- published: 04 Jun 2015
- views: 46533
A military aircraft is any fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft that is operated by a legal or insurrectionary armed service of any type. Military aircraft can be either combat or non-combat:
Combat aircraft (warplanes) divide broadly into fighters and bombers. There are several variations between the fighters and the bombers, including fighter-bombers, such as the MiG-23, ground-attack aircraft, such as the Soviet Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik. Also included among combat aircraft are long-range maritime patrol aircraft, such as the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod and the S-3 Viking that are often equipped to attack with anti-ship missiles and anti-submarine weapons.
The main role of fighters is destroying enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat, offensive or defensive. Many are fast and highly maneuverable. Escorting bombers or other aircraft is also a common task. They are capable of carrying a variety of weapons, including machine guns, cannons, rockets and guided missiles. Many modern fighters can attack enemy fighters from a great distance, before the enemy even sees them. Examples of air superiority fighters include the F-22 Raptor and the MiG-29. WWII fighters include the Spitfire, the P-51 Mustang and Bf 109. An example of an interceptor (a fighter designed to take-off and quickly intercept and shoot down enemy planes) would be the MiG-25. An example of a heavy fighter is the Messerschmitt Bf 110. The term "fighter" is also sometimes applied to aircraft that have virtually no air-air capability – for example the A-10 ground-attack aircraft is operated by USAF "Fighter" squadrons.
This documentary serves as an overview of combat aircraft from World War I to the present. In-flight and airshow footage of these warbirds are included: Fokker DR-1 triplane, Focke Wulf 44, P-40 Warhawk, P-51 Mustang, B-17 Flying Fortress, B-25 Mitchell, B-24 Liberator, B-29 Superfortress, F-4-U Corsair, AD-4 Skyraider, T-11 Vampire, MiG-15, F-86 Sabre, F-4 Phantom, F-15 Eagle, A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-16 Fighting Falcon, AV-8 Harrier, B1-B Lancer, and the F/A-18 Hornet.
Keywords: air-show, aviation, bomber, fighter-plane, military, world-war-two