The Mitsubishi A6M Zero ("A" for fighter, 6th model, "M" for Mitsubishi) was a lightweight, carrier-based fighter aircraft employed by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service from 1940 to 1945. Its history mirrored the fortunes of Imperial Japan in World War II. At the time it was introduced, the Mit...

The Albatros D.V was a fighter aircraft used by the Luftstreikrafte (Imperial German Air Service) during the First World War. The D.V was the final development of the Albatros D.I family, and the last Albatros fighter to see operational service. Despite its well-known shortcomings and general obsole...

The Avro Lancaster was a British four-engine Second World War bomber aircraft made initially by Avro for the British Royal Air Force (RAF). It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley-Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF and squadrons from oth...

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is an American four-engine heavy bomber aircraft developed for the US Army Air Corps (USAAC). Competing against Douglas and Martin for a contract to build 200 planes, the Boeing entry outperformed both the other competitors and more than met the Air Corps' expectation...

The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, built by Consolidated Aircraft. It was produced in greater numbers than any other American combat aircraft during World War II and still holds the record as the most produced U.S. military aircraft. It was used by many Allied air forces a...

The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, built by Consolidated Aircraft. It was produced in greater numbers than any other American combat aircraft during World War II and still holds the record as the most produced U.S. military aircraft. It was used by many Allied air forces a...

The North American B-25 Mitchell (NA-62) was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used with devastating effect against German and Japanese targets in every combat theater of World War II. The aircraft was named the "Mitchell" in honor of General Bill...

The North American B-25 Mitchell (NA-62) was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used with devastating effect against German and Japanese targets in every combat theater of World War II. The aircraft was named the "Mitchell" in honor of General Bill...

The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was a four-engine heavy bomber propeller aircraft flown by the United States Army Air Forces in World War II and other military organizations afterwards. The name "Superf...

The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a multi-role stealth heavy bomber, capable of deploying both conventional and nuclear weapons. It is operated exclusively by the United States Air Force. Its development was a milestone in the modernization program of the U.S. Department of Defense. The B-2's steal...

The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a multi-role stealth heavy bomber, capable of deploying both conventional and nuclear weapons. It is operated exclusively by the United States Air Force. Its development was a milestone in the modernization program of the U.S. Department of Defense. The B-2's steal...

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, turbojet, strategic bomber flown by the United States Air Force (USAF) since 1955.

Beginning with the successful contract bid on June 5, 1946, the B-52 went through several designs, from a straight wing aircraft powered by six turboprop engine...

The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation (now the Beechcraft Division of Hawker Beechcraft). Historically, the King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model ...

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt in the early 1930s. It was one of the first true modern fighters of the era, including such features as an all-metal monocoque construction, a closed canopy, and retractable landing gear. The Bf 109 w...

The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine commercial jet airliner. It first flew in 1963 and for over a decade was the most produced commercial jet airliner in the world. 1,831 727s were delivered. The 727's sales record for the most jets bought in history was broken in the early 1990s...

The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine commercial jet airliner. It first flew in 1963 and for over a decade was the most produced commercial jet airliner in the world. 1,831 727s were delivered. The 727's sales record for the most jets bought in history was broken in the early 1990s...

The 737-300 was the first major change of the 737 design, incorporating improvements while also retaining commonality with previous 737. The -300 was launched in 1981 by US Air and Southwest Airlines, becoming the base model of the 737 Classic series. The 300 series remained in production until 1999...

The 737-300 was the first major change of the 737 design, incorporating improvements while also retaining commonality with previous 737. The -300 was launched in 1981 by US Air and Southwest Airlines, becoming the base model of the 737 Classic series. The 300 series remained in production until 1999...

The Boeing 737-300 was the first major change of the 737 design, incorporating improvements while also retaining commonality with previous 737. The -300 was launched in 1981 by US Air and Southwest Airlines, becoming the base model of the 737 Classic series. The 300 series remained in production unt...

The Boeing 747-400 is the latest version of the Boeing 747 in service. The -400 series is the best selling and the most advanced model of the 747 family. The 747-400 is being replaced by the Boeing 747-8, expected to enter service in 2009.

The 747-400 is an improved version of the 747-300 with increa...

The Boeing 747-400 is the latest version of the Boeing 747 in service. The -400 series is the best selling and the most advanced model of the 747 family. The 747-400 is being replaced by the Boeing 747-8, expected to enter service in 2009.

The 747-400 is an improved version of the 747-300 with increa...

The Boeing 757 is an American short to medium range commercial passenger aircraft manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was launched by Eastern Air Lines and British Airways to replace the Boeing 727 and entered service in 1983. Production of the 757 ended on October 28, 2004 after 1,...

The Boeing 777 is an American long-range wide-body twin-engine airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The world's largest twinjet and commonly referred to as the Triple Seven, it can carry between 301 and 368 passengers in a three-class configuration and has a range from 5,235 to 9,450 nauti...

The Boeing 777 is an American long-range wide-body twin-engine airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The world's largest twinjet and commonly referred to as the Triple Seven, it can carry between 301 and 368 passengers in a three-class configuration and has a range from 5,235 to 9,450 nauti...

The Boeing VC-25 is the designation of a United States Air Force passenger transportation aircraft, a military version of the Boeing 747.

The VC-25 is most famous for its role as Air Force One, the callsign of any U.S. Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. The two aircraft c...

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop cargo aircraft and the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. Over 40 models and variants of the Hercules serve with more than 50 nations. On December 2006 the C-130 was the fourth aircraft (after the English Electric Canber...

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line oper...

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing airplane.

More Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft. It is also probably the most popular flight trianing aircraft in the ...

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing airplane.

More Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft. It is also probably the most popular flight trianing aircraft in the ...

The McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet (CF-188) is a Canadian Forces aircraft, based on the American F/A-18 Hornet.

The most visible difference between a CF-18 and a US F-18 is the 600,000 candela night identification light. This spotlight is mounted in the gun loading door on the port side of the aircra...

The Aerospatiale-BAC Concorde supersonic transport (SST) was the more successful of the only two supersonic passenger airliners to have ever operated commercially (the Tupolev Tu-144 being the other).

The development programme was a product of an Anglo-French government treaty, with only 20 aircraft ...

The Aerospatiale-BAC Concorde supersonic transport (SST) was the more successful of the only two supersonic passenger airliners to have ever operated commercially (the Tupolev Tu-144 being the other).

The development programme was a product of an Anglo-French government treaty, with only 20 aircraft ...

The Canadian Canadair CL-41, designated the CT-114 Tutor in RCAF and later unified Canadian Forces use, is a jet trainer aircraft. Ordered in September 1961, the aircraft went on to serve as the Canadian Forces primary jet trainer until 2000, when it was replaced by the CT-155 Hawk and CT-156 Harvar...

The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is an American three engine medium- to long-range widebody airliner, with two engines mounted on underwing pylons and a third engine at the base of the vertical stabilizer. The model was a successor to the company's DC-8 for long-range operations, and competed in the same...

The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is an American three engine medium- to long-range widebody airliner, with two engines mounted on underwing pylons and a third engine at the base of the vertical stabilizer. The model was a successor to the company's DC-8 for long-range operations, and competed in the same...

The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is an American three engine medium- to long-range widebody airliner, with two engines mounted on underwing pylons and a third engine at the base of the vertical stabilizer. The model was a successor to the company's DC-8 for long-range operations, and competed in the same...

The de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver is one of the most famous bush planes in the world. After World War II, de Havilland Canada was looking to produce a plane suited to operations in the extremes of ...

The Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk is a stealth ground attack aircraft operated solely by the United States Air Force. The F-117A's first flight was in 1981, and it achieved Initial Operational Capability status in October 1983. The F-117A came out of secrecy and was revealed to the world in November 198...

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable geometry wing aircraft. The F-14 was the United States Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor and tactical reconnaissance platform from 1974 to 2006. It later performed precision strike missi...

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle is an all-weather tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It was developed for the U.S. Air Force, and first flew in July 1972. The F-15E Strike Eagle derivative is an all-weather strike fighter that entered servi...

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American multirole jet fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight fighter, it evolved into a successful multirole aircraft. The Falcon's versatility is a paramount reason it was a succes...

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American multirole jet fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight fighter, it evolved into a successful multirole aircraft. The Falcon's versatility is a paramount reason it was a succes...

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American multirole jet fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight fighter, it evolved into a successful multirole aircraft. The Falcon's versatility is a paramount reason it was a succes...

The F4U-4 Corsair was the last variant to be produced during WWII, entering service four months before the end of hostilities. It had the dual-stage, supercharged R-2800-18W engine which produced 2,100 hp (1,566 kW) of power. When the cylinders were injected with the water/alcohol mixture,...

The Grumman F6F Hellcat was a fighter aircraft descended from the earlier F4F Wildcat, but was a completely new design sharing only a familial resemblance to the Wildcat. Some tagged it as "Wildcat's big brother". The Hellcat and the Vought F4U Corsair were the primary United States Navy carrier fig...

The North American F-86 Sabre (sometimes called the Sabrejet) was a transonic combat aircraft built for the US Air Force. The F-86 was developed in the 1940s following the end of World War II and was one of the most-produced Western jet fighters in the Cold War era. A variant of the F-86 was produce...

The North American F-86 Sabre (sometimes called the Sabrejet) was a transonic combat aircraft built for the US Air Force. The F-86 was developed in the 1940s following the end of World War II and was one of the most-produced Western jet fighters in the Cold War era. A variant of the F-86 was produce...

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a modern all-weather carrier-capable strike fighter jet, designed to attack both ground and aerial targets. Designed in the 1970s for service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, the Hornet is also used by the air forces of several other natio...

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a modern all-weather carrier-capable strike fighter jet, designed to attack both ground and aerial targets. Designed in the 1970s for service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, the Hornet is also used by the air forces of several other natio...

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a modern all-weather carrier-capable strike fighter jet, designed to attack both ground and aerial targets. Designed in the 1970s for service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, the Hornet is also used by the air forces of several other natio...

The Fokker Dr. I Dreidecker (triplane) was a World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz and built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. It became renowned as the aircraft flown by the "Red Baron," Man...

The Gee Bee R-1 Super Sportster (also known as the GB Sportster), sometimes nicknamed The Flying Silo due to the short, fat fuselage resembling that sort of farm storage building, was a special purpose racing aircraft made by Granville Brothers Aircraft of Springfield, Massachusetts. Gee Bee stands ...

The T-6 Texan was a single-engine advanced trainer aircraft designed by North American Aviation, used to train fighter pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II. The T-6 is known by a variety ...

The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, commonly referred to as just L-1011 (pronounced "ell-ten-eleven"), was the third widebody passenger jet airliner to enter operation, following the Boeing 747 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10. Like the DC-10, the Tristar is a three engine jet airliner. Between 1968 an...

The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, commonly referred to as just L-1011 (pronounced "ell-ten-eleven"), was the third widebody passenger jet airliner to enter operation, following the Boeing 747 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10. Like the DC-10, the Tristar is a three engine jet airliner. Between 1968 an...

The Lockheed Constellation, affectionately known as the “Connie”, was a four-engine propeller-driven airliner built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in four models, all distinguished by a distinctive triple-tail design...

The Martin M-130 was a rare but influential plane designed and built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. Only three of these aircraft were built and all were sold to Pan American Airways at $417,000 per copy: the China Clipper, the Philippine Clipper and the Hawaii Clipper.

Internally within Martin, they...

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the pilot and armament. The aircraft was used in a number of different roles, including dive...

The Curtiss P-40 was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. It was used in great numbers in World War II. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous P-36; this reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into produ...

The American Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the Jug, was the largest single-engined fighter of its day. It was one of the main United States Army (USAAF) fighters of the Second World War. The P-47 was effective in air combat but proved especially adept in the ground-attack role. Its modern...

The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range single-seat fighter aircraft that entered service with Allied air forces in the middle years of World War II. The P-51 became one of the conflict's most successful and recognizable aircraft.

The P-51 flew most of its wartime mis...

The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range single-seat fighter aircraft that entered service with Allied air forces in the middle years of World War II. The P-51 became one of the conflict's most successful and recognizable aircraft.

The P-51 flew most of its wartime mis...

The Piper J-3 Cub is a small, simple, light aircraft that was built between 1937 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. With tandem (fore and aft) seating, it was intended for flight training but became one of the most popular and best-known light aircraft of all time. The Cub's simplicity, affordability and p...

The Stearman model 75, widely known as the Stearman, Boeing Stearman (Stearman became a subsidiary of Boeing in 1934) or Kaydet is a biplane, of which 8584 were built in the United States during the 1930's and 40's as a military trainer aircraft. It served as a Primary trainer for the USAAF (as the ...

The T-6 Texan was a single-engine advanced  trainer aircraft designed by North American Aviation, used to train fighter pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II. The T-6 is known by...

Space Shuttle Discovery (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-103) is one of the three currently operational spacecraft in the Space Shuttle fleet of NASA, the space agency of the United States. (The other two are Atlantis and Endeavour.) When first flown in 1984, Discovery became the third operational o...

Space Shuttle Discovery (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-103) is one of the three currently operational spacecraft in the Space Shuttle fleet of NASA, the space agency of the United States. (The other two are Atlantis and Endeavour.) When first flown in 1984, Discovery became the third operational o...

The SPAD S.XIII was a French biplane fighter aircraft of World War I, developed by Societe Pour L'Aviation et ses Derives (SPAD) from the earlier highly successful SPAD S. VII. It was one of the most capable fighters of the war, and one of the most-produced, with 8,472 built and orders for around 10...

The Lockheed SR-71 is an advanced, long-range, Mach 3 strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed YF-12A and A-12 aircraft by the Lockheed Skunk Works. The SR-71 was unofficially named the Blackbird, and called the Habu ("snake") by its crews. Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was responsib...

The Supermarine Spitfire was a British single-seat fighter, which was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries during the Second World War, and into the 1950s. It was produced in greater numbers than any other Allied design. The Spitfire was the only Allied fighter in production a...

The North American T-28 Trojan was a piston-engined military trainer aircraft used by the United States armed forces in the 1950s and into the early 1980s. The largest single concentration of this aircraft was employed by the US Navy at NAS Whiting Field in Milton, Florida in the training of student...

The Canadair T-33 was Canadian license-built T-33 Shooting Star jet trainer.

The T-33 entered service in the RCAF as its primary training aircraft for fighter/interceptors. Its name is an interesting take of the USAF designation "Shooting Star." The RCAF named it the "Silver Star," in honour of Canad...

The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) was a torpedo bomber, developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps and used by a large number of air forces around the world. It entered service in 1942, and first saw action during the Battle of ...