1F-16
In 2003, a USAF F-16 fought a battle with a US Army Patriot missile battery and won.
2B-2 Spirit stealth bomber
When the USAF B-2 Spirit stealth bomber detects a nuclear flash it instantly shuts down and then reboots many of its electronic systems. Shutting down is the only way to avoid an electromagnetic pulse that would fry its components. The aircraft counters lightning by protecting its electrical components from over-amperage.
3B1-B Lancer
In 2006, a B1-B Lancer named “Hard Luck” did a belly landing in Guam because the aircrew forgot to lower the landing gear.
453d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
The 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron is a U.S. Air Force flying unit, which is nicknamed “Hurricane Hunters,” specializes in flying into tropical storms and hurricanes for the specific purpose of directly measuring weather data in and around those storms.
5Lockheed D-21
In 1969, U.S. Air Force successfully deployed a reconnaissance drone named Lockheed D-21 which was capable of going Mach 3.3.
6B-52 Stratofortress
The B-52 Stratofortress has been operated by the USAF since 1955 and it isn't expected to be retired until the 2040s.
7XF-85 Goblin
In 1948 the United States Air-force tested the XF-85 Goblin, a jet fighter designed to be deployed and retrieved from a bomber's bomb-bay. The bomber could carry a maximum of 4 XF-85s, turning it into a "Flying Aircraft Carrier."
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8Hercules C-130
In 1963, a series of tests proved that the Hercules C-130 transport aircraft could land on and take off from the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal.
9McDonnell Douglas F-15
The McDonnell Douglas F-15, in 37 years of service has never been shot down in the air to air combat. It has a record of 104 kills to 0 losses.
10Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
The cargo hold of the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is one foot longer than the entire length of the first powered flight by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk.
