This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
Continue reading...
 |
 |
 |
VIRTUAL GREEN FLAG WEST 26-01
PST
MT
CST
EST
Z
———
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Military History
Historic USAF, USAAF, USN, USMC, USARMY topics of discussion
Filters
Show only:
Loading…
As @Snoopy said in Discord, Today marks the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the YF-16 in 1974, leading to what would become the F-16 Fighting Falcon, one of the most successful western fighter designs in history.
The YF-16’s journey began in the early 1970s, born from a competition for a lightweight, multirole fighter. On Jan. 20, 1974, the aircraft’s fate took an unexpected turn. During a high-speed taxi test, a control issue caused the prototype to scrape the runway. Pilot Phil Oestricher, with nerves of steel, made the snap decision to take off, marking the plane’s unofficial debut. Six minutes later, it landed safely, its legacy just beginning. The official first flight followed on Feb. 2nd, ushering in a new era of...
On September 11, 2001, American lives changed suddenly when hijackers took control of four civilian aircraft, targeting major American locations, including the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. With a fourth hijacked plane still in the air, First Lieutenant (later major) Heather Penney of the 121st Fighter Squadron of the Air National Guard and her commanding officer, Colonel Marc Sasseville (later Lieutenant General), took to the sky in their F-16s.
The duo received one-way orders to stop United Airlines Flight 93 as it headed towards Washington, DC. Armed with shoot to kill orders, but no weapons, they were on a suicide mission with full intention of ramming the Boeing 757 in order to protect national security. After sweeping...