Sunday, February 10, 2013

RAH-66 Comanche


RAH-66 Comanche
Brown helicopter with faceted surfaces flying. The two crew members inside cockpit are wearing bright orange vests
The first RAH-66 prototype during its maiden flight on 4 January 1996
RoleReconnaissance and attack helicopter
National originUnited States
ManufacturerBoeing Helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
First flight4 January 1996
StatusCanceled
Primary userUnited States Army
Number built2
Program costUS$6.9 billion (2004)[1][2]

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Mirage III

Mirage III
Royal Australian Air Force Mirage IIIO(F) (fighter) from 2 Operational Conversion Unit.
RoleInterceptor aircraft
ManufacturerDassault Aviation
First flight17 November 1956
Introduction1961
StatusActive service
Primary usersFrench Air Force (historical)
Royal Australian Air Force (historical)
Israeli Air Force (historical)
Swiss Air Force (historical)
Number built1,422
VariantsDassault Mirage IIIV
Dassault Mirage 5
Atlas Cheetah

F2H Banshee

F2H Banshee
A US Navy F2H-2 Banshee over Wonsan, North Korea, 1952
RoleCarrier-based fighter aircraft
National originUnited States
ManufacturerMcDonnell Aircraft
First flight11 January 1947
IntroductionAugust 1948
Retired30 September 1959 USN
1959 USMC
1960 USN, USMC (F2H-2P)
1961 USNR, USMCR
12 September 1962 RCN
StatusPhased out of service
Primary usersUnited States Navy
United States Marine Corps
Royal Canadian Navy
United States Navy Reserve
United States Marine Corps Reserve
Number built895
Developed fromMcDonnell FH Phantom

MiG-21

MiG-21
Egyptian MiG-21 PFM
RoleFighter
ManufacturerMikoyan-Gurevich OKB
DesignerArtem Mikoyan
First flight14 February 1955 (Ye-2)
Introduction1959 (MiG-21F)
Retired1990s (Russia)
StatusIn active service (see list)
Primary usersSoviet Air Force
Indian Air Force
Polish Air Force
East German Air Force
Produced1959 (MiG-21F) to 1985 (MiG-21bis)
Number built11,496[1]
(10,645 produced in the USSR, 194 inCzechoslovakia, 657 in India)
VariantsChengdu J-7

MiG-23

MiG-23
A Soviet Air Force MiG-23MLD
RoleInterceptor/Fighter (M series)
Fighter-bomber (B series)
ManufacturerMikoyan-Gurevich
First flight10 June 1967
Introduction1970
StatusIn service with foreign users
Primary usersSyrian Air Force
Libyan Air Force
Yemen Air Force
Bulgarian Air Force
See Operators below
Produced1967–1985
Number built5,047
VariantsMikoyan MiG-27

F-15 Eagle

F-15 Eagle
USAF F-15C during an Operation Noble Eagle patrol
RoleAir superiority fighter
ManufacturerMcDonnell Douglas
Boeing Defense, Space & Security
First flight27 July 1972
Introduction9 January 1976
StatusActive
Primary usersUnited States Air Force
Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Royal Saudi Air Force
Israeli Air Force
Number builtF-15A/B/C/D/J/DJ: 1,198[1]
Unit costF-15A/B: US$28 million (1998)
F-15C/D: US$30 million (1998)[2]
VariantsMcDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle
McDonnell Douglas F-15 STOL/MTD
Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle
Mitsubishi F-15J

F-16 Fighting Falcon

F-16 Fighting Falcon
Aerial view of jet aircraft, carrying cylindrical fuel tanks and ordnance, overflying desert
A USAF F-16C over Iraq in 2008
RoleMultirole jet fighter
National originUnited States
ManufacturerGeneral Dynamics
Lockheed Martin
First flight20 January 1974
Introduction17 August 1978
StatusIn service, in production
Primary usersUnited States Air Force
25 other users (see operators page)
Number built4,500+
Unit costF-16A/B: US$14.6 million (1998 dollars)[1]
F-16C/D: US$18.8 million (1998 dollars)[1]
VariantsGeneral Dynamics F-16 VISTA
Developed intoVought Model 1600
General Dynamics F-16XL
Mitsubishi F-2