Fighter Gallery

The second fight between Harry Paulson and Tom Paddock, 1851 (late 19th or early 20th century).Artist: Pugnis

The second fight between Harry Paulson and Tom Paddock, 1851 (late 19th or early 20th century). An illustration from Famous Fights. Tom Paddock (1824-1863) fought Harry Paulson three times, twice in 1851 and once more in 1854. Paddock won the second fight, staged in Belper, Derbyshire, in the 86th round but a riot broke out and afterwards both boxers were jailed for 10 months with hard labour. Paddock went on to be English heavyweight champion between 1856 and 1858

© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images

Typhoon FGR4 at RAF Leuchars

A Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft is pictured at RAF Leuchars in Scotland.
Typhoon provides the RAF with a multi-role combat aircraft, capable of being deployed in the full spectrum of air operations, from air policing, to peace support, through to high intensity conflict. It is currently employed on permanent ops in the Falkland Islands, UK QRA North and UK QRA South.Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain formally agreed to start development of the aircraft in 1988 with contracts for a first batch of 148 aircraft of which 53 were for the RAF signed ten years later. Deliveries to the RAF started in 2003 to 17(R) Sqn who were based at BAE Systems Warton Aerodrome in Lancashire (alongside the factory where the aircraft were assembled) while detailed development and testing of the aircraft was carried out. Formal activation of the first Typhoon Squadron at RAF Coningsby occurred on the 1st Jul 2005. The aircraft took over responsibility for UK QRA on 29 Jun 2007 and was formally declared as an advanced Air Defence platform on 1 Jan 2008

Aircraft sonic boom cloud

Sonic boom aircraft. Cloud forming behind an aircraft as it breaks the sound barrier. As the aircraft moves through the air, an area of low pressure forms behind it. When the pressure of this air parcel falls below the vapour pressure of gaseous water, the water in the air condenses to form the cloud. Different atmospheric conditions cause the phenomenon to occur at different aircraft speeds. This is an American F/A-18 Hornet. Photographed over the Pacific Ocean on 7 July 1999

© US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY