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Volume 7 Number 10
TOMCAT SPECIAL - Collectors' Edition: Combat Aircraft presents its own 18-page salute to the 'Big Cat'… one last time baby!
Defenders of Deutschland - Smoking is good for your health… at least for the F-4Fs of the Luftwaffe. Jamie Hunter goes air-to-air with these venerable old fighters that look set to defend the realm until 2013!
Black Out - Even as the remarkable F-117 Nighthawk celebrated its 25th anniversary, the countdown towards its withdrawal from service was gathering momentum. Patrick Tanner examines the beginning of the end for the stealth fighter, while James Haseltine goes air-to-air with a Gray Dragon
Latin Lessons - C. J. van der Ende and René van Woezik send us this photo report from Brazil on the largest military aviation exercise held in Latin America, CRUZEX
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Volume 7 Number 9
Navy Clippers - Replacing the C-9B Skytrain II as a passenger and cargo transport with the US Navy, the Boeing G40A Clipper has a lot to live up to. However, this military derivative of the Boeing 737-700 is acquitting itself very well, as Ted Carlson/Fotodynamics found out
Ultimate `Fulcrum' - The advent of three-dimensional thrust vectoring has added another string to the MiG-29's bow, in the shape of so-called 'super-maneuverability'. Jon Lake describes the MiG-29M OVT demon-strator, which has been showing off its formidable capabilities in the West for the first time in 2006
Farewell, Old Timer - After more than 50 years of service, the Royal Air Force has finally retired the magnificent English Electric Canberra. Denis J. Calvert was at the ceremonies, and tells the story of the last operational variant, the photo-recce PR9
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Volume 7 Number 8
The Last Flight of the Hanoi Taxi - The USAF service life of the venerable Lockheed C-141 Starlifter has come to an end with the last touchdown by perhaps the most famous example of the type. Don Logan tells the story of that aircraft, the Hanoi Taxi
B-52: Versatile Veteran - Phodocu describes the recent upgrades that are keeping the USAF's B-52 Stratofortress fleet alive for yet another generation — PLUS! 'Buff' cutaway
Duel in the Desert - The US Army Air Force was glad to get its hands on the Supermarine Spitfire, and in AAF service the type served with great distinction, not least in North Africa. Col J. D. 'Jerry' Collinsworth, USAF (Ret'd) tells James P. Busha about his experiences of the 'Spit'
China's Hidden Power - Long shrouded behind the mists of state secrecy and official denial, China's Jian-10 (J-10) fighter has lingered at the outer reaches of public knowledge throughout most of the past decade. However, that is now changing. In the first half of afascinating two-part feature, John Golan describes the development of PLAAF fighter aviation and sets the J-10 into context
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Volume 7 Number 7
Sharpening the Cat's Claws - Although they were on the cusp of retirement, the 22 F-14 Tomcats deployed with CVW-8 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) earlier this year became the Coalition ground forces' combat aircraft of choice for force protection sorties over Iraq. Tony Holmes explains how - PLUS! Eric Tegler reports on CVW-8's homecoming at NAS Oceana
Viking Warrior - Yet another famous US Navy aircraft, the Lockheed S-3 Viking, is up for retirement following a long and varied service life. Brad Elward salutes this fine machine, which remains a highly capable asset even today
Obituaries - We pay tribute to test pilot Scott Crossfield and aviation photographer George Hall, both of whom died recently
The Super `Flankers' - Jon Lake describes the many and varied advanced derivatives of Sukhoi's Su-27 'Flanker' family, from development through to service use - PLUS! Exclusive artworks
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Volume 7 Number 6
Iran: A Formidable Opponent? - EXCLUSIVE! As tensions rise in relation to Iran's nuclear energy program, is the West underestimating the strength and capability of the Islamic Republic of Iran AF? Tom Cooper and Liam F. Devlin investigate in this fascinating examination of this secretive air arm
Last Cats Standing - EXCLUSIVE! Keeping the US Navy's last F-14 Tomcats operational during their final active service cruise aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Northern Arabian Gulf was a major task. Combat Aircraft was on the carrier to cover this momentous event in Fleet history - Tony Holmes spoke to the crews to get their first-hand accounts, augmented by unique action photography from the author and Richard Cooper
The Last British Fighter - The retirement of the Royal Navy's Sea Harrier FA2s marked the end of an era - it was the last all British-built fighter aircraft in service with the UK armed forces. Gerard Boymans interviewed the commander of the 'Shar' force, Cdr Henry Mitchell, to get the full story
East Looks West - The Ukrainian AF has been going through a period of major changes as the nation seeks to align itself more towards the West. Valeriy Romanenko tells the story of this ambitious air arm, with photos by Sergey Popsuevich/FoxbatFiles.com
Volume 7 Number 5
Russian Testers - Akhtubinsk is modern Russia's oldest military aviation test and development facility, where the latest and most advanced Russian military aircraft (including UAVs) and their weapons are tested. Yefim Gordon reports on its 85th anniversary event
Ultimate Seahawks - In terms of their equipment, the Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawks of the Royal Australian Navy are unique - and very capable machines indeed. Tony Holmes tells us about the type and its vital contribution to Australian military operations around the world
Nimitz Power - When the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) returned to port in San Diego on November 8, it marked the end of a successful six-month deployment. Chad Thomas and Kevin Whitehead/Jetwashimages.com were on board with unrivalled access to photograph operations, day and night
French Revolution - Henri-Pierre Grolleau joins a Dassault flight test crew to experience the acceptance flight of a new Rafale for the French AF
Volume 7 Number 4
Rock 'n Roll Stars - Every year, the Swiss AF holds a live firing exercise on the Axalp range in its spectacular Alpine region - and you can go and watch! Andreas Zeitler/ Flying-Wings.com did exactly that...
Raptor Factor - Eric Hehs, the editor of Lockheed Martin's magazine 'Code One', reports on how the USAF's 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron is currently defining the mighty F/A-22 Raptor's capabilities - PLUS! Stunning air-to-air photography by Katsuhiko Tokunaga/DACT
Dragon Lady' goes to sea - The story of how CIA-operated Lockheed U-2s came to fly off an aircraft carrier is explained by Chris Pocock in this exclusive extract from his outstanding new book, `50 Years of the U-2'
U-2 On Tour - In the second part of our coverage of Chris Pocock's book, we take a pictorial look at U-2 operations the world over since the closing years of the Cold War, from Europe to the Middle East
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Volume 7 Number 3
Au Revoir Mirage - The Mirage IV, one of the most stylish combat aircraft ever produced, has now been retired. Thomas Withington tells the story of the French AF's former nuclear bomber
Au Revoir Jaguar - Jean-Philippe Hannus says farewell to the French AF's last SEPECAT Jaguars
The USAF's Most Secret Aircraft - Is it a stealthy recce platform? Is it a next generation fighter? No - it's basically a bizjet. Nonetheless, it's fascinating. Robert F. Dorr uncovers the mysterious C-20C
MiG-31 `Foxhound' in action - When the MiG-31 `Foxhound' first appeared, it came as quite a shock to the West. This formidable fighter is detailed by Yefim Gordon in this extract from a new book by Midland Publishing
Sweet Home Alabama - The Alabama ANG has recently decided to honor the memory of the Tuskegee Airmen in a very special way. Greg L. Davis brings us the story
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Volume 7 Number 2
China-Town - NAS China Lake is a truly elite air base - it's where the US Navy carries out the development and testing of the latest weaponry for its front-line fleet. Jamie Hunter/Aviacom goes air-to-air with the units and tell us something of China Lake's test history - PLUS A photographic look by Peter J. Cooper/Falcon Aviation at some of the base's historic `jewels in the sand'...
Exercise Special! - Combat Aircraft's reporters and photographers bring you the air power action from a variety of recent military aviation exercises around the world
Fat Albert Airlines - Neil Dunridge reports on a very special G130 Hercules - the colorful, and rocket-propelled, support ship for the Blue Angels demonstration team
Angels High - Ever wondered what it's like to fly with the F/A-1 S Hornets of the Blue Angels? In the second part of our exciting coverage of the team in this issue,Mike Jorgensen tells the memorable 'from the cockpit' tale
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Volume 7 Number 1
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AIRPOWER UPDATE 2005 - SPECIAL FEATURE - Huge changes are currently occurring within the ranks of the USAF. An aging fleet, impending base closures and reductions in manpower, and the continued need to support combat and contingency operations worldwide, are some of the daunting tasks faced by its leaders as the service counties with its latest transformation. The air arm, which had previously maintained a threat-based, forward-deployed force, has become a capabilities-based organisation that is primarily based in the continental United States (CONUS). Forward-deployed commands in Europe and the Pacific are currently undergoing another reorganisation that will allow the service to be better positioned to respond to changing threats and world wide events. With all this in mind, our annual USAF Airpower Update comes in more handy than ever! Tom Kaminski details the air force's structure, units, bases and equipment PLUS some stunning photography.
Kamov Warriors - The Kamov Ka-50 and Ka-52 attack helicopter family has been through many guises, developments and, most confusingly, names during its lengthy gestation period. However, the end result remains a very capable machine indeed. Andrey Fomin takes a detailed look at the history of Werewolf, Black Shark, Alligator and their beastly brethren from FoxbatFiles.com