The Junkers G.38 was a workhorse transport aircraft of the Second World War that saw heavy use in paratrooper and glider roles. It was used by Hitler’s elite forces, including the SS, as well as by the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe in general. The G.38 was developed to meet a need for a transport aircraft that could be used for long-range and heavy-lifting operations.
The G.38 was designed and built by Junkers Flugzeugwerke from 1935-1937. It had an airframe made of welded steel tubing, with riveted aluminum skinning over the main fuselage and wings. The G.38 had two main engines; one mounted in the nose, and one mounted in the rear fuselage. It also had two 7mm MG 131 machine guns mounted on top of the wing, along with a fixed forward firing 20mm MG FF cannon mounted underneath the nosecone. The G.38 was very large and heavy, weighing around 10 tons empty, with a loaded weight of 20 tons. It had a wingspan of around 48 feet, with an overall length of 27 feet 9 inches, making it quite large even for its day. The PlaneHistoria website contains more interesting facts and knowledge. https://planehistoria.com/pioneers/junkers-g-38
The English Electric Lightning was the first British jet aircraft to enter service, and like all early jets it suffered from severe airframe buffeting. This was caused by the shockwaves produced as the air rushing past the rear of the aircraft created a ‘wake’, or disturbance in the airflow behind the aircraft. The Lightning was also highly fuel inefficient.
Despite these disadvantages it was a very capable aircraft. It had excellent range, payload and climb rate, and could operate from short,...
In December of 1942, the infamous Victor Bomber was flown by a team of engineers from Bell Aircraft to an Air Force base at Clinton Field in North Carolina. The aircraft was built for the US Army Air Forces as a transport plane, but it was never mass-produced. Instead, it was used mostly by the Army Air Forces’ 456th Bomb Group during World War II. Unlike most bombers of its time, the Victor bomber was designed to be flown by...
General Dynamics F-16 – The Rebirth of the Dogfighter | PlaneHistoria
Do you know the General Dynamics F-16 – the rebirth of the dogfighter? This is the fighter that took air combat to the next level. This is the fighter that redefined the art of the possible. This is the fighter that made you king of the skies. The F-16 was the product of a group of maverick pilots and engineers who were unafraid to think outside the box. They were...
The DB 600 Series of V12s- the Backbone of the Luftwaffe
The DB 600 series was a series of inline air-cooled, 6-cylinder aircraft engines produced by Daimler-Benz, then a German automotive company. The series was introduced in 1935 and featured various improvements over previous models, including improved reliability and reduced weight. During World War II, the DB 600 engines were used in a variety of aircraft such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter plane.
The DB 600 engine was an air-cooled inline...
Introducing the SEPECAT Jaguar - a jet trainer turned nuclear attacker. The Jaguar was designed in the 1960s as a jet trainer. But as with many aviation projects, they grow in scope and become more expensive. This Anglo-French venture eventually became a supersonic tactical nuclear-capable aircraft.
It ended up being a huge success and despite aircraft being built from 1968 – 1981, it is still in service with the Indian Air Force, some 50 years later. Many other nations also bought the Jaguar with exports heading to Oman, Ecuador, and Nigeria too. Even though she had humble origins, it has been used in many major conflicts including the 1990 Gulf War. Visit our website to know more information. https://planehistoria.com/modern-day/sepecat-jaguar
General Dynamics F-16 – The Rebirth of the Dogfighter | PlaneHistoria
Do you know about The General Dynamics F-16 – The Rebirth of the Dogfighter has always been a workhorse? The aircraft entered service in the 1970s and saw action in Israel, Turkey, and other nations around the world. Despite its age, the fighter has remained relevant for several reasons. First, it’s relatively cheap to maintain and operate, particularly compared to newer models like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). Second,...
