Military Aviation

While it’s not clear how the actual air war is going, the war of words between the Ukrainian and Russian air forces would suggest each other’s aircraft are dropping like flies. Last week, the Ukrainians said they shot down three Russian Su-34 Fullback attack aircraft that were getting ready to drop guided bombs on Ukrainian […]

Bob Pardo, the fighter pilot behind one of the best known—and for decades officially least recognized—aviation exploits of the Vietnam war died in a hospital in College Station, Texas, from lung cancer complications in early December. He was 89. According to the Washington Post obituary, Pardo and his wingman both took ground fire in their […]

Canada continued a buying spree of new military aircraft on Tuesday with the announcement it’s acquiring 11 MQ-9 Reaper drones and all the associated gear from General Atomics for about $2 billion. The Reapers will be armed and will be used in military operations and to patrol the far reaches of Canada’s North, an important […]

The Russian military may really be its own worst enemy according to the Ukrainian Air Force’s commander. According to Euromaidan Mykola Oleshchuk issued a message on Telegram saying Russian ground forces shot down one of their own Su-25 ground attack aircraft on Sunday. “I can confidently state that it was not the Ukrainian air defense […]

F-16s will make Russian pilots think twice about entering Ukrainian airspace say experts interviewed by Reuters for a detailed assessment on their impact on the war. F-16s from several European countries are now in training centers in Romania, Denmark and the U.S. and the first Ukrainian pilots, those who speak fluent English, will soon be […]

The Experimental Aircraft Association reported today (Dec. 14) that multiple military aircraft demonstration teams and a “unique private jet group” are slated to perform at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024, scheduled for July 22-28. The EAA has commitments from the F-22 demonstration team, the F-16 Viper demo team and the U.S. Marine Corps F-35B demonstration unit. […]

For the first time, a civilian-operated KDC-10 tanker supported U.S. Air Force fighters in aerial refueling operations early last month. Operated by San Antonio, Texas-based Omega Aerial Refueling Services, the KDC-10 was equipped with “mission-essential personnel and equipment” and refueled USAF F-16s on a mission from Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, to Singapore. Lt. […]

Taiwan has foiled a plot for the Chinese Navy to steal a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from the Taiwanese military. According to an indictment made public on Monday, China reportedly offered Taiwanese Army Lt. Col. Hsieh $15 million to fly the heavy lift chopper to a People’s Liberation Army Navy aircraft carrier that was to be […]

The Air Force’s most experienced active duty pilots are being offered up to $600,000 in bonuses if they sign up for a 12-year extension. FLYING Magazine reported last week that the Experienced Aviator Retention Incentive (EARI) and Rated Officer Retention Demonstration program will give the most valuable pilots up to $50,000 a year for 12 […]

The U.S. military announced yesterday (Dec. 6) that all V-22 Osprey tiltrotors are grounded as a result of the preliminary investigation into the U.S. Air Force aircraft that crashed off the coast of Japan last week, killing all eight crew members. Investigators found evidence of material failure in the debris recovered from the water. In […]