T-38 Talon

KC-135 Stratotanker

The KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling and transport aircraft manufactured by Boeing. Aside from refueling aircraft during flight, the KC-135 Stratotanker is also operates as flying command posts, pure transport, electronic reconnaissance, and photo mapping craft.

Developed in the late 1950s, the basic airframe of the KC-35 Stratotanker is characterized by swept wings and tail, four underwing mounted engine pods, a horizontal stabilizer mounted on the fuselage near the bottom of the vertical stabilizer with positive dihedral on the two horizontal planes and a hi-frequency radio antenna which protrudes forward from the top of the vertical fin or stabilizer. These basic features make it strongly resemble the commercial Boeing 707 and 720 aircraft, although it is actually a different aircraft. Eventually, the Stratotanker first flew on August 31 1956. The KC-35 is primarily used by the United States Air Force for more than 50 years as an excellent core aerial refueling provider. Aside from the USAF, it also provides service with the U.S Navy, Marine Corps and other nation air force such as the French Air Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force and Turkish Air Force.

KC-135 features four turbofans, mounted under 35-degree swept wings, and could have takeoffs at gross weights up to 322,500 pounds. Nearly all internal fuel can be pumped through the flying boom, the KC-135’s primary fuel transfer method. A special shuttlecock-shaped drogue, attached to and trailing behind the flying boom, may be used to refuel aircraft fitted with probes. Some aircraft have been configured with the Multipoint Refueling System or MPRS. MPRS configured aircraft are capable of refueling two receiver aircraft simultaneously from special “pods” mounted on the wingtips. One crewmember, known as the boom operator, is stationed in the rear of the plane and controls the boom during in-flight air refueling. A cargo deck above the refueling system can hold a mixed load of passengers and cargo. Depending on fuel storage configuration, the KC-135 can carry up to 83,000 pounds of cargo. A total of 803 KC-135 Stratotanker built.

Specifications (KC-135 Stratotanker)

Type: Aerial refueling and transport aircraft
Manufacturer: Boeing Company
Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator and boom operator)
Length: 136 ft 3” (41.53 m)
Wingspan: 130 ft 10” (39.88 m)
Height: 41 ft 8” (12.7 m)
Empty Weight: 119,231 lbs (53,654 kg)
Max. Takeoff Weight: 322,500 pounds (146,285 kilograms)
Speed: 530 mph (9,144 meters) — at 30,000 feet
Ceiling: 50,000 feet (15,240 meters)
Range: 11,192 miles (9,732 nautical miles) with 120,000 pounds (54,000 kilograms) of transfer fuel
Powerplant: Four CFM-International F108-CF-100 turbofans rated at 22,224 pounds (10,000.8 kilograms) thrust each

Tupolev Tu-22

The Tupolev Tu-22 Blinder was a Soviet supersonic bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. Development began after that start of production of the Tu-16, and the project was approved by the Soviet government in August 1954.

The Tu-22 supersonic medium-range bomber is a swept-wing aircraft with two engines positioned as the base of the tailfin. The low-mounted swept-back wings are tapered with square tips and a wide wing root. Tail flats are low-mounted on the tube-shaped fuselage, swept-back, and tapered with square tips.

The Blinder was intended to replace the Tu-16, but due to its poor performance it was deemed unsatisfactory. Carrying a similar payload to only a slightly greater range, the Tu-22 offered no real increase in capability. However, it was used by the Soviet Union in the Afghanistan War, and served the Soviet Air Force and Navy into the late 1980s.

Iraq received about 12 Tu-22s in 1973, using them during the Iraq-Iran War. Libya received 12 to 18 aircraft from 1977 to 1983 and used them during conflicts in Sudan and Chad.

Specifications (Tu-22R)
Length: 41.60 m (136 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 23.17 m (76 ft 0 in)
Height: 10.13 m (33 ft 3 in)
Wing area: 162 m² (1,742 ft²)
Loaded weight: 85,000 kg (187,390 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 92,000 kg (202,400 lb)
Powerplant: 2× Dobrynin RD-7M-2 turbojets
Maximum speed: 1,510 km/h (938 mph)
Range: 4,900 km (3,045 mi)
Service ceiling: 13,300 m (40,540 ft)
Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
Wing loading: 525 kg/m² (107 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.38
Guns: 1× AM-23 23 mm cannon in tail turret
Bombs: 9,000 kg (20,000 lb) or
Missiles: 1× Kh-22 (AS-4 ‘Kitchen’) cruise missile

Dominie T-1

The Dominie T-1 is a military training version of the Hawker Siddeley 125 twin-jet business aircraft. The T-1 was used to train weapon systems officers and operators, air engineers and air loadmasters in systems management, air leadership, decision making and teamwork to meet the operational demands of the RAF.

In 1996, the Dominie T-1 underwent a major upgrade programme, with the installation of a modern avionics suite and a new systems installation and cabin layout. Design features included the installation of a Super Searcher Ground-mapping Radar, which was fully integrated with the aircraft’s associated radio equipment, avionics systems, multicolour displays and navigation mission-computer.

The Dominie T-1 has a maximum crew of six, piloted by a captain. The other aircrew includes five students and instructors. Training sorties include a mix of low-level flying, maritime operations, radar handling and targeting training. Medium level, high level and general-handling sorties are flown for other training requirements, including flights conducted for the Air Warfare Centre at RAF Waddington.

Kawasaki C-X

F-89 Scorpion

The Northrop F-89 Scorpion was a jet-powered all-weather interceptor. It has the distinction of being the first aircraft armed with nuclear weapons for air-to-air use. The F-89 was a 1945 requirement of the United States Army Air Force to replace the P-61 Black Window.

Only eight F-89As were completed before the type was upgraded to F-89B standard with new avionics. The major production model of the F-89 was the F-89D, which first flew 23 October 1951 and entered service in 1954. it removed the cannon in favor of a new Hughes E-6 fire control system with AN/APG-40 radar and an AN/APA-84 computer.

The F-89H had an E-9 fire control system as of the F-102 and massive wingtip pods. Problems with the fire control system delayed the F-89H’s entry to service. The final variant was the F-89J, based from the F-89D but replaced the standard wingtip missile pods. The F-89J became the first and only aircraft to a fire a live Genie as the John Shot of Operation Plumbbob on 19 July 1957. They served with the Air Defense Command through 1959 and with ADC-gained units of the Air National Guard through 1969. A total of 1,050 Scorpions of all variants were produced.

Specifications: F-89 Scorpion
Primary Function: fighter
Powerplant: 2 x Allison J35s turbojets of 7,200 lbs
Length: 53 ft 8 in
Wingspan: 59 ft 10 in
Height: 17 ft 6 in
Speed: 636 mph
Ceiling: 49, 200 ft
Range: 1, 367 mi
Armament: 4 x 50 caliber; 2 x AIR-2A Genie air to air rockets with nuclear warheads; 4 x AIM-4C Falcon missiles.

E-2 Hawkeye

The E-2 Hawkeye twin turbo aircraft was designed and developed in the 1950s by Grumman for the United States Navy as a replacement for the E-1 Tracer. The Hawkeye was nicknamed “Super Fudd” because it replaced the E-1 Tracer, known as the “Willy Fudd”. The E-2 is commonly known the “Hummer” due to the distinctive sound of its twin turboprop engines.

Since 1964, the Hawkeye has been the “eyes of the fleet” and has served the US Navy around the world. Hawkeyes directed F-14 fighters flying combat air patrol during Operation El Dorado Canyon. Recently, E-2Cs provided the command and control for successful operations during the Persian Gulf War, directing both land attack and combat air patrol missions over Iraq. During Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom all 10 E-2 Hawkeye squadrons flew overland sorties, provided critical battle management for attack, close-air-support coordination, combat search and rescue control, airspace management, datalink and communication relay for both land and naval forces. During Hurrican Katrina, 3 Hawkeye squadrons were deployed and to control Cost Guard and National Guard helicopter rescue units.

The US Navy Hawkeyes have been upgraded with eight bladed props as part of the NP2000 program, the first squadron to cruise with the new propellers. Operators of the E-2 Hawkeye include the countries Taiwan,Egypt, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Singapore and the United States.

Specifications: E-2 Hawkeye
Length: 57 ft 7 in
Wingspan: 80 ft 7 in
Height: 18 ft 4 in
Maximum takeoff weight: 37, 678 lb
Powerplant: 2 x Allison T56-A-425 or -427 turboprop, 5100 shp each
Maximum speed: 375 mph
Range: 1, 605 mi
Service ceiling: 30,800 ft
Rate of climb: 2,515 ft/min

E-6 Mercury

The E-6 Mercury is a command and control aircraft manufactured by Boeing. It was codenamed as “Looking Glass”. The name Looking Glass is another name for mirror for it mirrors the abilities of Cheyenne Mountain to control nuclear forces.

The E-6 Mercury is adapted from Boeing’s 707-320 commercial airliner. Currently, there is only one version of the E-6 that exists, the E-6B, which is an upgraded version of the E-6A. In August 1989, the first E-6A was accepted by the US Navy and 16 were delivered up to 1992. In December 1997, the first E-6B was accepted and as a result, all E-6 fleet was modified to the E-6B standard. Final delivery of the aircraft took place on December 1, 2006. During the later years of the Cold War, E-6 Mercury “Looking Glass” was said to be airborne 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with one plane taking off to replace another landing during the later years of the Cold War.

The E-6 Mercury has a crew of 22. It has a maximum speed of 522 knots and a range of 6,600 nm. It incorporates four CFMI CFM-56-2A-2 engines. There’s a total of 16 E-6 Mercury’s built.