The gravity of the situation: How to fly a fighter jet upside down
What happens when you fly upside down in a fighter jet? Does everything fall-up and hit the windshield?... Read more.
What actually happens when fighter pilots take off their masks?
Movies like Independence Day and Top Gun portray it as a final act of desperation that's strictly against regulation. But is this true?... Read more.
How fighter pilots plan combat missions
Pilots have developed best practices, like the GICL, or Good Idea Cut-off Line, to make planning as smooth and efficient as possible.... Read more.
F-35 pilot explains how an F-117 was shot down in 1999
In 1999, an American F-117 stealth aircraft was shot down over Yugoslavia. Here's how it happened, according to an Air Force F-35 pilot.... Read more.
Approaching Mach 2 in an F-16: ‘The jet started to shake’
Thousands of incredible engineers designed the F-16 – and I was now realizing the potential of what they had built.... Read more.
Fighter pilot breaks down how aerial refueling works
A pilot talks about his first aerial refueling on the F-16 and discusses the checklist followed to complete the maneuver successfully.... Read more.
How video games can make you a better fighter pilot
Does playing video games and desktop simulators, such as Microsoft Flight Sim, prepare you to become a fighter pilot?... Read more.
Advice on self-discipline from an F-35 pilot instructor
Self-discipline is an essential skill for fighter pilots. But it's just as important for those of us stuck here on the ground.... Read more.
BURNING 50,000 LBS OF FUEL PER HOUR: AERIAL REFUELING FROM A FIGHTER PILOT
The development of aerial refueling was one of the greatest leaps in fighter lethality. A fighter, just like any aircraft, consists of hundreds of tradeoffs –... Read more.
WHY EVEN F-35 PILOTS STILL HAVE TO FLY ‘BY THE SEAT OF THEIR PANTS’
Being able to fly by the seat of your pants is still an important skill for a fighter pilot. Although modern fighters have an incredible array of sensors that feed... Read more.