Historical Aircraft in Flight

Vintage photographs of various aircraft, including commercial transports and military bombers, captured mid-flight against dramatic skies.

Vintage Photograph. US Air Force Snark Missile in flight.

Vintage photograph. Douglas DC-6 Commercial Transport

Vintage Photograph. US Air Force Snark Missile in flight.

A right front underside view of a Soviet II-28 Beagle bomber aircraft in flight. (Substandard image). Country: Unknown

Canberra Tries For Two-Way Record -- The Canberra Bomber taking off London this morning. A Canberra medium jet bomber left London Airport today in an attempt to fly to New York and back in one day. At the controls was captain John Hackett, former RAF coastal command pilot. With him was Mr. Peter Moneypenny, 31-year-old Navigator. The two men already set up 15 unofficial Canberra records together. They hope to reach New York in seven-and-half, hours and to be back in London by teno's clock tonigh

Vintage Photograph. North American F-107A in flight.

United States, January 31, 1958The U.S. Navy attack seaplane, the Martin YP6M-1 Seamaster, can cruise at 600 mph at 40,000 feet and is also capable of high speeds at low altitudes for laying mines or reconnaissance missions.

Vintage Photograph. US Air Force F-107 Single engine jet in flight.

Right side view of a Soviet Tu-95 Bear D aircraft in flight. "Soviet Military Power," 1983, Page 98-99. Country: Unknown

The Farnborough Air Display -- The Bristol Britannia, Britains late turbo prop passenger plane, flying over Farnborough during the display of flying. Twenty five of the aircraft are on order for BOAC.Some of the world's most advanced military and civil aircraft are on view for the first time at the Society of British Aircraft Constructors display, which opened at Farnborough, Hants., on Sept. 1st. September 02, 1952. (Photo by Fox Photos).

An air-to-air right underside view of a Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat aircraft carrying four AA-6 Acrid missiles. Country: Unknown

Anefo photo collection. Communication of passenger ship "Queen Juliana". Airplane at the commissioning. October 14, 1968

1037B. April 7, 1955.

Vintage photograph. AURA Canada CF-100 all weather jet fighter with wing tip tanks installed

Douglas C-47 Skytrain of Air Transport Command in the 1940s

Photo by NACA 45 degree Sweptback wing model drop test Close-up of Body as it Leaves the Plane. Investigation of a Cambered and Twisted 45 degrees Swept-back Wing in the Transonic Range by the Recoverable-body Techniques.

First Formation Flight of New U.S. Superbombers. This is the first formation flight pictures of the B-32, the U.S. superbomber, now being rolled, off the assembly lines at Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation plants in the United States. The long-range, four-engine craft, which will coordinate its attacks with those of B-29 Superfortresses in the bombing of Japanese military and industrial targets, is 83 feet long and its low-drag wing has a span of 135 feet. Able to travel at more than 300

Vintage photograph. Martin AM-1 mauler, the navy largest, fastest, most heavily armed carrier based dive torpedo bomber

Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,Transportation War

North American Aviation F-100 Super Sabrejet in flight

Vintage photograph. Lockheed F-90 in flight

Vintage Photograph. Glider in flight above clouds.

A right side view of a TA-4J Skyhawk aircraft of Training Squadron 21 (VT-21) on a weapons training flight. Base: Naval Air Facility, El Centro State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,Transportation War

Low angle view of a military airplane in flight, F-51 Mustang

The M2-F3 Lifting Body is seen here on the lakebed next to the NASA Flight Research Center (later the Dryden Flight Research Center), Edwards, California. Redesigned and rebuilt from the M2-F2, the M2-F3 featured as its most visible change a center fin for greater stability. While the M2-F3 was still demanding to fly, the center fin eliminated the high risk of pilot induced oscillation (PIO) that was characteristic of the M2-F2.

Vintage photograph. Air Force North American Aviation RB-45C Photo Reconnaissance Four-Jet Bomber

The French submarine FS Diane (1964-1989). Upper Photo, the wing of a Neptune, registration number 211, of airplane quadron 320.

F3D Skyknight twin jet night fighter with four Sperry Sparrow air to air guided missiles hanging from racks

DN-SN-90-02268. Country: Unknown

R.A.F.'s Largest And Fastest Transport -- A hose-on view of the "Hastings" in flight. The "Hastings" Britain's largest and. fastest military transport which will soon be in service with the R.A.F., today was officially named at the Handley Page Aerodrome, Radlett, Herts, by the Mayor of Hastings, Councillor F.W. Chambers. A multi-purpose military transport, the "Hastings" can be used as a military freighter, paratrooper, ambulance, troop transport, passenger transport, and glider tug. Jeeps, 25 pounder guns and 15 *****. trucks can be carried and both jeeps and 6 pounder guns can be dropped from it by parachute. September 4, 1946.

A Consolidated B-25M Liberator modified for icing research by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory. NACA Lewis performed a limited amount of icing research during World War II, but the program expanded significantly in 1946. The accumulation of ice on aircraft was a continual problem. The ice formations could result in extra weight, aerodynamic penalties, and blockage engine inlets. Although the Lewis icing researchers utilized numerous aircraft, the programs two workhorses were the B-24M Liberator, seen here, and a North American XB-25E Mitchell. The Consolidated Aircraft Company created the four-engine bomber in the early 1940s. During World War II the bomber was employed on long-duration bombing missions in both Europe and the Pacific. Production of the B-24M version did not begin until October 1944 with the end of the war in Europe approaching. This resulted in scores of unneeded bombers when hostilities ended. This B-24M arrive

Vintage photograph. The Boeing YB-52 Stratofortress in flight, Wing span is 185 feet, length is 153 feet

The Vampire 11 in flight showing the external air intakes through which air is delivered to the rear side of are double-sided compressor used on the Nene engine.***** experiment ***** gas turbine engine, a de ***** twin boom fighter aircraft ***** established a new ***** height record for ***** engined machines of 51,000 feet.Known as the 'Vampire II', the plane has a better take off, climb and ceiling than previous Vampires.The Nene, Britain's most powerful get turbine engine, ran for 150 hours recently in *****. May 1, 1947.

Kuma class cruiser taking...

Navy Jet In Speed Run -- A Navy jet D-558 Skystreak, reported unofficially to have surpassed the world speed record in a run today at Muroc Army Air Base, streaks over the measured course in a practice run two days ago. The ship was piloted by Comdr. Turner Caldwell. The presented record was set a month ago, by an Army P-80 jet, at 623.8 miles an hour. August 20, 1947. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Kuma class cruiser taking...

AVRO CF 100s, NATO Manuevers (Canadian Forces). Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

Aircraft, Burma, India &Aircraft, SINGLE,BOEING War

DA-SN-85-13046. Country: Unknown

Vintage Photograph. The Air Force's Northrup SM-62 "Snark" Long range strategic missile. Frame 1

DA-SN-85-13037. Country: Unknown

An air-to-air left side view of an E-3A Sentry aircraft, one of many aircraft that flew in support of Operation Kangaroo '81. Subject Operation/Series: KANGAROO '81 Country: Far East

Duke Gave The '***** Roll' After His Flight -- Neville Duke taking off in his speed record attempt.Neville Duke took off in his red Hawker Hunter from Tangmere Aerodrome this afternoon in his attempt on the world's air speed record.After his flight - when he claimed that his meter indicated 725 M.P.H. - Duke roared across the field in a climbing 'Victory Roll'.Crowds of people achieved the record but results will not be known for some hours yet. September 07, 1953. (Photo by Paul Popper).

Two pieces J 29 flying in ROTE motif: Two pieces of aircraft J 29 Related F 3 Malmen flying in Rote. View from the side.

DC 4 Aeroplane. Date: circa 1935

Air Attack From The Aleutians -- The Cost Of The Most Successful Anti-Shipping Mission Flown By Aleutian-Based Airmen In Two Years Was This Mitchell Bomber Which Crashed Flaming Into The Icy Waters Of Paramushiru Strait With Its Crew Of Six. On The Credi

SE 5000 "Baroudeur" Fighter Plane. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

Anefo photo collection. American flying waiting stations under Lockheed Warning Stars above Lockheed Starfighter Hunter. November 13, 1959. America

Three planes readying to bomb an archipelago. Douglas R4D bombers, all flying in tight formation.

Vintage photograph. Passenger plane of the Pan-American Grace line in flight

Wingless Plane Passes First Test - William Horton, an aircraft engineer, sits in cockpit of his virtually wingless plane which rose 10 feet off the runway on a trial taxi run here yesterday, Horton, who spent 18 months and $50,000 building the craft, said it's designed to prevent air surrounding it in flight from mixing with the air flowing over its lifting contour. September 30, 1952. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).;Wingless Plane Passes First Test - William Horton, an aircraft engineer, sits in cockp

Duke Makes Trial Runs - Then Record Attempt -- The swept-***** Hunter with Naville Duke at the controls, comes ***** land at Tangmere Cerodrome after trial runs ***** for his attempt being made later this after ***** to capture the world air speed record. Conditioner Duke's attempt were said to be perfect. It was a ***** ago that the 31-year-old Squadron Leader, Hawker ***** test pilot, averaged 722 mph. This failed ***** by the necessary one per cent the 715 ***** achieved in July by Colonel Barnes of the USAF. ***** Duwk has to fly his plane over a three mile ***** between Rustington and Kignsron Gorse off the *****. September 07, 1953. (Photo by United Press Photo).

AVION REACTOR CAZABOMBARDERO F-5 DE USAF LLEVANDO DOS BOMBAS - FOTOGRAFIA EN BLANCO Y NEGRO - AÑOS 60.

The R.A.F. Roundsel Over California - For the first time since World War II, the roundel insignia of the Royal Air Force is a common sight over Southern California. The reason; R.A.F. pilot are becoming familiar with performance of the new lookhead P2V-E Naptune anti-submarine aircrafts - one of which is pictured here in flight over the American state. Neptunes, in quantity production for the U.S. Navy, are being made available to Great Britain and Australia through the Mutual Defence Assistance

Bell X-1 rocket plane in which Chuck Yeager became the first human to break the sound barrier on October 14, 1947. The facts of the flight remained classified until publically announced on June 10, 1948.

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Short S.25 Sunderland. Sunderland GR Mark V, ML778 'NS-Z', piloted by Wing Commander J Barrett, the Commanding Officer of No. 201 Squadron RAF based at Castle Archdale, County Fermanagh, flying the last operational sortie of the war undertaken by Coastal Command.

Supergiant of The Skies -- The World's first international bombers a 10 engine Convair B-36 - puts its two, huge, 4-wheel landing gears down for a landing at a tropical Air Force base. This supergiant of the skies has a wingspread of 230 feet-almost as long as a football field. Its length is 162 feet, and its height at the tail is nearly 47 feet or 5 stories high. With four J-47 jet engines nestled ***** its Six 3,500 horsepower reciprocating engines. This mighty Air Force bomber is capable of c

Airplane J 9 in the air. Design: Hunting aircraft J 9 marked number 71 from F 8 Barkarby in the air.

Anefo photo collection. Jet Traders. Jet aircraft. January 11, 1962

DN-SN-85-06138. Country: Unknown

A Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star jet aircraft on the tarmac at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) NACA Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio. The Air Force aircraft was participating in the 1946 National Air Races over Labor Day weekend. The air races were held at the Cleveland Municipal Airport seven times between 1929 and 1939. The events included long distance, sprint, and circuit competitions, as well as aeronautical displays, demonstrations, and celebrities. The air races were suspended indefinitely in 1940 for a variety of reasons, including the start of World War II in Europe. The nature of the National Air Races changed dramatically when the event resumed in 1946. The introduction of jet aircraft, primarily the Lockheed P-80 seen here, required an entire separate division for each event. Since military pilots were the only ones with any jet aircraft experience, only they could participate in those divisions. In addition, the performance and quan

T-33A (55-4351/NASA 815)arrived at NASA FRC January 9, 1963departed September 10, 1973 to Redding, California.This aircraft, one of four T-33A jet trainers which NASA Dryden used from 1958 to 1973, was used in a monocular vision landing study.

An artist's impression of one of Russia's latest jet fighters, seen at the 1947 Soviet Aviation Day display, but since known to have been improved. It is powered by a British gas turbine of an type supplied to Russia up to January, 1948. January 01, 1950.

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Vickers Warwick Warwick C Mark I (Vickers Type 456) commercial transport, G-AGFK, in flight, 1943. This aircraft was originally BV256, the last of fourteen B Mark I airframes converted for use by BOAC on a mail service to British forces in North Africa and the Mediterranean from February 1943. In early 1944 the transports reverted to the RAF, and BV256 was operated by No. 525 Squadron RAF.

A right front underside view of a Soviet Tu-22 Blinder bomber aircraft in flight. (Substandard image). Country: Unknown

Record Attempt Pilot Lands Jet On One Wheel -- The Hawker Hunter piloted by Neville Duke taking off from Tangmere.Attempt on the world air speed record by Squadron-Leader Neville Duke, 31-year-old test pilot, had to be abandoned for the day to day (Tuesday) when the wheel under the left-hand wing of his supersonic Hawker Hunter swept-wing jet fighter refused *****.Duke had ***** off from Tangmere Airfield, *****, in the hope of raising the world ***** to over 722 miles an hour.Owing to ***** fault he flew in circles for 20 ***** to use up his fuel and reduce ***** of fire, and then landed at Hawker airfield at Dunsfeld, Surrey. September 01, 1953.

Plane Lands Safely With One Engine Gone - The giant Navy flying boat Philippine Mars makes a safe landing in Honolulu harbor yesterday with one of its four engines (right) gone. The engine fell off and set a wing afire while the flying boat was 440 miles from Honolulu on a flight from Alameda, Calif., with 40 passengers and a crew of 14. September 7, 1949. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC airbases. Two Douglas C-47 Dakota at an airport. April 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

The King's Plane -- The King's plane, one of the four Vikings, in flight during final preparations for the tour.A Royal Flight, comprising four Vickers-Armstrong Viking twin-engined planes, will accompany the Royal Family on their tour of the Dominion of South Africa. January 30, 1947.

Training one of the engines of empire flying boat *****. June 2, 1939. (Photo by Barry Newberry/Fairfax Media)

Ryan VZ-3RY over Ames in slow-speed flight. Smooth airflow over entire wing is indicated by tufts when wing had been modified to incorporate leading-edge slats. Tests showed that it could be flown at speeds as low as 6 knots when out of ground effect (which increases lift). April 1963 published in NASA SP-2002-4525 Memoirs of a Flight test Engineer (Seth Anderson)

Aviation 1057 - Bell XIA. April 10, 1953. (Photo by Bell Aircraft Corporation).

New Plane Takes the Air - Pictured here for the first time as it takes off on a test flight is the new experimental aircraft, the Supermarine 525, a development of the Supermarine 508. It is powered by two Rolls Royce Avon engines and was flown for the first time, from Boscombe Downs, Wiltshire, by Lt. Cmdr M.J. Lithgow, who described the 20-minute flight as 'completely successful.'The aircraft is said to be the fastest ever designed for carrier use and the twin jet fighter ordered in quantity by the Admiralty a year ago will be directly developed from it. May 05, 1954. (Photo by Reuterphoto).

aereo militare ambrosini s. sagittario in volo, 1953

M2-F1 Lifting Body In Flight During Tow

Touch Of ***** Master -- The comet ***** , under the command of captain John Cunningham, chief test of pilot of the Havilland Company, clearing a ***** it arrives at Hatfield ***** , Hertfordshire, England, 7 October after a test flight to central ***** and back. The plane made a record ***** from Khartoum to Rome on 6 October, covering the distance in 5 hr 20 min. October 18, 1955. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Anefo photo collection. Northrop F5. June 11, 1977

DN-SC-85-06040. Country: Unknown

Jeep-Of-All-Trades -- Aviation Aide -- Airport can use the jeep profitably for towing planes on the ground in and out hangars or from one part of landing strips to another, eliminating need of starting plane's own engines to do the job. September 16, 1945. (Photo by C.J. Nichols, International News Photos).

Vintage Photograph. Convair F-102A in flight.

Bell X-1B

An air-to-air left underside view of a Soviet Badger bomber aircraft. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

Vintage photograph. Boeing B-47 Stratojet in full flight, fastest known bomber in the world

An air-to-air left side view of a Russian Tu-95 Bear G bomber aircraft over the Western Pacific. Country: Unknown

Uncle Sam's Giant Cracker -- Fireworks aplenty - 24 rockets, each capable of knocking a bomber from the sky - are fired from nose of newest warplane, Lockheed F-94C Starfire, now going to U.S. Air Force to bolster the aerial watch over America's ramparts. This photo shows Starfire's rocket doors open, revealing firing tubes. Black hood on nose covers radar apparatus. In actual flight, rocket doors snap open only for instant during firing. F-94C Starfire is first plane with all-rocket armament. C

High angle view of military airplanes at a military base, Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter

The first post-war, twin-engine flying boat to be developed by the U.S. Navy will be the Martin P5M-1, an initial production contract having been awarded to The Glenn L. Martin Company. The order was revealed today in a joint announcement by the Department of Defense and C.C. Pearson, president of the Martin Company. The Martin P5M-1 is primarily intended for anti-submarine warfare operations anywhere in the world, but also will serve as a cargo or general utility carrier. The P5M-1 will succeed the famous Martin PBM Mariner series of flying boats, which operated reliably in all parts of the world during World War II. December 14, 1949.

DN-SN-86-00834. Country: Unknown

Chesapeake Bay, United States 1955A U.S. Navy seaplane, a Martin P6M Seamaster, prepares to taxi for takeoff from Chesapeake Bay.

Russia's Armed Forces: Modern Jet Aircraft - Multi-engined and single-engined jet aircraft in flight. June 08, 1955. (Photo by Camera Press).

***** spire jet takes off from Laverton today on a routine training ***** Yesterday one crashed on Werribee racecourse, killing ***** pilot, Flight-Lieutenant Earnest Luder, 29, of West Heidelberg. Today the jets took off without mishap. March 18, 1953.

DN-SN-90-01835. State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

The first Convair-Liner delivered to a foreign airline is shown here. The high-speed, 40-passenger, pressurized transport, flown by a Trans-Australia Airlines crew, will be ferried to Australia. The TAA plane will follow a 20,00-mile route across the Atlantic, Europe, Africa, and India. A four-day stopover will be made in London, where British aviation officials will inspect the plane. September 09, 1948. (Photo by Trans Australia Airlines).

American Flying Fortress (Boeing) Date: 1940s

Vintage photograph. Airplane at Bendix Air Terminal

"Baroudeur" Passes Sound Barrier. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

Vintage photograph. Lockheed Constellation Commercial Clipper in flight above mountains

Jet And Rocket Powered 'Flying Swordfish' -- This is the first picture of the Navy's Douglas-made D-558-2 Skyrocket a jet and rocket powered plane designed to surpass the speed of sound. The needle-nosed experimental plane is a sequel to the Navy's Skystreak, holder of the world speed record. The plane's rockets will furnish extra thrust during speed runs. the speed indicator is housed in the needle point to keep it from air turbulence. November 13, 1947. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

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