Montré Shuler
3/31/14
Focus
The Fighter Plane
The fighter plane has become a game changer in the aspect of war and the advances in technology have continued to make it an essential facet in war. Over the last 100 years the fighter plane has evolved into a lethal, reliable, and an efficient machine. They’ve come from firing bullets through propellers to screaming across the sky at speeds of over 1000 miles per hour! They’ve went from face to face dogfights, a close combat between military aircraft, to being able to shoot missiles at targets they can’t even see and still hit them! The advancements in technology have made the fighter plane an essential forte for any military. The fighter plane has a long history and is continuing to change and it has really proven its necessity in combat over the years beginning in WW1. Fighter planes are important and technology has made them an essential factor in for a military to have because without a strong air force the chances of winning a war are very low.
To understand why fighter planes are vital for a military to have one must know what a fighter plane is. A fighter plane is a military aircraft designed primarily for air to air combat with other aircraft. The distinctive features of a fighter plane is its speed, maneuverability, and size related to other aircraft. One of the purposes of a fighter plane is to gain air superiority over the battlefield. Having control of the skies has become a vital factor in determining the outcome of the war. When a military has air superiority over the opposing side it allows them to move around more and complete operations with greater efficiency. Even though a fighter plane’s main purpose is to gain control of the skies, some planes can be mu...
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... Raptor and F-35 JSF.
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For as long as most of the world can remember aviation has played a major factor in how wars are fought. Starting in World War I the worlds fighting forces began using aircraft to conduct surveillance missions over enemy territory. While these aircraft were not the masters of stealth that todays aircraft are there was no technology to take down these planes at the time. Air-to-air combat was an event that rarely happened and was almost never effective.
In today’s world, the use of airplanes in wars or in everyday life has become a part of how we live as human beings. Removing the air forces of the world is like taking a step back in time when wars were only fought on land or sea. WWI began only eleven short years after the Wright brothers achieved powered flight in 19031 and yet aircrafts were being used for surveillance and eventually combat purposes. It is understood that these aircrafts were primitive, but they laid down the foundation for what we know today as fighter jets. The Fokker Eindecker “revolutionized air combat by successfully employing a synchronized forward -firing machine gun mounted on the engine cowling”2. Because this airplane became the first to successfully use a synchronized machine gun, it allowed its pilots to become the first aerial combat tactitions3.
In Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Iraqi forces fired 93 Scud missiles at coalition forces in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. (Rostker) Air Defense Artillery (ADA) played an immensely significant role in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with units from 11th Brigade Air Defense Artillery and the 32d Air Defense Command rapidly deploying into theater. The effectiveness of the units and their roles in fighting this war proved that Air Defense Artillery was critical to the success of the campaign. Although Patriot Batteries placed strategically throughout Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Israel played a tremendous tactical role in these wars, High-Medium Air Defense (HIMAD) was not the only type of surface to air missile system in place to protect ground forces and valuable military assets. Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) units also deployed with the air defense units. These weapon systems, integrated with ground forces, provided air defense to dominate against aircraft and Tactical Ballistic Missiles (TBM) on the front lines.
The P-51 Mustang is regarded by many sources as the greatest fighter plane ever created. With the technological advancements this plane achieved, to it’s service record, to it’s importance in winning World War Two, the Mustang is truly one of the greats. The Mustang played a key role in long range bomber support and saved countless bomber crew’s lives, and pilots loved to fly it. The P-51 had the most aerial victories of any American fighter in World War Two and it was flown by some of America’s top aces. The P-51 was a beast of a fighter plane
...f 173 fighter aircraft models were made during the war. Fighter planes best showcased the constant struggle for supremacy in technology for the Axis and Allied powers as each side seemed to be in desperate need to outdo the other through improving the features and abilities of the aircrafts. The credentials for the top fighter aircrafts included the top speed, how much armament it could carry, the range, durability, visibility out of cockpit windows, and the overall flying performance. Two american fighters that received high marks were the North American P-51D Mustang and the Republic P-47D. For many the North American P-51D Mustang is considered the greatest fighter in World War 2 due to its range of 1140 miles that could increase to 2200 miles when external tanks were used. It visibility in the cockpit received high marks, as did its speed and maneuverability.
Armies and Navies have clashed since antiquity, but the airplane that enables aerial combat is barely a century old. Airplanes saw widespread combat in the First World War, and, despite the doubts and financial concerns of military leaders of the time, the brave men who fly them have gained their own dedicated military division, the United States Air Force. Billy Mitchell, through his charisma and an image that endeared him in American culture, was an instrumental figure in developing the modern Air Force.
The British were outnumbered 900 fighters to 640 fighters plus the Germans had an additional 1,300 bombers. With these statistics, the Luftwaffe thought that they would have a very easy time defeating the Royal Air Force. Even though the British were outnumbered, they had a few advantages that the Luftwaffe was unaware of. First, they develope...
World War One was known as the war that would end all wars. At first, airplanes in the war were thought to have just little combat use. An unknown British general even commented, " The airplane is useless for the purpose of war." In the beginning of the First World War, the airplanes were pretty simple and raw. By the end of the war, aircraft had become more advanced and had split off into fighters, bombers and long-range bombers. The specifications of the airplanes were changed to meet the war's requirements. When the War started in August of 1914, British airmen were associated with the British army and their commissioned officers had army ranks. Before the United State’s declaration of war in 1917, American nationals had enlisted in British and French air services including the Lafayette Escadrille. By the time the war ended in November of 1918, the Royal Flying Corps no longer prevailed and was absorbed into the recently developed Royal Air Force. The Royal Air Force now had its own command structure away from the army and provided its own ranks.
World War II was one of the deadliest military conflicts in history. There were many different battles that took place within this war; some more important than others. World War II began once Germany’s new dictator, Adolf Hitler, decided that he wanted to gain power for Germany and for himself. One of Hitler’s first moves in power was invading Poland on September 1, 1939. Many other countries became involved in this war because of the alliance system. The two sides during this war were the Allies and Axis powers. German, Italy and Japan were on the Axis powers; France, Britain, and the United States were on the Allies. Germany first began with the Blitzkrieg tactic meaning “lightning war”. This tactic is based on speed, surprise and was the most popular tactic. It is set up with military forces based around tanks which are supported by planes and infantry. The Blitzkrieg tactic lead to air wars with airplanes between countries. All of the countries were allowed to participate in the air wars but the four main countries were United States, Japan, Britain, and Germany. During the 1920’s and 1930’s airplanes grew in size and structure giving them more power, and making planes more effective. Planes made it easier to drop bombs, or plan attacks. All of these countries fought over air superiority. Air superiority is the position in which the air force has control over all of the air warfare and air power of the opposing forces. Germany began with air superiority but they lost it when Britain defeated them at the Battle of Britain. Gaining control over the air is a very big advantage because it is easier to plan an attack on an opposing country. All of the countries relied on their aircrafts during this war. The issue about the use of...
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During World War One, the role of airplanes and how they were used changed greatly. At first planes were only used for sport, but people started realize that not only could airplanes be useful but they could even influence an outcome of the war greatly. Soon the war was filled with blimps, planes, and tethered balloons. By the end of the war, planes became a symbol of fear, but they were not always treated with such respect. In the time leading up to the war, the general feeling about planes was, they were a sneaky, unfair tactic that should not be used in warfare.
As a young boy growing up in northern Michigan I was always obsessed with military aviation. Like many young boys, model aircraft filled my bedroom, everything from P-51 Mustangs and B-17 Flying Fortresses to F-15 Eagles and the beloved F-117 Nighthawk. It was really the latter of these aircraft that has driven my career and life thus far, and it is was the acknowledgement of this aircraft that drove me to love the Air Force.
Every day the world is evolving, different types of technology are being made for different kinds of uses. Some people in the army want to use drones to carry out different types of missions, in other places in the world. Using will help soldiers carry out missions, quicker, easier, and much more efficient. 60% of Americans agree on the usage of drones for army purposes. Many people say that the army should not use drones because drones will increase the number of terrorists, drones can kill and injure innocent civilians, and that drones will “...allow the United States to become emotionally disconnected from the horrors of war” (ℙ8, Drones). There are many advantages with having drones aid military bases, because
How many times have an average person flown in an airplane, did people ever think what the world would be like without them? Airplanes have provided people with opportunities to go all over the world to experience different cultures and places. They also create jobs for many people which contributes to how they boost the economy. In conclusion, they appear as a more clean way to travel, helping out the Earth. The airplane was one of the most important inventions due to it creating jobs, creating easier cultural access, causes economic boosts, and created less pollution than most means of travel and also has an interesting history.