Before Top Gun made the F‑14 famous, Iran saved it. Yup, Iran’s money not only saved the F‑14, but also kept the AIM-54 AAM program going. Here’s a thread on how the Shah rescued America’s most advanced naval fighter. 1/6 In the early 1970s, Grumman’s F‑14 Tomcat program was in trouble. Cost overruns, technical delays, and political resistance had nearly derailed the project. At Grumman’s darkest hour, Iran stepped in. Under the Shah, Iran placed a massive order: 80 F‑14As and 714 AIM‑54 AAMs, along with parts, simulators, and U.S.-based pilot training. This single $2 billion deal rescued the F-14 from potential cancellation. 2/6

As news of Pakistan potentially buying the Chinese J-35 stealth spreads across social media, a quieter debate is emerging in Indian circles. Unofficial voices - analysts, commentators, and armchair generals - are shaping opinion around the idea that India should acquire the Su-57 to strengthen its air force. Yet, interestingly, none of these voices seem to recall that India already has a history with the Su-57, and it wasn’t a good one. So, let’s take a brief look. 1/4🧵 It may come as a surprise to some, but India was once part of the Su-57 program. In 2008, it partnered with Russia to co-develop a variant of the Su-57 called the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, or FGFA. A contract was signed between Sukhoi and HAL. Billions were planned. Expectations were high. BUT suddenly, in 2018, India pulled the plug and walked away - quietly, but decisively. 2/4

What's the difference between air superiority and air supremacy? They sound similar, but in war, they mean very different levels of control of the skies. Let's break down the four levels of air control, with real-world examples. 1/5 1. Air Parity: When neither side has a clear advantage in the skies. Example: The seesawing airpower situation between Greece and Turkey over the Aegean. 2/5

How many unguided air-to-air rockets does it take to bring down an aircraft? Turns out, far more than you'd think! Let's talk about the unbelievable Battle of Palmdale in 1956. 🧵 1/4 On August 16, 1956, a USNavy F6F-5K target drone took off from NAS Point Mugu and immediately went rogue, heading straight for Los Angeles. In mad panic, the Navy called in the USAF. Two F-89D Scorpions, America's most advanced interceptor, scrambled to take it down. 2/4

Did you know that during the 2003 Iraq War, USAF and USN pilots feared USArmy Patriot missiles more than Iraqi SAMs? Why? During the conflict, Patriot missiles gained a notorious reputation for misidentifying friendly aircraft and shooting them down. 1/4 As the ground war intensified, Patriot missiles tragically shot down an RAF Tornado and a Navy F/A-18, killing their crews. The reason? Faulty IFF technology and system automation, which struggled to distinguish allies from enemies in the fast-paced, chaotic battlefield environment. 2/4

A 10 tweet thread on the indomitable Fairchild Republic A-10 Warthog, the "flying tank". Enjoy! 1/10 #avgeeks #aviation #aviationdaily #USAF #Warthog A Warthog pilot sits in a "bathtub" of titanium armour, at places up to 38 mm thick and weighing 544 kg. This is proof against direct hits from 23-mm cannon. 2/10 #avgeeks #aviation #USAF #Warthog

Tomcat musing: a short thread on the "dowdy" parts of one of the most glamours interceptors of the world. 1/6 #avgeeks #aviation #aviationdaily #Tomcat #TopGun #USNavy Did you know that when the F-14 stretches its wings fully forward, the fuselage slots into which the wings retracted are sealed with inflatable airbags? The airbags use bleed air from the TF30s to inflation! 2/6
#avgeeks #aviation #TopGun #Tomcat

Aardvarks and the dawn of tank-plinking, a thread. 1/8
#avgeeks #aviation #USAF #DesertStorm #History On the night of Feb 5, 1991, Col. Tom Lennon, commander of #USAF's 48th FW, led a pair of F-111s on an experimental mission against dug-in units of the #Iraqi Republican Guard in the deserts north of Kuwait. 2/8 #avgeeks #aviation #DesertStorm #History