F-16 Fighting Falcon 
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. It provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the United States.

General Characteristics F16

Primary Function: Multi-role fighter
Power Plant: F-16C/D: one Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-200/220/229 or General Electric F110-GE-100/129

Thrust: F-16C/D, 27,000 pounds
Length: 49 feet, 5 inches (14.8 meters)
Height: 16 feet (4.8 meters)
Wingspan: 32 feet, 8 inches (9.8 meters)
Speed: 1,500 mph (Mach 2 at altitude)
Ceiling: Above 50,000 feet (15 kilometers)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 37,500 pounds (16,875 kilos)
Range: More than 2,000 miles 
Armament: One M-61A1 20mm multi-barrel cannon with 500 rounds; external stations can carry up to six air-to-air missiles, conventional air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions and electronic countermeasure pods.

F-15 Eagle 
An F-15 launches an AIM-7 Sparrow radar-guided, air-to-air missile with a high-explosive warhead. The versatile Sparrow has all-weather, all-altitude operational capability and can attack high-performance aircraft and missiles from any direction.  The F-15's superior maneuverability and acceleration are achieved through high engine thrust-to-weight ratio and low wing loading. Low wing-loading (the ratio of aircraft weight to its wing area) is a vital factor in maneuverability and, combined with the high thrust-to-weight ratio, enables the aircraft to turn tightly without losing airspeed. 

General Characteristics F15

Primary function: Tactical fighter
Power plant: 2 turbofan engines with afterburners
Thrust: 23,450 pounds each engine
Wing span: 42.8 feet
Length: 63.8 feet
Height: 18.5 feet
Speed: 1,875 mph (Mach 2.5 plus)
Maximum takeoff weight: 68,000 pounds
Ceiling: 65,000 feet
Range: 3,450 miles  (with three external fuel tanks)
Crew: F-15A/C: one. F-15B/D/E: two
Armament: One six-barrel, internally mounted 20mm cannon with 940 rounds of ammunition; four AIM-9L/M Sidewinder and four AIM-7F/M Sparrow air-to-air missiles, or eight AIM-120 AMRAAMs

A-10 Thunderbolt (a.k.a. Warthog) 

The A-10 Warthog is specifically designed for close air support of ground forces.

The A-10 is a highly effective "Tank Buster."

This aircraft is an accurate heavy weapons delivery platform, with excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude.

The Thunderbolt II's 30mm GAU-8/A Gatling gun can fire 3,900 rounds a minute and can defeat an array of ground targets. 

The A-10 proved to be a vital asset during Operation Desert Storm, Afghanistan and the war in Iraq.

In the Gulf War, A-10s, flew 8,100 sorties and launched 90 percent of the AGM-65 Maverick missiles.

The bad guys run when the Warthog is in the neighborhood.

Primary Function: A-10 -- Close Air Support
Power Plant: Two TF34-GE-100 turbofans
Thrust: 9,065 pounds each engine
Length: 53 feet, 4 inches
Height: 14 feet, 8 inches
Wingspan: 57 feet, 6 inches
Speed: 420 miles per hour (Mach 0.56)
Ceiling: 45,000 feet
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 51,000 pounds
Range: 800 miles (695 nautical miles)

Armament: One 30 mm seven-barrel Gatling gun; up to 16,000 pounds of mixed ordnance on eight under-wing and three under-fuselage pylon stations, including 500 pounds of retarded bombs, 2,000 pounds of general-purpose bombs, incendiary and Rockeye II cluster bombs, combined effects munitions, Maverick missiles and laser-guided electro-optically guided bombs; infrared countermeasure flares; electronic countermeasure chaff; jammer pods; 2.75-inch  rockets; illumination flares and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.

B-52 H Stratofortress

The venerable Boeing B-52 Has been one of the most successful strategic bombers in the history of global air power. Placed in service in 1958 the Stratofortress is still flying. This highly-flexible platform has supported numerous up-dates and technology enhancements.  It has fulfilled a vital role in nearly every military action since the Korean War; Vietnam, Desert Storm, the Gulf War and most recently Afghanistan and Iraq.  With continued up-dates, it is anticipated that the B-52 will continue to protect and serve the people of the United States over the next few decades.   

The B-52 is a very effective platform for missions ranging from conventional bombing  to the delivery and launch platform for the deadly accurate Cruise Missile.

Power: 8 Pratt & Whitney TF33 Turbojets
Thrust: 13,750 lbs
Speed: 660 mph
Wingspan: 185 ft.
Length: 159 ft. 4 in.
Height: 40 ft. 8 in.
Range: 8,500 miles
Ceiling: 55,773 ft.
Maximum Weight: 448,000 lbs.
Maximum Payload: 66,000 lbs. 
Ordnance: 60,000 lbs of bombs, missiles, and mines in various configurations

U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat "Jolly Rogers" VF-84

Articles by: Dr. Von Zuko 1998 - 2007© 
Photo credits (except where noted): The United States Air Force
 

B-1 Lancer

The B-1 Lancer fulfills the role of a strategic bomber.  It is equipped with advanced  variable geometry wings and is capable of flying at high-altitude, supersonic speeds.

Utilizing aviation concepts developed in the 1960s, the B-1 was intended as a an updated replacement for the venerable B-52 stratofortress.  The B-1B production versions of the bomber went into service with the United States Air Force in 1986. 

Rather than replace the B-52 the B-1 lancer now serves with the B-52 and the B-2 Spirit as a vital component of the United State's long-range bomber force.

Power: 4× General Electric F101 turbofans
Thrust: 14,600 lbs Afterburners: 30,780 lbs
Maximum Speed: Mach 1.25 (950 mph)
Wingspan: 137 ft. (79 ft swept)
Length: 146 ft.
Height: 34 ft.
Maximum Range: 6,478 miles
Maximum Ceiling: 60,000 ft.
Maximum Weight: 477,000 lbs.
Maximum Payload:  lbs. 
Ordnance: 75,000 lbs of bombs, missiles, and mines in various configurations

F-117A  Nighthawk

The F-117A Nighthawk is the first aircraft designed around stealth technology.  The F-117A's operational role is that of a ground attack aircraft.

The effectiveness of this aircraft was well demonstrated in the Gulf War as it flew into Iraqi airspace undetected to complete its attack mission.  

Stealth technology effectiveness requires trade-offs and in the case of the F-117A that means lower engine power (and speed). Additionally, a very low wing aspect ratio and high sweep angle make the aircraft challenging to fly.  To compensate the F-117A has quadruple-redundant fly-by-wire computer control systems.

While the F-117A is a very capable aircraft it is now looking at retirement.  The Air force plans to replace it with the more effective
F-22 Raptor.

Primary function: Ground Attack
Power plant: 2 General Electric F404 turbofans
Thrust: 10,800 lbs
Wing span: 43 feet 4 in.
Length: 66 feet 6 in.
Height: 12 feet 6 in.
Speed: 684 mph (Mach .95)
Maximum takeoff weight: 52,503 lbs.
Ceiling: 69,000 feet
Range: unlimited with aerial refueling

Armament: two internal weapons bays with one hard point each.  Equipped to carry a total of two weapons) consisting of laser guided bombs or JDAM INS/GPS guided weapons.

U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit Bomber