Heritage Archives - Page 2 of 109

Four Horsemen pilot relives C-130 history at Peterson SFB

Posted on October 1, 2024October 1, 2024 by alert5

Retired Lt. Col. Jim Akin, a member of the first C-130 demonstration team known as the Four Horsemen, recently visited a C-130H Hercules aircraft at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. This visit brought back fond memories for Akin, who flew with the team from 1957 to 1960. Now 99 years old, Akin remarked, “It brought back memories, good memories and sad memories … It just taught me how much I miss it. That’s the finest aeroplane they ever put in the air in my opinion, the C-130.”

U.S. Air Force illustration by Tech. Sgt. Justin Norton
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Pilotless pioneers: Tracing the roots of modern drone warfare

Posted on September 24, 2024September 24, 2024 by alert5

Mark Piesing’s “The Secret History of Drones” in the Fall 2024 issue of Air & Space Quarterly delivers a comprehensive chronology of unmanned aerial vehicle development. The article meticulously traces drone evolution from Nikola Tesla’s 1898 radio-controlled boat demonstration to contemporary military applications.

Gyrodyne QH-50 rotary-wing drone at the Smithsonian NASM”s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Photo By Dane Penland

From Battlefield to Bedroom: This Chinook helicopter’s second life as a unique Airbnb rental property

Posted on September 18, 2024 by alert5

In the heart of Florida’s Brooksville, a decommissioned Chinook helicopter has found an unexpected second career. Once a workhorse of military operations in Desert Storm and Afghanistan, this venerable aircraft now serves as one of the most unique vacation rentals in the United States, offering military enthusiasts and curious travelers alike an unforgettable experience.

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Spitfires and Hurricanes of BBMF face uncertain future amid extended grounding

Posted on September 12, 2024 by alert5

The Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) is facing an unprecedented challenge as its legendary Spitfire and Hurricane fighter planes remain grounded four months after a tragic accident. The extended suspension of flights has raised questions about the future of these iconic World War II aircraft in RAF service.

Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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YF-4E Phantom II: A pioneering force in Fly-By-Wire technology

Posted on August 17, 2024August 14, 2024 by alert5

Tony Landis of the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command History Office recently detailed the remarkable history of aircraft 62-12200, the McDonnell YF-4E Phantom II. Now housed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (NMUSAF), this aircraft, though often overlooked, played a pivotal role in advancing fly-by-wire (FBW) technology, setting the stage for the development of modern fighter aircraft.

DAYTON, Ohio — McDonnell Douglas YF-4E Phantom II at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)

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