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Modern commercial aircraft are equipped with hydraulic retractable landing gears. The retraction system utilizes pressurized hydraulic fluid to actuate various linkages to raise and lower the gear. When the pilot commands the landing gear in the “up” position, hydraulic fluid is directed into the gear line. Fluid passes through a sequential valve and down-lock to the gear-actuating … Read more
If you’ve seen a Boeing 737-600 with no livery other than a red stripe running from the nose to the tail, you’ve seen Janet Airlines lately. US Department of Defense personnel can access research facilities and weapons ranges by ship. What does Janet stand for? Janet refers to the “Combined Air Network for Personnel Transportation” … Read more
Between the 1970s and 1990s, many major airlines added Tri-Jets to their fleets due to their growing popularity. The most notable versions have been replaced by more widely used dual-engine aircraft such as the Boeing 767, 787, 777, or the Airbus A330 and A350. Let’s take a look at their past to see what made … Read more
In its six-year span, World War II killed nearly 85 million people. Nations invented new tactics to fight in air, land and sea in the name of victory and defense. As the war progressed, the somewhat unreliable Crusader tank. The island nation also produced several incredibly famous fighter planes, the most famous of which was … Read more
The GAA was Ford’s largest V8 ever and its largest V engine. Although it was used as a military powerplant in tanks for many years, the engine remains a remarkable design today. Although the tank engine is old, gearheads from the 1940s and beyond will be familiar with the ‘Voodoo’ engine that powers the Ford … Read more
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was an iconic symbol of American aviation during World War II. It holds a storied history as a legendary bomber, revered for its robust design and strategic role in the war effort. Today, the B-17 remains a symbol of strength and resilience. The B-17 bomber, known to many as the “Flying Fortress”, … Read more
Since the 1950s, the US Air Force has made significant use of the eight-engine Boeing B-52 Stratofortress heavy bomber as an important component of its fleet. The earliest aircraft entered service in 1955, although most aircraft in use today date from 1961 and 1962. In 2050, this same aircraft may still be in service, if … Read more
A Boeing B-52H Stratofortress performed an eight-hour flight load check in January 1964 to assess the effects of low-altitude buffeting turbulence. The bomber reached higher altitudes until the turbulence became too intense and that’s when disaster struck. The B-52H and its crew survived despite being in near-fatal conditions with its tail missing. The episode demonstrated … Read more
Few vehicles have captured the ingenuity and durability of the venerable Willys Jeep. Due to its favorable layout and unparalleled toughness, the Willys MB gained fame as the representation of the Allies and demonstrated an unwavering ability to handle every task from reconnaissance to transport. At the same time, warbirds such as the P-51 Mustang … Read more
Summary: The Air Force’s XB-70 “Valkyrie” supersonic bomber was designed to replace the B-52 Stratofortress with its advanced speed, capable of reaching Mach 3. The Kennedy administration decided to cancel the program as the Soviet Union’s advanced S-75 Dina and MiG-25 Foxbat air defense systems made the XB-70 obsolete before it entered service. The XB-70 Valkyrie: … Read more
