#usafs

[planesawesome]

[usafphantom2]

@AcePilotAV via X

[ghostwarriorrrr]

[sempergrumpy-1]

[vexwerewolf]

Soooooo an F-22 Raptor just got its entire product line's first confirmed air-to-air kill... against that Chinese weather balloon the news was freaking out about

The F-22 Raptor program began in the early 90s and has cost a total of, according to one source, $32.4 billion dollars. It has been by most metrics a complete failure which has failed to produce a viable multirole air superiority fighter. It has - by the act of replacing certain obsolete aircraft but then being cancelled after the aircraft it replaced were retired - punched holes in the USAF's lineup that the F-35, its successor, cannot fill. It also has the dubious distinction of its production process being so monstrously fucked that it would, at this point, cost less money to invent a new aircraft than to restart F-22 production.

Until today, it had zero confirmed kills. It now has one - an unarmed, unmanned balloon.

In a very real way, the United States just paid $32.4 billion to pop a balloon.

[kaot1c-cl]

Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II

The A-10 Thunderbolt II, commonly known as the "Warthog", is a rugged, highly maneuverable ground-attack aircraft developed by Fairchild Republic for the United States Air Force. Designed primarily for close air support (CAS) missions, it is known for its durability, heavy armor, and capability to destroy armored vehicles, such as tanks.

[sabotpetal]

YF-23

[aviationgeek2024]

[nocternalrandomness]

Flying Tigers in the break

[lonestarflight]

Northrop YB-49 Flying Wing during the public unveiling to the press. It was powered by eight Allison J35-A-15 turbojet engines.

Date: September 29, 1947

source

[blueiscoool]

U.S. military aircraft graveyard in Arizona.

[planesawesome]

[usafphantom2]

The Spirit of Pennsylvania B-2 Spirit assigned to the 419th Flight Test Squadron flies over Edwards Air Force Base on July 17, 2024, 35 years after the B-2’s first flight. (c. turner)

@kadonkey via X

[ghostwarriorrrr]

[sempergrumpy-1]

[cid5]

Gls advance beneath railroad underpass east of Vellerdingen as fighting continues in France, December 5, 1944.