Vickers Valiant bombers, the first of Britain's "V-bomber" force designed for nuclear deterrent missions during the Cold War. The image shows a line-up of these bombers, likely at RAF Gaydon in the mid-1950s. The Valiant first flew in 1951 and entered service in 1955, featuring a high-mounted swept wing and four Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engines. The entire fleet was grounded and retired in January 1965 due to structural failures.

 

Forty years have passed since the Spanish Navy accident during a landing of a Navy Bell AH-1 helicopter against the antenna tower of the Spanish Carrier 'Dédalo'. The four crew members died. The tail became trapped between the masts and had to be removed at the Rota base.

 

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102, prepares to land on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while underway in the Philippine Sea.

 

Brazilian Air Force conducts Meteor Missile firings with Gripe E during the BVR-X Technical Exercise, at Natal Air Base in Rio Grande do Norte in November 2025

 

North American FJ-3’s launching during USS Forrestal CVA-59’s shakedown cruise, February 1956. Note the jet blast deflector is different from modern day versions. It raised and lowered vertically and was later replaced.

 

F-8J Crusader of VF-194 on the flight deck of USS Oriskany Oct 1970.

 

The Romanian Air Force retired its upgraded MiG-21 LanceR fleet in 2023, transitioning fully to the USAF-designed F-16 Fighting Falcon. When comparing the modernized LanceR-C to the F-16, the F-16 is a significantly more capable, versatile, and structurally advanced aircraft in all combat scenarios.