Military Aircraft Historical Photos

Black and white images of historical military aircraft, including fighters and bombers, highlighting design and flight characteristics.

Low angle view of a fighter plane in flight, B-58 Hustler

An AVRO Vulcan of the RAF serves as a flying test bed for the Bristol Mentey Olympus motor.

A view of a pre-production U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, as it sits on the flight line in front of a hangar. The aircraft is here for European tests and evaluations. Base: Raf, Alconbury Country: United Kingdom (UK)

Vintage Photograph. F-105 Thunderchief supersonic jet fighter.

Low angle view of a fighter plane in flight, B-58 Hustler

Anefo photo collection. Night fighter of the Netherlands Gloster Meteor NF11. December 20, 1950

DN-SN-90-01076. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

X-15A-2 in flight. First flight wih dummy ramjet attached. Flt. 2-51-92, Pete Knight-pilot. 8 May 67

Delta Bomber Flies Over Air Show -- There she goes - the Avro A69 the world's first four-jet delta-shaped flying triangle-range bomber. This impressive picture was taken as the aircraft flew over the Farnborough air display to-day. The ban on faster-than-sound flying by British ace test pilots, imposed yesterday, was lifted to-day - but only for to-day. The Delta bomber was to have appeared at the Society of British Aircraft Constructors' show yesterday, but was prevented from doing so because o

A right side view of a Soviet MiG-31 Foxhound fighter aircraft in-flight. Country: Unknown

Republic XF-91 High Altitude Interceptor Fighter (Experimental) Powered by Turbo Jet Engine and Rocket Motors Developed and Built by Republic Aviation Corporation. January 1, 1950.

Vintage Photograph. B-58 "Hustler" America's first supersonic Bomber.

Vintage Photograph. US Air Force Boeing B-52 in flight. Frame 3

Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, US Air Force fighter bomber

Britain's Aircraft On Show To The World At Farnborough.The Fairey Delta 2, single-seat delta wing experimental research aircraft seen taking off during the Farnborough Show. This new aircraft first flew in September 1954, and was making its first appearance at Farnborough. It is the second British aircraft capable of supersonic speed in level flight to fly. It has thin wings into which the main wheels fully retract and an elongated nose which can be lowered in flight rather like a drawbridge, which gives the pilot a good forward view for landing, take-off and taxying. In normal flight the nose is aligned with the main fuselage.September 01, 1955. (Photo by British Official Photograph).

View of the "Cutlass," a U.S. Navy twin jet fighter plane in flight. 1954.

Boeing B-17 "Flying ofrtress" in England on way to bombing target in Germany.

YF-102 Delta Dagger at NACA High Speed Flight Center

Vintage Photograph. Consolidated F-102 in flight.

An air-to-air left rear view of an OA-37 Dragonfly painted in corrosion-resistant gray. Base: Osan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

A left side view of a Marine A-6E Intruder aircraft sitting on the flight line. The Intruder is from Marine All-Weather Medium Attack Squadron 332 (VMAWF-332). Base: Mcas, Cherry Point State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A NASA SR-71 made its successful first flight Oct. 31 as part of the NASA/Rocketdyne/ Lockheed Martin Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The SR-71 took off at 8:31 a.m. PST. The aircraft flew for one hour and fifty minutes, reaching a maximum speed of Mach 1.2 before landing at Edwards at 10:21 a.m. PST, successfully validating the SR-71/linear aerospike experiment configuration. The goal of the first flight was to evaluate the aerodynamic characteristics and the handling of the SR-71/linear aerospike experiment configuration. The engine was not fired during the flight..

1960s 1970s LOCKHEED YF-12A MILITARY JET AIRCRAFT AIRPLANE AIR FORCE BLACKBIRD

Northrop Flying Wing XB-35. Northrop Flying Wing XB-35.

DF-SN-86-12585. Country: France (FRA)

A NASA SR-71 made its successful first flight Oct. 31 as part of the NASA/Rocketdyne/ Lockheed Martin Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California.The SR-71 took off at 8:31 a.m. PST. The aircraft flew for one hour and fifty minutes, reaching a maximum speed of Mach 1.2 before landing at Edwards at 10:21 a.m. PST, successfully validating the SR-71/linear aerospike experiment configuration.The goal of the first flight was to evaluate the aerodynamic characteristics and the handling of the SR-71/linear aerospike experiment configuration. The engine was not fired during the flight.

Air-to-air left side view of a Soviet Tu-16 Badger aircraft. Country: Unknown

Photograph of a North American XB-70 Valkyrie, a bomber for the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command, in flight. Dated 20th Century

A B-17 Flying Fortress bomber awaits a coat of paint while undergoing the final stages of restoration by Air Force volunteers. The World War II vintage bomber, nicknamed "Homesick Angel," is being restored for permanent display at the front gate of the Strategic Air Command headquarters. Base: Offutt Air Force Base State: Nebraska (NE) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A left front view of an OA-37 Dragonfly aircraft parked on the flight line. The aircraft, assigned to the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron, was recently painted flay gray. Base: Osan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

Jet fighter , Fighter planes, Air shows. Edmund L. Mitchell Collection

Side view of a F-105B (serial #54-0102) photographed on Rogers Dry Lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base, California in 1959. The black stripes across the left wheel-panel complete the lettering on the bottom of the wing when wheels are retracted. Two of the F-105B characteristics are fuselage length of 61 feet 1.33 inches and a wing area of 385.0 square feet.

S.B.A.C. Flying Display At Farnborough. -- A Vickers Valiant bomber, powered by four Rolls-Royce Avon jet engines seen on the runway at Farnborough today. September 9, 1953. (Photo by Fox Photos).;S.B.A.C. Flying Display At Farnborough. -- A Vickers Valiant bomber, powered by four Rolls-Royce Avon jet engines seen on the runway at Farnborough today.

High angle view of a military plane, Suspended Jet Engines, External Fuel Tanks, US Air Force

An air-to-air left side view of an Attack Squadron 12 (VA-12) A-7E Corsair II aircraft. Country: Unknown

California, 1957Silhouetted against the clouds so sharply it appears hand-painted by an artist, this T2V-1 SeaStar is just that. For Lockheed paint technicians, artists in their own field, have introduced a new skin-thin paint job on the U.S. Navy's new jet trainer. During a 24-hour beautifying session in Lockheed's paint shop, the SeaStar receives a four layer "system" of paint consisting of a wash primer, regular primer and two coats of lacquer. By applying each successive coat while the previous one is still soft, all in a 24-hour period, better adhesion and durability are achieved, company officials report. Total thickness of the four coasts is only 17/000ths of an inch. Now in quantity production at Lockheed's California Division, the ship-or-shore-duty SeaStar is painted orange-and-white to facilitate easy recognition.

A North American Aviation A-5A Vigilante (Navy serial number 147858/NASA tail number 858) arrived from the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, MD, on December 19, 1962, at the NASA Flight Research Center (now, Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA). The Center flew the A-5A in a year-long series of flights in support of the U.S. supersonic transport program. The Center flew the aircraft to determine the let-down and approach conditions of a supersonic transport flying into a dense air traffic network. With the completion of the research flights, the Center sent the A-5A back to the Navy on December 20, 1963.

An air-to-air left side view of an F-14 Tomcat aircraft from Fighter Squadron 213 (VF-213) as it flies over the desert near Naval Air Staion, Fallon, Nevada. The aircraft has experimental markings. Country: Unknown

In this 1950 view of the left side of the NACA High-Speed Flight Research Station's X-4 research aircraft, the low swept wing and horizontal taillest design are seen. The X-4 Bantam, a single-place, low swept-wing, semi-tailless aircraft, was designed and built by Northrop Aircraft, Inc. It had no horizontal tail surfaces and its mission was to obtain in-flight data on the stability and control of semi-tailless aircraft at high subsonic speeds.

An F-5E Tiger II aircraft painted in camouflage paint scheme stands on the flight line. The plane, which is used to simulate air combat maneuvering threat tactics, exhibits the Iranian national insignia on its tail fin. Base: Naval Air Station, Fallon State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Pilotless Bomber on Launching Ramp -- Here is the handsome, deadly "Matador," pilotless bomber developed for the U.S. Air Force by the Glenn L. Martin company, shown for the first time on its launching ramp at long range proving ground at Cocoa, Fla. The "Matador," or B-61, will be used by the 1st Pilotless Bomber Squadron following its activation at Cocoa. September 18, 1951. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

High angle view of a fighter plane in flight, F-102A Delta Dagger, Jet Interceptor

DF-SC-87-02070. Country: Unknown

An air-to-air right side view of two F-4S Phantom II aircraft. They are assigned to Fighter Squadrons 301 and 302 (VF-301, 302). Country: Unknown

Vintage Photograph. Lockheed "Jetstar" trainer-transport plane with a speed of 500-550 miles per hour can carry 10 or more passengers.

Anefo photo collection. Visit from the Canadian Governor General Roland Michener, are. Governor-General Michener in the cockpit of a fighter plane at the Twente airport. 15 April 1971. Overijssel, Twente

Views of F-8U Crusader Aircraft at NASA Langley

Right side rear view, medium shot from a low angle looking up at a USAF B1-B Lancer Long Range Bomber, with afterburners on, upon take-off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, during Coronet Yukon '98. The bomber is from the 116th Bomb Wing, Robins AFB, Georgia, and is deployed to Eielson for the exercise. Subject Operation/Series: CORONET YUKON '98 Base: Eielson Air Force Base State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A right side view of a Marine A-6 Intruder aircraft, equipped with part of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program system. Country: Unknown

Mc Donnell Douglas F-4e Phantom II device, from the 32 TFS, for a shelter on the Soesterberg airbase.

North American F-100 C airplane used in sonic boom investigation at Wallops, October 7, 1958. Photograph published in: A New Dimension Wallops Island Flight Test Range: The First Fifteen Years by Joseph Shortal. A NASA publication. Page 672. -- Aircraft number: NACA 42024. Side view, 3/4 view from front, 3/4 view from rear, rear view, and two front views.

Hr.Ms fly camp vessel. Karel Doorman (2) (1948-1968), American Grumman Twin Sentinels A / B during Journey of Smaleel 5, consisting of Hr.Ms. Karel Doorman, Gelderland, Amsterdam and Sea Lion, to Lounyport, Key West, Tampa, Netherlands Antilles, Guantanamo and Bermuda

F-104g on the line

An air-to-air right side view of a Soviet Mainstay airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft. Country: Unknown

An air-to-air right side view of two French air force Mirage F-1C aircraft armed with Matra 550 Magic air-to-air missiles mounted on the wing tips and Matra R.530 air-to-air missiles mounted under the fuselage. Country: Unknown

North American F-100 C airplane used in sonic boom investigation at Wallops, October 7, 1958. Photograph published in: A New Dimension Wallops Island Flight Test Range: The First Fifteen Years by Joseph Shortal. A NASA publication. Page 672. -- Aircraft number: NACA 42024. Side view, 3/4 view from front, 3/4 view from rear, rear view, and two front views.

DF-ST-85-07790. Country: Unknown

Anefo photo collection. Starfighter made abdominal landing at Schiphol by defective landing gear. 7 June 1963. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

The first X-45A Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) technology demonstrator completed its sixth flight on Dec. 19, 2002, raising its landing gear in flight for the first time. The X-45A flew for 40 minutes and reached an airspeed of 195 knots and an altitude of 7,500 feet.Dryden is supporting the DARPA/Boeing team in the design, development, integration, and demonstration of the critical technologies, processes, and system attributes leading to an operational UCAV system. Dryden support of the X-45A demonstrator system includes analysis, component development, simulations, ground and flight tests.

Britain's New ***** -- This official British picture is the first to be released of the new British Avro A698 -the World's first four-jet delta-wing bomber. Security restrictions on the plane were lifted tonight August 30 after the plane made its Maiden flight at Woodford aerodrome, Cheshire. The jet bomber has a speed approaching that of sound, can carry a very large bomb load over great distances, and is, designed to fly at altitudes which, will give it a great degree of immunity from ground

New British Superjet Interceptor Fighter -- Two views of the new Hawker interceptor fighter aircraft.In Quantity Production for the Royal Air Force.The first details of the top secret superjet Hawker P I067 interceptor fighter were released recently in a statement by Sir Frank Spencer Springs of the Hawker Siddeley Grout, that it is the best fighting aircraft flying in the world today.The P I067, has successfully completed its first flight trim at the Ministry of Supply experimental station at *****, and was piloted by Squadron Leader Neville Duke, D.S.O. D.F.C. A.F.C. August 17, 1951. (Photo by United Kingdom Information Service).

DN-SN-86-04130. Country: North Sea

A right side view of an AV-8C Harrier aircraft undergoing a test evaluation program. Country: Unknown

The pilot of a T-45A Goshawk taxis the aircraft along the flight line prior to an evaluation flight. The Navy plans to procure about 300 of these aircraft, which are capable of landing aboard aircraft carriers, to replace the T-2C Buckeye and TA-4J Skyhawk trainers in the intermediate and advanced student pilot training roles. Base: Natc, Patuxent River State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-85-11982. Country: Unknown

An air-to-air right side view of a Northrop F-20 Tigershark aircraft in a red and whie "glamour" paint scheme. The aircraft is armed with an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. Base: Edwards Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Anefo photo collection. Visit from the Canadian Governor General Roland Michener, are. Governor-General Michener in the cockpit of a fighter plane at the Twente airport. 15 April 1971. Overijssel, Twente

An air-to-air left side view of the Navy's new T-45A Goshawk training aircraft. Country: Unknown

ER-2 tail number 806, is one of two Airborne Science ER-2s used as science platforms by Dryden. The aircraft are platforms for a variety of high-altitude science missions flown over various parts of the world. They are also used for earth science and atmospheric sensor research and development, satellite calibration and data validation. The ER-2s are capable of carrying a maximum payload of 2,600 pounds of experiments in a nose bay, the main equipment bay behind the cockpit, two wing-mounted superpods and small underbody and trailing edges. Most ER-2 missions last about six hours with ranges of about 2,200 nautical miles. The aircraft typically fly at altitudes above 65,000 feet. On November 19, 1998, the ER-2 set a world record for medium weight aircraft reaching an altitude of 68,700 feet.The aircraft is 63 feet long, with a wingspan of 104 feet. The top of the vertical tail is 16 feet above ground when the aircraft is on the bicycle-type landing gear. Cruising speeds are 410 knot

A NASA SR-71 successfully completed its first flight 31 October 1997 as part of the NASA/Rocketdyne/Lockheed Martin Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California.The SR-71 took off at 8:31 a.m. PST. The aircraft flew for one hour and fifty minutes, reaching a maximum speed of Mach 1.2 before landing at Edwards at 10:21 a.m. PST, successfully validating the SR-71/linear aerospike experiment configuration.The goal of the first flight was to evaluate the aerodynamic characteristics and the handling of the SR-71/linear aerospike experiment configuration. The engine was not fired during the flight.

Aileron control; EYF-84 (No. 559488) airplane, differential pressure. The P-84A had a climbing tendency starting at March 0.78.

A right side view of a Marine Corps T-2 Buckeye aircraft parked at Naval Air Station, North Island. Base: San Diego State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Hawker Hunter F2 fighter plane at military airshow, England, UK 1950-1955.

A NASA SR-71 successfully completed its first flight 31 October 1997 as part of the NASA/Rocketdyne/Lockheed Martin Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The SR-71 took off at 8:31 a.m. PST. The aircraft flew for one hour and fifty minutes, reaching a maximum speed of Mach 1.2 before landing at Edwards at 10:21 a.m. PST, successfully validating the SR-71/linear aerospike experiment configuration. The goal of the first flight was to evaluate the aerodynamic characteristics and the handling of the SR-71/linear aerospike experiment configuration. The engine was not fired during the flight..

Vintage Photograph. Convair F-102A Supersonic Interceptors in formation. Frame 4

Artwork: "Taxiing RF-101's" Artist: Harry Schaare. Country: Unknown

Boeing 747 in flight

(4 July 1982) --- The aft wheels of the space shuttle Columbia ease down on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) today to successfully complete a week-long spaceflight for astronauts Thomas K. Mattingly II, and Henry W. Hartsfield Jr. A T-38 aircraft serves as a chase plane (just above center of photo) in the background.

A right front view of a Marine A-4M Skyhawk aircraft sitting on the flight line. The A-4M is from Marine Light Attack Squadron 331 (VMAL-331). Base: Mcas, Cherry Point State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Two General Dynamics F16-XL combat fighter aircraft in flight. Country: Unknown

A Fleet Composite Squadron 10 (VC-10) TA-4J Skyhawk aircraft flies along the Cuban coast. The aircraft, stationed at Naval Air Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and Mark 20 cluster bombs. Country: Unknown

A right side view of a TA-4J Skyhawk aircraft from Training Squadron 22 (VT-22) on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63). Country: Unknown

Flying Display And Exhibition On Opens Today At Farborough Hants -- The air striking force of the future, Delta wing aircraft manufactured by the A.V. Roe Company seen in flight over Farnborough, The leading Vulcan is powered by Olympus Jet engine, the second by Armstrong-Siddley Sapphire Jets. The four delta-wing research aircraft are A.V. Roe type 707 A. (two) 707 B. and 707 C. Large crowds today attended the 1953 Flying Display and Exhibition, showing the products of members of the Society of

X-3 (center), and clockwise from left: X-1A, D-558-I, XF-92A, X-5, D-558-II, and X-4.

Model being tested with helicopter.

Low angle view of four fighter planes flying in formation, F9F Panther

DN-SC-85-10060. Country: Unknown

A left side view of an F-15 Eagle aircraft ready for departure. The aircraft is carrying wing and centerline auxiliary fuel tanks. Base: Amsterdam Country: Holland / Netherlands (HOL)

A QF-4B Phantom II remotely piloted drone aircraft is towed out of a hangar. The harness in place around the aircraft will allow a helicopter to lift and transport the aircraft. Base: PAC Missile Test Ctr, Point Mugu State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An Argentine navy S-2E Tracker aircraft lands on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72). The aircraft is taking part in touch-and-go operations aboard the LINCOLN during the ship's circumnavigation of South America. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

NASA DC-8 airborne laboratory flying over Mint Canyon near the snow-covered San Gabriel Mountains of California. The mostly white aircraft is silhouetted against the darker mountains in the background.

SNCASE Aircraft Factory (Armagnac, Vampire, Grognarde, Helicopters, Mistral). Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

DF-ST-88-01546. Base: USS Constellation (CV 64)

DF-ST-87-12790. Country: Unknown

An air-to-air left side view of a KC-10A Extender aircraft during a refueling flight test. Base: Edwards Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

First Air Pictures Of Britain's Finest Fighters -- A fine air picture of the new Hawker P.1067 jet fighter which ordered off the drawing board, has gone into quantity production for the Royal Air Force, Details of speed, climb, range and armament, etc., are a closely guarded secret, but it is claimed ***** this aircraft is the finest and fastest fighter in the *****. She will be seen for the first time by the Public ***** week's Society of British Aircraft ***** show at Farnborough, but special security arrangements are being made to guard the aircraft and no-one wil be ***** to approach the machine close-up. September 06, 1951.

Artwork: "T-Birds Over Alaska" Artist: Walter Koerschner. Country: Unknown

Air-to-air right side view of a P-3C Orion baseline modified aircraft from patrol Squadron 56 (VP-56) over the St. Johns River, near Jacksonville. State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-85-05181. Subject Operation/Series: CHECKERED FLAG '83 Country: West Germany (FRG)

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