Category: Vietnam War

The Survivors: Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger – Germany’s “Peoples Fighter”

Heinkel He 162A-2 Volksjäger ("People's Fighter" - Werk Nummer 120086) "Yellow 2" of JG 1 is on display at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, Ontario (2013)

The Reichsluftfahrtministerium Volksjäger (“People’s Fighter”) design competition was issued on September 10th, 1944 by the German Ministry of Aviation (Reichsluftfahrtministerium – RLM) to develop an inexpensive, mass produced emergency light jet fighter that was fast but easy to fly, to combat the Allied bomber offensive that was devastating Germany. Designs were to be returned by… Read More The Survivors: Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger – Germany’s “Peoples Fighter”

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The Survivors: Northrop-McDonnell Douglas YF-23A Black Widow II Advanced Tactical Fighter

Northrop YF-23A 87-0800 (N231YF) "Gray Ghost" in the Research and Development Hangar at Wright Patterson Air Force Base which was part of a tour from is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio in 2009

The USAF Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) Program commenced in the 1970’s, then continued through the 1980’s and 1990’s, as a development, demonstration and evaluation program for a new USAF fifth generation fighter with stealth technology to complement and eventually replace the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. Lockheed and Northrop proposals were accepted in October 1986 and the… Read More The Survivors: Northrop-McDonnell Douglas YF-23A Black Widow II Advanced Tactical Fighter

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The Survivors: Northrop YF-17 Cobra – The Unwanted Fighter with Quite a Legacy!

Northrop YF-17 "Cobra" prototype 72-1569 at the Western Museum of Flight in Torrance, California (2015)

In 1972 the USAF Lightweight Fighter (LWF) Program was launched to develop a smaller, highly maneuverable, lower cost air combat fighter to complement and conduct roles not suitable for the highly capable but expensive McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle air superiority fighter. This program ultimately pitted two contenders in a fly off, the General Dynamics YF-16… Read More The Survivors: Northrop YF-17 Cobra – The Unwanted Fighter with Quite a Legacy!

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