Why Is Russia's MiG-21 Fighter Jet Called Fishbed?
The Soviet Union-era fighter jet, the MiG-21, has a peculiar name used by other pilots: Fishbed. Why is it called that and is it its official name?
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Why Navy Ships Go Out To Sea In A Hurricane
If you've ever seen Navy ships head out to sea ahead of a big storm, there's a good reason for that. It's even more important ahead of a hurricane.
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What's The Oldest Attack Helicopter In The US Military? (And How Did It Stay In Service For So Long?)
Helicopters have been used throughout the each U.S. military branch for decades, fulfilling a number of roles. The Marines favored this one.
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How Do Fighter Jets And Other Aircraft Refuel In The Air?
Fighter jets (and other aircraft, like helicopters) often have to travel extreme distances, so how do they stay fueled? Easy. They refuel in the air.
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What Is The Largest Oil Tanker In The World And How Much Oil Can It Carry?
Oil tankers are the unsung heroes of the energy sector as they carry crude oil across the ocean. What is the largest oil tanker and how much can it carry?
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Can Civilians Buy Military Vehicles?
You might expect that regular civilians flat-out cannot buy military vehicles or aircraft. The reality is a bit more complicated than a binary answer.
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Why The US Military Canceled The M10 Booker Tank
The M10 Booker was a light tank previously purchased by the U.S. Army, but it was recently canceled by order of the Secretary of the Army. Here's why.
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Boeing's F-47 Top Speed: How Fast Will This Fighter Jet Be?
There aren't many details made public about the F-47, but there are bits of information that due hint at the next-generation aircraft's top speed.
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What Is The Prairie-Masker Noise Reduction System?
The Prairie-Masker noise reduction system isn't well-known among civilians but has played a vital role on military vessels for some time. So what does it do?
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This Might Be The Strangest Warship Ever Used By The US Navy
There have been plenty of unconventional vehicles used in warfare, but one ship might top the list as the strangest ever used by the US Navy.
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How Old Is The Boeing 737 Jet And How Many Generations Does It Have Already?
Boeing's 737 Jet has helped to define commercial airline travel for decades. The venerable aircraft has undergone numerous changes and endured tragic mishaps.
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How Do Ships Slow Down And Stop Without Brakes?
We all know that cars stop thanks to their trusty brakes. But how do ships slow down and come to a halt? It's a bit more complicated than car brakes.
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Why Do Fighter Jets Fly So Low?
If you've ever seen a fighter jet doing some training, you might have noticed that they fly pretty low to the ground. Well, there's a reason for that.
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What Were The Wires On WW2 Planes For?
Looking at photos of plane used in World War II, you may have noticed a lot of cables and wires around them. Here's what those cables were for.
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What Is The US Civil Reserve Air Fleet And How Many Jets Does It Have?
The U.S. military is a huge, complex beast, but when its air transportation needs get too big, it can rely on this program for some backup.
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Why Are Coast Guard Ships Called Cutters?
There are several classes of Coast Guard ships that are called cutters. Learn where the name came from and why it's used so widely in today's service.
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How Are Airplanes Maintained? (And How Often Is It Done?)
Before hopping into an airplane and heading out on an adventure, you might want to know how that plane has been maintained. Here's what we know.
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Why Does The Stratolaunch Roc Jet Have 2 Cockpits?
The Stratolaunch Roc jet is one of the wildest looking jets in the world, not least because of its two cockpits. Why does it actually have those?
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Why Does The F-104 Starfighter Make A Howling Sound?
The most distinct feature on Lockheed's F-104 Starfighter was the howling sound it made when the engine ran at a certain rate. Why did it make this sound?
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Why Did Old Airplanes Have Black Noses?
Vintage airplanes had a distinctive look thanks to their black nose, but you may be wondering why they were painted black and why that's no longer the standard.
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Why Does The Trident Missile Have A Spike On Its Nose?
A good number of missiles civilians see simply have a pointed cone nose, but the Trident missile is different. Instead, it has a spike. Why?
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What Was The First Cruise Missile And Was It An Effective Weapon?
Cruise missiles are a core piece of military machinery in the modern world, but they're older than you may think. This was the first cruise missile ever made.
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Which Planes Did Ford Make During WW2 And How Many Did It Manufacture?
Ford is a fixture in not only the United States automotive industry, but American culture. Many don't realize just how involved Ford was during World War II.
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What Were The Painted Targets On Old Warplanes For?
You may have seen old warplanes with big circular targets painted on the wings and fuselage. Why did the planes have these, and did they serve any purpose?
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Why Were Rocket Launchers Called Bazookas?
Everybody knows what the word "Bazooka" is referring to, but that's not the actual name of the rocket launcher. So how did that word become the catch-all name?
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What Does It Mean When There's A Nose Wheel Shimmy On A Plane? (And Is It Still Safe To Fly?)
You may have heard of a nose wheel shimmy on an airplane, but you may not know the extent to which it's a risk and whether or not it's safe to fly.
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Is Kansai Floating Airport Really Sinking? (And Are There Plans To Fix It?)
Kansai Floating Airport rests above the water in Osaka Bay, but it may not be staying there as long as its engineers would like. Here's what's going on.
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