Aircraft in Action

Dynamic images of various aircraft, including aerobatic maneuvers, gliders racing, and innovative designs, set against expansive sky and landscape backdrops.

Giorgio Galetto (Italy), racing in NZ Gliding Grand Prix, near Omarama, South Island, New Zealand

Marchetti SF-260 SF260 performing a break / wing-over. Over the deserts of Southern California.

Giorgio Galetto (Italy), racing in NZ Gliding Grand Prix, near Omarama, South Island, New Zealand

Round-the-World Flight of Burt Rutan's Global Flyer Aircraft

SCEPTOR Aerial Left Propeller stall

C-130 Propeller

An air-to-air right rear view of a 10th Military Airlift Squadron C-23A Sherpa aircraft in flight over the Rhine River valley. Country: Federal Republic Of Germany (FRG)

Airborne with The Horsemen, the only modern P-51D Mustang aerobatic flight team

The V-22 Osprey Launches

The Perseus B remotely piloted aircraft on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base, California at the conclusion of a development flight at NASA's Dryden flight Research Center. The Perseus B is the latest of three versions of the Perseus design developed by Aurora Flight Sciences under NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) program.

Junkers JU-52 Trimotor at Fleming Field CAF Air Show

Airplane flying low over arid land

Cessna 172L C-FHNO in flight, August 23, 2019

A-37B Dragonfly Light Strike plane in flight

Glider flying in a cloudy sky, Germany, Europe

The Helios Prototype aircraft in a northerly climb over Niihau Island, Hawaii, at about 8,000 feet above sea level.

An air-to-air front view of a C-5B Galaxy aircraft from the 22nd Military Airlift Squadron. State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

. NASA Armstrongs ER-2 aircraft deploys for its ALOFT mission. The ER-2 will fly at high altitudes above the Floridian coastline to collect data about the energetic characteristics and behavior of lightning and thunderclouds. A NASA pilot will operate the aircraft while scientists from the University of Bergen, Norway will interpret the data from the ground.

Grumman G-44 Widgeon. The Widgeon was originally designed for the civil market. It is a smaller version of the Grumman's earlier amphibious aircraft. Like many of Grumman's seaplanes this one can land on both hard surfaces and water.

The second X-45A Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) technology demonstrator completed its first flight on November 21, 2002, after taking off from a dry lakebed at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California.X-45A vehicle two flew for approximately 30 minutes and reached an airspeed of 195 knots and an altitude of 7500 feet. This flight validated the functionality of the UCAV flight software on the second air vehicle.Dryden is supporting the DARPA/Boeing team in the design, development, integration, and demonstration of the critical technologies, processes, and system attributes leading to an operational UCAV system. Dryden support of the X-45A demonstrator system includes analysis, component development, simulations, ground and flight tests.

IL-76MD military transport aircraft of the Russian Air Force over Russia.

A right front view of an E-3A Sentry aircraft parked on the apron during Operation Ocean Venture '82. The E-3A is equipped with the airborne warning and control system (AWACS). Subject Operation/Series: OCEAN VENTURE '82 Base: Tinker Air Force Base State: Oklahoma (OK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

NASA's Ikhana remotely piloted aircraft soars over smoky terrain during a wildfire imaging demonstration mission in the late summer of 2007.

A front view of a 60th Airlift Wing C-5 Galaxy transport, with landing lights illuminated, coming in for a landing at Travis Air Force Base. Exact Date Shot Unknown. State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Detail view of a AN-22 turboprop motors

An F-35 Lightning II from the 461st Flight Test Squadron, 412th Test Wing, takes off from Edwards Air Force Base, California, to conduct a flyover to kick off the 2022 MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, July 19. (Air Force photo by Lisa Dixon)

An air-to-air right side view of a camouflaged C-5 Galaxy aircraft over Lake Berryessa. Base: Santa Rosa State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

AN air-to-air left front view of a C-141B Starlifter aircraft with the new European paint scheme. The aircraft is nicknamed "Green Lizard". Base: Southern California Desert State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Plane taking off at Egilsstadir Airport, Eastern Iceland

A 7th Bomb Wing B-1B Lancer takes off just before sunset from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

Airport of Stuttgart, Germany, Baden-Wuerttemberg, aerial picture, aerial photo, shadow of own airplane while landing

The unusual design of the Proteus high-altitude aircraft, incorporating a gull-wing shape for its main wing and a long, slender forward canard, is clearly visible in this view of the aircraft in flight over the Mojave Desert in California.

The NAVMAR Applied Sciences Corporation TigerShark, flew over Edwards Air Force Base on July 9, 2019 during a systems checkout flight for Flight Test Six.

Dryden Flight Research Center's Piper PA-30 Twin Commanche, which helped validate the RPRV concept, descends to a remotely controlled landing on Rogers Dry Lake, unassisted by the onboard pilot.A Piper PA-30 Twin Commanche, known as NASA 808, was used at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center as a rugged workhorse in a variety of research projects associated with both general aviation and military projects.In the early 1970s, the PA-30, serial number 301498, was used to test a flight technique used to fly Remotely Piloted Research Vehicles (RPRV's). The technique was first tested with the cockpit windows of the light aircraft blacked out while the pilot flew the aircraft utilizing a television monitor which gave him a "pilot's eye" view ahead of the aircraft. Later pilots flew the aircraft from a ground cockpit, a procedure used with all RPRV's. TV and two-way telemetry allow the pilot to be in constant control of the aircraft. The apparatus mounted over the cockpit is a special fis

overhead Military Lockheed Martin Jets Fixed Wing Aviat Airplanes C-130H Hercules transport USAF U.S. Air Force winter

DF-ST-89-07838. Base: Jakobshavn Country: Greenland (GRL)

Stockholm, Sweden April 27, 2025 A commuter propeller plane from Scandinavia or SAS lands at Arlanda Airport.

The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, performed for Aviation Nation Nov. 6, 2022, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The Thunderbirds have been based out of Nellis since 1955.

Plane in distance parked on tarmac at Canyonlands Field Airport, Utah, United States.

Air-to-air, front view of a 60th Airlift Wing C-5B Galaxy airlifter, flying over the Golden Gate Bridge with Alcatraz and San Francisco in the background. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Base: Travis Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

ER-2 tail number 706, was one of two Airborne Science ER-2s used as science platforms by Dryden. The aircraft were platforms for a variety of high-altitude science missions flown over various parts of the world. They were also used for earth science and atmospheric sensor research and development, satellite calibration and data validation.

Running taxi and tower coordination: Aircraft aircraft are preparing for the start of smooth taxi and tower coordination: Airplanes of the general aviation are preparing for the start of

DN-ST-87-03177. Base: Naval Air Station, Pensacola State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III taxis to its parking spot Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Sept. 25, 2012. The Globemaster III is a regular visitor to Bagram Airfield, transporting troops, equipment and supplies in and out of Afghanistan.

U.S. President Joe Biden Arrives Aboard Air Force One at Moffett Federal Airfield. Biden was greeted by acting deputy center director, David Korsmeyer, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Senator Alex Padilla, and California Governor Gavin Newsom before boarding the Marine One helicopter to view consequences of flooding and other storm impacts along Californias central coast.

Air to air front view of a Air Mobility Command's 60th Airlift Wing C-141 Starlifter flying a training mission over the coast near San Francisco, California. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Country: Unknown

Tu-142MZ anti-submarine airplane of the Russian Navy flying over Gulf of Finland, Russia.

The TigerShark unmanned aircraft by Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation flew over the skies at NASAs Armstrong Flight Research Center for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems integration in the National Airspace Systems, Flight Test Series Six (FT6) project. FT6 focused on low size weight and power sensors for Detect and Avoid (DAA) operations in controlled airspace to inform the FAA through the RTCA Special Committee DAA Working Group on the phase 2 minimum operational performance standards for DAA and air-to-air radar.

Italian Air Force F-35A in flight over Iceland.

. Boeings MD-90 aircraft flies from Victorville California to Palmdale, California on August 15, 2023. This aircraft will be NASAs future Sustainable Flight Demonstrator. Modifications to the aircraft will include changes to the fuselage and most notably the use of a transonic truss-braced wing.

Plane taking off from Rural Nevada

Test flight of the Proteus aircraft.

A U.S. Air Force T-38C taking off from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

Two guys in a tandem hang glider near Mt. Prevost in Duncan, BC.

Air to air left side view of a C-141B Starlifter, "Spirit of the Inland Empire" from the 63rd Military Airlift Wing, Norton AFB, California flies over the San Bernardino, California. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Country: Unknown

MOSCOW REGION, CHERNOE AIRFIELD 22 May 2021: moto glider AC4-115 Jet the Sky aviation festival, theory and practice MOSCOW REGION, CHERNOE AIRFIELD 22 May 2021: moto glider AC4-115 Jet the Sky aviation festival, theory and practice. Copyright: xZoonar.com/AlexanderxStrelax 18312732

A QF-4 Aerial Target in manned configuration, piloted by Jim Harkins from Detachment 1, 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, performs a flyby at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Oct. 25, 2016.

With turbulence-measurement booms projecting ahead of the wing, Pathfinder-Plus soars aloft over Rogers Dry Lake on its final research flight from NASA Dryden.

A C-5B Galaxy aircraft, one of two such planes to ever use the ice runway near McMurdo Station, takes off during Operation DEEP FREEZE '90. Subject Operation/Series: DEEP FREEZE '90 Country: Antarctica (ATA)

Tucson, United States - 30 January 2025: Aerial view of decommissioned aircraft in muted tones against the stark desert landscape, a silent testament to aviation history.

Aerial view of three E-2C Hawkeye aircraft of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One-Two-Zero (VAW-120) and one C-2A Greyhound Carrier On-board Delivery (COD) aircraft of Fleet Logistics Squadron Forty (VRC-40) in formation over the Florida Keys. Base: Naval Air Station, Key West State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Cloud cover and a part of the plane, seen from a breeder F-27 troopship of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

Aerial photo, gliding, single-seat performance glider DG 300, Hamm, Ruhr area

Gliders and Lake Ohau, Mackenzie Country, South Island, New Zealand

Drone flying near commercial airplane, danger of collision Drone flying near commercial airplane, danger of collision 3D illustration Copyright: xZoonar.com/magannx 13579253

Grumman HU-16 Albatross, twin radial engine amphibious flying boat flying around and landing on Lake Mead, Nevada. Originally designated SA-16. The Albatross was designed to be able to land at sea in open ocean situations in order to effect the rescue of downed pilots. Its deep-V cross-section and substantial length helped make it possible for it to land in wavy conditions. Since it weighs over 12,500 pounds, pilots must have a type rating in order to act as pilot or co-pilot on board the Alb

Grumman G-44 Widgeon. The Widgeon was originally designed for the civil market. It is a smaller version of the Grumman's earlier amphibious aircraft. Like many of Grumman's seaplanes this one can land on both hard surfaces and water.

in an airplane flying over valley of fire near las vegas

Static displays and performance aircraft are set prior to the start of Aviation Nation 2022 Nov. 3, 2022, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The airshow will feature 17 performers and serve as a way for military members and installations to show appreciation to local communities and showcase Department of Defense and Air Force capabilities.

NASAs X-57 Maxwell, the agencys first all-electric X-plane and first crewed X-planed in two decades, is delivered to NASAs Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California in its Mod II configuration. The first of three primary modifications for the project, Mod II involves testing of the aircrafts cruise electric propulsion system. Delivery to NASA from prime contractor Empirical Systems Aerospace of San Luis Obispo, California, marks a major milestone for the project, at which point the vehicle is reintegrated for ground tests, to be followed by taxi tests, and eventually, flight tests. X-57s goal is to further advance the design and airworthiness process for distributed electric propulsion technology for general aviation aircraft, which can provide multiple benefits to efficiency, emissions, and noise.

A 22nd Air Refueling Wing, March AFB, CA, KC-10A Extender air refueling aircraft seen from above as it flies an approach to Travis AFB, California. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Base: Travis Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Air to air view of a Military Airlift Command C-5 Galaxy from the 60th Military Airlift Wing flying with the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, California in the background. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Country: Unknown

XV-15 (NASA-703) in flight at Ames static test site

Spain, Canary Islands, Tenerife Island, aerial view of El Teide Mountain from propeller-driver airliner

An Israeli Air Force Hermes 900 Kochav unmanned aerial vehicle taking off.

Small Plane Flightseeing Wrangell St Elias Mts SC AK/nSunset Pilot Paul Claus

A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules rises above the mountains after take-off from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska and head toward the Aleutian Mountain Range. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Subject Operation/Series: NORTHERN EDGE '96 Base: Elmendorf Air Force Base State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System, assigned to the 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron, approaches Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska during the Arctic Thunder Open House (ATOH) at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 31, 2022. ATHOH is a biennial event hosted by JBER and is one of the largest in the state and one of the premier aerial demonstrations in the world. The event features multiple performers to include the JBER Joint Forces Demonstration Team, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team, Pacific Air Forces C-17 Demonstration Team and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team.

France, Breguet atlantic

Sierra Uninhaited Aerial System (UAV plane) in the Ames hangar. aks; Sierra Unpiloted Aerial system (UAS)

Tu-95MS strategic bomber of the Russian Air Force imitating aerial refueling over Russia.

NASAs X-57 Maxwell, the agencys first all-electric X-plane and first crewed X-planed in two decades, is delivered to NASAs Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California in its Mod II configuration. The first of three primary modifications for the project, Mod II involves testing of the aircrafts cruise electric propulsion system. Delivery to NASA from prime contractor Empirical Systems Aerospace of San Luis Obispo, California, marks a major milestone for the project, at which point the vehicle is reintegrated for ground tests, to be followed by taxi tests, and eventually, flight tests. X-57s goal is to further advance the design and airworthiness process for distributed electric propulsion technology for general aviation aircraft, which can provide multiple benefits to efficiency, emissions, and noise.

E-2C Hawkeye aircraft flying above the sea

White passenger plane flying in the blue sky above the mountains made in 3d software

AVION DE TRANSPORTE A HELICES ATERRIZANDO CASA C-212 AVIOCAR - FOTO AÑOS 60. Location: CONSTRUCCIONES AERONAUTICAS-CASA. GETAFE. MADRID. SPANIEN.

Pathfinder-Plus flying over the Hawaiian Islands in 1998 with Ni'ihau Island in the background.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Edwards, Calif. - ED13-0266-070- Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, team members check the company's Dream Chaser flight vehicle systems following a 60 mph tow test on taxi and runways at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft's braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year.SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency's Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers.

V-22 Osprey Rotates Its Wing After Folding Its Rotor Blades

Bushplane Arriving At The Noatak River, Brooks Range, Arctic Alaska; Alaska, United States Of America

North American T-6 Texan race at the 2008 Reno Air Races. The T-6 Texan was a single-engine advanced trainer aircraft designed by North American Aviation, used to train fighter pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II. The T-6 is known by a variety of designations depending on the model and operating air force. The USAAC called it the AT-6, the US Navy, the SNJ, and British Commonwealth a

Helicopter rigged for aerial irrigation

EDWARDS AFB, Calif. - ED13-0300-002 - An Erickson Air-Crane helicopter lifts Sierra Nevada Corporation's Dream Chaser flight vehicle during a captive-carry flight test. The test was a rehearsal for free flights at Edwards later this year. The spacecraft is under development in partnership with NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Although the spacecraft is designed for crew members, the vehicle will not have anyone onboard during the free flights.

NASA's Beechcraft King Air N7NA mission support aircraft soars over the compass rose on Rogers Dry Lake adjacent to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center.

NASA's two Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft form the backdrop as pilot Dick Ewers banks NASA F/A-18 #845 low over Rogers Dry Lake to end a research flight.

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