Lex Anteinternet: Thursday, July 27, 1944. Gloster Meteor enters active service.

Lex Anteinternet: Thursday, July 27, 1944. Eastern advances.:

The jet fighter the Gloster Meteor entered active service with No. 616 Squadron RAF.  It would be the only jet aircraft to see active service during the war for the Allies.

Lex Anteinternet: Sunday, January 20, 1974. First flight of the F-16.

Lex Anteinternet: Sunday, January 20, 1974. First flight of the F-16.: 

Sunday, January 20, 1974. First flight of the F-16.

First flight of the F-16.

YF-16, the aircraft before official adoption, and YF-17, a Northrup aircraft that did not gain acceptance.

It was an accident.  During high speed ground test a horizontal stabilizer was damaged and the test pilot took the aircraft off due to the severe oscillations it was experiencing. 

One of the greatest fighter aircraft of all time, it remains in production, although not for the U.S.

Lex Anteinternet: Friday, January 7, 1944. Adoption of the P59 announced.

Lex Anteinternet: Friday, January 7, 1944. Lou Henry Hoover passes ...:

Friday, January 7, 1944. Lou Henry Hoover passes away.

"Interested natives look on as armorers place 50 cal. machine guns in the nose of a North American B-25G, Mullinnix Airfield, Tarawa, Gilbert Islands. 7 January 1944. (NARA)"

A British Mosquito is shot down with its Oboe navigational aid intact, allowing the Germans to develop countermeasures.

The United States Army Air Force announced the production of the Bell P-59 Airacomet.  The first US jet fighter aircraft, it would prove to be a disappointment and provided no real advantage over existing piston engined aircraft.

Lex Anteinternet: Tuesday, June 15, 1943. First flight of the Arado AR 234

Lex Anteinternet: Tuesday, June 15, 1943. Riots in Beaumont.: 

Tuesday, June 15, 1943. Riots in Beaumont.

It was the first flight of the jet engined German bomber, the Arado Ar 234.

The twin engined jet bomber was the first of its kind in the world, and would enter service in the fall of 1944, too late to be of consequence.

Lex Anteinternet: Saturday, May 22, 1943. ME 262 and Escort Carriers.

Lex Anteinternet: Saturday, May 22, 1943. Comintern dissolves.: 

Sarah Sundin's blog reports:

Today in World War II History—May 22, 1943: USS Bogue’s TBF aircraft damage German U-boat U-569, which is scuttled by her crew, the first victory for an Allied escort carrier unassisted by surface ships.

She also noted that Luftwaffe General Adolf Galland flew the ME262 on this day and was impressed by it, as anyone would have had to have been.

Boeing E-6 Mercury, Natrona County International Airport.

This is a U.S. Navy Boeing E-6 Mercury at the Natrona County International Airport.

The Mercury is an electronics command and relay aircraft that's associated with ballistic submarines.  In other words, it has a role in communications for the nation's nuclear arsenal.  It's based on Boeing's 707.

The other side of big commercial air travel. United Cargo, Denver Colorado

Wyoming Air National Guard Static Display, Republic F-84 Thunderjet

This is a F-84 Thunderjet on a static display at the Wyoming Air National Guard's main gate at the Cheyenne Regional Airport in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

The Republic Thunderjet was a very early USAF jet fighter, first entering service in a straight wing version and then being modified to be a swept wing version, like the one on display here. 

Plagued with various problems throughout its service life, the F-84 none the less was a very significant US combat aircraft during the 1950s and saw heavy use during the Korean War.  It later saw widespread use around the world and completed its service in Angola in 1974.  As can be seen from this example, it saw use by Air National Guard units as well as the regular United States Air Force.

Dassault Mystere Falcon 900, Natrona County International Airport

Bombardier BD-100-1A10

Learjet Model 60

A A Learjet Model 60.  The classic business jet.

F/A-18, Natrona County International Airport

Lexi Jamieson Marsh

Lexi Jamieson Marsh

Lexi Jamieson Marsh

Mig 15s.

Mig 15s.

T33 Shooting Star, Thunderbird

T33 Shooting Star, Thunderbird

T33 Shooting Star at the Santa Fe Municipal Airport, in Thunderbirds paint scheme.  The T33 was used as the narrator's aircraft for the Thunderbirds, at the time in which they used F84s. 

The FB-111 "City of Santa Fe"

The FB-111 "City of Santa Fe"

Pacific Aviation Museum: Mig 15 and F86

Pacific Aviation Museum: Mig 15 and F86

Pacific Aviation Museum: F14 Tomcat

Pacific Aviation Museum: F14 Tomcat

Pacific Aviation Museum: F5

Pacific Aviation Museum: F5

This F5 is a former South Korean Air Force F5 Tiger.  Eons ago, when I was in the National Guard, I had the experience of watching ROKAF F5s in a practice dogfight against USAF fighters, as the Korean jets attempted to break through an escort in order to take on a FB111.  Quite the thing to see.

Pacific Aviation Museum: F104 Starfighter.

Pacific Aviation Museum: F104 Starfighter.

Pacific Aviation Museum: F86D

Pacific Aviation Museum: F86D