Reggiane Re.2001-2005

The Reggiane Re.2001 Falco II was a much improved development of the Re.2001 using a German engine produced under license in Italy. It was followed by the Reggiane Re.2002 Ariete (Ram) a fighter bomber developed from the Re.2001, the Reggiane Re.2003 a reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Re.2002 and finally the Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer), which was the last and best of the Reggiane fighter, but appeared too late to help the Italian cause.

Sopwith Snipe

The Sopwith Snipe was a British fighter aircraft that entered service late in the First World War, and was one of the best Allied fighters of 1918

Bristol F-2 Fighter

The Bristol F-2 Fighter was a popular two seat biplane fighter bomber of the First World War

SPAD VII and SPAD XIII

The SPAD VII and SPAD XIII were two of the best fighter aircraft of the First World War, providing the French with fighter aircraft capable of competing with the best German aircraft of their time.

Fokker E.I / E.III Eindecker

The Fokker E.I / E.III Eindecker was the first aircraft to be designed as a fighter aircraft, giving the Germans a period of air superiority over the Western Front

Fokker Dr. I Triplane

The Fokker Dr.I Triplane was one of the most famous fighter planes of the First World War, used by many German Aces, including the Red Baron

Reggiane Re.2000 Falco (Falcon)

The Reggiane Re.2000 Falco (Falcon) was probably the best Italian fighter aircraft developed before the Second World War, but did not enter mass production.

MÁVAG Héja II

The MÁVAG Héja II was a version of the Reggiane Re.2000 Falco (Falcon) produced under license in Hungary, where it saw more use than the original aircraft.

Edward "Butch" O'Hare

Edward "Butch" O'Hare was the first fighter ace of the U.S. Navy, and an important early figure in the development of defensive tactics still used today.

GAF Nomad

The GAF Nomad was an Australian aircraft of the 1970s that saw service with a number of Australia's neighbours, although it failed to live up to high hopes held out for it.

Fairey Swordfish

Despite its outdated appearance, the Fairey Swordfish was an effective torpedo bomber for the Fleet Air Arm. Its most famous exploit was the attack on the Italian fleet at Taranto that crippled three Italian battleships.

Goodyear F2G "Super Corsair"

The Goodyear F2G "Super Corsair" combined the airframe of the Corsair with a more powerful engine, and would probably have replaced the Corsair if the Pacific war had carried on into 1946.

Chance Vought F4U Corsair

The Chance Vought F4U Corsair was probably the best American naval fighter of the Second World War. In the hands of its Marine Corps pilots it helped sweep the Japanese from the skies from the middle of 1943.

Bristol Buckingham, Buckmaster and Brigand

The Bristol Buckingham was a light bomber that had already been superceded by the time it entered production in 1944. However, the Bristol Buckmaster trainer, the most powerful advanced trainer to enter RAF service during the Second World War, did see extensive service, as did the Bristol Brigand a ground attack aircraft closely related to the Buckmaster.

Bristol Beaufighter

The Bristol Beaufighter was the first dedicated night fighter to enter RAF service. As well as a solid career as a night fighter, it was developed into an excellent anti-shipping weapons and even a torpedo bomber. As well as our main article, we also add an article on the main variants of the Beaufighter, and another on the squadrons that used the Beaufighter.

Yakavlev Yak-38 Forger

the Yakavlev Yak-38 Forger was a VTOL aircraft, similar to the Harrier. It was a ground breaking design, but an unsuccessful one, and was unpopular with its pilots.
20 April

Tupolev Tu-126 ‘Moss’

The Tupolev Tu-126 ‘Moss’ was the first AWACS aircraft to enter Soviet service, and was developed from the Tu-114 civilian airliner. As such it was a proven design, if not ideally suited to the AWACS role.

Dewoitine D.520 and family

The Dewoitine D.520 was the best fighter aircraft available to the French Air Force (Armée de l’Air) in 1940. Sadly, it was not available in sufficient numbers to pose a serious threat to the Luftwaffe. It was the first of a series of proposed fighters. The D.521, D.522, D.523 and D.524 each used a different engine, none entered production. The D.551 was a much more advanced aircraft, with a top speed of over 400mph. However, none of the prototypes were complete at the time of the French collapse. Finally, the SE.520z was a version of the fighter developed in Vichy France. It did reach the prototype stage, but only after the German occupation of Vichy, and never took to the air.

Bristol Beaufort

The Bristol Beaufort was the RAF's main land based torpedo bomber from 1940 to 1943. It was also the basis for the Bristol Beaufighter, a powerful night fighter that eventually replaced the Beaufort as a torpedo bomber.

Boulton Paul Defiant

The Boulton Paul Defiant was one of the less successful British fighter aircraft of the Second World War, based around a four gun powered turret. After a spectacular debut in May 1940 its weaknesses were soon exposed, and it was quickly withdrawn as a day fighter. It had a second, more successful career as a night fighter, serving in that role until 1942.

Hawker Hurricane

The Hawker Hurricane was the first monoplane fighter to enter RAF service, and was still the most important RAF fighter during the Battle of Britain. After that it gained another lease of life as an excellent ground attack aircraft. Today we add a major article on the combat record of the Hurricane, six articles on its major variants and look at the Hawker Fury Monoplane, an earlier project from the same company.

Fairey Battle

the Fairey Battle, a British light bomber notorious for the heavy loses it suffered in 1940. It was too slow to face the Bf 109 and when it was used at low level proved to be vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire and even small arms fire.

Saab Draken

Today we add the Saab Draken, an impressive product of the Swedish aircraft industry, with a distinctive double-delta wing.

De Havilland Mosquito

EWe return after Easter with a major series of articles on the de Havilland Mosquito. The most versatile aircraft of the Second World War, the Mosquito served as a bomber, fighter bomber, night fighter and photo reconnaissance aircraft, relying on its speed to avoid enemy aircraft. Our coverage of the Mosquito runs to forty articles, including twenty nine on the major variants of the aircraft and eight on its combat record.