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List of author's articles
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"Taran" in the Slovak sky
In September 2006, an unintentional " taran " took place at Bratislava - Vajnory Airport, in the article you will find a photo report and a short description of this event, with almost tragic consequences.
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30/5000ZiS-5 - hard worker in combat and in civilian life
The inconspicuous ZiS-5 truck did a great deal of work building the Soviet economy. After solving the first technical problems, it became the basis for a number of superstructures, including military ones, and was the first Soviet truck to be exported abroad. Equally indisputable are his merits in securing combat operations of the Soviet army during World War II.
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33/5000 Caudron G.3 - Unexpectedly long-lived
From a conceptual point of view, the Caudron G.3 was an obsolete aircraft at the time of the outbreak of the first world conflict. Nevertheless, it enjoyed great popularity and was produced long after the war. It was used by many countries and many pilots gained their first experience on it. He has a number of interesting events to his credit, including a landing on the roof of the Galeries Lafayette.
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A-12 Blackbird (1) - High and fast
If the key to the survival of the U-2 was access, which was beyond the capabilities of its generation fighters, another aircraft from "Skunk Works" was to have, in addition to fantastic access, a speed that designers had never dreamed of until then. In addition to increasing speed, the designers in the construction of the new aircraft for the first time ever purposefully focused on reducing the effective RCS. This miracle technique was called the A-12 Blackbird.
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Action sets of books published by Naše vojsko
On the occasion of broadcasting the series Aircraft Carrier Enterprise, the publishing house Naše vojsko prepared action sets of books at discounted prices. This offer is valid only for the duration of this ten-part broadcast of the series.
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AEW - Boeing 737AEW & C (1) - Early Warning for Down Under
Until recently, early warning aircraft were the domain of only the Big Four, ie the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain and France. However, the new world has brought new dangers and it has been confirmed that information superiority helps the effective deployment of its own air force to such an extent that it is possible to significantly reduce the number of active units.
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AEW - Boeing 737AEW & C (2) - Late, but still
When the Soviet Union fell and the bloc of socialist countries disintegrated, many people thought that most of the threats had fallen. It didn't fall. They just redistributed them. Australia was most concerned. The balance of power in the region has changed and the availability of some technologies has allowed arsenals to expand.
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AEW aircraft - Erieye (1) - Swedish eye in the sky
There are only a few states in the world that have been able to develop their own flying Airborne Early Warning (AEW) system. And even fewer are those who have successfully sold it to foreign users. Sweden has succeeded. Although the Erieye system was developed for a different world than it is today, it eventually became a successful export item.
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AEW aircraft - Erieye (2) - First export success
We abandoned the development of the Swedish early warning system at the time of the collapse of the communist bloc, a number of weapons systems were abolished, and surplus weapons were sold " for a buck ." Let's see how Erieye withstood the new conditions.
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AEW aircraft - Erieye (3) - In different parts of the world
As is well known, the best argument in the sale of weapon systems is the experience of their practical use, preferably in a region where there is " hot soil ". illegal flights in 2006 needs no further comment.
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AH-1 Cobra - Norm of combat helicopter
It is not so long ago that the term combat helicopter was associated with the name Cobra. Since then, combat helicopters of various designs have entered the arsenal of many states, for which the Cobras were a standard of quality. Since then, they have undergone a long evolution and the number of their variants has exhausted the alphabet.
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AH-64D Longbow Apache
The AH-64A embodied the knowledge bought in the Korean and Vietnam Wars by the blood of the pilots of the first armed and combat helicopters. For a long time, he became the standard of a combat helicopter, which was able to decimate the enemy's tank columns. But technology from the early 70's has some limitations. Therefore, it was necessary to develop the AH-64D Longbow Apache, which significantly expanded the capabilities of the original helicopter.
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Air Fighters in Combat - Brave bombers
Fighter planes are intended for combat. They are fast, powerful and agile. But the fighter's blood circulates in the veins of virtually every pilot, whether it's sitting behind a glider, a bomber, or a transport plane.
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Air Fighters in Combat - Death of the Japanese Fleet
During World War II, aircraft proved to be able to send any ship hundreds of kilometers away before it came within range of its cannons. The aircraft carriers thus pushed the massive battleships out of their hitherto unshakable post of queens of the seas. But what if aircraft carriers find themselves in front of the barrels of heavy surface units?
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Air Fighters in Combat - Famous Aces
The art of air combat did not arise by itself. Creating basic, generally valid rules of how to be successful cost a lot of blood and lives. There is a special group of fighter pilots that managed to shoot down more opponents than anyone else. Those who shot down five opponents had the proud title of fighter ace.
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Air Fighters in Combat - Hell over Hanoi
Every fighter pilot's dream is to become an ace. To obtain this title, it is necessary to shoot down at least five enemy aircraft. Shooting down five planes and staying alive alone is not easy. Moreover, in modern times, there are fewer and fewer large-scale fights and it is increasingly difficult to get wiped off. American pilots had the last great opportunity in the skies of North Vietnam.
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Air Fighters in Combat - Hunt for Bismarck
Hitler wanted to return the status of a naval power to Germany. He looted financial reserves and brought the German economy to the brink of collapse so that he could fulfill another of his crazy dreams - to build a strong surface fleet. But the reaction of the British Admiralty quickly brought him back to earth.
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Air Fighters in Combat - Middle East
The history of the state of Israel is a history full of wars to defend its own independence. Since its inception, the small state has been a thorn in the side of the surrounding Arab states, which have continued to try to erase it from the world map once and for all. Therefore, he had to fight many times, which was a struggle for survival. And the situation has not changed to this day.
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Air Fighters in Combat - Obituary of combat
Air combat, like all fields of human activity, has evolved. As the design of aircraft changed and their performance grew, so did the nature of air combat. Today, a fighter pilot can destroy an enemy before he gets in sight.
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Air Fighters in Combat - Zero fighter killer
Proper identification and knowledge of the opponent's performance decides victory or defeat, life or death. Those who make a mistake are usually not given the opportunity to think about where the mistake was made. And seasoned aces can also be mistaken. This is another part of the series Fighters in Combat.
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Aircraft AEW - Airborne Early Warning - Eyes of the Air Force
Early warning aircraft provide air force commanders with a constant overview of the air situation, far beyond the radar horizon. They are one of the key elements for winning information superiority on the battlefield and enable the effective deployment of their own forces. Their construction has undergone a long development and today they are an indispensable part of the modern air force. The number of air forces that operate early warning aircraft is constantly growing.
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An-71 - Soviet mini AWACS
Early warning aircraft represent a significant expansion of the Air Force's capabilities, as they are able to detect targets much earlier than ground-based radars. As a result, the Air Force itself has much more time to respond adequately. Deployment can be directly proportional to the threat, which increases the efficiency of managing dedicated forces.
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Are you bored? Go to SOG Defense training!
Training with SOG Defense was an offer in which innate laziness fought in me with the same innate curiosity. In the end, curiosity prevailed. After all, you don't meet members of the Special Operations Group every day. You can find out how it turned out in the article. Warning: The article uses original shots that are not suitable for children, pregnant women and people with weaker mental resilience.
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At the Mercedes-Benz polygon
On October 8, 2009, a presentation of military vehicles of all categories took place at the Mercedes-Benz test site in Wörth. It was gratifying that the owners of the relevant driving license were able to personally test the behavior of the vehicles in the field.
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Bartini VVA-14 - Amphibian plane with vertical takeoff and landing
When you visit the VVS museum in Monino, you will definitely not miss the wreck of the machine, which does not resemble any known aircraft or even approximately. It stands on a tandem chassis, while it has massive floats and an incredibly thick centerplane. In the grass are wings with such a small depth of profile that they look as if they did not even belong to the aircraft, and a short sideways of an empty engine nacelle. The civil matriculation CCCP-10687 is also interesting. It is a seaplane wreck with a vertical takeoff and landing Bartini VVA-14
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Berjev R, R-1, R-2 - The first Soviet jet flying boats
The first Soviet jet flying boat. Because the Soviet Union did not have aircraft carriers and did not own long-range bombers, some tasks had to be performed by flying boats. Their tasks were to include attacking enemy naval alliances, but the road to such an aircraft was long and the concept became obsolete before it went into production.
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BT fast tanks in combat
The American tanks of the designer Walter Christie indisputably laid the foundations of modern Soviet tanks. Soviet designers, workers and the entire production base gained a lot of experience in their modifications and production. It's time to show what the new tanks can do in combat.
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BT-2 Birth in severe pain
On July 18, 1929, the Soviet Military Council issued Protocol No. 29, in which it defined the requirements for new armament of tank and mechanized units of the Red Army. At the same time, in accordance with Lenin's theory of the "export of revolution," plans for offensive operations into the depths of the enemy's territory were developed. This required weapons. A lot of weapons.
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BT-5 and BT-7 Continuers of the family
The production of the BT-2 tank initially faced considerable difficulties, but gradually gained momentum. Nevertheless, it was clear that the new tank, as copied from the American model, was not the most suitable for service in the difficult conditions of the Soviet Union. It was necessary to make changes.
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Care under fire
If a unit comes under fire, it usually has wounded, often severely wounded. The first seconds are crucial for saving lives. But the unit must immediately solve another task - to repel the attack. So who will help the wounded? Mostly nobody at first. He has to help himself. Warning: The article uses original shots that are not suitable for children, pregnant women and people with weaker mental resilience.
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Casspir - Well-protected infantry
Asymmetric conflicts impose different requirements on the construction of armored vehicles than the large ones envisaged during the Cold War. One of the countries that had considerable experience with them was South Africa, which has a powerful arms industry. An unfortunate experience was the losses caused by mines and booby-trapped explosive systems.
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Chieftain - British heavyweight
Opinions differ on what the ideal tank should look like on the battlefield. Everyone knows the three basic parameters, firepower, mobility and armor protection, but each design school has its own ideas about what their ideal ratio is and which one is more important. The British had a different view on the whole matter than the Soviets, the Germans or the Americans.
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Chieftain - Manipulations with export
The first FV 4201 arrived in Germany to verify how the new tank would withstand first line operations. Tank regiments were to express their opinion and propose possible changes so that the tank would be able to be included in series production as soon as possible. The program was already slipping against the plan anyway.
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Command car type 26/30
The vehicle was built on the chassis of a Tatra 26/30 light truck.
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Cruiser Tank Mk.III - Christie's chassis the english way
Britain was the cradle of tanks. However, in the interwar period, it lost its leading position. The actively cooperating Germany and the Soviet Union came to the fore. Under pressure from growing armaments on the continent, Britain was forced to do something about the situation. Therefore, the development of new armored vehicles was started.
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Cruiser Tank Mk.IV - Correction of deficiencies
The new A13 Mk.I Cruiser Mk.III tank became the basis of a long line of armored vehicles. The use of the Christie chassis had a great deal of credit for that. However, before the British reached the successful tanks, they had to eliminate the childhood diseases that accompany every novelty.
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Czech students can help with securiry solutions for SAAB
Saab AB, a global provider of military and security solutions, has partnered with the Technology Cup student competition to enable college students, PhD students and young technical and design professionals to showcase their skills and win one of the Best Work or Innovation Awards.
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Dassault MD.450 Ouragan 01 - new beginnings
The French aviation industry was in ruins after World War II. However, the "land of the Gallic rooster" did not give up its ambition to restore it and return to pre-war prestige. The path was not easy, because France had a five-year failure in the development of jet engines.
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Dassault MD.450 Ouragan 02 - when a hurricane strikes
The MD.450 was the first French mass-produced jet aircraft. A number of variants were considered, but the rapid obsolescence of the first generation jets did not allow them to be implemented. For the same reason, the Ouragans were relatively quickly scrapped from the ALA ( Armée de l'Air ) and offered for export. They gained their combat fame mainly in the ranks of the Israeli Air Force.
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Dewoitine D.520 01- Missed chance
Probably the most elegant, but in any case the most powerful French fighter of World War II was the Dewoitine D.520. At first, it did not look nearly as good and the French Air Force command was not interested in it. But that was to change.
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Dewoitine D.520 02 - With everyone - against everyone
Due to the government's laziness, the most powerful French fighter got into production late. At the beginning of World War II, the units received only the first few pieces. After the defeat of France, the D.520 flew on various battlefields, under various insignia, on the side of the Axis and against it, against the Allies and on their side.
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Dogfights
Dogfights have always attracted attention. Since the First World War, their participants have been considered heroes, stories have been written about nothing, and they have become idols of generations. However, the reality of air combat is much more prosaic. Whatever the motivation of the pilots to fight, there was always a winner on one side and a loser on the other in a crippled or burning plane falling to the ground. This series deals with the struggle from their beginning to the modern age, when the sky is steadily ruled by jet engines.
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Dornier Do 335 Pfeil 01 - Elegant tandem
Do 335 Pfeil was one of the fastest piston engine aircraft developed during World War II. Although the concept itself was older, the impetus for its completion was the deployment of fast British Mosquito aircraft and the deteriorating situation of Nazi Germany. The plane was to fulfill Hitler's vision of a fast bomber.
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Dornier Do 335 Pfeil 02 - Too late
Do 335 Pfeil with tandem engines had no path to series production strewn with rose petals. However, its unusual design attracted the attention of the Leader himself, and in the end several dozen machines were produced.
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Elbe Exercise 2011
On 26 May, the Elbe 2011 exercise took place near Litoměřice, the main part of which was directed by the 15th Engineer Brigade , specifically the 151st Engineer Battalion . The topic was the construction of a pontoon bridge over the Elbe. This time, other units also took part in the exercise, especially the 25th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade , the 7th Mechanized Brigade and the 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade . This is a short photo and video report.
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Eurofighter Typhoon
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a highly agile aircraft, designed to be an effective dogfighter in combat.Later production aircraft have been increasingly better equipped to undertake air-to-surface strike missions and to be compatible with an increasing number of different armaments and equipment, including Storm Shadow, Brimstone and Marte ER missiles. The Typhoon had its combat debut during the 2011 military intervention in Libya with the UK's Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Italian Air Force, performing aerial reconnaissance and ground-strike missions. The type has also taken primary responsibility for air-defence duties for the majority of customer nations.
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F-104 Starfighter - The phenomenon of speed
Nearing the end of 1951, conventional fighters introduced into service flew at speeds of about 1 MACH, rather less. They reached supersonic speeds mostly only in dive flight or completely without weapons. Lockheed designer Clarence "Kelly" Johnson visited United States Air Force (USAF) pilots fighting in Korea to find out which aircraft would suit them. He received an unisono response from the fighters: a light aircraft, overcoming the enemy in speed, climbability, access and dexterity.
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F-14 Tomcat vs Su-22 - Dogfight over the gulf of Great Sydra
During the Cold War, pilots of fully armed aircraft of both major powers, their allies or satellites, met many times in the air. Most of the meetings went without conflicts, although the participants mostly ran what is called " irritating the rattlesnake with their bare feet ". If nothing else, at least they tried to take a more advantageous position over the opponent. But sometimes it turned out differently.
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F-15A Baz versus the MiG-25 - Trap from a textbook
The USSR developed a powerful MiG-25 fighter aircraft in the late 1960s. This aircraft was not originally to be exported, but after Lieutenant Viktor Belenko flew with one MiG-25P to the base of Hakodate in Japan, there was nothing to hide. The aircraft was released for export. Thus, although there was never a conflict between the great powers, the MiG-25 had the opportunity to fight, over Lebanon, with its counterpart, the American F-15. Although both aircraft flew under the insignia of other countries.
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F-22 Raptor
The one you don't see will take you down. Fighter alphabet. This is true even today in the age of the latest technologies. Perhaps even more than at a time when pilots had to rely only on their eyes. The growing emphasis on stealth technology only confirms this.
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F-86F Saber versus MiG-15 (1) - Twentieth Ace
When the car runs out of fuel just in front of the gas station, you can push it towards it. But what to do if the same thing happens to an aircraft in flight? Plus a jet fighter, the most modern creation of its time ... the same. Push.
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F-86F Saber versus MiG-15 (2) - How to push Saber
The best pilot Risner had ever met in his life was not an American, but a MiG-15 pilot with whom he had fought. To a duel that ultimately brought losses on both sides.
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F3D-2N versus MiG-15 - the controversial fight
Most Western publications state that the first night duel and the downing of jet fighters took place during the fighting in Korea, specifically on November 3, 1952. The other side, on the other hand, clearly denies the downing. A comparison of the available data reveals a number of ambiguities, which make this event a relatively controversial issue.
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F4D Skyray – Ford
Given that marine airplanes are subject to exceptional requirements regarding airframe strength and corrosion resistance, this cannot be affected other than by suffering from a mass handicap compared to their competitors intended to be operated exclusively from ground bases. This ultimately leads to poorer performance. Therefore, most of the world records were set by machines from the Air Force… With a few exceptions.
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F4D-1 Skyray - Naval record holder
The Douglas F4D was an aerodynamically fine and relatively light aircraft. Its only weakness was the not very powerful spare power unit. Although he eventually had to settle for a weaker engine than originally expected, his performance was great. The entries in the FAI record table speak for themselves.
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Fighters in combat II
After the successful broadcast of 13 episodes, Czech Television comes up with the second series in the series Air Fighters in Combat. The second series will contain 14 sections devoted to different periods of aerial combat. The individual parts deal with the development of technology and tactics from the First World War to the present day.
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Fighters in combat II - 01 The first blood
The first air battles took place during the First World War. At that time, the fragile aircraft, which could barely carry a pilot, became machines armed with machine guns and had sufficient power to be able to perform basic acrobatic maneuvers.
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Fighters in combat II - 02 Kamikaze
Kamikaze - Desperate attempts to reverse the course of the war by consciously sacrificing the lives of one's own soldiers. For fanatical Japanese - fulfillment of the Bushido Code, for allies - an act of utter madness.
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Fighters in combat II - 03 Desperate mission
A desperate situation requires desperate solutions. And the air situation over Germany in 1945 was not rosy at all. The Allies bombed selected targets at will. Therefore, a special commando Elbe was formed, which was to destroy the bombers with a taran.
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Fighters in combat II - 04 Bloody day
May 10, 1972, a seemingly ordinary day of the protracted war. But it was not completely common - that day most of the North Vietnamese planes were shot down during the whole war.
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Fighters in combat II - 05 Night hunters
For a long time, bomber pilots took advantage of the limitations of human vision and attacked at night. The darkness was a reliable hiding place and guaranteed relatively high security. But with the development of technology, everything has changed. The electronic eyes of the radars saw as well at night as they did during the day.
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Fighters in combat II - 06 Mustang
Each fighter is a compromise between the requirements for high performance and strong armament, solid protection of sensitive parts and long range, which declassify performance. Successful designs are a balanced compromise of conflicting requirements. One such aircraft was the legendary P-51 Mustang.
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Fighters in Combat II - 07 Desert Storm Fights
Operation Desert Storm was a duel between the Allied and Iraqi air forces. Men in the cockpits of Allied aircraft, mostly with no combat experience, were to face an enemy seasoned from many battles.
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Fighters in combat II - 08 Just above ground
During a duel, aircraft usually gradually lose altitude. When they are just above the ground, another factor threatens both pilots - the proximity of the ground. Whoever makes a mistake will die.
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Fighters in combat II - 09 Thunderbolt
In 1940, Republic's chief engineer, Alex Kartveli, studied reports of air combat in Europe and designed an aircraft that fundamentally changed the way we look at air combat and what a fighter should look like.
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Fighters in combat II - 10 Speed as a weapon
One of the key parameters of a fighter is speed. Speed means safety. Slower planes are almost always the prey of faster opponents. That's why designers have always tried to give their pilots the fastest possible aircraft.
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Fighters in combat II - 11 Secret weapons
Weapons are designed so that after shorter or longer training can be operated by moderately trained soldiers. But in all countries, weapons that were extremely destructive or designed to destroy special targets were also designed. Weapons entrusted to a handful of the chosen ones. Secret weapons.
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Fighters in combat II - 12 Tuskegee pilots
The African American population did not have it easy in the pre-war United States. Even when they wanted to lay down their life for their ungrateful homeland. A handful of pilots called the Tuskegee Airmen changed their view of the whole thing.
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Fighters in combat II - 13 Cannon kills in Vietnam
At the turn of the fifties and sixties, a number of technical industries developed rapidly, including electronics and missile technology. A number of designers in both the East and the West have concluded that the main armament is a survival. Nothing could be further from the truth.
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Fighters in combat II - 14 Defeat the Luftwaffe
Although the Luftwaffe was on the defensive at the end of 1944 and the defense of the empire was beyond its power, it rose to desperate action on New Year's Eve. Virtually all usable fighters flew into the sky with a single goal - to inflict a crushing blow on the Allies.
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Firefighting Off Road Day 2010
On March 11, 2010, the first year of Firefighting Off Road Day 2010 took place in the Hummer Center in Prague Počernice.
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From Ascension to the end of the world
On April 2, 1982, units of the Argentine army occupied the hitherto virtually unknown Falkland Islands, which belonged to Great Britain. It probably didn't have occurred to the Argentine that the few almost uninhabited islands would be worth the British expedition to the other side of the world. But there should not be an oil field in the Falklands with a yield of two million barrels a day, and there should be no " iron lady " Margaret Thatcher in power.
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GBU-28 Bunker Buster
It might seem that bombs with a final guidance and a weight of over 1000 kg are a sufficiently effective means for all targets. Therefore, even military planners did not push manufacturers into the development of larger-caliber air bombs. When it turned out to be not entirely true, very little time remained for development. In the end, the GBU-28 weighing over two tons was made in an incredibly short time.
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Hawker Hunter 01 - Cousin of the Sea Hawks
It is said that an aircraft that looks good also flies well. One of the types that fully applies to this is the Hawker Hunter. Another truth is that many aircraft designed by designers based on their best experience met the requirements of pilots better than the ideas of ministry officials. This also applies to Hunters literally.
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Hawker Hunter 02 - First generation
Hawker's new arrow-wing fighter returned Britain to the modern jet manufacturers' club. In addition to being good, she was elegant and aroused deserved attention wherever she appeared. RAF pilots could not wait for the new machine, and buyers from abroad also showed interest.
Serial production began at Hawker's parent plant in Kingston, where the F.1 version was produced, and at Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft (AWA) 's Coventry, where the F.2 version was produced. Both aircraft differed only in the power unit used. In the first case it was a Rolls-Royce Avon engine, in the second Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire. -
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Hawker Hunter 03 - Bullseye
Hunters were created at a time when development was moving forward by leaps and bounds. The aircraft became obsolete very quickly. However, there were many countries in the world for which simple and cheap jets came in handy. The first generation of arrow-wing aircraft received a long service - and the Hunters were no exception.
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His Majesty Land Ship Centipede
With the almost ingenious idea of how to solve the problem of trench crossing, came the resourceful Walter G. Wilson. Like most similar ideas, it was basically simple. Wilson combined the advantages of large-diameter wheels with the cab of the vehicle sandwiched between them and the advantages of a caterpillar track.
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ILA 2004
The International Luft und Raumfahrtausstellung is a trade fair held every two years at Berlin's Shonefeld south airport. More than 1,000 exhibitors from almost 50 countries, including representatives of the Czech Republic, presented themselves on an area of 150,000 m2.
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Infantry fighting vehicle BMP-1 - 01
BMP-1 Bojevaja Mašina Pjechoty - infantry fighting vehicle was in our latitudes praised almost as a miracle of technology, which has no analogues in the world. At the same time, a number of legends arose around this vehicle, many of which survive to this day. But was it really a vehicle that outperformed the competition in every way?
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Infantry fighting vehicle BMP-2 - 01
During the first combat deployment of BMP-1, all its shortcomings became apparent. Complaints from Arab users were mostly attributed to poor deployment, poor training and discipline. However, there were also voices from the Soviet army that the combat value of this vehicle was questionable.
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Infantry fighting vehicle BMP-2 - 02
The development of an infantry fighting vehicle that would not suffer the vices of its predecessor was a long and full intrigue on the part of the GRAU. In the end, the officials were convinced of the effectiveness of the new armaments. However, it was not won yet.
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Ka-50 Black Shark
For many years, M.L. Mil was the design supplier of helicopters for the Soviet army. Although N.I. Kamov's competition office participated in a number of competitions announced by the army, Mil's position was unshakable until the army announced a competition for a new combat helicopter in search of an equivalent counterweight to the American AAH program.
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Karl-Gerät 040 - Cousin of Fat Berta - part 1
Artillery was called the god of war. His concentrated fire was able to drown bold attacks in blood or disrupt enemy defenses. The construction of artillery technology reached its peak during the Second World War and just after it. Some types reached monstrous proportions. One such was the Karl-Gerät 040 weighing over 100 tons.
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Karl-Gerät 040 - Cousin of Fat Berta - part 2
The development of Karl-Gerät 040 took a long time, so he did not have time for the initial campaign for which it was designed, but now a new adversary has appeared. Although he was a former loyal ally, now there was nothing to prevent him from testing a new weapon in his territory, which many German officers had been familiar with from the time of close cooperation.
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Landwasserschlepper LWS
When the construction of the Wehrmacht began, the generals concluded that they would need a vehicle capable of carrying larger loads or larger units of soldiers over larger water obstacles to conduct combat operations. They were supposed to be large watercourses and lakes, but also deep sea bays or straits between the mainland and islands.
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Lightnings in the air
Some fighters do not only bear the type designation, but have their own names. And what name represents speed and power, ie the characteristics that a fighter should have, above all, better than lightning? Probably none. The series of following articles describes the planes that deserved the name lightning - more or less.
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Lightnings in the sky 05 - BAC Lightning - Twice as fast as sound
In the last part, we learned the background to the development of the first and only purely British supersonic fighter aircraft. The boundaries of his performances kept moving forward. But there was not much missing and the phenomenal plane never had to get into regular service.
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Lightnings in the sky 06 - BAC Lightning - Breeding of the genus
In the early 1960s, the production of British Lightnings began to pick up. The number of units armed with them was growing. Improvements have been applied to the new versions, which have so far been tested on prototypes or pre-production aircraft.
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Lightnings in the sky 07 - BAC Lightning - End of Career
The single-seater variants of the Lightning aircraft became the basis for the development of other versions. Two-seater for retraining and training of new pilots as well as export machines, offered to traditional and some other potential customers.
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Lightnings in the sky 08 - F-35 Lightning II - The birth of a new generation
Tests of the new universal aircraft are currently underway, which should be unique in all respects. This is the largest contract in the history of the Air Force, in which many countries participate. It is assumed that after a long time, it will be an aircraft that will experience thousands of series. It has already received its combat name: F-35 Lightning II.
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Lightnings in the sky 09 - F-35 Lightning II - JSF takes shape
JSF is a program that includes so many conflicting requirements that have never been faced before by any team of designers. To meet them, it was necessary to carefully choose the basic configuration, so that after minimal modifications to suit all armed forces participating in the program.
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Lightnings in the sky 10 - F-35 Lightning II - The first does not mean a winner
The aircraft test program of the technological demonstrators of the JSF program was the battle of two groups associating the largest aircraft manufacturers. The results of the tests and the final decision of the commission depended on who won the contract of the century, probably one of the last piloted attack aircraft.
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Lightnings in the sky 11 - F-35 Lightning II - Start of series production
The JSF program had its winner, but it has not been won by far. The very start of series production was in danger several times and it was not at all certain how many F-35 Lightning II and which variants will be ordered in the end.
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Lightnings in the sky 12 - He-70 - German Blitz according to the American model
When I planned the Lightning in the Sky series, I assumed it would only include airplanes called Lightning. But after the last part was published, I received a number of e-mails warning that the "lightning bolts" also flew in other countries and how it is possible that they were not mentioned in the series, or how I intend to correct this wrong. So I put an imaginary shovel of ash on my head - and we go for them.
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Little Willie
One of the problems identified during the No.I Lincoln Machine tests was the problem of overcoming the trenches.
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Lockheed U-2 - Legendary spy
The U-2 has been flying since the mid-1950s. Although it will celebrate half a century since its first take-off next year, it is not yet going to "retire". The reason is simple. Although obsolete in the age of satellites, the construction from the last century may seem obsolete, the truth remains that the aircraft is a reliable platform for many reconnaissance systems. It is much more operative and cheaper against satellites.
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M1 Abrams (1) - the whispering death
Abrams. A tank that became famous during the first and second wars in the Persian Gulf. But its birth was not easy at all, and a long time passed before the armor received new armaments.
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M1A1 - M1A2 Abrams (2) - New generation
The introduction of a new tank did not just mean a new vehicle. The experience from the operation caused a practically complete reconstruction of the armored divisions, because the old organizational structure was unsatisfactory. Only then was the potential of the new tanks properly used.
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M3 Stuart 01 - The difficult beginnings of American tanks
When the war broke out in Europe in September 1939, American tank units presented a picture of misery and suffering. Even Poland, which was certainly not considered a tank power, was able to build about 700 tanks in the field. There were only about 400 of them in the entire United States, many of which still remembered World War I and were so worn out that they could only be kept in operation with all their might.
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M3 Stuart 02 - On the road to success
Although the development of the M3 tank was initially stalled and technically it was definitely not revolutionary, gradually one of the most widespread tanks in history was created. This was due to balanced performance, quality production and also the general shortage of combat equipment on the part of the Allies.
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M42 Duster - the fire dragon
The US military relied on air superiority during World War II. Anti-aircraft defense of the troops provided towed cannons, or. self-propelled anti-aircraft devices M16 MGMC on halftrack landing gear. Only at the end of the war did the anti-aircraft tanks M19 with a double cannon Bofors caliber 40 mm on the chassis of the M24 Chaffee tank get into production. However, the end of the war caused less than 300 pieces to be built.
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M48 Chaparral - a temporary solution for 30 years
Since the end of World War II, the US Armed Forces has relied primarily on its air force to gain air supremacy. The military air defense systems did not reach such numbers or the number of types as in the Soviet Union and in the countries of the Eastern bloc. The backbone type at the division level was the M48 Chaparral during the Cold War, using the proven Sidewinder missiles.
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M5 Stuart - The peak of a career
M3 tanks were initially forced to perform the tasks of medium or fast tanks, which for obvious reasons did not do well. With the growing number of real medium tanks, the Stuarts were able to be released for reconnaissance tasks, where they proved to be fully effective. Production grew and with it some unexpected problems that needed to be solved.
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M551 Sheridan (1) - Hard beginnings
Light tanks have been developed alongside their heavier counterparts for years, and their journey through history is varied and pretty winding. The last American light tank included in the service was the M551 Sheridan. It was a rather contradictory vehicle with exotic weapons.
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M551 Sheridan (2) - Improved reputation
The M551 did not gain a very good reputation at the beginning of its deployment, mainly due to its relatively complicated design and hasty deployment in combat. In addition, he found himself on a battlefield for which he was not designed and performed tasks that belonged to the MBT. During the later deployment, he improved his bad reputation and eventually lasted longer than the biggest optimists would expect.
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M60 Patton - Gradual improvement
The M60 tank was originally considered a transitional type, but in the end it was one of the most common American tanks. At the time of its creation, there was a rapid development of rocket technology and electronics, which led to the idea of replacing the classic tank with a more futuristic vehicle. However, after the experience from the operational deployment, the designers eventually gladly returned to the proven solutions.
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M60 Patton - Universal tank
The M48 tank became a standard tank in the armament of many armies. Its successor, the Main Battle Tank (MBT) M60 Patton, was considered a temporary solution. He has survived in the armament of a number of armies to this day, although it was still the original concept, preserving proven elements to the maximum extent.
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MBT-70 - Too complicated solution (1)
The development of this tank dates back to the early sixties. At the time, the US Army and Bundeswehr were looking for a replacement for their obsolete tanks. Joint development seemed to be the ideal solution. An unusual concept tank was created with an unmanned hull and a number of technical finesse, but it did not get into service.
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MBT-70 - Too complicated solution (2)
In this work, we will focus on the technical description of the rest of the tank and the conclusion of the project, which did not meet the high hopes placed in it.
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MiG-17F versus F-105D - The hero easily and quickly
So far, I have dealt with fights in my articles, in which the technique of western provenance was on the winning side. In order not to look biased, in this article I will focus on the duel in which the roles were reversed.
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MiG-1: When the cat is not home ...
In the early 1930s, representatives of the Soviet Air Force were satisfied. Modern I-15 fighter biplanes came into service, soon followed by the revolutionary I-16 monoplane with a retractable landing gear. The head of the design office, Nikolai Polikarpov, rightly enjoyed the reputation of the " king of fighters ." Then came the war in Spain and everything was different.
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MiG-29 - a reaction to the demands of the market
The MiG-29 was, like most Russian aircraft, created as a more or less single-purpose weapon. His primary task was air combat. But times are changing and those interested in single-purpose aircraft are like saffron. To survive, it is essential to meet the requirements of the market, and it wants universal aircraft. This also applies to the RSK MiG.
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MiG-3 in the fight for survival
At the time of the outbreak of hostilities between the Soviet Union and Germany, the MiG-1 and MiG-3, respectively, were the first and most numerous fighters of the new generation. MiG pilots had to fight to save the country and head of the design office to save production. After a series of crushing defeats, the country's free resources were limited and competition was high.
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MiG-3: Fast onset - short breath
At the end of 1940, the newly established design office OKB-155 Mikoyan-Guryevich had its hands full with the start of production of the I-200 aircraft, better known under the military designation MiG-1. However, it did not warm up on the production line for a long time and was soon replaced by a modified aircraft marked MiG-3.
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North Korea and its nuclear carriers
North Korea has started harassing weapons several times. This time, however, she went a little too far. In addition to declaring combat readiness to the rocket troops, it re-entered a state of war with its southern neighbors. In addition, the North Korean military received permission to strike the United States. But what options does Kim Jong-un and his army actually have?
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Operation Chastis - Dangerous Firecrackers (Part 1)
Catastrophic floods in recent years have shown how powerful the water can be. During World War II, the British came up with the idea of using the power of the water masses in a targeted manner. It would be enough to break the dam and the water would complete the work of destruction. But it is easy to say, but much more difficult to do. Operation Chastis has proven that this is not impossible.
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Operation Chastis - Dangerous Firecrackers (Part 2)
One of the RAF's most daring actions during World War II was a raid on dams in the Ruhr. The raid required perfect planning and cooperation of the entire squadron. From start to finish it was dangerous and the result was uncertain. Until the last moment, the crews had no idea what the goal was. All they knew was that it would not be a common one, but some valuable goal, and the price they would have to pay would probably be high.
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Operation Chastis - Dangerous Firecrackers (Part 3)
The prospects for the successful completion of Operation Chastise were not great. Before the Lancasters of the first and second waves arrived to their targets, their ranks thinned considerably. Nevertheless, the crews had no choice but to try to complete the task with honor.
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Parasite aircrafts
Ever since the first heavier-than-air planes appeared and began to compete with the reigning airships, designers have been flirting with the idea of using heavier aircraft (the term aircraft includes all flying machines, heavier-than-air aircraft and lighter air aerostats) to carry lighter ones.
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Patton tanks - Special versions
For decades, the M47 / M48 / M60 Patton tanks formed the backbone of the armed forces of the United States and other countries around the world. However, the operation of tank units requires a number of support vehicles. With the gradual replacement of older versions, loose chassis were used to build similar vehicles.
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Rapier - a kit for everyone
During the Cold War, the British Army needed to defend itself against Warsaw Pact aircraft. In the 1960s, the development of a successful short-range system was launched to defend the bases and areas of troop concentration. The whole world knows this system under the name Rapier.
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Rapier - the possibilities are growing
In the last part, we described the development and basic variants of the British Rapier system. However, the British constantly paid attention to improving its capabilities and tried to sell the system to foreign customers. They were successful in both of these activities.
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Rooikat 01 - South African beast
So far, we have dealt with the armored vehicles of traditional manufacturers, or the technology of some of the leading powers. However, interesting combat vehicles were also produced in other countries. The truth remains that their design differed significantly from the requirements of users in Europe or the United States at the time of their creation. But times are changing.
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Rooikat 02 - another to the family
The Rooikat combat vehicle was developed for specific conditions in the southern tip of Africa, yet the manufacturer used it as a basis for other vehicles, which it also offered on foreign markets. Unfortunately, none of these activities resulted in a real order.
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Schneider CA.1 - the first French tank
The British were the first to deploy tanks in combat. Although the Germans built very late only a few pieces of the A7V tank, their construction went down in history with the first duel with British opponents. The creations of the French tank school remained somewhat out of focus. Needless to say, wrong.
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Sea Hawk - undemanding and reliable
At the turn of the 1940s and 1950s, Hawker caught up with the delays it had in developing jet aircraft. The first P.1040 project saved only the FAA's interest because the RAF lost interest. Nevertheless, he was almost buried by his younger brother with an arrow wing.
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SPAD VII versus Albatros D.III (1) - The end of old times
Kill or be killed. The golden rule that guarantees pilots survival in air combat. The enemy does not tolerate any distraction or minor deployment. He can use every piloting error or defect on the machine. Otherwise, he would become a victim himself. But this was not always the case.
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SPAD VII versus Albatros D.III (2) - Gentlemen did not die out ...
I have assembled you to pay a posthumous tribute to Captain Guynemer. We are not standing here in front of his hearse or over his grave. At Poelcapelle, no remnants were found of his remnants, as if the sky, jealously guarding his hero, did not want to allow him to remain on earth what he himself claimed. Guynemer disappeared from us forever and completely, as if he had been abducted by miraculous forces into heaven, into the realm of glory ...
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SR-71 Blackbird (2) - Out of range of air defense
The famous performance of the A-12 aircraft led USAF representatives to order the most famous variant from the Blackbird family, the strategic reconnaissance aircraft SR-71. These aircraft then provided good services to the USAF for three decades and brought a lot of valuable intelligence to the commanders of air and ground units.
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SR-71 Blackbird (3) - High requirements
SR-71 aircraft were the pinnacle of technological possibilities of their time. This corresponded to the demands on flying and ground personnel and the overall security of air traffic. There was nothing that could be compared to the aircraft of previous generations.
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Stalin's Ground Cruisers (Part 1)
In the 1920s and 1930s, several types of multi-tower tanks with various armaments were created. This concept quickly became obsolete, but at the time it was created, it was not as meaningless as it might seem at first glance, seen through the lens of today.
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Stalin's Ground Cruisers (Part 2)
Although the SMK and T-100 tanks were visually similar, the overall concept had some fundamental differences that may not be obvious at first glance. Although the combat significance of both tanks was episodic, it is definitely an interesting branch of development, although doomed by further development.
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Strv m/37
A variant of the AH-IV tank from ČKD made for Sweden.
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Suchoj T-4 Sotka - Aircraft carrier hunter
The USSR tried to cover the absence of aircraft carriers in its fleet by developing submarine forces and aircraft designed to fight the American CVBG ( Carrier Battle Group ). Suchoj T-4 was supposed to be a specialist in aircraft carrier hunting, but in the end it turned out completely different ...
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T-34 - Infamous namesake of the famous tank
When you say T-34, everyone is equipped with a medium tank with which Soviet troops went through the entire Great Patriotic War and which formed the backbone of the tank units of many states long after the end of World War II. A little-known fact is that it was not the first tank to bear such a designation.
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T-62 - For the first time in combat
The T-62 tank was considered a transitional type. But because he had this sticker from the beginning, it was made a respectable number of pieces. He served in many countries around the world and had a more varied fighting career than most of his " more media-famous " predecessors or followers.
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T-62 - In the rest of the world
The T-62 tank was soon used in combat. It wasn't so much the fault of the construction itself that the result was what it was. The modernization program tried to correct the biggest shortcomings. At that time, the T-62 tank was being replaced in the Soviet Army by more modern types.
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T-62 - Unwanted tank
It is surprising how little has been written about the tank, which in terms of the number of pieces produced is among the most numerous in post-war history. The descriptions usually begin with the Soviets realizing that the T-54 tanks are obsolete, and decided to rearm them with a 115 mm cannon. But it was a little different.
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The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - viewed from the perspective of that time
This year marks 73 years since the first nuclear bombs hit the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Some journalists claim that the Americans turned Japan into an experimental shooting range and that the bombing was unnecessarily militarily. Really?
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The first Hawker jets
During World War II, Supermarine and Hawker were the "major" suppliers of fighter planes for the Royal Air Force. Due to their complete workload of mass production of aircraft, which were swallowed by dozens of operational units, the development of the first jet fighters was entrusted to companies that had "freer hands". After the war, it was time to catch up.
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The first Morane-Saulnier fighters
During World War I, the first fighter jets appeared. It is often said that the first fighter was the Morane-Saulnier N, but this is not the case - the first was the L-type from the same company. In addition to this championship, Morane-Saulnier aircraft are famous for the pilot, whose name is inextricably linked to the beginnings of the prosecution and, to this day, to the famous tennis tournaments.
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The first successful rotorcraft (1) - PKZ-1
Helicopters are a common sight in today's sky, but the journey to them was much more complicated than in the case of airplanes. It is gratifying that a number of men born in the territory of the future Czechoslovakia took part in the development of the first motor aircraft capable of steady hanging.
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The first successful rotorcraft (2) - PKZ-2
After the destruction of the PKZ-1 power unit, the engineer Žurovec decided to continue with the construction of the observation platform according to the original Petróczi design. In the meantime, large-diameter propellers were available - the results of the work of engineer Kármán at the propeller test institute. Nothing prevented the further development of the helicopter platform.
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Training with the best
There are several opportunities on the market to go through training more or less imitating military standards, starting with amateur offers from various enthusiasts through airsoft units, their members usually also saw the army only in the picture, to retired soldiers and veterans. But even the offer of former professionals is not balanced. It depends on the experience. The SOG Defense program definitely belongs to the top, if it is not the best.
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Tu-128 Fiddler - Heavy weight among fighters
One of the aircraft that affected the appearance of a whole generation of Tupolev aircraft was the Tu-98. Although it did not get into series production, it was at the beginning of the development line of the Tu-128 fighter aircraft (NATO code Fiddler). It has remained the largest fighter in the world to this day. Its maximum take-off weight was a quarter greater than that of four-engine heavy bombers from World War II.
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Tu-22 - Beauty with many vices
Tu-22 bombers are currently being destroyed in Ukraine and Russia. It is a remnant of the Cold War and a representative of the long-extinct category of medium bombers, which disappeared from service in the late 70's. The Tu-22 survived in service for a surprisingly long time, despite the fact that it was a structure that did not work very well and the crew and ground staff did not have much love for this aircraft.
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Tu-22 versus CVBG (aircraft carrier battle groups)
Aircraft carriers demonstrated their striking power during World War II. They have become the core of the fleets of all naval powers and are rightly considered the strongest surface units. The only exception was the Soviet Union for many years. To fight combat groups of aircraft carriers had to use the Air Force from ground bases and submarines.
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Tu-22M - M3 Backfire - Just "modernization"?
In the Soviet Air Force, aircraft were abbreviated as the name of the designer and the number. Odd fighters and other even aircraft. The individual variants were distinguished by letters after the designation. However, these were always aircraft with the same design basis. The only exception was the Tu-22M. According to the designation, it might seem that it was a variant of the Tu-22. But it was a completely new design. Why did he bear the name of his predecessor?
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USS Enterprise - 00 (Interactive Guide) Interactive guide
An aircraft carrier is a real floating city. As a terrestrial nation, we usually do not have many opportunities to walk on board. On the occasion of the broadcast of the Aircraft Carrier series, we have prepared an interactive tour, which allows us to get to know the basic armaments and equipment deployed on board the USS Enterprise (CV-6).
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USS Enterprise - 01 Pearl Harbour
The United States was drawn into World War II by attacking the largest Pacific base with Japanese aircraft. At the time of the first bombs, treacherous Japanese diplomats were discussing the details of the peace treaty with Secretary of State Hull. Such insidiousness is not forgotten. In the Pacific, a naval war began that the world did not see… the war of aircraft carriers.
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USS Enterprise - 02 Retribution at Midway
After the battle fleet was massacred at the Pearl Harbor berth, the Americans were left with virtually only aircraft carriers. The Japanese began a successful victorious campaign in the Pacific. One bastion of resistance after another fell, and nothing seemed to stop the Japanese expansion.
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USS Enterprise - 03 In the clutches of the enemy
The Battle of Midway fundamentally changed the pace of forces in the Pacific. By sinking four large aircraft carriers, the Japanese fleet lost a substantial part of its attack potential. The Americans, who had just retreated until then, decided to try what it was like to attack territory occupied by the enemy. The first invasion was directed at the island of Guadalcanal.
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USS Enterprise - 04 Bloody Islands of Santa Cruz
The USS Enterprise was hit several times near Solomon Islands and had to undergo the inevitable repair. The repairs could not last long, because together with the sister USS Hornet, they were the only two aircraft carriers left to the Americans in the Pacific. The Japanese superiority was threefold.
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USS Enterprise - 05 Alone against Japan
After the sister aircraft carrier USS Hornet was sunk at the Battle of Santa Cruz, the USS Enterprise was left alone in the Pacific. American industry has begun, but the production of an aircraft carrier is not a matter of weeks or months. Until newly built aircraft carriers were available, the Enterprise was the only operational aircraft carrier the US Navy had in the Pacific.
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USS Enterprise - 06 Gray Ghost
In early 1943, the USS Enterprise again faced the Japanese and again in the waters surrounding the island of Guadalcanal. It was then sent to the United States for a well-deserved overhaul, which definitively repaired the provisionally repaired damage. She returned to combat at the head of a strong operational alliance.
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USS Enterprise - 07 Hell's hammer
The USS Enterprise was sent to Truk Atoll after the fighting off the Gilbert Islands. One of Japan's largest naval bases. The miserable period of fighting alone was over. It now sails as the flagship of a strong operational alliance.
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USS Enterprise - 08 Day D in the Pacific
In June 1944, American forces attacked the island of Saipan in the Marianas. It was another of the islands that American forces needed to begin further progress toward Japan. The noose began to pull slowly.
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USS Enterprise - 09 Battle of Leyte Bay
In the Battle of the Mariana Islands, the Hellcats massacred the Japanese air force in action, which the Americans called Turkey shooting. The Japanese's ability to act seemed limited. Few could have imagined that it was heading for the largest naval battle in the history of World War II.
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USS Enterprise - 10 The last attempt of the Japanese empire
The USS Enterprise has received several nicknames. One of them was "Lucky E", she was in big danger couple times, but she always managed to survive enemy attacks. Will the proverbial happiness last her until the end of the war?
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USS Enterprise - The story of the most famous aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a real floating city. As a terrestrial nation, we usually do not have many opportunities to walk on board. On the occasion of the broadcast of the Aircraft Carrier series, we have prepared an interactive tour, which allows us to get to know the basic armaments and equipment deployed on board the USS Enterprise (CV-6).
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Yak-36 - 1. Take-off from the place
The vision of an airplane that would not need an airport has attracted designers since the first planes soared into the sky. During the entire existence of aircraft technology, so far only two countries, Great Britain and the Soviet Union, have been able to build aircraft with a vertical takeoff and landing and introduce them into service. This time we will focus on the Soviet type.
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Yak-36 - 2. Changing of the guard
The first Soviet aircraft with a vertical takeoff and landing had its first timid steps. Gradually, the biggest problems faced by the program were solved; however, in the end it turned out that the whole project is nothing more than a technological demonstrator. If the Navy wanted to get a truly usable aircraft capable of operating from the decks of aircraft carriers without a catapult, it was necessary to start from a clean slate using existing experience.
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Yak-36M (1) - First advances
The new generation of aircraft on board began to take shape on paper. The basic concept of the Jaku-36M was clear, so it was possible to proceed to the construction of a prototype. The work started just six months after the completion of the design work.
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Yak-36M (2) - Moral support aircraft
Starting vertically, the Yak-36M was included in the armament after a series of vicissitudes. Although great hopes were placed in it, in the end he did not represent a striking force that could jeopardize the dominance of Western countries at sea. Although its performance in a clean configuration surpassed the competitive Harrier, it lagged significantly behind in firepower. The Marines spoke of fire support rather than moral support.
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ZiS-5 - American foundations of Soviet legend
Only tanks and armored vehicles are often considered when assessing WWII technology. Trucks remain a bit of an interest, but they have done most of the ungrateful work without which combat operations would have stopped. In truth, the two most numerous armies, the Wehrmacht and the Red Army, were not really that well equipped.
