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Military Aircraft Showcase

Dramatic views of military fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft in flight or on the ground, illustrating advanced aerial technology.

Italian Air Force F-35A in flight over Iceland.

A U.S. Air Force F-35A combat aircraft in flight.

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE A B-2 Stealth bomber returns from a mission March 20, 2011.

July 25, 2007 - An F-15C Aggressor flies over a mountain range on a refueling mission at Red Flag-Alaska.

DN-ST-89-11293. Base: Naval Air Station, Oceana State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Su-27 jet fighters of the Russian Air Force awaiting for scrapping.

An air-to-air right side view of an F-111 aircraft during testing of B-83 nuclear bomb dummies. Base: Edwards Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Hellenic Air Force RF-4E Phantom taxiing at Larissa Air Base, Greece.

A right side view of an OA-37 Dragonfly light strike aircraft in the parking area. Base: Osan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

Military Fighter aircraft aboard the USS Forrestal Aircraft Carrier, New Orleans, Louisiana

May 29, 2022, Jones Beach, NY, USA: Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach, NY, USA, North America

An air-to-air left side view of a 28th Bombardment Wing B-1B aircraft. State: South Dakota (SD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Russian space shuttle Buran at a museum, Baikonur Space Museum, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

110727-N-GR159-001LAKEHURST, N.J. (July 27, 2011) An F-35C test aircraft piloted by Lt. Christopher Tabert launches from a steam catapult for the first time. CF-3 is the designated carrier suitability test aircraft. The F-35C carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter is distinct from the F-35A and F-35B variants with its larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear for greater control in the demanding carrier take-off and landing environment. The F-35C is undergoing test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River before eventual delivery to the fleet.

A F-35B Lightning II assigned to the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 taxis before take off during exercise RED FLAG-Alaska 22-1 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, April 29, 2022. This exercise provides unique opportunities to integrate various forces into joint and multilateral training from simulated forward operating bases.

SR-71 Taking Off

LEEUWARDEN, THE NETHERLANDS - JUNE 10, 2016: Dutch F-35 on the runway during a flyby on it's European debut at the Royal Netherlands Air Force Days

Fighter Jet speeds past at Air Show in Malta

A view of two parked F-15 Eagle aircraft. Base: Holloman Air Force Base State: New Mexico (NM) Country: United States Of America (USA)

NASA test pilots Jim Clue” Less and Wayne Ringo” Ringelberg step to the F/A-18 research aircraft at Ellington Field and conduct pre-flight safety checks on the aircraft prior to a supersonic research flight for the QSF18 series.

Military aircraft assigned to the combat and other warlike functions. Military aircraft

NASA test pilots Jim Clue” Less and Wayne Ringo” Ringelberg step to the F/A-18 research aircraft at Ellington Field and conduct pre-flight safety checks on the aircraft prior to a supersonic research flight for the QSF18 series.

Underbelly of Black Bird SR-71 Jet

This modified F/A-18A is the test aircraft for the Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) project at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California.

The upgraded F-4E Phantom of the Hellenic Air Force, Andravida, Greece.

This photograph shows a modified General Dynamics TACT/F-111A Aardvaark with supercritical wings installed. The aircraft, with flaps and landing gear down, is in a decending turn over Rogers Dry Lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base.Starting in 1971 the NASA Flight Research Center and the Air Force undertook a major research and flight testing program, using F-111A (#63-9778), which would span almost 20 years before completion. Intense interest over the results coming from the NASA F-8 supercritical wing program spurred NASA and the Air Force to modify the General Dynamics-Convair F-111A to explore the application of supercritical wing technology to maneuverable military aircraft. This flight program was called Transonic Aircraft Technology (TACT).

DF-ST-86-04055. Country: United Kingdom (GBR)

A F-35A of the Royal Netherlands Air Force with landing gear extended.

A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A taxis out for a routine training mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, May 17, 2022. Members of the RAAF have been stationed at Nellis AFB for the past few months to participate is training exercises.

DF-ST-85-07801. Country: Unknown

STS-135 Space Shuttle's final crew of Astronauts Ferguson, Hurley, Magnus and Walheim visit Ames for a mission/project briefing and with a meet and greet of Ames personnel, arrival in t-38 trainers

Italian Navy F-35B taking off from the ITS Cavour aircraft carrier.

NASA test pilots Jim Clue” Less and Wayne Ringo” Ringelberg step to the F/A-18 research aircraft at Ellington Field and conduct pre-flight safety checks on the aircraft prior to a supersonic research flight for the QSF18 series.

An SR-71A high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft is towed from the runway after an emergency landing. The aircraft was on a test flight from Palmdale, California, when it developed a hydraulic leak. Base: Mountain Home Air Force Base State: Idaho (ID) Country: United States Of America (USA)

US Air Force Lockheed Martin Boeing F-22 Raptor performing an aerial demonstration at the 2008 Reno Air Races. It is primarily an air superiority fighter. Afterburners on. US Air Force Lockheed Martin Boeing F-22 Raptor performing an aerial demonstration at the 2008 Reno Air Races. It is primarily an air superiority fighter. Afterburners on.

A left rear view of two F-4D Phantom II aircraft from the 183rd Tactical Fighter Group, as they take off during exercise Coronet Brave. Subject Operation/Series: CORONET BRAVE Base: Raf Finningley Country: England / Great Britain (ENG)

Air-to-air, high, front view of a 60th Airlift Wing C-141B Starlifter airlifter, flying over the hills of northern California. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Base: Travis Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

F-16's from the 162nd Fighter Wing line up at the end of the runway for preflight checks at the Tucson International Airport, Arizona.

The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds" fly over the Daytona 500, Daytona, Florida, Feb. 18, 2024. The Thunderbirds kicked off the Daytona 500 for the 14th consecutive year, showcasing the pride, precision, and professionalism of American Airmen to thousands of spectators. Air Force

U.S. Air Force Maj. Haden Fullam, A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team commander and pilot, flies over Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, June 1, 2022. Fullam is responsible for administrative oversight of the 11-man team, as well as flying demonstrations and heritage flights at over 20 airshows around the country annually.

U.S. Air Force SR-71 Blackbird Spy Plane

An F-22 Raptor from the 411th Flight Test Squadron, 412th Test Wing, takes off from Edwards Air Force Base, California, Aug. 1. (Air Force photo by Chase Kohler)

Italian Air Force F-35A prepares for landing.

Three SR-71s

The F-22 and the classic P-38 shares the sky at the Los Angeles County Air Show in Lancaster, California.

An F-22 Raptor lands at Royal Australian Air Force Base Curtin, Western Australia, Aug. 24, 2022. Pacific Air Forces train alongside Allies and partners to enhance interoperability and bolster the collective ability to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 9, 2012) The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator taxies on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is the first aircraft carrier to host test operations for an unmanned aircraft. Harry S. Truman is underway supporting carrier qualifications.

The C-140 JetStar was reconfigured as the General Purpose Airborne Simulator (GPAS) to simulate the flight characteristics of other aircraft. The JetStar was used for research for supersonic transports, general aviation aircraft, and as a training support aircraft for the Space Shuttle Approach and Landing tests at Dryden Flight Research Center (under different names) at Edwards, CA, in 1977. One of the engineers on the GPAS program was Ken Szalai, who later became Dryden's director from 1990 to August 1998.

DN-ST-89-06441. Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

A right front view of an F-14 Tomcat aircraft approaching for a landing aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70). Country: Unknown

DF-ST-87-07690. Country: Turkey (TUR)

Vintage Photograph. Silhouette of a fighter jet at sunset on the runway.

DN-SC-85-11132. Country: Unknown

Pacific Ocean, July 16, 2013 - A T-45C Goshawk training aircraft from the Tigers of Training Wing 1 lands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.

England,Cambridgeshire,Duxford,Imperial War Museum,American Air Museum Hangar,Exhibit of Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird Reconnaissance Aircraft

An MQ-9 Reaper flies a training mission out of Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.

SR-71 in Flight

Right front view of a B-1B bomber aircraft, taken in the early morning as technicians begin work. Base: Edwards Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-SC-87-02086. Country: Unknown

Underside of NASA's NF-15B Research Aircraft

Moskau Russland Flugplatz Schukowski 25. Juli 2021: Kunstflug der Su-30 im Rahmen des internationalen Luft- und Raumfahrtsalons MAKS-2021 Moscow Russia Zhukovsky Airfield 25 July 2021: aerobatic Su-30 perfoming demonstration flight of the international aerospace salon MAKS-2021. LicenseRF Copyright: xZoonar.com/AlexanderxStrelax 23347552

China, Gansu Province, Dunghuang, Chinese fighter plane at Ming Sha sand dunes

970301-F-2352G-002. Subject Operation/Series: TANDEM THRUST '97 Base: Townsville State: Queensland Country: Australia (AUS)

A Russian AN-124 sits on the ramp at McChord AFB, Washington. The AN-124 will transport donated medical supplies to the Commonwealth of Independent States. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Country: Unknown

LEEUWARDEN, NETHERLANDS - JUNE 11 2016: F35 Joint Strike Fighter is towed to the hangar after a demonstration flight at the Dutch Air Force on juni 11 ,2016 in Leeuwarden.

DN-SC-87-04334. Country: Unknown

An A-7E Corsair II aircraft lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63). Country: Unknown

Air to air side view of a F-117 Nighthawk Stealth fighter during a training mission. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Country: Unknown

An F-35A Lighting II taxis for takeoff after being hot-pit refueled for the first time ever at Scott, on the flightline at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Jan. 18, 2024. The integration of the F-35A into the refueling operations at Scott AFB reflects the base's role as a critical hub for air mobility and combat support.

The 323 Squadron General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon in the special color scheme on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the implementation is not visible here 'starry sky' and the starboard side 'cloudy sky'. The location is probably the Leeuwarden airbase

A Su-35S jet fighter of the Russian Knights aerobatics team of the Russian Air Force

An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 65th Aggressor Squadron taxis to the runway for an inaugural training mission as an Aggressor at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2022. The aggressor program began in the 1970s to provide pilots the opportunity to train against a U.S. aggressor force that replicated advanced and credible adversary tactics. Since then, the adversary capabilities have improved significantly and so did the need to replicate these threats.

DN-SC-05-07437. Country: Unknown

An F-35A Lightning II takes off after being hot-pit refueled for the first time ever at Scott, on the flightline at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Jan. 18, 2024. The integration of the F-35A into the refueling operations at Scott AFB reflects the base's role as a critical hub for air mobility and combat support.

X-38 Launching From B-52

Left side view of an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft landing on the runway during a two-seat evaluation. Base: Edwards Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Italian Air Force F-35A landing.

NF-5A

A Training Squadron 7 (VT-7) TA-4J Skyhawk aircraft taxis along the flight line. Country: Unknown

An F-35 Lightning II flies at the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, Nov. 11, 2022. The NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show is one of Pensacola's largest events, attracting 150,000-180,000 spectators during the two-day event.

A QF-4E from the 82nd ATRS flies over the Gulf of Mexico during a training sortie out of Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.

The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Team Thunderbirds conduct a photo chase over Spaceport, New Mexico, Jan. 17, 2024. This winter training trip marks the third consecutive year the Thunderbirds have conducted winter training at Spaceport.

A test pilot taxis a T-45A Goshawk aircraft past a row of F-14A Tomcat aircraft. The Navy is evaluating the aircraft, which is an intermediate and advanced student trainer capable of landing aboard aircraft carriers. About 300 T-45As will be procured to replace the T-2C Buckeye and TA-4J Skyhawk trainer aircraft currently in service. Base: Natc, Patuxent River State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Overhead photograph of the AFTI F-16 painted in a non-standard gray finish, taken during a research flight in 1989. The two sensor pods are visible on the fuselage just forward of the wings and one of the two chin canards can be seen as a light-colored triangle ahead of one of the pods. A Sidewinder air-to-air missile is mounted on each wing tip.

A joint NASA/Boeing team completed the first phase of flight tests on the unique X-48B Blended Wing Body aircraft at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards, CA. The team completed the 80th and last flight of the project's first phase on March 19, 2010.

Moscow Russia Zhukovsky Airfield 25 July 2021: Aerobatic teams Russian Knights on planes Su-35 of the international aerospace salon MAKS-2021.. Moscow Russia Zhukovsky Airfield 25 July 2021: Aerobatic teams Russian Knights on planes Su-35 of the international aerospace salon MAKS-2021

Tu-160M strategic bomber of the Russian Air Force taxiing.

A view of an SR-71 Blackbird aircraft taxiing along the flightline. The aircraft, from the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, was refueled by a KC-10 Extender aircraft in flight during testing. Base: Beale Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Row of U.S. Air Force T-38C trainer jets at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

A pilot from the 174th Tactical Fighter Wing, New York Air National Guard, sits in the cockpit of his F-16C Falcon aircraft at Hancock Field, in Syracuse, NY, the tail section, of a second aircraft can be seen through the canopy. Base: Hancock Field State: New York (NY) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A takes off for a routine training mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, May 17, 2022. Members of the RAAF have been stationed at Nellis AFB for the past few months to participate is training exercises.

NASAs F/A-18 research aircraft stands ready prior to a QSF18 supersonic research flight off the coast of Galveston, Texas.

One of NASA's two F-15 research aircraft gets refueled in mid-air over Lake Isabella from a USAF KC-135 tanker while NASA's other F-15 flies chase alongside.

A gold U.S. Air Force F-16A Falcon from the Iowa Air National Guard is on the ramp in Sioux City, Iowa on June 30, 2022. The jet is painted with commemorative anniversary paint scheme that replicates the units 50th anniversary gold jet as it appeared in 1996. The 2022 redesign of the 185th Air Refueling Wing static display was unveiled as the Air Force celebrates its 75th Anniversary this year. U.S. Air Force photo Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot

A B-52 Stratofortress takes off April 13, 2011, during an exercise at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Thomas Dow)

The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds" F-16 FIghting Falcon on the ramp at Montana's Military Open House "Flight over the Falls" at Montana Air National Guard Base, Great Falls, Montana, July 23, 2022. The Thunderbirds are the U.S. Air Force's premier air demonstration squadron.

T-38 A-model and T-38 C-model are flown in formation one last time at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 19, 2013.

A U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle flies over Klamath Falls, Oregon, June 25, 2022. The F-15 is a twin-tail aircraft designated with the primary mission of a tactical fighter.

Mike Brown's Hawker Sea Fury, September Pops over the Nevada desert.

Eurofighter Typhoon Aircraft flying upside down inverted at Royal International Air Show RIAT 2006 Fairford Gloucestershire England UK United Kingdom GB Great Britain

A close-up right front view of a prototype YF-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) aircraft. Country: Unknown

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