75 Years of Innovation in Flight

The Air Force is built on technology. These are some of the most important aircraft in its 75-year history.

From its 1947 inception, the Air Force has been oriented to high technology, expanding the boundaries of human flight and pushing back the aerospace frontier.

In partnership with industry, USAF built scores of prototypes and experimental types, using the knowledge obtained to build operational aircraft, sensors, and munitions to strengthen the nation and fight its wars. Often unseen is the extensive industrial base needed to produce those machines, many of which had no civil application and required extremely specialized materials and manufacturing techniques.

On the following pages are most of the nearly 200 operational aircraft the Air Force has fielded over the last 75 years, ranging from sleek, triple-sonic fighters to utilitarian bush planes operating from unimproved jungle strips. While many were purpose-built for a specific role, many more proved to be versatile enough for a range of missions. Some were built in their thousands, yet were quickly set aside as the pace of technological change made them obsolete, while others built in small numbers proved so adaptable that they have remained in service, if not in production, for decades.

Many aircraft portrayed here were holdovers from World War II, and some of those persisted in service long enough to play an important role in the Korean War, and even the Vietnam conflict. The most explosive periods of Air Force advancement in aircraft were in the late 1950s and 1960s—as the service transitioned to front-line jet aircraft—the 1980s, when computers and innovative materials made leaps in performance possible, and the 2000s, when high-speed computing, the mainstreaming of stealth and sensor fusion, and precision-guided weapons multiplied the power of aircraft many times over relative to those that had come before.

Due to space limitations, this gallery is limited to the aircraft that flew and fought operationally, and in fleets of more than just a few examples, with the exception of types like “Air Force One,” which serve in very small numbers for decades. We have not included prototypes or experimental machines that paved the way for those in operational use (See, “The X-Files,” March 2018), and we have not attempted to portray every variant. Our goal is to recognize the aircraft around which so many Airmen were organized to fly, fight, and win over 75 years.

Bombers

Fighter/Attack

USAF’s last dedicated interceptor, “The Six” was optimized for speed, radar target detection and range, equipped with internal weapons. USAF

T-33 Shooting Star. Derived from the Korean-era F-80 fighter, the T-33 was used by more than 20 countries. As a full-scale target, it served USAF until 1997. USAF

A-20 Havoc. A WWII holdover, the Havoc was used largely in the Pacific by the Army Air Forces. USAF

A-26/B-26 Invader. This WWII-era bomber proved highly effective at counterinsurgency in Vietnam and was used by the CIA at the Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba. USAF

P-47 Thunderbolt. Later the F-47, the “Jug” of WWII served with the Air National Guard for years. The type was used against Puerto Rican nationalists in 1950. USAF

F-80 Shooting Star. USAF’s first operational jet fighter, the F-80 served in Korea as a dogfighter and attack aircraft. USAF

A-1 Skyraider. Developed for WWII, the Navy-designed “Spad” was a star at counterinsurgency in Vietnam and in helping recover downed airmen there. National Museum of the USAF

P-82 Twin Mustang. USAF’s last piston-engined fighter, the “Double Trouble” scored the first kills in Korea and served as a day/night interceptor. USAF

F-84 Thunderjet. The F-84 destroyed 60 percent of the ground targets attacked by air in Korea and was the first mount of the Thunderbirds aerial demo team. USAF

F-51 Mustang. The WWII-era Mustang’s agility and range made it ideal for close air support missions in Korea, flown largely by Guard and Reserve units. USAF

A U.S. Air F-84F Thunderstreak. A swept-wing upgrade of the straight-wing F-84, the Thunderstreak was a fighter-bomber in Korea, later serving in the Berlin crisis and ANG. USAF

F-86 Sabre. USAF’s first swept-wing jet fighter could outfly its counterpart in Korea, the Soviet MiG-15. Nearly 10,000 served in countries worldwide. Courtesy

F-86D Sabre Dog. A development of the F-86A, the Sabre Dog was larger, had afterburning engines, and a long-range radar, equipping it for interceptor missions. USAF

F-94 Starfire. A development of the F-80, and constantly upgraded, the F-94 served as an all-weather Air Defense Command interceptor during the 1950s. USAF

F-89 Scorpion. The twin-engined Scorpion was the first interceptor armed with guided missiles and the Genie, an unguided nuclear air-to-air missile. USAF

F-100 Super Sabre. The first USAF operational jet to fly supersonic in level flight, the F-100 earned its reputation in Vietnam as a fighter-bomber. USAF

F-102 Delta Dagger. The supersonic, delta-winged “Deuce” Air Defense interceptor also flew in Vietnam as a bomber escort and in a few ground-attack missions. USAF

F-101 Voodoo. The Voodoo was mainly an interceptor, but the RF-101 reconnaissance version played a key role in Vietnam and the Cuban Missile Crisis. USAF

F-104 Starfighter. Developed in two years, the “Missile With a Man in It” served in Vietnam and as an interceptor. Rocket-aided test models flew to the edge of space. Ken Hackman/USAF

F-105 Thunderchief. The “Thud” scored dogfight kills in Vietnam, but was mostly used as a bomb truck and a Wild Weasel defense suppression jet. Rick Diaz/USAF

F-4E Phantom II. Another Navy adaptation, the F-4C/D/E were USAF’s premiere fighters in Vietnam, also adapted to ground attack and fitted with guns. USAF

F-5E Tiger II. A development of the T-38 trainer, the F-5 served many years as USAF’s main “Aggressor” jet, emulating adversary aircraft like the MiG-21. USAF

OA-37 Dragonfly. Used for target marking and light attack, the OA-37’s bigger engines and underwing stores distinguished it from the T-37B trainer. USAF

A-7D Corsair II. Adapted from a Navy jet, USAF used the A-7 for precision attack of ground targets and close air support from the 1960s to the 1990s. USAF

F-111 Aardvark. Arising from a troubled joint fighter program, the F-111 evolved into a fine medium bomber used in wars from Vietnam to Iraq. Master Sgt. Patrick Nugent/USAF

AC-130 Ghostrider. Bristling with cannons, the AC-130 gunship variant of the Hercules transport orbits and watches an enemy, destroying vehicles and formations. James West/USAF

F-4G Wild Weasel. The F-4G used HARM missiles and jamming gear in Iraq to silence or destroy enemy air defense radars and missile systems. USAF

1976 A10 Thunderbolt II. Designed to stop 1970s Soviet tanks with its huge 30 mm gun and absorb damage, the A-10 has flown close air support for nearly 50 years. Master Sgt. William Greer

F-15A/C Eagle. Undefeated in air combat nearly 50 years after its rollout, the Eagle boasts triple-sonic speed and high maneuverability. Tech. Sgt. John McRell

F-16A/C. USAF’s “backbone” fighter since the 1980s, the F-16 has evolved from a day fighter to a multirole platform focused on ground attack and SEAD. USAF

F-117 Night Hawk. The world’s first operational stealth combat jet, the F-117 was a prodigy at destroying the most-heavily defended targets in Iraq and Serbia. Staff Sgt. Derrick Goode

F-22 Raptor. Acknowledged as the world’s best-ever dogfighter, the F-22 combines stealth and supercruise with sensor fusion and extreme agility, aided by thrust-vectoring. Tech Sgt. Ben Bloker

F-15E/EX. Strengthened for heavy payloads, the Strike Eagle has conformal fuel tanks for longer range. The new EX features fly-by-wire flight controls. Ethan Wagner/USAF

The Air Force’s strike “quarterback,” due to its massive information-collection capability, the “Panther” is nevertheless a 9G fighter and a multirole attack jet which will be the backbone of the combat air forces for decades to come. Airman 1st Class Yosselin Perla

KC-97 Stratofreighter. Derived from the C-97, the KC-97 freighter/tanker expanded fighter range in Vietnam and served with the ANG well into the 1970s. USAF

Utility/Special Operations

ISR, C3

RB-47 Stratojet. Derived from the B-47 bomber, the RB-47 overflew the Soviet Union, collecting information. Three were shot down doing this work. USAF

EC-121 Warning Star. Forerunner to AWACS, the EC-121 supplemented ground-based early warning radars and also conducted electronic warfare. USAF

O-1 Bird Dog . As late as the 1970s, USAF used the Bird Dog for target spotting, forward air control and liaison activities, especially in Korea and Vietnam. National Museum of the USAF

RB-66 Destroyer. Adapted from the B-66 bomber, the RB-66 conducted electronic intelligence and countermeasures in Vietnam. USAF

RF-101 Voodoo. A tactical reconnaissance jet developed from the F-101, the RF-101 was a key asset in the Cuban Missile Crisis and in the Vietnam conflict. USAF

U-2 Dragon Lady. Routinely upgraded over its nearly 70-year career, the U-2 has provided ISR from the Cold War through the Syria campaign. Staff Sgt. Robert Trujillo

RF-4C Phantom II. Nearly 500 RF-4Cs were built to provide tactical reconnaissance in every conflict from Vietnam through Desert Storm. USAF

RC-135 Family. The current RC-135S Cobra Ball trace their lineage to C-135’s originally modified in 1961 and operated in 24-hour alert status out of Shemya AFB, Alaska. Senior Airman Jacob Skovo

EC-135 Looking Glass. Precursor to the E-4B, an EC-135 was always kept aloft to assure nuclear command and control, serving into the 1990s. USAF

SR-71 Blackbird. Retiring in 1994 with its speed records intact, the SR-71 was USAF’s triple-sonic, 85,000-foot-ceiling ISR jet which could outrun any threat. <strongUSAF

O-2 Skymaster. The O-2 was used for target marking, forward air control, and, when equipped with speakers and leaflets, psychological operations. USAF

D-21 Tagboard. A pilotless, supersonic drone launched from a B-52, the D-21 was to self-destruct after deploying a film canister for retrieval. USAF

E-4 Night Watch. The National Airborne Operations Center is a flying command post ensuring command and control over America’s nuclear arsenal. USAF

EC-130 Commando Solo. A flying broadcast studio, the Commando Solo conducts information operations and electronic warfare. USAF

E-3 Sentry. The E-3 provides broad monitoring and control of the air battle, and its presence has been a powerful symbol of U.S. commitment. Senior Airman Roslyn Ward

EF-111 Raven. The Raven, a modified F-111, was an escort jammer and electronic attack platform used in Operation Desert Storm. USAF

RC-26 Condor. The Condor performs counter-drug trafficking ISR and disaster response, such as fire detection for civil authorities. Senior Airman Sean Campbell

MQ-1 Predator. USAF’s first remotely piloted aircraft built in large numbers, the Predator could conduct persistent ISR and, later, strike missions. USAF

E-8 JSTARS. Prototypes of the E-8, which tracks enemy ground movements with a large radar, were fielded during Operation Desert Storm. USAF is migrating the mission to space. USAF

RQ-4 Global Hawk. The high-flying Global Hawk is an unmanned ISR complement and possible successor to the U-2. A variant performs the BACN mission. USAF

RQ-170 Sentinel. A stealthy, remotely piloted aircraft, the RQ-170 is largely classified, but is believed to have discovered Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan. USAF

E-11 BACN. The E-11 serves as a translating node letting incompatible data link and voice systems to talk to each other, even in mountainous terrain. Capt. Keenan Kunst

MC-12 Liberty. Rapidly developed and fielded for the Afghanistan War, the MC-12 is a self-contained system providing ISR directly to ground troops. USAF

EC-137 Compass Call. A Gulfstream G550 fitted with the electronics swapped out of EC-130H aircraft to disrupt sensors and enemy command and control. BAE Systems

MQ-9 Reaper. The MQ-9 offered a significant step up in range, payload, and sensors over USAF’s first remotely piloted ISR/strike platform, the MQ-1. Airman 1st Class William Rio Rosado

Transports

C-17 Globemaster III. Program troubles nearly killed the C-17 in the 1990s, but it recovered to become the workhorse of USAF’s strategic airlift fleet. USAF

C-46 Commando 1. A workhorse in flying the Himalayan “Hump” in WWII, the C-46 was a higher-altitude transport often used from unimproved airfields. USAF

C-47 Skytrain. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower called the C-47 one of the four things that won WWII. The reliable Skytrain was also a star in the Berlin Airlift. USAF

C-54 Skymaster. Derived from the DC-4, the Skymaster lugged coal and food in the Berlin Airlift and served as one of the first presidential transports. USAF

C-87 Liberator Express. Converted B-24 bombers, the C-87s were used for long-distance VIP and light cargo trips the C-47 didn’t have the range to complete. San Diego Air and Space Museum

C-82A Packet. Designed for cargo, troop transport and paradrop, the C-82 was underpowered, but the twin-boom idea succeeded in the C-119 Flying Boxcar. USAF

C-45 Expeditor. More than 4,500 Expeditors were used for transport, pilot and navigator training, aerial photography, and gunnery training. USAF

C-74 Globemaster. Only a handful of the first Globemasters were built, developed during WWII as a strategic airlifter, but quickly superseded by other types. RAF

C-118 Liftmaster. Based on the Douglas DC-6, the C-118 was used during the Korean War. A shortened version flew President Harry Truman overseas. USAF

C-97 Stratofreighter. The “double bubble” variant of the B-29 bomber proved a durable design for a freighter, serving USAF in Korea as well as Vietnam. USAF

C-121 Super Constellation. Used mostly for personnel transport, some “Connies” were also adapted to electronic warfare and battle control. USAF

C-119 Flying Boxcar. Used for transport and paradrop work, the -119 saw action in Korea and Vietnam, where it was also adapted as a gunship. USAF

C-124 Globemaster. Refined from Korea lessons learned, “Old Shakey” was the first USAF transport that could move oversize equipment. USAF

C-123 Provider. Based on an assault glider design, the C-123 earned fame operating from austere, remote strips in Vietnam for USAF and the CIA. USAF

C-133 Cargomaster. USAF’s only turboprop-powered strategic transport, the 50 C-133’s could handle outsize cargo like Minuteman and Titan missiles. USAF

C-7 CarIbou. Prized for its austere jungle landing strip capability, in Vietnam the C-7 carried everything from ammo and passengers to pigs and cattle. USAF

C-135 Stratolifter. An interim jet transport until the C-141 arrived, the C-135 was the first presidential jet and the basis for myriad special mission variants. USAF

C-140 JetStar. The JetStar was a USAF VIP transport and “flight check” navigation test and certification aircraft, with some also used as communication relays. USAF

C-141 Starlifter. USAF’s premiere strategic airlifter for 30 years—from Vietnam to Desert Storm—most C-141s were “stretched” to C-141Bs in the early 1980s. USAF

C-9 NightIngale. Used for aeromedical movements and VIP transport—including the First Lady—the C-9 was based on the McDonnell Douglas DC-9. USAF

C-5 Galaxy. USAF’s biggest outsize cargo transport, the C-5 went back into production in the 1980s, and in the 2000s, was up-engined to become the C-5M. USAF

C-21 Learjet. A militarized Learjet 35, the C-21 has served since 1985 as a VIP transport and in light utility and aeromedical evacuation duty. USAF

C-12J Huron. Adapted from the Beech Super King Air, the C-12 delivers light cargo and VIPs, and has been the basis of a series of specialty ISR platforms. AIrman 1st Class Laszlo Babocsi

C-32A Air Force Two. The C-32 transports senior diplomats and VIPs, and even the President when the destination airfield can’t accommodate Air Force One. USAF

C-20 Gulfstream. The C-20 replaced the C-140 JetStar, and was used for high-ranking VIP transport. It was retired in 2017. USAF

VC-25 Air Force One. The flying White House, the VC-25 is loaded with defensive gear, luxury amenities, and the most powerful flying communication system. Yasuo Osakabe/USAF

C-37 Gulfstream. A Gulfstream 550, the C-37 transports high-ranking VIPs and has an extensive onboard secure communication system. Airman 1st Class Dana Butler

C-40 Clipper. A Boeing 737, the C-40B and C models transport combatant commanders and their staffs and members of Congress on overseas trips. Tech. Sgt. Timothy Moore

C-27J Spartan. Meant for disaster response, and despite good performance, USAF gave its C-27s to the Army and Coast Guard after just a few years. USAF

C-130J. Operational since 1956, the Hercules remains USAF’s tactical lift workhorse and go-to platform for countless special missions. The “stretched” J-30 version is USAF’s new standard. Senior Airman Donald Hudson

Helicopters

Trainers

Space/Missile Systems

Atlas A. The SM-65A was America’s first full-scale protoype ICBM. USAF

The SM-65D was the first operational ICBM. USAF

Titan-II ICBM. The LGM-25C was developed as an ICBM and later adapted as a launch vehicle for NASA’s Gemini program and USAF satellites. USAF

Minuteman I ICBM. The first of three generations of U.S. ICBMs, it was America’s first solid-fuel ICBM. USAF

Minuteman II ICBM. BThe LGM-30 ICBM populated missile silos across the United States. It remained in service until 1994. USAF

Minuteman III ICBM. USAF’s LGM-30G entered service in 1970, representing the third leg of the nuclear triad. Some 400 remain on alert today. USAF

LGM -118A Peacekeeper Missile. The Peacekeeper could carry up to 12 independent reentry vehicles. It remained in service until 2005. USAF

Vandenberg Dual LAunch. A missile-defense test involving two interceptors, they successfully hit their targets. STRATCOM

KH-4B Corona Satellite. The first space-based imaging satellite, developed by the CIA to capture images over the Soviet Union. USAF

KH-4B Corona Recovery. It recovers a film capsule jettisoned from a CORONA satellite on its return to Earth. USAF

DMSP Satellite. The first Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellite, launched to develop meteorological, oceanographic, and solar-terrestrial data for DOD. NOAA

DSCS II Satellite. Defense Satellite Communications System 2 replaced IDCSP, providing secure voice and data communications for the U.S. military at much faster data rates than IDCSP. USAF

DSCS III Satellite. Provides nuclear-hardened, anti-jam, long-haul communications. USAF

GPS Block II. First full-scale operational GPS satellite constellation. USAF

GPS Block IE. The first Global Positioning System satellites helped test and validate the GPS concept. Courtesy

Falcon 9. SpaceX’s reusable launch vehicles lowered the price of entry into space, helping to revolutionize the commercial satellite industry. SpaceX

GPS Block III. More powerful, accurate, and more resistant to interference than older GPS satellites. USAF

Joint Space Operations Center. Established as the focal point for worldwide joint space forces, enabling integration of space power into global military operations. USAF

SBIRS Satellite. Space Based Infrared System designed for improved ballistic missile warning capabilities. Will eventually replace DSP satellites. Lockheed Martin via USAF

AEHF Satellite. Constellation of satellites used to relay secure military communications for the U.S. and its allies. USAF

X-37B Orbital Space Vehicle. The X-37B is a compact reusable space vehicle that can launch into space and remain in orbit for months or years before returning to Earth. USAF

Delta IV Heavy. The largest of the Delta IV family and the second highest-capacity launch platform in operation. ULA

Delta IV Medium. Often called “single stick,” it was available in four configurations: Medium, Medium+ (4,2), Medium+ (5,2), and Medium+ (5,4). Jack Pfaller/NASA