Throughout its existence, the United States Air Force has had an incredible array of large aircraft on its books. These range from the intimidating B-29 Superfortress and the B-58 Hustler to the insanely fast SR-71 Blackbird. Not only are these aircraft extremely competent and deadly, but they also happen to be some of the biggest military jet planes in the sky in general. And many of these amazing machines are still in service today.
To showcase how scary and massive these airborne vehicles are, we have compiled 13 of the biggest aircraft that the USAF currently has under its command, as well as 2 that are worth remembering. Ranging from the biggest fighter jets and stealth bombers to refuelers, the aircraft on this list are so massive yet resilient they earn the right to be called ‘Sky Fortresses.’
15 B-52 Stratofortress
When you consider that the RAF’s Avro Vulcan, an aircraft the same age as the B-52, is no longer in service, its incredible to realize that the ‘Stratofortress’ is still going strong since 1952. Its maiden flight was over 60 years ago, and with lifetime upgrades the aircraft may stay in service up until the 2050s. B-52s took part in the longest bombing raid ever, from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana to Iraq and back - a 14,000-mile round trip.
14 KC-135 Stratotanker
The KC-135 is probably the most well known of the US air force tanker aircraft, as it was based on the highly successful 707 airliners. In service since June 1957, it’s been incredibly successful and has served in both the Vietnam war and in Operation Desert Storm as well. 803 of the aircraft have been built and they should stay in service until 2030.
13 B-2 Stealth Bomber
This could quite possibly be one of the most famous aircraft ever built. The B-2 Stealth Bomber, together with the F-117 Nighthawk, was one of two stealth aircraft built for the USAF in the 1980s and 1990s. It came about after the Mach 2 version of the B-1A was canceled, although this was later reinstated. The B-2 is still in service, but sadly the F-117 isn’t.
12 C-5 Galaxy
Having seen one of these up close, it always amazes me just how big the C-5 Galaxy is. It is one of the world's largest military aircraft, stretching at almost 250 feet, and shares similarities with the C-141 Starlifter and the C-17 Globemaster III. They have served all over the world, in Vietnam, Iraq, Yugoslavia, and Afghanistan.
11 C-17 Globemaster
Speaking of the Globemaster III, here it is! It replaced the C-141 Starlifter, and the aircraft has also seen service with other air arms, including the Royal Air Force and the Indian Air Force. It is renowned for short take off’s and landings, allowing it to be used close to battle areas and quickly make a getaway before perhaps returning with more troops or supplies.
10 KC-10 Extender
Think there’s something familiar about the KC-10 Extender? Well, you’d be right, as it is based off the Douglas DC-10. The DC-10 did not get a great rap as an airliner. However, it has achieved great success as a tanker, developed from the Advanced Tanker Cargo Aircraft Program.
It measures at 180 feet in length and is able to store up to 197,800 liters of fuel! 60 KC-10’s were produced for the USAF, and the Royal Netherlands Air Force operates two of them that were converted from passenger DC-10’s.
9 B-1B Lancer
The B-1B Lancer is perhaps one of the best-looking bombers of all time. One of the few supersonic bombers built, its unit cost is now a staggering $415 million as of 2018. Expected to continue in service until 2030, the original B-1A program was actually canceled due to the Stealth Bomber program, but it was restarted in 1981 as that aircraft suffered delays, and it lowered the top speed from around Mach 2 to Mach 1.25.
8 AC-130 Hercules
The AC-130 could be the most famous variant of the Hercules, being the gunship variant. Of course, the C-130 has been in operation as a whole since the 1960s, an incredible achievement. It’s often used at night, it’s size and necessity to be in close support roles making it an easy target, but it has been incredibly effective and gained a lot of fame over the years.
7 E-3 Sentry
The Boeing E-3 Sentry is one of the most distinctive aircraft operating in the USAF, and indeed with other air arms all over the world. The example in the photo is actually operating with NATO! The Royal Air Force also operates the aircraft, it replacing the failed Nimrod conversion that was aimed at to fulfill Britain’s AWACS role.
6 WC-135 Constant Phoenix
The WC-135 Constant Phoenix is an interesting machine. 10 were built, one was converted from an EC-135C and just two are in service. They are used to collect samples from the atmosphere, to detect and identify any nuclear explosions. It’s an interesting aircraft that has been dubbed “the sniffer” and “weather bird,” - an unusual nickname, to say the least!
5 V-22B Osprey
Whilst being far from the biggest aircraft by any means, the Osprey is one heck of a beast and is sizeable in its own right. It’s a tilt-rotor aircraft, and it went through a crazy amount of development time and all manner of setbacks. The rotors point upwards for take-off and slowly rotate forwards for flight and it took a long time to perfect. But it is in service and has proved very effective as a transporter and medevac machine, especially in Iraq and Kuwait.
4 U-2 Spyplane
Again, an aircraft that is not huge but still big, especially when you look at the 100-foot wingspan. Nicknamed “Dragon Lady” it can fly at heights of 70,000 feet and is one of the most famous spy aircraft ever built.
It is, of course, the aircraft famously shot down twice, with Gary Powers flying one over the Soviet Union in 1960, whilst the other one was shot down during the Cuban Missile Crisis, piloted by Major Rudolf Anderson Jr. It is still in service today, and NASA also uses them.
3 KC-46 Pegasus
The KC-46 Pegasus is another famous tanker machine used by the USAF. Its primary aim is to replace the KC-135’s over a period of time, although the ‘135’s are currently still going strong. 179 Pegasus aircraft are expected to be in service by 2027, costing an eye-watering $242.1 million price tag each with all the R&D factored in.
2 XB-70 Valkyrie
The XB-70 Valkyrie actually never made it to service. It was the prototype for the planned B-70, a high altitude, Mach 3 nuclear bomber. The program was canceled in 1961 after the first Soviet surface-to-air missiles appeared but the two prototypes were used for supersonic test-flights, but one crashed after it’s chase F-104 Starfighter collided with it in 1966. The survivor is on display in Dayton, Ohio.
1 B-47 Stratojet
The B-47 Stratojet deserves to be talked about, as it is effectively the predecessor to the legendary B-52 Stratofortress. Its first flight was in December 947 and it entered service in 1951. It was the first major jet bomber to enter USAF service, although the type never saw combat service despite occasionally coming under fire around Soviet air space in their later, RB-47 recon roll.
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