Without the support of airlift, the modern American military machine would be brought to a standstill. Since World War II--beginning with the Cold War and continuing up to the present day--the U.S. armed forces have come increasingly to rely upon airlift for mobility. The power to rapidly move and thereafter support a military operation--anywhere in the world, at any time--has become a foundational element of American defense policy. This work provides the reader with a comprehensive historical survey--including technical specifications, drawings, and photographs--of each type of fixed-wing aircraft used by U.S. military forces over a nearly 90-year period to carry out the airlift mission.

Descriptions of 60 of the world's most exciting warplanes, 120 action photos, 180 line drawings, and 34 color profiles.

Modern Military Aircraft is a comprehensive guide to the world's fighting aircraft since World War II, from the earliest jet fighters and basic piston-engined bombers, to today's high-tech and stealthy superfighters. Aircraft featured include: the F-86 Sabre, which fought its way to convincing victory over Russia's MiG-15 in the world's first jet-versus-jet battles in Korea; the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, the deadliest fleet fighter ever built, which has played an important part in the conflicts of the late 20th and early 21st centuries; and Russia's export miracles the Sukhoi Su-27, currently in service with air arms across the world in an array of variants. This book contains detailed features on more than 220 combat aircraft and helicopters from the past 65 years. Presented alphabetically by manufacturer, each aircraft is covered in detail, with feature boxes outlining its development, technical specifications, performance data and variants. Unique graphics allow the reader to compare specific features like firepower, troop-carrying capacity, and bombload with those of other aircraft of the same type.

During the Cold War, the superpowers developed weapons capable of great destructive power under the cloak of secrecy. As tension on both sides mounted, wars broke out around the world. Monitor your radar for action as you uncover the spy planes of the Cold War, the bombers of the Vietnam war, the Stealth fighters of the Gulf War, and more. Book jacket.

Carefully researched, ready-to-color drawings depict 27 American, Russian, and British aircraft, including fighters, bombers, reconnaissance planes, transport and cargo ships, trainers, helicopters, and other high-tech machines. Pertinent facts about the design, role, armament, and distinguishing characteristics of the planes accompany the illustrations.

In many respects the most successful, versatile and widely-used combat aircraft of the post-war era the F-4 Phantom II was quickly adopted by the USAF after its spectacular US Navy introduction. Its introduction to USAF squadrons happened just in time for the Vietnam conflict where USAF F-4Cs took over MiG-fighting duties from the F-100 Super Sabre. Although the F-4 was never intended as a dog-fighter to tangle with light, nimble, gun-armed MiGs it was responsible for destroying 109 MiGs in aerial combat. At the end of their careers many of the survivors from the 3,380 'land-based' Phantoms were converted into target drones for training purposes. New aircraft were also built for West Germany, Iran and Israel. The USAF's experience with the Phantom showed clearly that the air-to-air fighter was still a necessity and its decision to fund its successor, the McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagle (as well as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-22A Raptor) was heavily influenced by the lessons of US and other Phantom pilots in combat.

The USAF introduced the F-4C Phantom II into the Vietnam war in April 1965 from Ubon RTAB, Thailand. The F-4C/D soon became the Air Force's principal fighter over the North, destroying 85 MiGs by the close of 1968. This book describes how the USAF turned a gunless naval interceptor into an opponent to the more nimble VPAF MiGs. It explains how the Air Force gradually followed US Navy initiatives in the use of the F-4's missile armament but employed very different tactics and aircrew training. The roles of key personalities such as Col. Robin Oldany are discussed, together with armament and markings, crews and engagements.