Famous Planes: Superplanes

As discussed in this first volume of Famous Planes: Superplanes, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom was widely used by the United States Airforce for ground attacks in Vietnam. The F-4 Phantom fighter-bomber was originally developed for the U.S. Navy in 1960, and later adopted by both the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Air Force. It was used extensively during the Vietnam War, both as the principal air superiority fighter, as well as being important in the ground-attack and reconnaissance roles.

Known primarily for being one of the fastest planes of its day, the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is the focus of this second entry in the Famous Planes: Superplanes collection. The F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters, with over 100 aerial combat victories and no losses in dogfight. It was projected to remain in service with the U.S. Air Force until 2025.

The Lockheed F-117A Night Hawk was the first stealth bomber and was instrumental in the 1991 Persian Gulf War, as discussed in this third volume of Famous Planes: Superplanes. The F-117 is a single-seat, twin-engine stealth ground attack aircraft formerly operated by the U.S. Air Force. Put into service in 1981, the F-117 was a product of the Lockheed "Skunk Works" division, and became the first operational aircraft initially designed around stealth technology.

The fourth entry in the Famous Planes: Superplanes collection offers a look at the Hawker Siddeley Harrier attack-bomber. The Harrier was developed as a close support and reconnaissance fighter aircraft, with vertical and short takeoff & landing capabilities, giving it the nickname "Harrier Jump Jet". The U.S. Marines deployed the Harrier for close air support, and as a naval aircraft onboard amphibious assault ships. Its ability to operate with minimal ground facilities and very short runways allowed it to be used where other fixed-wing aircraft could not.

Reaching speeds exceeding Mach 2, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat was first introduced in 1971 and is the focus of this volume of Famous Planes: Superplanes. The F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft that was developed for the U.S. Navy. The F-14 was used as a maritime air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor and for tactical reconnaissance. It was one of the first American fighters designed that incorporated the experience of air combat against MiGs during the Vietnam War.

This sixth volume in the Famous Planes: Superplanes collection discusses the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, which was capable of speeds nearing Mach 2 and widely used by NATO forces in the 1970s. The F-16 Fighting Falcon was originally developed for the U.S. Air Force as a lightweight day fighter, but quickly evolved into a successful all-weather, multi-role aircraft, with over 4,400 aircraft built since its introduction in 1976.

The multirole jet known as the Tornado is at the center of this entry in the Famous Planes: Superplanes collection. The Panavia Tornado is a twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, jointly developed by the UK, West Germany and Italy. Developed and built by Panavia, a tri-national consortium, the Tornado first flew in 1974 and saw action with the Royal Air Force, Italian Air Force, and the Royal Saudi Air Force during the Gulf War.

The eighth entry in the Famous Planes: Superplanes collection focuses on the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, an all-weather fighter-jet that was widely deployed during Operation Desert Storm. The F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, carrier-capable fighter jet, used by both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The Hornet's versatility and reliability have proven it to be a valuable carrier asset, serving in a multi-role capacity as fighter escort, fleet air defense, suppression of enemy air defenses, air interdiction, close air support and aerial reconnaissance.