#United States Air Force
The 5 Largest US Air Force Bases By Active Personnel In 2026
Even the smallest of these big hitters has more than 7,000 troops at its disposal.
Why The B-52 Modernization Program Is $3 Billion Over Budget
The latest and greatest version of the BUFF is getting pricier.
The US Air Force Picked The 50-Year-Old F-16 Over The F-35 To Test Autonomous Fighter Flight
How a Cold War workhorse is shaping the AI dogfighters of tomorrow.
US C-17, C-40B Spotted Making Rare Moscow Visit With CIA Director Onboard
A rare CIA mission to Moscow may explain why John Ratcliffe switched from a C-40B to a C-17.
5 Design Choices That Made The P-51 Mustang Such A Powerful High-Altitude Fighter
Analyzing the engineering behind an icon of aviation.
7 Design Choices That Explain Why The F-22 & F-35 Handle Nothing Alike In A Dogfight
The F-22 excels in raw agility, while the F-35 favors a different approach. Here's why they handle so differently.
Is It True That US Air Force Pilots With The Highest Ranks Earn Less Than Commercial Pilots?
A closer look at a fascinating financial question.
Why U-2 Pilots Breathe Pure Oxygen For An Hour Before Flying To 70,000 Feet
The intense pre-flight ritual of the Dragon Lady's aircrew.
7 Military Airfields Becoming Key Refueling Hubs For America's Pacific Air Strategy
The latest upgrades to the network of air power over the Pacific.
The Pratt & Whitney Engine That Only Became Airtight After It Got Hot Enough To Glow
The engineering inside the Blackbird's fire-breathing heart.
5 Reasons NATO Air Forces Are Retiring Fighter Jets Long Before Airframes Wear Out
Fighter jets can be retired early for everything from being surplus with a peace dividend, to being a burden during time...
The B-1B Retires In 2037, Not Sooner: Why The US Air Force Changes Its Mind
The Cold War era fleet continues to serve into the 21st Century.
Ground Clutter & The Doppler Notch: How A Helicopter Hides From Fighter Radar
Fighter jets are designed to dominate the skies, but under the right circumstances, helicopters can turn the tables.
Why The US Air Force Moves Its Tankers Out Of Ben Gurion Airport For Summer
The Air Force's heavies make way for sun seekers.
5 Fighter Jets The US Air Force Tried To Retire But Congress Saved
Congress has repeatedly blocked US Air Force plans to retire aging F-22s, F-15s, F-16s and A-10s, keeping the jets flyin...
Here's Why The US Air Force Chose The F-35A Over The F-22 For Export Partners
Congress simply was not willing to send the F-22's secrets abroad.
50 Years After The SR-71's Unbroken Record, Its Strangest Engineering Secrets Still Stand Out
Half a century later the rich story of a legendary plane is still unraveling.
6 Conditions That Let A Helicopter Beat A Fighter Jet In A Dogfight
One of the most curious air warfare experiments in history.
How Many B-36 Peacemakers Are Left?
The B-36 Peacemaker lived up to its name, never dropping a bomb in malice, but how many remain today?
5 Financial Trade-Offs US Military Pilots Weigh Before Leaving For Airlines
Military pilots have financial trade-offs when transitioning to the commercial sector, although loss of seniority can be...