Military Aviation History

14:47

Why the F-117 Has Returned

Military Aviation History ·

2026/10/04

Find the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN1KwrhZVBY The F-117 Nighthawk is one of the most iconic aircraft in aviation history. It was the world's first true stealth plane, created through the secret Project Have Blue by the Lockheed Skunk Works team. Its unique faceted shape was designed to deflect radar signals, and it made its mark by leading the first strikes in Desert Storm. The "Black Jet" showed that stealth technology could defeat even the most advanced defense systems. Although

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09:58

Why the KF-21 is a game changer

Military Aviation History ·

2026/10/02

Find the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6X5zuthz-s South Korea's KF-21 Boramae has moved from concept to production in just a decade—an unusually fast timeline for a modern fighter program. As a follow-on from our previous video on the KF-21 • KF-21: Korea's New Fighter we break down how Korea achieved it: a modular, upgrade-driven design philosophy, a dual-path procurement strategy, and tight control over requirements. The result is a highly adaptable 4.5-generation platform

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11:36

Why this bomb is used everywhere | The Mark 82

Military Aviation History ·

2026/10/02

Find the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lsdiOVvHK4 We look at the history and development of the Mark 80 series bombs, a key part of modern aerial warfare. Starting in the 1950s with new aerodynamic designs, these bombs proved themselves in the Vietnam War with versions like the Snakeeye. Over time, they became even more effective with the addition of Paveway laser-guided bombs (GBU-12, GBU-16, GBU-24) and JDAM GPS-guided munitions (GBU-31 and GBU-38). The Mark 80 family, which includes

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14:18

F-18L: the failed land-based Hornet

Military Aviation History ·

2026/09/28

Find the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4Dnped4MwM In the late 1970s, Northrop proposed the F-18L — a land-based variant of the F/A-18, stripped of naval constraints and optimised for speed, agility, and cost. Lighter, simpler, and potentially more capable in several key areas, it was designed to compete directly with aircraft such as the F-16 in the global export market. On paper, the F-18L offered significant advantages: improved thrust-to-weight ratio, greater payload flexibility,

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30:12

The Fall of Rabaul (1942) | A Major Defeat in the...

Military Aviation History ·

2026/09/26

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaBB764f27Q In January 1942, the Australian outpost at Rabaul stood directly in the path of Japan's advance across the Pacific. Poorly defended, under-equipped, and relying on outdated aircraft, the men of the RAAF and Lark Force faced overwhelming odds as Japanese air raids intensified and invasion loomed. Drawing on firsthand accounts from pilots, anti-aircraft gunners, and soldiers who were there, this documentary tells the dramatic story of

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17:17

The Yak-28 | Fast & Terrifying

Military Aviation History ·

2026/09/25

Find the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSu767rBHhc The Yak-28 occupies a strange place in Cold War aviation history—mass produced, widely used, yet almost completely forgotten. On paper it promised speed, range, and versatility; in reality, it became known for difficult handling, questionable design compromises, and a reputation that made flying it anything but comfortable. Yet despite its flaws, the aircraft would evolve into what could be argued as one of the Soviet Union's most

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26:43

F-100 Super Sabre: a fighter-bomber beast

Military Aviation History ·

2026/09/24

See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWaQ4PpOdtw The North American F-100 Super Sabre was America's first operational supersonic fighter, but its journey from cutting-edge air-superiority aircraft to one of the most important strike fighters of the Vietnam War was anything but straightforward. Plagued by dangerous handling characteristics and early design flaws, the "Hun" evolved into a remarkably capable fighter-bomber, pioneering missions ranging from close air support to the first

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17:06

Why this missile was a game changer | The AGM-65...

Military Aviation History ·

2026/09/23

Find the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YimT9s2V1gc The AGM-65 Maverick transformed air-to-ground warfare. Developed during the Vietnam War to replace the flawed AGM-12 Bullpup, it became one of the world's first truly effective fire-and-forget precision-guided missiles. We explore the Maverick's origins, its revolutionary electro-optical guidance system, every major variant from the AGM-65A through to the AGM-65L, and its combat performance from Vietnam and the Yom Kippur War to Desert

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24:15

Why the A-7D was revolutionary

Military Aviation History ·

2026/09/22

Find the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q9dLZZ72og The A-7D Corsair II was never intended to become one of the U.S. Air Force's greatest strike aircraft. Originally acquired as a stopgap solution during the Vietnam War, it evolved into arguably the most accurate conventional attack aircraft of the conflict. Equipped with new digital avionics, an advanced HUD, inertial navigation, CCIP and CCRP bombing modes, and a powerful new engine, the A-7D could deliver unguided bombs with a level

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14:20

Why Australia needed the F-111

Military Aviation History ·

2026/09/21

Find the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pYaAQzgyP8 Australia's decision to acquire the F-111 wasn't driven by prestige—it was born from necessity. We explore the strategic realities that shaped one of the RAAF's most important procurement decisions. With the rise of Cold War tensions in Southeast Asia and Indonesia's growing military capability, we needed a long-range strike aircraft capable of defending Australia's vast northern approaches. The F-111 became the only aircraft capable

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05:57

X-59: NASA's new X-Plane

Military Aviation History ·

2026/09/21

Published in 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V59ffvGBaiw In 2016, Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract to develop a new X-plane, with the goal of researching low-boom supersonic flight. The result - an aircraft now referred to as the X-59 - has now been completed, and will soon begin testing. But what is the X-59, and how will it impact the aerospace world?

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14:17

LYNX | Rhodesia's deadly Cessna

Military Aviation History ·

2026/09/21

Find the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le1T6f1vZeA In the unforgiving skies of the Rhodesian Bush War, an unlikely aircraft emerged as one of the most effective weapons of the conflict. The Lynx—an improvised, heavily armed version of the Cessna Skymaster—combined simplicity, adaptability, and raw firepower to deliver devastating close air support. From Fireforce assaults to deep reconnaissance and strike missions, this modest platform became a constant presence over the battlefield,

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16:36

F-15N | the forgotten 'Sea Eagle'

Military Aviation History ·

2026/09/17

See the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uheYOBjwUKU What if the F-15 Eagle had gone to sea? In the early 1970s, McDonnell Douglas proposed a carrier-based version of the F-15 for the US Navy. Known as the F-15N, it promised extraordinary speed, a lighter airframe, and more advanced avionics. But adapting the Eagle for carrier operations meant solving one major problem: how to give it the fleet-defence capability of the F-14 Tomcat. This is the story of the F-15N: the carrier modifications

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23:45

A-37 Dragonfly | Cessna's forgotten fighter

Military Aviation History ·

2026/09/17

Find the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZij7I_d04c The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly earned a reputation as one of the most effective close-support and counter-insurgency aircraft of the Vietnam war. From a small jet trainer, the "Super Tweet" was transformed into a heavily armed CAS aircraft capable of carrying thousands of pounds of weapons. When the first A-37s arrived in Vietnam for the experimental Combat Dragon program, their crews were about to discover just how capable the little

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08:48

SUKHOI 27: Russia vs Ukraine

Military Aviation History ·

2026/09/17

We look at the important differences between the Ukrainian and Russian Su-27s, which are still in use by both sides in the Russo-Ukrainian War. Find the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWV_oiNvMWM Please consider supporting this channel by becoming a member: https://peacemaker.net.au/

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43:24

The Rhodesian Bush Ware

Military Aviation History ·

2026/06/08

See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4NdqeV0o4U The Rhodesian Bush War (1965-1980) pitted outnumbered Rhodesian forces against ZANLA/ZIPRA insurgents amid UDI sanctions, using innovative Fireforce tactics and air power with Hunters, Canberras, and Lynx in strikes like Operation Dingo (1976 camp destruction) and Uric (1979 base assaults). Tenacious defense delayed rebels until Lancaster House Agreement enabled Zimbabwe independence.

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20:05

F-14D

Military Aviation History ·

2026/05/31

See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2Erj6dlR2Q Why the F-14D Could Have Been the Ultimate Fighter The Grumman F-14 Tomcat was one of the most iconic fighter aircraft of the Cold War—renowned for its variable-geometry wings, twin engines, and long-range AIM-54 Phoenix missiles. But what if the platform had been allowed to fully mature? This documentary explores the full evolution of the F-14, from the early Alpha models to the final F-14D variant, and examines the ambitious upgrade

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15:42

F-5: The best dogfighter of its time?

Military Aviation History ·

2026/05/30

Made possible by our members—this is what keeps the channel independent and ongoing ✔ Merch & Members ► https://peacemaker.net.au From Cold War necessity to Top Gun legend, the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter became one of the most agile and influential lightweight fighters ever built. Originally designed as a low-cost export fighter to counter the spread of Soviet MiGs, the F-5 proved itself far more capable than many expected — serving in Vietnam, dominating as an aggressor aircraft in US training

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15:23

Why was the A-5 Vigilante forgotten?

Military Aviation History ·

2026/05/30

See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDdlkD7QfM8 Made possible by our members—this is what keeps the channel independent and ongoing ✔ Merch & Members ► https://peacemaker.net.au Was the A-5 Vigilante one of the most advanced, and most overlooked, aircraft ever to serve with the US Navy? Introduced in the early 1960s as a Mach 2 carrier-based nuclear bomber, the Vigilante pushed the limits of aviation technology. With cutting-edge systems like one of the first onboard digital

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13:34

AIM-7 Sparrow

Military Aviation History ·

2026/05/28

See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eMl93Oo65c From its rather unreliable debut in Vietnam to a much more reliable missile in Desert Storm, the AIM-7 Sparrow has been critical in the evolution of radar-guided air-to-air combat. Out of U.S. Navy experiments in the late 1940s, the Sparrow became an important weapon in beyond-visual-range warfare for decades, arming Phantoms, Tomcats, and Eagles across the Cold War. Though plagued by malfunctions early on—with a kill probability of

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