drove decision-making, Flying Camelot deftly engages both popular culture and archives to animate the movement that shook the foundations of the Pentagon and Congress.
  us fighter jet history: Aging of U.S. Air Force Aircraft National Research Council, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, National Materials Advisory Board, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, Committee on Aging of U.S. Air Force Aircraft, 1997-09-30 Many of the aircraft that form the backbone of the U.S. Air Force operational fleet are 25 years old or older. A few of these will be replaced with new aircraft, but many are expected to remain in service an additional 25 years or more. This book provides a strategy to address the technical needs and priorities associated with the Air Force's aging airframe structures. It includes a detailed summary of the structural status of the aging force, identification of key technical issues, recommendations for near-term engineering and management actions, and prioritized near-term and long-term research recommendations.
  us fighter jet history: Bomber R & D Since 1945 Mark A. Lorell, Alison Saunders, Hugh P. Levaux, 1995 The authors conclude that relevant experience does, indeed, matter--firms develop valuable system-specific knowledge in ongoing work, and experience in important new technologies has a distinct advantage.
  us fighter jet history: German Jets Versus the U.S. Army Air Force William N. Hess, 1996 Addresses a critical period in WW II air combat through interviews with German and American pilots and analysis of reports.
  us fighter jet history: Fighter Jets Valerie Bodden, 2011 A fundamental exploration of fighter jets, including their speed and maneuverability, history of development, cockpits and other features, and famous models from around the world--Provided by publisher.
  us fighter jet history: Quest for Performance Laurence K. Loftin, 1985
  us fighter jet history: The Things They Carried Tim O'Brien, 2009-10-13 A classic work of American literature that has not stopped changing minds and lives since it burst onto the literary scene, The Things They Carried is a ground-breaking meditation on war, memory, imagination, and the redemptive power of storytelling. The Things They Carried depicts the men of Alpha Company: Jimmy Cross, Henry Dobbins, Rat Kiley, Mitchell Sanders, Norman Bowker, Kiowa, and the character Tim O’Brien, who has survived his tour in Vietnam to become a father and writer at the age of forty-three. Taught everywhere—from high school classrooms to graduate seminars in creative writing—it has become required reading for any American and continues to challenge readers in their perceptions of fact and fiction, war and peace, courage and fear and longing. The Things They Carried won France's prestigious Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger and the Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize; it was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award.
  us fighter jet history: Sled Driver Brian Shul, Sheila Kathleen O'Grady, 1991 No aircraft ever captured the curiosity & fascination of the public like the SR-71 Blackbird. Nicknamed The Sled by those few who flew it, the aircraft was shrouded in secrecy from its inception. Entering the U.S. Air Force inventory in 1966, the SR-71 was the fastest, highest flying jet aircraft in the world. Now for the first time, a Blackbird pilot shares his unique experience of what it was like to fly this legend of aviation history. Through the words & photographs of retired Major Brian Shul, we enter the world of the Sled Driver. Major Shul gives us insight on all phases of flying, including the humbling experience of simulator training, the physiological stresses of wearing a space suit for long hours, & the intensity & magic of flying 80,000 feet above the Earth's surface at 2000 miles per hour. SLED DRIVER takes the reader through riveting accounts of the rigors of initial training, the gamut of emotions experienced while flying over hostile territory, & the sheer joy of displaying the jet at some of the world's largest airshows. Illustrated with rare photographs, seen here for the first time, SLED DRIVER captures the mystique & magnificence of this most unique of all aircraft.
  us fighter jet history: A History of Army Aviation 1950-1962 Richard P. Weinert, Susan Canedy, Army Training & Doctrine Command, 2011 U.S. Army aviation expanded dramatically in both size and breadth of activities after its inception in 1942, but much of its post-World War II history, particularly after the establishment of the Air Force as an independent service by the national Security Act of 1947, has been relatively neglected. Despite a certain amount of jockeying for position by both services, particularly in the early years after their separation, the Army was able to carve out a clear transport and operational combat role for its own air arm. A History of Army Aviation - 1950-1962 examines the development of the Army's air wing, especially for air support of ground troops, both in terms of organization and in relation to the ongoing friction with the Air Force. After describing the rapid expansion of purely Army air power after 1950 and the accompanying expansion of aviation training, the book delves into the reorganization of aviation activities within a Directorate of Army Aviation. It also provides a valuable account of the successful development of aircraft armament, perhaps the most significant advance of this period. In particular, intensive experimentation at the Army Aviation School led to several practical weapons systems and helped to prove that weapons could be fired from rotary aircraft. This arming of the helicopter was to have a profound effect on both Army organization and combat doctrine, culminating in official approval of the armed helicopter by the Department of the Army in 1960. A History of Army Aviation - 1950-1962 also explores the development of new aircraft between 1955 and 1962, including the UH-1 medical evacuation, transport, and gunship helicopter and the HC-1 cargo copter. In addition, the book discusses the Berlin Crisis of 1961 as an impetus for immediate and unexpected expansion of army aviation, quickly followed by the beginnings of intervention in Vietnam by the end of 1962.
  us fighter jet history: Night Fighters Bill Gunston, 2003 From its beginnings during World War I, the role of the dedicated night fighter aircraft and its pilots in the 21st century has evolved greatly. This work reflects the massive changes in technology and in tactics. It also covers the problems of tracking aerial targets by radar.
  us fighter jet history: Naval Air War U. S. Department Navy, 2016-10-28 Naval Air War: The Rolling Thunder Campaign is the sixth monograph in the series The U.S. Navy and the Vietnam War. It covers aircraft carrier activity during one of the longest sustained aerial bombing campaigns in history. And it would be a failure. The U.S. Navy proved essential to the conduct of Rolling Thunder and by capitalizing on the inherent flexibility and mobility of naval forces, the Seventh Fleet operated with impunity for three years off the coast of North Vietnam. The success with which the Navy executed the later Operation Linebacker campaign against North Vietnam in 1972 revealed how much the service had learned from and exploited the Rolling Thunder experience of 1965-1968.
  us fighter jet history: Visual Aircraft Recognition U. S. Army, 2013-01-14 This manual is primarily a ready reference to assist the ground observer in aircraft recognition and identification. It provides information on current operational aircraft of the United States and foreign countries, which may be observed worldwide in the combat area. It can be used as source material for personnel conducting unit training in visual aircraft recognition. The procedures in this publication apply throughout the US Army. The data is based on the best information available at the time of publication; however, it is not all-inclusive because of some classification guidelines. This publication, by nature, has a built-in time lag, and some aircraft may still be under development or classified at the time of writing, but may be fielded or unclassified at, or after, publication.
  us fighter jet history: Inside History of the Usaf Lightweight Fighters, 1900 to 1975 Herbert A. Hutchinson, 2018-10-18 This book, in two volumes, attempts to explain the technology developments that evolved in the period from 1900 at Kitty Hawk through the ensuing seventy-five years leading to the development of the United States F-16 Multinational Weapon System in the mid-1970s. By 2017, 4,550 F-16s, all with the first all-electric, fly-by-wire flight control system have been manufactured for use by twenty-six countries. Awestricken birds undoubtedly ask themselves, How do humans do that? as an F-16 streaks by at over two hundred times the airspeed of the bird. This book strives to provide the how-and-why answer to that fascinating story.
  us fighter jet history: America's Hundred Thousand Francis H. Dean, 1997 America's Hundred Thousand covers in detail the eleven U.S. fighter aircraft types produced just before and during World War II - with a combined production total of just over 100,000 aircraft. Covered are the Army Lockheed P-38 Lightning, P-39 Airacobra, Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk/Kittyhawk/Warhawk, P-47 Thunderbolt, North American P-51 Mustang, Northrop P-61 Black Widow, and the Navy F2A - Buffalo, F4F - Wildcat, F4U - Corsair, and F6F - Hellcat fighters. The text is supplemented by more than 650 photographs, and 200 tables and graphs. Fighter production figures are also included. After an introduction of each type, a heavily illustrated overview of earlier inter-war production from 1920-on, along with a discussion and illustration of wartime experimental types, is provided. A lengthy section considering several technical factors affecting fighter performance follows. These include engine models, supercharger types, propellers, aerodynamic thrust, lift and drag, aircraft weight, balance, stability and control, and armament. America's Hundred Thousand also provides details of each U.S. World War II production fighter in terms of models and changes, numbers produced, and major engine and aircraft performance aspects - in tabular and graphical form - details of weights, discussion of handling qualities and general comments, along with detailed descriptions containing many illustrations of aircraft structures and systems showing the technology of that time. In addition a comprehensive week-to-week and month-to-month chronology of development and wartime combat operational life for each fighter is provided, including many photos. This study concludes with comparisons of the eleven types in terms of program milestones, aircraft drag, power available at various altitudes, speed, climb, rolling and turning, acceleration, and diving performance, as well as general evaluations by World War II pilots.
  us fighter jet history: The U.S. Combat Aircraft Industry, 1909-2000 Mark A. Lorell, 2003-10-29 Drawing on primary and secondary sources on the aircraft industry, this report provides a brief survey of industry structure, innovation, and competition in the U.S. fixed-wing combat aircraft industry from its earliest days to the present. It supports a much larger research effort examining the future of the structure, innovation, and competition of the U.S. military aircraft industrial base that responds to congressional concerns about that future.
The Cutting Edge: A Half Century of U.S. Fighter Aircraft R&D
This book assesses the major trends in the history of jet-fighter design and development in the United States since World War II in order to evaluate the role of prior fighter and bomber and …

The Jet Generations - Air Force Magazine
A Slow Start in the US The United States did not field a jet in combat during the war—not for lack of trying. Three months before Pearl Harbor, Lt. Gen. H.H. “Hap” Arnold, Chief of the Army Air …

The U.S. Combat Aircraft Industry - RAND Corporation
States—Military aspects—History. 3. Fighter planes—United States—History. I.Title. HD9711.U6L67 2003 338.4'7623746'09730904—dc21 2003008114 Cover design by Peter …

Us Fighter Jet History (book) - admin.sccr.gov.ng
Experimental and Prototype U S Air Force Jet Fighters examines the development of fighter airframes and engines since the end of World War II The book covers each design that …

A Concise History - U.S. Department of Defense
11 Apr 2016 · In 1914 the U.S. Army’s Aviation Section of the Signal Corps had five air squadrons and three being formed. By April 6, 1917, when the United States declared war on Germany, it …

An Examination of the F-8 Crusader through Archival Sources
capabilities as an air-to-air fighter ever since. This article adds to the biography of this aircraft through the use of U.S. Navy documentary sources gathered while conducting research for a …

THE 1920s TO THE 1950s: THE LONG ROAD TOWARD U.S.
During the first decade and a half of the jet age, contractors developed America’s first and second generations of jet fighters and bombers, while nearly all other military aircraft, as well as …

Marine Corps Aircraft:
History and Museums Division writing guides dating back to World War II have required aircraft to be identified by manufac- turer, model number, and name using contemporary nomenclature.

Driving innovation in air power: the cold war’s four generations of ...
We use qualitative research methods and in-depth comparisons based on eight historical case-studies. We explore the four classic jet ghter generations (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th), exam- ining two …

F-35 Lightning II - Lockheed Martin
The Navy’s first stealth fighter and the world’s only 5th Generation, long-range stealth strike fighter designed and built explicitly for aircraft carrier operations.

F-35 Lightning II Program Status and Fast Facts - Lockheed Martin
• The first F-35 assigned to the 115th Fighter Wing arrives at Truax Field, Wisconsin. April 25 • The 2,000th F-35 pilot graduates from training in the United States. April 17 • The U.S. Marine …

F-35 Air Vehicle Technology Overview - Lockheed Martin
F-35 Lightning II is a true 5th Generation trivariant, multiservice air system. It provides outstanding fighter class aerodynamic performance, supersonic speed, all-aspect stealth with weapons, …

Chapter Five REVIVAL OF THE AIR-SUPERIORITY FIGHTER
REVIVAL OF THE AIR-SUPERIORITY FIGHTER INTRODUCTION The late 1960s and 1970s witnessed the development of two new Air Force fighters—the F-15 and F-16—and two new …

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program - Federation of American …
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), also called the Lightning II, is a strike fighter airplane being procured in different versions for the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy. The F-35 program is

TRENDS IN AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT - Center for Strategic and …
U.S. Air Force Colonel David Fahrenkrug substantially aided in forming the foundation of this report. My CSBA colleagues Barry Watts and Mark Gunzinger reviewed the initial draft and …

Air Force Aces
Air Force historians have kept the official records of aerial victories by USAF pilots and crew members since 1957. The Office of the Air Force His-torian initially published four separate …

AMERICAN EARLY JET-AGE AIRCREW FLIGHT HELMETS, A …
military aerospace technology continues to advance in quantum leaps. In the early jet-age years (roughly from about 1945 through 1965), personalised color schemes and decorations often …

THE COMPuTING BOOM IN THE uS AERONAuTICAL …
I will show the development of new types of weapons: fighter airplanes with jet propulsion, anti-aircraft missiles, ballistic missiles and guided missiles. I will distinguish the special fields in …

Availability and Use of F-35 Fighter Aircraft - Congressional …
Complementing earlier research by the Congressional Budget Ofice, this report examines the availability and use of the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) F-35 fighter aircraft. The F-35 has …

History of Jet Fighters - Springer
These decades saw the US military become involved in the Vietnam War in which fighter aircraft played a significant part, a shift in US nuclear doctrine from massive retaliation to flexible response, and the rise of the Soviet Union as rival to US air power supremacy. Key …

The Cutting Edge: A Half Century of U.S. Fighter Aircraft R&D
This book assesses the major trends in the history of jet-fighter design and development in the United States since World War II in order to evaluate the role of prior fighter and bomber and related research and development (R&D) experience among prime contractors in promoting successful R&D programs.

The Jet Generations - Air Force Magazine
A Slow Start in the US The United States did not field a jet in combat during the war—not for lack of trying. Three months before Pearl Harbor, Lt. Gen. H.H. “Hap” Arnold, Chief of the Army Air Forces, asked Lawrence Bell to work on a fighter using a Whittle–type engine. By the following spring, Bell Air-craft had designed a single-seat ...

Us Fighter Jet History (book) - admin.sccr.gov.ng
Experimental and Prototype U S Air Force Jet Fighters examines the development of fighter airframes and engines since the end of World War II The book covers each design that reached the hardware development stage and received an XF or YF

The U.S. Combat Aircraft Industry - RAND Corporation
States—Military aspects—History. 3. Fighter planes—United States—History. I.Title. HD9711.U6L67 2003 338.4'7623746'09730904—dc21 2003008114 Cover design by Peter Soriano. iii ... Prop Fighter Versus Subsonic-Jet Fighter Performance ..... 62 4.2. Subsonic Versus Supersonic Fighters ..... 67 5.1. Important Role of Second-Rank Competitors in

A Concise History - U.S. Department of Defense
11 Apr 2016 · In 1914 the U.S. Army’s Aviation Section of the Signal Corps had five air squadrons and three being formed. By April 6, 1917, when the United States declared war on Germany, it had 56 pilots and...

An Examination of the F-8 Crusader through Archival Sources
capabilities as an air-to-air fighter ever since. This article adds to the biography of this aircraft through the use of U.S. Navy documentary sources gathered while conducting research for a larger work on the Vietnam War at the Naval History and Heritage Command - the U.S.

THE 1920s TO THE 1950s: THE LONG ROAD TOWARD U.S. LEADERSHIP IN FIGHTER …
During the first decade and a half of the jet age, contractors developed America’s first and second generations of jet fighters and bombers, while nearly all other military aircraft, as well as commercial transports, began transitioning from piston engines to jet …

Driving innovation in air power: the cold war’s four generations of ...
We use qualitative research methods and in-depth comparisons based on eight historical case-studies. We explore the four classic jet ghter generations (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th), exam- ining two diverse case studies for each generation.

F-35 Lightning II - Lockheed Martin
The Navy’s first stealth fighter and the world’s only 5th Generation, long-range stealth strike fighter designed and built explicitly for aircraft carrier operations.

Chapter Five REVIVAL OF THE AIR-SUPERIORITY FIGHTER
REVIVAL OF THE AIR-SUPERIORITY FIGHTER INTRODUCTION The late 1960s and 1970s witnessed the development of two new Air Force fighters—the F-15 and F-16—and two new Navy fighters—the F-14 and F/A-18—that would become the mainstays of America’s tactical fighter forces for the remainder of the century. In particular, the two Air Force ...

F-35 Air Vehicle Technology Overview - Lockheed Martin
F-35 Lightning II is a true 5th Generation trivariant, multiservice air system. It provides outstanding fighter class aerodynamic performance, supersonic speed, all-aspect stealth with weapons, and highly integrated and networked avionics.

F-35 Lightning II Program Status and Fast Facts - Lockheed Martin
• The first F-35 assigned to the 115th Fighter Wing arrives at Truax Field, Wisconsin. April 25 • The 2,000th F-35 pilot graduates from training in the United States. April 17 • The U.S. Marine Corps activates its second F-35C squadron. April 14 • Production formally begins on the first F-35 for the Polish Air Force. April 12

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program - Federation of American …
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), also called the Lightning II, is a strike fighter airplane being procured in different versions for the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy. The F-35 program is

Air Force Aces
Air Force historians have kept the official records of aerial victories by USAF pilots and crew members since 1957. The Office of the Air Force His-torian initially published four separate listings—for World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

TRENDS IN AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT - Center for Strategic and …
U.S. Air Force Colonel David Fahrenkrug substantially aided in forming the foundation of this report. My CSBA colleagues Barry Watts and Mark Gunzinger reviewed the initial draft and made numerous suggestions that greatly improved the content and clarity of the final version.

THE COMPuTING BOOM IN THE uS AERONAuTICAL INduSTRY, …
I will show the development of new types of weapons: fighter airplanes with jet propulsion, anti-aircraft missiles, ballistic missiles and guided missiles. I will distinguish the special fields in which analog or digital computers can be applied.

AMERICAN EARLY JET-AGE AIRCREW FLIGHT HELMETS, A HISTORY …
military aerospace technology continues to advance in quantum leaps. In the early jet-age years (roughly from about 1945 through 1965), personalised color schemes and decorations often served to fur.

Availability and Use of F-35 Fighter Aircraft - Congressional Budget Office
Complementing earlier research by the Congressional Budget Ofice, this report examines the availability and use of the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) F-35 fighter aircraft. The F-35 has three variants: the F-35A, operated by the Air Force; the F-35B, operated by the Marine Corps; and the. F-35C, operated by both the Navy and the Marine Corps.