This list of airplanes is organized chronologically under the headings “Pre-1914,” “1914-1918,” “1919-1939,” “19391945,” and”1945-Present.” The entries listed include civilian and military single-engine, twin-engine, and multieng inepropeller and jet airplanes.
PRE-1914
Benoit Type XIV two-seat flying boat: Power source 75-horsepower Roberts or 70-horsepower Sturtevant engine driving a pusher propeller. Aircraft was operated by the Airboat Line and provided the world’s first scheduled airplane passenger service operated by an airline company, between St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida.
Curtiss A-1 seaplane: Span 35.33 feet, length25.75 feet, height 8 feet. Powered by a 50-horsepower Curtiss engine. Tested for the first time by Glenn Curtiss on June 30, 1911. Was a biplane and the first U.S. Navy airplane.
Russki Vityaz (Russian Knight): Span 105 feet, weight 12,130 pounds, crew of seven, and payload of 1,540 pounds. First large airplane designed exclusively as a bomber made its maiden flight in Russia on June 23,1913.
Short S.39 Triple-Twin biplane: Span 34 feet, length 45 feet. First airplane with two engines and three propellers and the first with a combined pusher-tractor arrangement. Airplane had a single 50-horsepower engine at the back driving a pusher and a single 50-horsepower engine in front driving two propellers. Took off from East church, United Kingdom, on September 18, 1911.
Wright Flyer. Span 40.33 feet, length 21.08 feet. Power source was two contrarotating 8.5-foot propellers driven by a 12-horsepower engine. On December 17, 1903, Orville Wright achieved the world’s first manned, sustained, controlled, powered flight in a heavier-than-air machine in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Flight lasted about 12 seconds and covered 120 feet.
1914-1918
Albatros B.1 tractor biplane: Span 47.5 feet, length 26 feet, power source 100-horse power engine, maximum speed 62 miles per hour, design range of400 miles. Aircraft used to set the last international endurance record before World War I, achieved by German pilot R. Bohm. Flight lasted 24 hours and 12 minutes outside of Berlin, Germany, on July 11, 1914. Albatros D.I single-seat biplane fighter: Power source was one 160-horsepower engine, armed with two forward-firing machine guns. Underwent testing in August, 1916, prior to delivery to the German Air Service.
Breguet 14 bomber: Power source was one 220-horse-power engine. One of the most effective bombers of World War I, this French airplane made its first flight on November 21, 1916. Plane had a maximum weight of 3,400 pounds and could carry a 520-poundbomb load.
Caproni Ca. 1: Heavy bomber used by the Italian Royal Army Air Service. Power source was two 80-horse-power engines on the lower wing of the biplane, each side of the fuselage. One 100-horsepower engine drove a pusher propeller at the rear of the fuselage nacelle. Wingspan was about 73 feet, length 35.75 feet, weight 6,600 pounds. Made its inaugural flight in October,1914.
Curtiss R-6 twin-float seaplane: The first U.S.-built airplane to operate overseas with American forces. Deployed to the Azores on January 31, 1918, to protect convoys from enemy submarines. Power source was one 360-horsepower engine.
D.H.4 day bomber and fighter reconnaissance biplane: Power source was a variety of engines providing 200 to 400 horsepower, maximum speed up to 140 miles per hour, climb rate of 1,350 feet per minute and endurance of over three hours. Great success with the Royal Flying Corps of the United Kingdom during World War I; made its first flight in August, 1916, at Hendon, United Kingdom.
Gotha G.IV: Power source was two 260-horsepower engines; operating height was 15,000 feet This German bomber could carry 1,100 pounds of bombs. Deployed on a daylight offensive against southern England on May 25, 1917.
Handley Page O/100 bomber: Length 62.83 feet, wing-span 100 feet, maximum loaded weight 14,000 pounds. Power source was two 250-horsepower engines driving four-blade propellers. Made its maiden flight December 17, 1915.
Handley Page V/1500: Power source was four 375-horse-power engines providing a maximum speed of97 miles per hour. Payload was 7,500 pounds. The largest bomber built by the United Kingdom during World War I.
Junkers J9: All-metal cantilever monoplane fighter from Germany. Power source was one 185-horsepower engine. Maiden flight was made on March 10, 1918.
Martin MB-1 bomber: Length 44.83 feet, wingspan of 71.42 feet, power source was two 400-horsepower engines providing a top speed of 105 miles per hour. Pay-load was 1,040 pounds, and armament consisted of five defensive machine guns. Inaugural flight of this American airplane was made on August 17, 1918.
Shchetnin M-9 flying boat: Length 29.5 feet, wingspan 52 feet, power source one 150-horsepower engine. Maximum loaded weight of 3,400 pounds. In June,1916, Russian pilot Jan Jozefovich Nagorski looped this aircraft while trying to escape an attack, the first time that a flying boat conducted such a maneuver.
S.I.A. 9B single-engine bomber: Power source was one 700-horsepower engine, payload was 770 pounds. The most powerful single-engine airplane in operation anywhere in World War I, four of these Italian aircraft conducted a successful bombing raid on the Austro-Hun-garian naval base at Pola.
Sopwith Cuckoo: Power source was one 200-horsepower engine. Loaded weight was 3,883 pounds, with a cruising speed of 98 miles per hour. First airplane designed as a torpedo-carrier for operation from the deck of a ship; made its inaugural flight in June, 1917, in the United Kingdom.
Sopwith F.1 Camel: Length 18.75 feet, wingspan28 feet, power source one 130-horsepower engine, weight fully loaded was 1,454 pounds. Prototype was testedby British Admiralty on February 28, 1917. Between July, 1917, and November, 1918, pilots in Sopwith Camels shotdown 1,294 airplanes, a greater total than any other airplane in World War I.
Sopwith Triplane: Three equal-length wings spanning 26.5 feet, power source was a 100-horsepower engine, armed with either one or two Vickers synchronized machine guns (guns that could fire through the arc of the propeller without damaging the latter). Single-seat fighter was cleared for trials on May 28, 1916.
Spad S.VII: Power source was 150-horsepower engine (later models had 200-horsepower engines). One of the most famous and effective fighters of World War I; deliveries of this French airplane began on September 2,1916.
Spad S.XIII: Power source was one 200- or one 220-horsepower engine providing a maximum speed of 135.5 miles per hour at a height of 10,000 feet. Armament consisted of two Vickers machine guns. This French airplane was one of the fastest fighter aircraft of World War I and entered service in May, 1917.
1919-1939
A.E.G. G.V. twin-engine biplane: Length of 35.42 feet, wingspan 89.5 feet, loaded weight 10,141 pounds. Power source was two 260-horsepower engines. On July 30,1919, eight people flew to an altitude of 20,013 feet in the open cockpit of this type of German airplane.
Aeromarine 39-B: Length 30.33 feet, wingspan 47 feet, gross weight 2,505 pounds. Power source was one 100-horsepower engine that provided a top speed of 73 miles per hour. On October 26, 1922, an Aeromarine 39-B piloted by Lieutenant Commander Geofrey DeChevalier became the first U.S. Navy airplane to land on an aircraft carrier when it touched down on the USS Langley.
Armstrong Whitworth Siskin III: Power source was one 325-horsepower engine that provided a top speed of 134 miles per hour and a service ceiling of 20,500 feet. Armament of this aircraft consisted of twin synchronized Vickers guns. On May 7, 1923, it made its inaugural flight. This was the first British fighter of all-metal construction to enter the Royal Air Force, and it began service in May, 1924.
Avions-Caudron C.61 passenger biplane: Length 45.92 feet, wingspan 79.17 feet, loaded weight of 7,672 pounds. Power source was three 180-horsepower engines. The plane carried eight passengers and two crew and made its first appearance in 1921.
Avro 581 Avian (G-EBOV): Length 24.5 feet, wingspan 28 feet, loaded weight 1,580 pounds. Power source was one 85-horsepower engine that generated a maximum speed of 70 miles per hour. On August 27,1927, Squadron Leader H. J. Hinkler flew in this British plane from London, United Kingdom, to Riga, Soviet Union, in approximately 11 hours. He thereby covered 1,200 miles in the longest light aircraft (those weighing less than 700 pounds) flight to date.
Beech Model 17R Stagger wing: Length 26.75 feet, wingspan 32 feet. Power source was one 450-horse-power engine that provided a speed of 212 miles per hour and a maximum range of 1,000 miles. This aircraft made its inaugural flight on November 4, 1932, in the United States.
Bf 110C-1: Length 39.58 feet, wingspan 53.33 feet. Power source was two engines that generated a cruising speed of 217 miles per hour at 13,780 feet and a range of 1,070 miles. This cantilevered, low-wing monoplane with a duralumin flush-riveted skin would make its inaugural flight on May 12, 1936. It would prove a valuable night fighter of the German Luftwaffe during World War II.
Blackburn Dart: Length 35.33 feet, wingspan 45.5 feet, power source was one 450-horsepower engine that generated a maximum speed of 107 miles per hour and a range of 285 miles. On July 1, 1926, Flight Lieutenant Boyce made the first night landing aboard an aircraft carrier using this British plane. The Dart had appeared in 1921, entered the Fleet Air Arm of the United Kingdom in 1923 and would remain in use for more than ten years.
Bleriot-Spad 33: Length 29.75 feet, wingspan of 38.25 feet, loaded weight of 4,545 pounds with a maximum payload of 1,455 pounds. Power source was one 230-horsepower water-cooled radial engine. The cabin seated four passengers. On December 12, 1920, a prototype of this aircraft made its first flight. The Spad 33 would become one of the most popular French transport planes of the early 1920′s and began to make routine flights between London and Paris in 1921.
Boeing Model 40: Length 33.17 feet, wingspan 44.17 feet, maximum weight 6,000 pounds. Power source was one 420-horsepower engine that provided a cruising speed of 105 miles per hour, a ceiling of 14,500 feet and a range of 650 miles.
Boeing Y1B-17: Length68.33 feet, wingspan 103.75 feet. Power source was four 930-horsepower engines that generated a cruising speed of 217 miles per hour, a service ceiling of 30,600 feet. Its range was 1,377 miles with a bomb load of 10,496 pounds. Gross weight was 42,600 pounds and the crew complement was ten. This American bomber made its first flight on December 2, 1936, and would distinguish itself during World War II. Ultimately 12,731 B-17 bombers would be built.
Bristol Type 105 Bulldog: Power source was one 490-horsepower engine that provided a top speed of 174 miles per hour and a climb time of 14.5 minutes to 20,000 feet. Armament consisted of twin synchronized Vickers machine guns and four 20-pound bombs. This British plane made its inaugural flight on May 17,1927, and became one of the most famous British fighters of the 1930′s.
Curtiss CR biplane: Length 21 feet, height 8.42 feet,wingspan 22.67 feet. Power source was one 425-horse-power engine. On November 3, 1921, Bert Acosta broke the world closed-circuit speed record by flying 176.7 miles per hour in this American plane.
Curtiss CT-1 monoplane: Length 52 feet, wingspan 65 feet, gross weight of 11,208 pounds. Power source was two 350-horsepower engines. Crew consisted of pilot, navigator, and gunner. Armament of this low-wing monoplane was one 1,446-pound torpedo. In March, 1921, this American aircraft made its inaugural flight.
Curtiss Model 50 Robin: Length25.67 feet, wingspan41 feet, gross weight 2,440 pounds. Power source was one 185-horsepower engine that generated a cruising speed of 84 miles per hour and a service ceiling between 10,200 feetand 13,000 feet. Range was up to 480 miles. This American plane distinguished itself through a high-wing monoplane configuration and fixed landing gear and proved rugged, reliable, and popular. One of the most successful designs ofthe day, this plane made its inaugural flight on August 7, 1928.
Curtiss R-6: Length 18.92 feet, height 7.92 feet, gross weight 1,950 pounds. Range was 283 miles. On October 18, 1922, U.S. Army Brigadier General William Mitchell set a world straight-line speed record of 222.96 miles per hour.
Davis-Douglas Cloudster: Length 36.75 feet, wingspan 55.92 feet, gross weight 9,600 pounds. The power source was one 400-horsepower engine, range with two fuel tanks of 660 gallons combined capacity and one 50-gallon oil tank was 2,800 miles. Built to fly nonstop across the continental United States, this airplane made its inaugural flight on February 24, 1921, for 30 minutes. It never did make a nonstop, transcontinental flight.
Dewoitine D1: Parasol monoplane of light metal construction that contained the new metal alloy duralumin and had wings covered with fabric. Power source was one 300-horsepower engine engine providing a top speed of 156 miles per hour, a ceiling close to 28,000 feet, and a landing speed of 50 miles per hour. On November 21,1921, this French airplane made its inaugural flight.
Dewoitine D.500: Length 25.25 feet, wingspan 39.67 feet, maximum takeoff weight 3,792 pounds. Power source was one 690-horsepower engine that generated a maximum speed of224 miles per hour. This aircraft made its inaugural flight on June 19, 1932, and would become the first all-metal cantilever monoplane to enter service with the French Air Force.
D.H.66 Hercules (G-BMW): Length 55.5 feet, wingspan 79.5 feet, maximum weight 15,660 pounds. Power source was three 420-horsepower engines. This British plane carried a crew of two, seven passengers and 465 cubic feet of freight. The trimotor transport aircraft made its inaugural flight on September 30, 1926.
Dornier Do-217: Length 59.67 feet, wingspan 63.33 feet. Power source was two 1,580-horsepower engines that generated a cruising speed of 245 miles per hour with a maximum range of 1,430 miles. Maximum bomb load was 8,818 pounds. The prototype of this bomber first flew in August, 1938. Approximately 1,730 Dornier Do-217 bombers would find service in the German air force during World War II.
Douglas Sleeper Transport (DST, eventually known as the DC-3): Length 64.5 feet, wingspan 95 feet, loaded weight 24,000 pounds. Power source was two engines that generated a cruising speed of 192 miles per hour and a ceiling of 20,800 feet. On December 17, 1935, this plane made its first flight in California. As the DC-3, this aircraft would revolutionize air transport in the 1930′s and 1940′s.
F4F-3: Length28.75 feet, wingspan 38 feet. Power source was one 1,050-horsepower engine that generated a top speed of 328 miles per hour at 21,000 feet and a range of 845 miles. Its armament consisted of six .50-inch guns. The prototype of this American aircraft first flew on September 2,1937. The plane entered service in the U.S. Navy in November, 1940. Eventually 7,825 would be built and the plane would distinguish itself in World War II.
Fairey Flycatcher: Power source was one 400-horse-power engine that provided a top speed of 133 miles per hour, an initial climb rate of 1,090 feet per minute and a range of263 miles. Armament consisted of two Vickers machine guns and four 20-pound bombs. This was the first British airplane built with special strengthening for catapult launches from the decks of aircraft carriers and made its inaugural flight on November 28, 1922.
Fairey Fox: Power source was one 480-horsepower engine that provided a sea-level top speed of 156 miles per hour. This British aircraft was the fastest day bomber of its time and made its first flight, in the United Kingdom, on January 3, 1925.
Fairey Night Bomber: Length 60.75 feet, wingspan 101.75 feet. Power source was two 600-horsepower engines. This airplane would become the first all-metal, low-wing, cantilever monoplane to enter service with the RAF. Its payload was 1,660 pounds of bombs and it had a range of 1,360 miles. It made its inaugural flight on November 25, 1930.
Farman F.50 P twin-engine biplane: Length 39.33 feet, wingspan of 73.33 feet, loaded weight of6,856 pounds. Power source was two 275-horsepower engines. In July, 1920, the French airline Cie des Grands Express Aeriens began using this airplane on routes linking Paris and London and Paris and Amsterdam.
Farman F.60 Goliath: Length 47 feet, wingspan 86.83 feet, gross weight of 12,786 pounds. Power source was two 260-horsepower engines. On March 29, 1920, this French airplane entered the operation of the airline Cie des Grands Express Aeriens between Paris and London. This type of plane played a central role in the development of European air transport through the 1920′s.
Fieseler Fi Storch: Length32.5 feet, wingspan 46.75 feet. Power source was one 240-horsepower engine that generated a cruising speed of 81 miles per hour. The inaugural flight of this plane would take place in April, 1936, and more than 2,500 would be built for the Luftwaffe, the German air force.
Focke-Wulf Fw-190 VI (D-OPZE): Power source was one 1,660-horsepower engine. Widely regarded as the definitive radial-engined fighter of World War II. A prototype of this German aircraft made its inaugural flight onJune 1,1939. The Fw-190 had good all-around visibility and a wide-track main landing gear.
Fokker F.VII: Length 47.67 feet, wingspan 72.17 feet, gross weight 8,140 pounds. Power source was one 360-horsepower engine. Payload of this Dutch airplane, one of the most famous interwar civil aircraft, was eight passengers. Top speed was 97 miles per hour. The prototype of this plane first flew in April, 1924.
Fokker T-2 monoplane: Length 49.08 feet, wingspan 79.67 feet, gross weight of 10,750 pounds. OnApril 1617, 1923, Lieutenant Oakley G. Kelly and John A.
Macready flew a distance of 2,516.55 miles over a measured course from Wilbur Wright Field, Ohio. The pilots thereby achieved a new world record after a flight of 36 hours, 4 minutes, and 34 seconds.
GAX triplane: Length 33.58 feet, wingspan 65.5 feet, gross weight 9,740 pounds. Power source was two 435-horsepower engines providing a range of 160 miles. On June 7, 1920, the U.S. Army ordered twenty of these planes from Boeing, and this would be the only triplane to see service with the U.S. Army air forces.
Gloster Gamecock: Length 19.67 feet, wingspan 29.75 feet, gross weight of 2,863 pounds. Power source was one 425-horsepower engine that generated a top speed of 155 miles per hour. The Gamecock was the last wooden biplane fighter to enter service with the Royal Air Force and it made its inaugural flight in February, 1925.
Gloster Grebe: Power source was one 400-horsepower engine that provided a speed of 152 miles per hour and a ceiling of 23,000 feet. Loaded weight was 2,614 pounds, and armament consisted of two Vickers machine guns. The inaugural flight of this plane took place in May, 1923. A Grebe was the first fighter to achieve terminal velocity of 240 miles per hour in a dive.
Haefeli DH-3 biplane: Length 26.42 feet, wingspan 41 feet, loaded weight of 2,292 pounds. Power source was one 150-horsepower engine that provided a top speed of 90 miles per hour. This Swiss-built airplane carried passengers and mail for an experimental period from Zurich to Bern and Lausanne in Switzerland. The military airmail service opened on January 8, 1919, and closed at the end of October, carrying 246 passengers and 20,348 dispatches.
Handley Page W.8b (Hyderabad): Length 59.17 feet, wingspan 75 feet, gross weight 13,590 pounds. Power source was two 454-horsepower engines. This British bomber carried a crew of four, three defensive Lewis machine guns and a bomb load of up to 1,100 pounds. This plane first flew in October, 1923, and would serve the RAF from 1925 until 1934.
Hawker Fury: Length 26.67 feet, wingspan 30 feet, loaded weight of 3,490 pounds. With a top speed of 207 miles per hour, this single-seat interceptor was the first RAF fighter to exceed 200 miles per hour in level flight. It first took to the air on March 25, 1931.
Junkers G.38 monoplane (D-2000): Length 76.08 feet, wingspan 144.33 feet, maximum loaded weight 52,911 pounds. Power source was two 400-horsepower and two 800-horsepower engines. This was the largest aircraft built at the time, and the entire wing was covered in corrugated duralumin sheet. The prototype that first flew in Germany on November 6, 1929, could accommodate thirty passengers.
Junkers Ju-52: Length 60.67 feet, wingspan 95.17 feet. The main cargo hold was 21 feet long, 5.25 feet wide, and 6.25 feet high, providing a volume of 590 cubic feet. Power source was one 800-horsepower engine that was soon replaced with one 600/755-horsepower engine. This single-engine, all-metal aircraft with corrugated skin made its first flight on October 13,1930. The aircraft could use wheels or floats, and ultimately skis were added to its undercarriage inventory.
Junkers Ju-52/3m: Length 62 feet, wingspan 95.92 feet. Power source was one 525/600-horsepower engine that generated a cruising speed of 152 miles per hour with a range of almost 570 miles. This aircraft was designed as a fifteen- to seventeen-passenger transport aircraft for use as an ambulance, freighter, glider-tug, troop carrier, or bomber. More than 4,800 aircraft of this German type would be built. The first flight of this airplane took place in April, 1932.
Junkers Ju-88: Length 47.25 feet, wingspan 65.58 feet. Power source was two 1,000-horsepower engines that generated a maximum speed of 292 miles per hour at 17,390 feet. The prototype of this German airplane made its debut on December 21, 1936.
LoeningPA-1 biplane: Length 19.75 feet, wingspan of 28 feet, gross weight of 2,463 pounds. Power source was one 350-horsepower engine. This aircraft was the first American fighter equipped with an air-cooled radial engine and made its first appearance in March, 1922.
Messerschmitt Bf-109: Power source was one 640-horse-power or 695-horsepower engine that generated 290 miles per hour. This all-metal, low-wing, stressed-skin monoplane made its first flight on May 28, 1935, in Germany and would become the most famous German fighter of all time. It would see extensive service during World War II.
Nieuport 29V (bis): Length 20.33 feet, wingspan 19.67 feet, weight of 2,064 pounds. Power source was one 320-horsepower engine. On October 20, 1920, French aviator Sadi Lecointe became the first man officially to break the 300 kilometers per hour speed barrier when he flew this airplane at a ratified speed of 302.53 kilometers per hour (178.98 miles per hour) for a distance of 3,280 feet.
Nieuport-Delage 29V: Length 20.42 feet, wingspan 19.83 feet, power source was one 280-horsepower engine. Gross weight was 1,838 pounds. In this plane, French aviator Sadi Lacointe became the first pilot to set a new world speed record of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. On February 7, 1920, he reached a measured speed of 171.14 miles per hour on a course 3,280 feet long.
P-38: Length 37.83 feet, wingspan 52 feet. Power source was two 1,150-horsepower engines that generated a top speed of 395 miles per hour, a climb time of 6.5 minutes to 20,000 feet and a maximum range of 1,390 miles. Armament consisted of one 37-millimeter cannon and four 0.50-inch machine guns. The prototype of this twin-engine, twin-boom aircraft would make its first flight on January 27,1939. It would enter service in the United States Army and see extensive use during World War II.
R.II: Length 66.67 feet, wingspan 138.33 feet, power source was four 260-horsepower engines. A single propeller with a diameter of 22.67 feet provided a maximum speed of approximately 81 miles per hour. This German aircraft was the largest airplane ever flown with a single propeller and carried the largest propeller ever used on an airplane.
R2C-1: Length 19.67 feet, wingspan22 feet, gross weight 2,071 pounds. Power source was one 507-horsepower engine that provided 266 miles per hour. The upper wing of this biplane was lowered to the fuselage so that the pilot looked over the upper surface. On September 9, 1923, this U.S. Navy airplane made its first flight.
Ryan NYP monoplane: Power source was one 237-horsepower engine that generated a top speed of 124 miles per hour. In one such plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, Charles A. Lindbergh departed Roosevelt Field, New York, on May 20,1927, to become the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. In 33 hours, 30 minutes, and 28 seconds after his departure, he landed at Le Bourget airfield outside of Paris, France, after a flight of 3,590 miles at an average speed of 107 miles per hour. He thereby set a new long-distance record.
Sablatnig P I: Length 27.67 feet, wingspan 35.92 feet, loaded weight 2,579 pounds. Power source was one 200/220-horsepower engine, providing a cruising speed of 81 miles per hour. This airplane conducted the first long-distance flight after World War I when it flew from Berlin to Copenhagen, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden, in April, 1919.
Siemens-Schuckert D.VI. single-seater fighter: Power source was one 160-horsepower engine providing a maximum speed of 137.5 miles per hour. Would have been the fastest fighter aircraft to enter service in Germany had it been constructed in time for World War I. The few pilots who flew it considered it superior to any other Germanfighter of the First World War. The prototype flew in February, 1919.
Spad Xxbis 6: Length 24 feet, wingspan 31 feet, gross weight 2,888 pounds. Power source was one 300-horsepower engine. On November 4, 1920, the French pilot Bernard de Romanet set a new world air speed record of 192,01 miles per hour.
Spitfire: Length 29.92 feet, wingspan 37.67 feet, weight 5,200 pounds. Power source was one 990-horsepower engine that generated a top speed of 335 miles per hour at 16,800 feet with a service ceiling of 35,400 feet. The prototype of this plane first flew on March 5,1936. The Spitfire would distinguish itself as a fighter in British service during World War II.
SSW R. VIII: Length of 70.83 feet, wingspan of 157.5 feet, maximum weight of 35,060 pounds. Power source was six 300-horsepower engines that would have provided a maximum speed of 78 miles per hour, a ceiling of 13,124 feet and a range of 559 miles. The German aircraft carried out its first taxi tests on March 1, 1919 but was damaged before its first flight. On June 26, 1919, two days before German delegates signed the Treaty of Versailles, the project was canceled.
Stout ST-1: Length 37 feet, wingspan 60 feet, gross weight 9,817 pounds. Power source was two 300-horsepower engines that provided a range of 385 miles. This was the first all-metal airplane designed for the U.S. Navy and made its inaugural flight on April 25,1922.
T.S.R.II: Length 36.33 feet, wingspan 45.5 feet. Power source was one 690-horsepower or one 750-horse-power engine. Payload of this British airplane was one 1,610-pound torpedo or 1,500 pounds of bombs. The plane made its first flight on April 17,1934, and would distinguish itself in convoy protection and fleet protection roles in the Royal Navy during World War II.
Tupolev ANT-4 (TB-1): Length 59 feet, wingspan 94.17 feet, gross weight up to 16,535 pounds. Power source was two 450-horsepower or two 730-horsepower engines. Payload was 6,615 pounds forup to 2.5 hours or 2,205 pounds for 9 hours. This large metal monoplane was one of the most important aircraft to appear from the Soviet Union and made its inaugural flight on November 26, 1925.
Tupolev ANT-6 (TB-3): Length 80 feet, wingspan 129.58 feet, maximum loaded weight of 53,000 pounds. Power source was four 600-horsepower engines. The payload was 4,410 pounds and the range was 600 to 800 miles. This revolutionary heavy Soviet bomber was far ahead of its contempories elsewhere.
Tupolev ANT-14: Length 86.92 feet, wingspan 132 feet, maximum weight 38,646 pounds. The largest land-plane of the day, this aircraft could accommodate thirty-six passengers two abreast on either side of a central aisle, the first time that such a configuration was possible in an aircraft. This plane made its inaugural flight on August 14, 1931.
Tupolev ANT-40: Length 66 feet, wingspan 62.33 feet. Power source was two 730-horsepower engines that generated a top speed of about 250 miles per hour and a range between 350 miles and 780 miles. One of the most important Soviet bombers of World War II, this plane made its first flight on October 7, 1934. More than 6,600 SB bombers would be built before production ceased in early 1941.
Vickers Vernon: Power source was two 450-horsepower engines, gross weight 12,500 pounds, endurance was 320 miles, ceiling of 11,700 feet. Payload of this plane, the first troop carrier designed for the British Royal Air Force (RAF), was twelve troops. The first plane of this type was delivered to the RAF on August 31, 1921.
Vickers Virginia: Length 62.25 feet, wingspan 87.67 feet, speed 108 miles per hour, range 985 miles. Payload was 3,000 pounds, usually consisting of 112-pound bombs. The prototype of this Britishbomber made its inaugural flight on November 24, 1922.
W.8 Handley-Page airliner: Power source was two 450-horsepower engines that could carry sixteen passengers 500 miles at 90 miles per hour. The British Air Ministry insisted that the plane only carry twelve passengers in order to lighten the load and increase the margin of safety. This aircraft could reach 18,000 feet and made its inaugural flight on December 2, 1919.
XB-907: Wingspan 62.17 feet, later changed to 70.58feet. Power source was two 600-horsepower engines that generated 197 miles per hour. On March 20, 1932, this American aircraft was delivered to the U.S. Army. During the fall, the engines were changed to two 675-horse-power types and a manually operated transparent gun turret was installed in the nose. Speed increased to 207 miles per hour, making this prototype of the B-10 light bomber faster than most contemporary fighters.
XF8C-1: Length 27.92 feet, height 11.67 feet, wingspan 38 feet, gross weight 4,191 pounds. Power source was one 432-horsepower engine and armament consisted of three .30-inch guns. On June 30,1927, the U.S. Marine Corps placed an initial order for two prototypes of this plane.
1939-1945
Avenger: Speed was 300 miles per hour, loaded range 1,000 miles, ceiling 30,000 feet. The prototype of this monoplane first flew on August 7,1941, and eventually 9,839 Avengers would be built as the U.S. Navy’s standard carrier torpedo bomber of World War II. The airplane would enter service in nine different navies altogether.
Avro Lancaster: Length 69.33 feet, wingspan 102 feet, weight 50,000 pounds. Power source was four Merlin engines. Range was 1,660 miles with a 14,000-pound bomb load or 1,040 miles with a single 22,000-pound bomb. This aircraft made its inaugural flight on January 9,1941, and would quickly become the most successful bomber of the RAF during World War II. B-24: Length 63.75 feet, wingspan 110 feet. Power source was four 1,200-horsepower engines that generated a maximum speed of292 miles per hour, a cruising speed of 228 miles per hour, a ceiling of 30,500 feet, and a range of 2,200 miles. Payload was 8,800 pounds of bombs and ten .50-inch guns. This airplane made its inaugural flight on December 29, 1939. Between 1939 and 1944,19,256B-24′swouldbebuiltfortheU.S. and Allied air forces, more than any other American aircraft.
B-25 Mitchell: Length 54.08 feet, wingspan of67.58 feet. Power source was two 1,700-horsepower engines that generated a top speed of 315 miles per hour at 15,000 feet and a range of 1,350 miles. Payload was 3,000 pounds of bombs. The prototype first flew on August 19, 1940. Almost 11,000 Mitchells were built and the aircraft saw widespread service in both the American and Allied air forces.
B-26 Marauder: Power source was two 1,850-horse-power engines that generated a top speed of 315 miles per hour and a range of 1,000 miles. Payload was 5,800 pounds in bombs. The prototype first flew on November 25, 1940. This aircraft would become a stalwart in the inventory of the U.S. Army Air Corps/Forces.
B-29: Length 99 feet, wingspan 141.25 feet, gross weight 141,000 pounds. Top speed was 358 miles per hour at 25,000 feet, service ceiling was 31,850 feet, and maximum range was 5,830 miles. Armament comprised up to twelve .50-inch machine guns and one 20-millimeter cannon. Maximum bomb load was 20,000 pounds with armament stripped. The prototype first flew on September 21,1942, and this bomber would enter service with the United States Army Air Corps/Services during World War II.
F4U-5 Corsair: Length 33.33 feet, wingspan 41 feet, gross weight 14,000 pounds. Power source was one 2,000-horsepower engine that generated a top speed of 417 miles per hour at 19,900 feet with a range of 1,015 miles. Armament comprised one .50-inch machine gun and one .30-inch machine gun in each wing and compartments in the wings for ten bomblets. The prototype first flew on May 29, 1940, and eventually 12,571 would be built for the U.S. Navy.
Gloster Meteor F.1: Length 41.25 feet, wingspan 43 feet, gross weight 13,795 pounds. Power source was two 1,700-pound thrust engines that generated a maximum speed of 415 miles per hour. Armament comprised four 20-millimeter cannon. The prototype of this aircraft made its inaugural flight on January 12, 1944. This plane would enter service of the RAF during World War II.
Handley Page Halifax: Length 70.08 feet, wingspan 98.83 feet. Power source was four engines. Maximum bomb load was 13,000 pounds, range was 1,860 miles with a 5,800-pound bomb load. Armament consisted of six .303-inch machine guns with provision for additional guns. The prototype of this plane would make its first flight on October 25, 1939, and eventually 6,176 would be built for the RAF.
Me-262: Power source was two engines with 1,848 pounds of thrust apiece. On July 18, 1942, the first jet-propelled Me-262 flew independently of supplementary propulsion. During World War II, this aircraft would enter service in the German air force as a fighter-bomber.
P-51 (NA-91): Widely considered one of the best fighters of World War II. Armament comprised either four 20-millimeter cannon or four or six .50-inch guns. Range was 1,300 miles with internal fuel and 2,080 miles with external drop tanks. The prototype of this Anglo-American hybrid first flew on May 29, 1942. The extended range of the P-51 meant that it would play a very important role in escorting Allied bombers to their targets in Europe.
Short Stirling: Length 87.25 feet, wingspan 99.08 feet. Power source was four 1,590-horsepower engines that generated a cruising speed of 215 miles per hour at 15,000 feet. The aircraft had a range of 1,930 miles with a 5,000-pound bomb load. A prototype would make its inaugural flight on December 3,1939. The RAF would receive 2,221 of these aircraft, the only British bomber of World War II designed from the outset with four engines.
Yakovlev I-26 (Yak-26, then designated Yak-1 in December, 1940): Power source was one 1,050-horse-power engine that provided a top speed of 336 miles per hour and a range of 435 miles. Armament comprised one 20-millimeter cannon in the engine and one 12.7-millimeter machine gun in the fuselage as well as mountings for two 220-pound bombs on underwing racks. This aircraft made its maiden flight on January 13, 1940, and the Soviet Union would construct more than 30,000 Yak fighters during World War II.
1945-PRESENT
A-3D: Length 76.33 feet, wingspan 72.5 feet, maximum weight 82,000 pounds. Power source was two 12,400-pound jet engines that generated a top speed of 610 miles per hour at 10,000 feet and a range of 1,050 miles. Payload of this nuclear-capable bomber was 12,000 pounds. The prototype first flew on October 28,1952. It was the heaviest aircraft to operate from an aircraft carrier and entered U.S. Navy service in 1956. A-4D: Length 39.42 feet, wingspan 27.5 feet. Power source was one 11,200-pound engine that provided a top speed of 670 miles per hour and a tactical radius of 340 miles with a payload of 4,000 pounds. The prototype first flew June 22, 1954, and the U.S. Navy accepted delivery of its first operational A-4D in November, 1956.
A-6: Length 54.75 feet, wingspan 53 feet. Power source was two 9,300-pound jet engines that provided a cruising speed of 481 miles per hour and a normal range of 1,350 miles. Payload was 18,000 pounds of ordnance underneath the fuselage and the wings. The prototype of this aircraft first flew on April 19, 1960. Used for close air support and interdiction, the A-6 saw extensive service in the U.S. Navy from the early 1960′s until the late 1990′s, including the Vietnam War and the Gulf War’s Operation Desert Storm.
A-7A: Length 46.08 feet, wingspan 38.75 feet. Power source was one 11,350-pound turbofan that generated a top speed of 695 miles per hour at 10,000 feet. Payload exceeded 15,000 pounds of ordnance. The prototype first flew on September 27, 1965. Ultimately 1,491 of these rugged attack bombers would be built, and the type would remain in service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps for more than thirty years.
Airbus A300: Length 175.08 feet, wingspan 147.08 feet. Power source is two 50,000-pound turbofan engines that generate a long-range speed of 526 miles per hour at 31,000 feet and a range of 2,100 to 3,340 miles, depending on the Airbus variant. Seating capacity lies between 269 and 302 passengers in this large-capacity, wide-bodied, short-to-medium-range transport aircraft. The inaugural flight of the Airbus A300 was made on September 28, 1972. This very successful passenger jetliner is available in many configurations and is jointly produced by France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
Antonov An-22: Length 189.92 feet, wingspan 211.25 feet, gross weight 551,146 pounds. Power source was four 15,000-estimated-horsepower turboprop engines that allowed the plane to lift 221,440 pounds to an altitude of 25,748 in 1967. The world’s largest aircraft at the time, the prototype first flew on February 27,1965. This plane could carry massive loads, and the type served with the Soviet air force as a heavy transport aircraft and with the Soviet airline Aeroflot on strategic cargo routes. Fewer than two hundred of these planes were built.
Avro 698 Vulcan: Length 97.08 feet, wingspan 99 feet. Power source was four 8,000-pound jet engines. This aircraft was the world’s first large delta-wing airplane and would enter service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). The first prototype flew on August 30, 1952.
B-2A: Length 69 feet, wingspan 172 feet. Power source is four 19,000-pound turbofan engines. Payload is approximately 50,000 pounds of ordnance, including conventional and nuclear bombs and cruise missiles. The shape of and composite materials employed in the airframe were designed to render the aircraft difficult to observe on radar. This gave rise to the term “stealth technology” to refer to both weapons and weapons platforms difficult for an enemy to detect. A prototype was first publicly displayed on November 22, 1988. This American aircraft would see service in the U.S. Air Force during Operation Desert Storm, as well as in the campaign in Afghanistan following the 2001 terrorist attacks by the al-Qaeda network operating there.
B-36: Length 162.08 feet, wingspan230 feet, gross weight 328,000 pounds. Power source was six 3,500-horse-power propeller engines that generated a cruising speed of 202 miles per hour and a maximum range of 8,175 miles. Payload was 72,000 pounds of bombs, and armaments comprised twelve 20-millimeter cannons. Crew complement was fifteen. The prototype made its first flight on August 8, 1946. This would become the largest bomber in service of the U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force and the aircraft with the largest wingspan in operation with any of the U.S. air forces.
B-45: Power source was four 4,000-pound jets that generated a cruising speed of 456 miles per hour and a range of 1,910 miles. Payload of this plane was 20,000 pounds. The prototype first flew on March 17, 1947. The B-45 was the firstU.S. all-jet bomber to become operational.
B-47: Power source was six 6,000-pound engines that provided a maximum speed of 617 miles per hour and a range of 4,000 miles. Gross weight was 180,000 pounds. Payload was a 20,000-pound bomb load. Armament consisted of two .50-inch guns, and the crew complement was three. The prototype first flew on December 17, 1947. Eventually Boeing would construct 2,032 B-47′s, and Strategic Air Command of the U.S. Air Force would operate this bomber from 1951 through 1967.
B-52: Length 152 feet, wingspan 185 feet, gross weight 390,000 pounds. Power source is eight 8,700-pound jet engines that generate a maximum speed of 556 miles per hour at 40,000 feet, with a range of 5,200 miles. The prototype first flew on October 2, 1952. This heavy strategic bomber would form an essential component of the U.S. nuclear arsenal during the Cold War and would see service in the Vietnam, Korean, and Gulf Wars and in the Afghanistan campaign.
Boeing 707-100: Length 144.5 feet, wingspan 130.83 feet, gross weight 257,000 pounds. Power source was four 12,500-pound turbojet engines that provided a cruising speed of 571 miles per hour. Payload was 124 to 179 passengers and range was 3,075 miles. The prototype of this American passenger jetliner made its inaugural flight on December 20, 1957.
Boeing 727: Length 133.17 feet, wingspan 108 feet, gross weight 152,000 pounds. Power source was three 14,000-pound turbofans that generated a cruising speed of 532 miles per hour and a range of 1,150 miles. Seating capacity was either 129 passengers in a high-density configuration of 94 in a combination of first-class and economy. Approximately 1,832 of these jet airliners would be built, and the prototype first flew on February 9, 1963.
Boeing 747-100: Length 231.33 feet, wingspan 195.67 feet, gross weight 735,000 pounds. Cruising speed ranged between 590 and 625 miles per hour at altitudes between 35,000 and 37,000 feet. Range with a maximum payload was 4,600 miles and with a minimum payload 7,080 miles. Seating capacity was 490 passengers. The prototype first flew on February 9,1969. The American aircraft was the world’s largest commercial airliner.
C-5A: Length 247.83 feet, wingspan 222.67 feet, gross weight 769,000 pounds. This military transport aircraft was the largest and heaviest in the world to date. With a cruising speed of 537 miles per hour at 30,000 feet, the plane could carry a maximum payload of 265,000 pounds over short distances and a 220,000-pound pay-load up to 3,500 miles. It made its inaugural flight on June 30, 1968, and financial constraints limited the number in service with the U.S. Military Airlift Command to eighty-one.
C-141: Length 145 feet, wingspan 160.08 feet, gross weight 316,600 pounds. Power source was four 21,000-pound engines that allowed the plane to carry 154 troops, 80 litters, or 90,000 pounds of cargo. The prototype made its inaugural flight on December 17, 1963. This airplane would become the first strategic jet transport aircraft for the U.S. Military Air Transport Service.
Dassault Mirage F.1: Length 45.92 feet, wingspan 27.75 feet, gross weight of 24,470 pounds. Power source was a single 11,067-/15,784-pound turbojet engine that provided a top speed of 1,450 miles per hour at 40,000 feet and 835 miles per hour at sea level. Payload was 3,500 pounds of ordnance. The prototype first flew on December 23, 1966. Nearly 1,000 of these single-seat French fighters would be produced by 1992.
Dassault Mirage IIIA: Length 51 feet, wingspan 26.08 feet, gross weight 30,203 pounds. Power source was one 13,228-pound turbojet that generated a maximum speed of Mach2.2, a speed 2.2 times the speed of sound (which varies, depending on altitude), with a ceiling of 59,055 feet. Combat radius was 391 miles with a pay-load of 1,765 pounds in ordnance. The prototype first flew on May 12, 1958. Variants of this French fighter appeared as all-weather interceptors, trainers, and fighter-bombers.
Dassault Mirage IVA: Length 77.08 feet, wingspan 38.83 feet. Power source was two 15,432-pound turbojet engines that generated a maximum speed of 1,454 miles per hour at 40,060 feet and a payload of either one 60-kiloton nuclear weapon or 16,005 pounds of stores. The prototype of this French delta-wing strategic bomber first flew on June 17, 1959. The first aircraft joined the French Air Force in 1964.
Douglas C-133: Length 157.5 feet, wingspan 179.67 feet, gross weight 286,000 pounds. Power source was four 6,500-static horsepower engines. This transport aircraft could lift 110,000 pounds of a wide variety of cargo. The prototype first flew on April 23, 1956. The U.S. Military Air Transport Service accepted delivery of the first C-133′s in late 1957.
Douglas DC-7: Length 108.92 feet, wingspan 117.5 feet. Power source was four 3,250-horsepower engines. Range was 2,850 miles. The prototype first flew on May 18, 1953. This aircraft was the first truly long-range commercial transport, and a later variant, the DC-7C, could carry ninety-four passengers up to 4,605 miles.
Douglas DC-8: Length 150.5 feet, wingspan 142.42 feet. Power source was four 13,000-pound turbojets that generated a cruising speed of 559 miles per hour. Seating capacity was for 176 passengers. The prototype of this American jetliner first flew on May 30, 1958.
Douglas DC-9: Length 104.42 feet, wingspan 87.5 feet. Power source was one 12,250-pound turbofan that generated a cruising speed of 544 miles per hour and a range of 1,013 miles. Seating capacity was for fifty-six to ninety passengers. The prototype first flew on February 25, 1965. The DC-9 would form an essential ele-mentoftheU.S. domestic short-and medium-term passenger air traffic for more than thirty years.
Douglas DC-10: Length 181.42 feet, wingspan 165.33 feet, maximum takeoff weight 430,000 pounds. Power source was three 40,000-pound turbofans. Seating capacity ranged between 225 and 270 passengers. The American prototype first flew on August 29, 1970, thereby inaugurating the first new large-capacity, wide-body turbofan airliner after the Boeing 747.
F-4 Phantom II: Length 63 feet, wingspan 38.67 feet. Power source is two 9,300-pound jet engines that generate an average speed of approximately 580 miles per hour and a combat radius between 494 miles and 786 miles. Armaments include missiles mounted underneath the fuselage and both wings, an electric cannon mounted in the nose, and various configurations of either conventional or nuclear bomb loads weighing up to 16,000 pounds. Arguably the most outstanding combat aircraft of the turbojet era, the prototype of this American plane first flew on May 27, 1958. It was used extensively by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
F-14A: Swept wingspan 38.17 feet, extended wingspan 64.08 feet, maximum takeoff weight 74,349 pounds. Power source is two 20,600-pound turbofans that generated a maximum speed of Mach 2.34 at 40,000 feet or Mach 1.2 at sea level. The prototype first flew on December 21, 1970. This carrier-based two-seat interceptor is armed with one 20-millimeter cannon and an assortment of air-to-air missiles. The plane also possesses bombing capability and entered service with the U.S. Navy in 1972.
F-15A: Length63.75 feet, wingspan 42.75 feet, maximum takeoff weight 56,000 pounds. Power source is one 19,000-/25,000-pound turbofan that provides a top dash speed above Mach 2.5, a sustained top speed of Mach 2.3 at 36,000 feet, and supersonic cruise close to the ground. Armament comprises one 20-millimeter cannon and 16,000 pounds of ordnance. The inaugural flight took place on July 27, 1972. This aircraft would enter service with the U.S. Air Force and would distinguish itself during Desert Storm as a fighter-bomber.
F-16: Top speed Mach 2.2 at 40,000 feet and Mach 1.1 at 1,000 feet with a combat radius of 550 miles. The prototype first flew on February 2, 1974. This lightweight air combat fighter can carry 15,200 pounds of ordnance and would distinguish itself in U.S. Air Force service during Desert Storm.
F-86D: Power source was one 5,700-pound engine that generated a top speed of 707 miles per hour, an initial climb rate of 17,000 feet per minute and a ceiling of 54,000 feet. This all-weather interceptor carried armament that included twenty-four 2.75-inch rockets. The prototype first flew on December 22,1949, and eventually 2,504 F-86′s were produced. This jet fighter would distinguish itself in U.S. Air Force service in the Korean War.
F-104: Length 54.75 feet, wingspan 21.92 feet, gross weight 27,853 pounds. Top speed was 1,150 miles per hour at 40,000 feet and climb rate was 54,000 feet per minute. The prototype first flew on February 28,1954. This tactical day fighter and interceptor was the first aircraft capable of sustained speeds in excess of Mach 2, twice the speed of sound. It joined the U.S. Air Force in 1955.
F-111A: Length 73.5 feet, swept-wing span 31.92 feet, extended wingspan 63 feet, gross weight 92,500 pounds. Power source was two 11,5000-/19,000-pound turbojet engines. The design top speed was 1,650 miles per hour at 40,000 feet and 865 miles per hour at sea level. This bomber was designed to sweep its wings fully forward for slow speeds and back for high-speed travel. The prototype made its inaugural flight on December 21, 1964. The bomber would enter service with the U.S. Air Force.
F/A-18: Length 56 feet, wingspan 37.5 feet, maximum takeoff weight 33,585 pounds in fighter mode and 47,000 pounds in attack mode. Combat radius is 460 miles in fighter mode and 633 miles in attack mode. Power source is two 16,000-pound engines. The prototype flew on November 18, 1978, and this airplane would enter service in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. It would distinguish itself as a fighter and light attack craft during Desert Storm.
Fokker F.27 Friendship: Length 77.25 feet, wingspan 95.08 feet, maximum weight of 44,996 pounds. Power source was two 2,320-estimated-static-horse power turboprop engines that generated a cruising speed of 298 miles per hour and a range of 1,197 miles. Payload was forty-four passengers. The prototype first flew on November 24, 1955, and eventually nearly eight hundred of these popular commercial passenger aircraft would be built.
Gloster Meteor F.8: Power source was two 3,600-pound jet engines that provided a maximum speed of 590 miles per hour at sea level with an initial climb rate of 6,950 feet per minute and a range of 980 miles. Four 20-millimeter cannon comprised the armament. On June 29, 1950, this single-seat day interceptor entered service with the RAF, where it would remain the primary air defense fighter for five years. It was first flown on October 12, 1948.
Gulfstream II: Length 79.92 feet, wingspan 68.83 feet. Power source was two 11,450-pound turbofans in rear fuselage pods that generated a cruising speed of 496 miles per hour and a range of 3,680 miles. The prototype flew on December 2, 1966. On May 5, 1968, the type would become the first executive jet to complete a nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean, traveling from Peterboro, New Jersey, to Gatwick Airport, London.
IlyushinI1-62: Length 160.75 feet, wingspan 141.75 feet. Power source was four 23,150-pound turbofan engines. Passenger capacity was 186 persons. This airplane was designed as the Soviet Union’s first international jet transport. The prototype first flew in January, 1963.
Lockheed L-1649 Starliner: Length 116.17 feet, wing-span 150 feet, gross weight 160,000 pounds. Power source was four 3,400-horsepower engines that allowed the plane to transport ninety-nine passengers. This American transport airliner made its inaugural flight on October 10, 1956.
MiG-9: Power source was two 1,760-pound engines that generated a maximum speed of 656 miles per hour at 16,405 feet, a range of684 miles and a ceiling of42,653 feet. The prototype first flew on April 24, 1946. This fighter was the first Soviet-built jet aircraft that would enter service in the Soviet air force.
MiG-15: Length 32.92 feet, wingspan 33.08 feet, maximum weight 10,692 pounds. Power source was one 5,000-pound jet engine that generated a maximum speed of 652 miles per hour at sea level, a climb rate of 2.3 minutes to 16,400 feet, and a ceiling of 49,869 feet with a range of 882 miles. The prototype of this jet fighter first flew on December 30,1947. The plane entered service in the air force of the Soviet Union in 1948 and ultimately more than 5,000 single-seat fighters and several thousand two-seat training aircraft would be built before production ceased in 1951.
MiG-17: Length 36.92 feet, wingspan 31.58 feet, maximum loaded weight 13,955 pounds. Power source was one 5,732-/7,451-pound turbojet engine that generated a maximum speed of 711 miles per hour at 9,840 feet and a climb rate of 1.8 minutes to 16,405 feet. The prototype made its first flight on January 17, 1950. By the time that production had ceased at the end of the decade, about 6,000 of these Soviet jet fighters had been built.
MiG-19: Length 41.33 feet, wingspan 30.17 feet. Power source was two 4,079-/6,702-pound turbojets that generated a top speed of 902 miles per hour and an initial climb rate of22,635 feet per minute. The prototype first flew in October, 1952. This Soviet aircraft was the first truly supersonic fighter outside the United States and it was suitable for ground attack deployment.
MiG-21: Length 51.67 feet, wingspan 23.42 feet, gross weight 22,723 pounds. Various power plants provided between 12,000 and 14,000 pounds of thrust. The prototype first flew in November, 1955, and ultimately more than 11,000 of these supersonic single-seat fighters would be constructed for the Soviet Union and its client states and allies.
MiG-23: Length 55.08 feet, wingspan 46.75 feet with extended wings, 26.75 feet with wings swept back. Power source was one 27,550-pound engine that provided a maximum speed of approximately 1,550 miles per hour and a maximum combat radius of 808 miles. Flight tests began in 1966, and this air combat fighter would become the mainstay of the air forces of the Soviet Union and its client states as well as Warsaw Pact Nations. The plane would enter Soviet service in 1973. The ground-attack version of the plane was designated MiG-27.
Myasishchyev M-4 Bison: Length 154.83 feet, wingspan 165 feet. Power source was four 19,180-pound jet engines that provided a maximum speed of621 miles per hour and a range of 6,650 miles. It was flown in 1953, entered the service of the Soviet air force in 1956, and was still operational in the early 1990′s.
No. 1 BellXS-1: Power source was four rocket motors that generated a speed of about 700 miles per hour. On October 14,1947, U.S. Air Force Major Charles “Chuck” Yeager piloted this aircraft and became the first human being to pass through the sound barrier. A B-29 bomber carried the X-1 to an altitude of 20,000 feet before releasing it. The aircraft rose to an altitude of 45,000 in this historic, 14-minute flight.
P-84 Thunderjet: Top speed 622 miles per hour, range 2,000 miles, bomb load was 2,000 pounds. The prototype of this American aircraft made its inaugural flight on February 28, 1946. Redesignated F-84 in 1948, the plane would become operational in 1951 as the first single-seat fighter-bomber capable of dropping tactical nuclear weapons.
P-86A: Length 37.5 feet, wingspan 37.08 feet, gross weight 16,357 pounds. Power source was one 4,850-pound engine that generated a top speed of675 miles per hour at 2,500 feet, a ceiling of 48,300 feet, and a range of 783 miles. Armament comprised six .50-inch guns. The prototype flew on October 1,1947. This was the world’s first swept-wing fighter and entered service in the U.S. Air Force in mid-1949.
SAAB-J35A Draken: Length 50.33 feet, wingspan 30.83 feet, gross weight 27,998 pounds. Power source was one 17,262-pound jet engine that provided a top speed of 1,320 miles per hour and a combat radius of 348 miles. The prototype of this double-delta single-seat interceptor first flew on February 15, 1958. The plane joined the Swedish Air Force in February, 1960.
SR-71A: Length 103.83 feet, wingspan 55.58 feet. Power source was two 32,500-pound turbo-ramjets that generated a top speed of Mach 3.35, three times the speed of sound, and an operating ceiling of 80,000 feet. Only thirty-two of these reconnaissance aircraft would be built, and the prototype first flew on December 21,1964.
Tornado: Length 54.75 feet, wingspan 45.58 feet (extended) 28.17 feet (swept), maximum takeoff weight 58,400 pounds. Power source was two 9,000-/16,000-pound turbofan engines. Armament of this British-German-Italian aircraft comprised one 22.7-millimeter cannon and 19,840 pounds of bombs and missiles. The prototype of this two-seater interceptor, fighter-bomber, and reconnaissance aircraft first flew on August 14, 1974. This plane distinguished itself in Operation Desert Storm.
Tupolev Tu-144: Length 196.83 feet, wingspan 75.42 feet, maximum takeoff weight 330,000 pounds. Power source was four 28,660-/38,580-pound turbofans. It had a design speed of 1,550 miles per hour up to an altitude of 65,600 feet and a maximum range of 4,040 miles. The inaugural flight took place on December 31, 1968. This Sovietplane was the world’s first supersonic transport aircraft to fly.
