HA7102

HA1603

HA1505

HA1702

Ernst Udet

AA37803

'A' Flight, No. 73 Sqn., RAF Debden, Essex, September 1937

AA36207

Henry Botterell

AA38101

81st Fighter Sqn.,52nd Fighter Wing

SAFE, Spangdahlem, Germany, 2006

AA38001

According the Iraqi POWs, the single most recognizable and feared aircraft at low altitude was the Thunderbolt II. Seen conducting bombing raids three or four times a day, the A-10 was a seemingly ubiquitous threat. Although the actual bomb run was terrifying, the aircraft loitering around the target prior to target acquisition caused as much, if not more, anxiety since the Iraqi soldiers were unsure of the chosen target.

East German Air Force, JG3

Vladimir Komarow

Preschen Air Base, 1990

AA37501

The Mikoyan MiG-29 "Fulcrum" was one of the Soviet Union's most important combat aircraft in the last years of the Cold War, and remains an important military asset for the successor Russian Republic. It has been widely exported, and is now being updated with improved systems to keep it in service well into the 21st century. About 345 of these fighters are in service with the Russian tactical air forces and 110 with the naval forces. In Germany, a number of ex-East German Mig-29s remain now in service with the unified Luftwaffe. The East German Migs were Russian export models and thus are less capable than their Russian counterparts. For example, the engines were downgraded to 90% maximum power. The radar system is less powerful, with detection range reduced to about 40km. Interestingly, even so, these Mig-29s have proven themselves more than capable on practice sorties against F-16 Falcons, defeating them with ease. The colour scheme was only used for one flight. This was the last official flight of the East Germany Air Force on 27 September 1990. This special painted aircraft was named die Traditionsmaschine (the Traditional Aircraft).

USN

Black Aces VF-41

50130

Flying Eagles VFA-122

50070

"Squinty" 

72nd FS 15th FG

Hawaii January 1942

50134