• HOME
  • MILITARY AVIATION
  • CIVIL AVIATION
  • AIR SHOWS
    • AIR SHOW NEWS
    • AIR SHOW REPORTS
  • AVIATION HISTORY
    • DREAMERS AND DOERS
    • AVIATION MUSEUMS
    • AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY
  • SPACE
  • OTHER
7 November 2025
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Telegram
Homefighter

fighter

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

12 May 1940 – the first operational sortie by Defiant interceptor

11 May 2023 Jacek Domański

On 12th May 1940, Boulton Paul Defiant fighter performed its first operational sortie. On that day, six aircraft of that type, together with six Spitfires, executed a combat patrol over the English Channel and coastal […]

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

21 April 1942 – Edward O´Hare becomes the first US Navy aviator to receive the Medal of Honor

20 April 2023 Jacek Domański

On 21st April 1942, Edward Henry O´Hare received the Medal of Honor – the highest military decoration of the United States Armed Forces – for his actions on 20th February 1942. On that day, O´Hare […]

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

North American P-51D-25NT Mustang

21 February 2023 Kacper Kolibowski

North American P-51D-25NT Mustang (c/n 124-48293, N151W ´Excalibur´) taxiing for take-off to perform flying display during Aerofestival 2015 at Poznań-Ławica airport, Poznań (June 2015). The example of the most iconic US fighter of World War […]

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Messerschmitt Me 163B Komet

14 February 2023 Jacek Domański

Messerschmitt Me 163B-1 Komet (c/n 191316?, formerly JG 400 of the Luftwaffe), exhibited in Deutsches Museum, Munich, October 2013. The Me 163 Komet is commonly associated with German anti-aircraft defence in the final years of […]

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

27 January 1939 – first flight of Lockheed P-38 Lightning

26 January 2023 Jacek Domański

On 27th January 1939, prototype of twin piston-engine fighter aircraft XP-38 performed its maiden flight, by test pilot Benjamin S. Kelsey. The P-38 fighter was created in response to the United States Army Air Corps […]

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantom II

17 January 2023 Milan Doležal

McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantom II (c/n 4330, 37+01, Luftwaffe), flying display at Phantom Pharewell retirement event, Wittmundhafen, June 2013. Exactly fifty-two years ago, in January of 1971, the book with a story of German Phantom […]

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

6 January – the day the Great War air aces were born

6 January 2023 Jacek Domański

Coincidentally, on the sixth day of January (in various years), several flying aces of the First World War were born. They came from different countries and served on different fronts, but they shared the same […]

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

18 November 1930 – first flight of Boeing XP-9

18 November 2022 Jacek Domański

On 18th November 1930, Boeing XP-9 monoplane fighter aircraft, performed its maiden flight. The XP-9 (also known as Model 96, by its company designation), was the very first monoplane fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by […]

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

4 March 1954 – Lockheed F-104 Starfighter performed its maiden flight

3 March 2022 Jacek Domański

On 4th March 1954, Tony LeVier, official test pilot of the Lockheed company, took-off for the first time in a prototype of a new fighter – XF-104, later developed into a well-known F-104 Starfighter. The […]

AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

24 December 1937 – First flight of Macchi C.200 Saetta

23 December 2021 Jacek Domański

On 24th December 1937, the first prototype of Macchi C.200 Saetta (also known as Macchi-Castoldi M.C.200), successfully performed its maiden flight, flown by chief test pilot Giuseppe Burei. The aircraft was designed by Mario Castoldi, […]

Posts navigation

« 1 2 3 4 »

Photo of the Week

Military Aviation

  • End of the tale – Poland retires its Sukhoi Su-22 aircraft
    5 November 2025
  • Nine more CH-47 Block II Chinooks for the US Army
    27 October 2025
  • Eight more MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters for the USAF
    13 October 2025

Air Shows

  • The spirit of flight returns to Pardubice – Aviatická pouť 2025
    30 October 2025
  • On the eve of Tag der Bundeswehr 2025 – spotter day in Bückeburg
    22 October 2025
  • Wings over Broumov – Open Day 2025
    22 September 2025

Space

  • ViaSat-3 – the second Viasat´s next generation spacecraft
    6 October 2025
  • 3 October 1968 – first flight of the Lunar Landing Training Vehicle
    2 October 2025
  • Operation Titan reaches the milestone of 300th space launch
    29 September 2025

Tags

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 airliner AIRSHOW Aviaticka Pout Belgium biplane Boeing Czechoslovakia Czech Republic fighter first flight France Germany Helicopter LKPD Luftwaffe Mil Museum Open Day Pardubice Pioneers poland Rostviertol Royal Air Force Russia Russian Aerospace Forces Sanicole Serbia Serbian Air Force and Air Defence Soviet Union space space exploration SWITZERLAND Tag der Bundeswehr United Kingdom United States USAF World War II WWII

Find More

Civil Aviation

  • Forty new Airbus A220 aeroplanes for LOT Polish Airlines
    23 June 2025
  • Global airliner fleet to reach 50,000 aircraft by 2044
    16 June 2025
  • Global air cargo traffic to double by 2043 – Boeing forecast says
    20 November 2024

Aviation History

  • 7 November 1910 – the first flight test of Todd’s aeroplane
    6 November 2025
  • 31 October 1974 – maiden flight of the IAR-93 Vultur / J-22 Orao
    30 October 2025
  • 24 October 1919 – Frank Piasecki is born
    23 October 2025

Other

  • X-59 QueSST aircraft successfully completes its maiden flight
    3 November 2025
  • Bordeaux pélicandrome – end of the fiery season
    15 October 2025
  • Pushing the limits – the “Plane Climb” project
    1 October 2025

Afterburner on Facebook

About Us

Afterburner – The Aviation Magazine: an aviation website established in 2018, by enthusiasts for enthusiasts.

 

Recent Articles
  • 7 November 1910 – the first flight test of Todd’s aeroplane
  • End of the tale – Poland retires its Sukhoi Su-22 aircraft
  • AgustaWestland AW109SP
  • X-59 QueSST aircraft successfully completes its maiden flight
  • 31 October 1974 – maiden flight of the IAR-93 Vultur / J-22 Orao
  • The spirit of flight returns to Pardubice – Aviatická pouť 2025
  • American Champion 8KCAB Super Decathlon
Categories
AIR SHOW NEWS AIR SHOW REPORTS AIR SHOWS AVIATION HISTORY AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY AVIATION MUSEUMS CIVIL AVIATION DREAMERS AND DOERS FEATURED MILITARY AVIATION OTHER PHOTO OF THE WEEK SHORT AVIATION STORIES SPACE
Afterburner Library
Let´s stay in touch
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Telegram
  • Home
  • Legal Disclaimer

All content on this page is copyrighted © 2018-2025 Afterburner - The Aviation Magazine

We use cookies in order to give you the best possible experience on our website. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies.
Accept
Read More