military aircraft

air superiority aircraft engineering aircraft longevity aviation history B-52 Stratofortress Bayraktar TB2 C-130 Hercules coffin corner drone warfare F-16 Fighting Falcon F-35 Lightning II first flight high-altitude flight Kelly Johnson Lockheed service ceiling SR-71 Blackbird U-2 Dragon Lady

The Hangar Aug 24, 2026

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules First Flight, August Twenty-Third, Nineteen Fifty-Four, and the Ugly Duckling Kelly Johnson Swore Would Ruin the Company

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules first flew on August 23, 1954 - and Kelly Johnson swore the 'ugly' cargo plane would ruin Lockheed. He was wrong.

Taildragger

ATIS May 25, 2026

From Bayraktars to Vipers and the military aircraft reshaping modern battlefields

From Bayraktar drones to upgraded F-16s, these are the military aircraft reshaping modern battlefields in 2026.

Tower

ATIS May 12, 2026

Six military aircraft flying at the edge of space right now

Six military aircraft currently in service operate at service ceilings above 60,000 feet, pushing the limits of aerodynamics and human physiology.

Tower

ATIS Apr 22, 2026

Five military aircraft that refused to retire and the engineering that keeps them flying

Five military aircraft have served for over 60 years each, and the engineering principles behind their longevity apply to all of aviation.

Tower