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From the towering SpaceX Starship to the iconic Saturn V, this lineup showcases the Top 10 Tallest Rockets Ever Built.1....
01/15/2025

From the towering SpaceX Starship to the iconic Saturn V, this lineup showcases the Top 10 Tallest Rockets Ever Built.

1. Starship (SpaceX) – 123.1m - SpaceX’s fully reusable spacecraft designed for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. It is the tallest rocket ever built and still undergoing testing.

2. Starship (SpaceX, pre-final design) – 121.3m - An earlier iteration of SpaceX’s Starship design, showcasing the evolution of the vehicle before its finalized version.

3. Starship with Super Heavy Booster (SpaceX) – 120.0m - The first complete design of Starship with the Super Heavy booster, a two-stage rocket system aimed at delivering massive payloads.

4. Saturn V (NASA) – 111.0m - The legendary rocket that launched Apollo missions to the Moon. It remains the most powerful rocket ever flown successfully.

5. N1 (Soviet Union) – 105.3m - The Soviet Union’s Moon rocket, built to compete with the Saturn V. It was never successfully flown.

6. New Glenn (Blue Origin) – 98.0m - A reusable heavy-lift rocket developed by Blue Origin for orbital missions and beyond. Still in development.

7. Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1 (NASA) – 98.0m - NASA’s heavy-lift rocket designed for the Artemis program, aimed at returning humans to the Moon

8. Delta IVHeavy (ULA) – 70.7m - A heavy-lift rocket used primarily for U.S. military and government missions. Known for its powerful dual-booster configuration.

9. Falcon Heavy (SpaceX) – 70.0m - A partially reusable heavy-lift rocket from SpaceX, capable of launching large payloads to deep space.

10. Long March 9 (China, conceptual) – 63.0m - A planned Chinese super-heavy-lift rocket designed for lunar and interplanetary missions, still in its design phase.

An impressive shot by Stephan de Bruijn showcasing a Dassault Rafale M F4 launching from an aircraft carrier, likely the...
01/14/2025

An impressive shot by Stephan de Bruijn showcasing a Dassault Rafale M F4 launching from an aircraft carrier, likely the Charles de Gaulle.

Taken on Jul. 10, 1944 the horrific photo in this post features B-26 Marauder 42-107566 after being hit over Italy.On th...
01/14/2025

Taken on Jul. 10, 1944 the horrific photo in this post features B-26 Marauder 42-107566 after being hit over Italy.

On that day the 320th was directed to bomb the north side of railroad bridge near Marzabotto, Italy, just south of Sasso Marconi. 20 B-26s of the 320th Bomber Group departed the airbase at 14:50 along with B-26 (42-107566) with its crew with one substitute. While enroute to the bombing target, (42-107566) was hit by antiaircraft fire. The direct hit blew the left wing and horizontal stabilizer off, sending the plane into an uncontrollable spin and trapping the crew inside. A photographer in a plane above, captured the moment just before the plane’s impending doom; an iconic photo depicting the great sacrifice of the United States Army Air Forces during the war. The B-26, with bombs still aboard crashed into a hill just outside Lama di Reno.

The crew was declared missing in action. The unidentified remains were buried on site. In 1947 the remains were moved to the U.S. military cemetery at Castelfiorentino, Italy. On December 7, 1949 the remains of the six crew members, still unidentified, were buried in the U.S. at Jefferson Barracks. On Sept. 20, 1991 the six crewmen, now identified, received a full military burial; they are buried together in Section 79, Site 382A-B.

The crew of B-26 (42-107566) included:

* 1st Lt. Murry B. Wiginton ,Jr. – Pilot (KIA)
* 2nd Lt. William E. Wigginton – CoPilot (KIA)
* PFC Norford G. Meador – Bombadier (KIA)
* Sgt. Ernest D. Casey – Engineer/Gunner (KIA)
* S/Sgt. Wesley B. Hoffman – Radio Operator/Gunner (KIA)
* S/Sgt. Philip A. Iannotta – Tail Gunner (KIA) (Substitute crew member)

Aviation History: Armorers load belts of .50 caliber ammunition into the four ammunition trays located in the wingtip of...
01/14/2025

Aviation History: Armorers load belts of .50 caliber ammunition into the four ammunition trays located in the wingtip of a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft!

An incredible shot by Photo_Rohan (IG) capturing the DC-10 Tanker from 10 Tanker Air Carrier in action, battling the Cal...
01/13/2025

An incredible shot by Photo_Rohan (IG) capturing the DC-10 Tanker from 10 Tanker Air Carrier in action, battling the California wildfires with precision and power!

French Dassault Mirage Series Fighter Jet Variants:• Mirage 4000: A twin-engine, large multirole fighter prototype desig...
01/13/2025

French Dassault Mirage Series Fighter Jet Variants:

• Mirage 4000: A twin-engine, large multirole fighter prototype designed as a heavier counterpart to the Mirage 2000. Known for its advanced avionics and high-speed capabilities.

• Mirage 2000: A single-engine, multirole fighter designed for air superiority and ground attack. Renowned for its agility and extensive service across various air forces.

• Mirage 50: An upgraded version of the Mirage 5, featuring improved avionics and engine performance for enhanced ground-attack roles.

• Mirage F1: A versatile single-engine jet capable of interception, reconnaissance, and ground attack. It replaced the Mirage III in many roles.

• Mirage III: The first European-designed fighter capable of exceeding Mach 2. A classic interceptor and multirole aircraft of the Cold War era.

• Mirage V: A ground-attack variant of the Mirage III, designed with simplified avionics and optimized for air-to-ground missions.

A testament to French innovation in military aviation.

Aviation History: Major Fitzhugh L. Fulton, Jr., U.S. Air Force, in the cockpit of a Convair B-58A Hustler Mach 2+ strat...
01/12/2025

Aviation History: Major Fitzhugh L. Fulton, Jr., U.S. Air Force, in the cockpit of a Convair B-58A Hustler Mach 2+ strategic bomber.

On September 14, 1962, at Edwards Air Force Base in California, Major Fitzhugh L. Fulton Jr., along with Captain William R. Payne and civilian flight test engineer C.R. Haines, piloted a Convair B-58A Hustler (serial number 59-2456) to an altitude of 26,017.93 meters (85,360.66 feet) while carrying a 5,000-kilogram payload. This achievement set a Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) World Record for Altitude in both the 2,000-kilogram and 5,000-kilogram payload classes.

Illustrated here are some of the aircraft utilized in aerial firefighting operations, particularly in response to Califo...
01/12/2025

Illustrated here are some of the aircraft utilized in aerial firefighting operations, particularly in response to California wildfires. These include the McDonnell Douglas DC-10, McDonnell Douglas MD-87, British Aerospace 146, and the Lockheed C-130 ‘Hercules,’ all modified to deliver fire retardants or water over affected areas with precision.

F-35 and Raptor captured in one frame! 🇺🇸🔥
01/12/2025

F-35 and Raptor captured in one frame! 🇺🇸🔥

The Supersonic Transports (SST) that never made it to production. The Boeing should be labeled as the 2707-300* in this ...
01/11/2025

The Supersonic Transports (SST) that never made it to production. The Boeing should be labeled as the 2707-300* in this comparison.

Size Comparison: The World’s Most Powerful Transport AircraftAntonov An-124 Condor: A versatile heavy lifter with a payl...
01/11/2025

Size Comparison: The World’s Most Powerful Transport Aircraft

Antonov An-124 Condor:
A versatile heavy lifter with a payload capacity of 150 tons, widely used for military and commercial purposes.

Lockheed C-5 Galaxy:
A backbone of U.S. military transport, designed to carry up to 127 tons over intercontinental distances.

Antonov An-225 Mriya:
The largest cargo aircraft in history, capable of carrying a staggering 250 tons.

Boeing 747-8 Freighter:
A modern and efficient cargo variant of the iconic 747, capable of carrying 140 tons.

A 25th Fighter Squadron A-10C at Osan AB South Korea (Photo by Jonathan Steffen)
01/10/2025

A 25th Fighter Squadron A-10C at Osan AB South Korea (Photo by Jonathan Steffen)

History: A U.S. Navy F-4J Phantom II taking off from the USS Midway, April 1983 🇺🇸Photo Credit: David B. Loveall.
01/09/2025

History: A U.S. Navy F-4J Phantom II taking off from the USS Midway, April 1983 🇺🇸

Photo Credit: David B. Loveall.

Antonov An-225 Mriya Over the Highway!
01/09/2025

Antonov An-225 Mriya Over the Highway!

Grumman F-14 Tomcats flying past the World Trade Center Towers in this historic photograph!
01/08/2025

Grumman F-14 Tomcats flying past the World Trade Center Towers in this historic photograph!

For the first time in Space Shuttle history, a fully stacked Shuttle Atlantis has been moved into High Bay 2 on the west...
01/08/2025

For the first time in Space Shuttle history, a fully stacked Shuttle Atlantis has been moved into High Bay 2 on the west side of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Recent modifications to the VAB and its nearby rock-paved crawlerway have increased storage capacity and enhanced protection, providing a “Safe Haven” for Shuttle flight hardware against hurricanes and tropical storms. Atlantis began moving from High Bay 1 on the east side of the VAB at 2:59 a.m. EDT. Following the successful “Safe Haven” fit check, Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B to prepare for the STS-106 launch on September 8, 2000.

Photo credit: NASA (August 13, 2000).
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U.S. Navy Grumman F-14 Tomcat 🇺🇸
01/07/2025

U.S. Navy Grumman F-14 Tomcat 🇺🇸

Tail gunner S/Sgt Charles Haywood of the 96th Bomb Group stands with a giant flak hole on the tail of a B-17 Flying Fort...
01/06/2025

Tail gunner S/Sgt Charles Haywood of the 96th Bomb Group stands with a giant flak hole on the tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-39988)

Photo by Roger Freeman / American Air Museum. Possibly taken at RAF Snetterton Heath, Norfolk
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Videos

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker offloads fuel to A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Jan. 5, 2025. The A-10 Thunderbolt II has excellent maneuverability at low airspeeds and altitudes, and is a highly accurate and survivable weapons-delivery platform. U.S. Air Force video by Staff Sgt. Jackson Manske / Media complied and edited by me @aviationmafia - #USAF #A10 #KC135 #AerialRefueling #Warthog #ThunderboltII #Aviation #Pilot #AvGeek #Military #Aerospace

The DC-10 tanker from 10 Tanker Air Carrier @10_tanker dropping nearly 10,000 gallons of fire retardant on homes in Mandeville Canyon to try and slow the progress of the Palisades fire in Brentwood yesterday! The move was made after there was a “significant” flare-up last night regarding the Palisades fire. The Palisades Fire grew by 1,000 acres overnight. Video Credit: @abc7la / Media complied and edited by me @aviationmafia - #FireFighters #DC10 #Tanker #LAFire #PalisadesFire #AirDrop #FireRetardant #AerialFireFighter #Aviation #Pilot #AvGeek #Military #Aerospace #Brentwood

Canadair CL-415 “Super Scooper” aircraft from Quebec, Canada, were seen collecting seawater from Santa Monica Bay to combat the Palisades Fire. This impressive footage was captured by @cristendrummond Unfortunately, one of the two Quebec-based Canadair CL-415 aerial firefighting aircraft suffered damage to its wing earlier today after striking a drone while assisting in firefighting operations in Southern California. As a result, all aerial firefighting operations using these assets have been temporarily grounded across Los Angeles County. - #CL415 #FireFighters #LAFire #PalisadesFire #C130 #AerialFirefighting #Canadair #Aviation #Pilot #AvGeek #Aerospace

A Beechcraft King Air 200 being used as a Spotter Aircraft and a C-130H Tanker with CAL FIRE seen being blown around by Heavy Winds earlier today, while dropping Fire Retardant on the Palisades Fire to the Northwest of Santa Monica. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating wildfires in California, particularly in Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades, and Altadena. These fires have caused immense destruction, forcing evacuations, damaging homes, and taking lives. Video by Uknown (Please DM for Credit) - #KingAir200 #FireFighters #LAFire #PalisadesFire #C130 #Hercules #AirDrop #Aviation #Pilot #Aerospace #Tragedy

F-35 captured in the Mach Loop, UK, by photographer Tom Whitworth @tomwhitworthphoto - #F35 #MachLoop #UK #RAF #Aviation #Pilot #AvGeek #Military #Aerospace

U.S. Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force C-130 aircraft taking off from Andersen Air Force Base during Operation Christmas Drop 2024. Video by Staff Sgt. Michael Jones / Media complied and edited by me @aviationmafia - #USAF #C130 #Hercules #AirDrop #Aviation #Pilot #AvGeek #Military

Bone performs touch-and-go at RAF Fairford! Video by Military Aircraft Videos Channel on YT / Media complied and edited by me @aviationmafia - #B1 #B1B #Lancer #Bomber #USAF #Aviation #Pilot #AvGeek #Military #Aerospace

Multinational C-130J Super Hercules and C-130H Hercules aircraft participate in an elephant walk culminating Operation Christmas Drop 2024, at Andersen Air Force Base, Dec. 14, 2024. Aircraft from the U.S. Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Republic of Korea Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Royal Australian Air Force participated in OCD delivering humanitarian-like supplies to remote islands in the Pacific. Video by Staff Sgt. Jordan Garner / Media complied and edited by me @aviationmafia - #USAF #C130 #Hercules #AirDrop #Aviation #Pilot #AvGeek #Military

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), refuel at a forward arming and refueling point during exercise Steel Knight 23 on Red Beach, Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 3, 2022. Video by Sgt. Rachaelanne Voss / Media complied and edited by me @aviationmafia - #AH1Z #Viper #USMC #MarineCorps #USAF #Aviation #Pilot #AvGeek #Military

Happy New Year, Aviation Mafia Family! As we taxi into 2025, I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you (385K strong) for your incredible support throughout 2024. Your passion for aviation and your engagement with this community have made it an unforgettable year. —— U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, conducts flight deck and deck landing qualifications as part of Steel Knight 24 aboard the Tripoli while underway in the Pacific Ocean, Dec. 5, 2024. U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Luc Boatman / Media complied and edited by me @aviationmafia - #USMC #F35 #F35B #Marines #Navy #Military #Aerospace

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