u/Realistic-Store9520

I've always thought this was one of the most interesting stories in military aviation.

The F-22 Raptor is widely considered one of the greatest air superiority fighters ever built, yet the U.S. never exported a single one, not even to close allies like Japan, Australia, or Israel.

I put together a short video explaining:

• Why Congress banned F-22 exports
• The technology the U.S. wanted to protect
• How the export ban affected the program's cost and production
• Why the F-35 ultimately became America's export stealth fighter instead

I tried to stick to official sources and focus on the policy and strategic reasons rather than the usual myths.

I'd love to hear what you think:

• Should the U.S. have sold the F-22 to trusted allies?
• Would a larger production run have been worth the security risk?
• Do you think the F-35 ended up being the better choice for allied air forces?

Here's the video: https://youtu.be/kuJgmgnzkvk

Just watched the news about the Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk crash near Sitka, Alaska.

Thankfully, all four crew members survived, which is incredible considering the terrain and conditions those crews routinely operate in. Air Station Sitka has one of the toughest flying environments in the country—mountains, coastal weather, low visibility, and long-range SAR missions.

I put together a short video breaking down:

• What happened
• What we know so far
• The role of the MH-60 Jayhawk
• Why Southeast Alaska is such a challenging place to fly
• What investigators will likely be looking at next

As always, the goal is to focus on the aviation side of the story and avoid speculation while the investigation is ongoing.

Would be interested to hear thoughts from Coast Guard, helicopter, or Alaska aviation folks on here.

Coast Guard MH 60 Jayhawk crashes in Alaska. What we know so far

I recently put together a video on something I hadn't seen discussed much outside defense circles: China's attempts to recruit former U.S. and NATO military pilots.

What surprised me was that this isn't based on rumors or speculation. The U.S. Air Force and the Department of Justice have all publicly warned about recruitment efforts targeting experienced Western aviators through private companies and overseas aviation firms.

The video covers:

Why former fighter pilots are valuable to China
How these recruitment approaches allegedly work
Recent DOJ cases involving former U.S. military aviators
Why NATO and the Air Force are concerned
What this could mean for future air combat in the Pacific

I tried to focus on the aviation and training side of the story rather than politics.

I'd be interested to hear what this community thinks:

Do you see this as a genuine national security concern, or is the threat sometimes overstated?

Video:
China’s secret hunt for US fighter pilots

I just finished putting together a video about one of the most insane aircraft ever created — the SR-71 Blackbird.

The more you look into this aircraft, the crazier it gets. A plane designed in the 1960s that could fly at Mach 3+, cruise near the edge of space, outrun missiles, and complete missions without ever being shot down.

What fascinates me most is that it wasn’t just fast — the entire aircraft was basically an engineering experiment pushed to the absolute limit.

• Titanium airframe because aluminum couldn’t survive the heat
• Engines that behaved almost like ramjets at high speed
• A design that used speed and altitude as its main defense
• Technology that still feels futuristic decades later

The interesting question is: did we ever actually build something better… or did we just move in a different direction with satellites, stealth, and drones?

I made a short documentary-style breakdown here if anyone’s interested:
Why the SR 71 Blackbird Is STILL Unmatched

Curious what everyone thinks — if the SR-71 program had continued, would it still have a role today?

I published a new documentary on the legendary B-52 Stratofortress and wanted to share it with fellow aviation enthusiasts.

This is NOT one of those fully AI-generated videos flooding YouTube right now.

I researched the history, wrote the script myself, selected the footage, and edited the documentary to tell the story of how a bomber designed in the early 1950s is still serving in the U.S. Air Force today—and may continue flying into the 2050s.

The video covers:
• The B-52's Cold War origins
• Vietnam and Operation Linebacker II
• Desert Storm and modern combat operations
• Why the Air Force keeps modernizing it
• The upcoming B-52J upgrades

I'd genuinely love feedback from aviation and military history fans. If I got something wrong or missed an interesting detail, let me know.

Link: https://youtu.be/Ms16HWOK3rw

Thanks for watching!

— Strike Vector

Most military aircraft are difficult to fly.

The Lockheed U-2 is on an entirely different level.

Flying above 70,000 feet, U-2 pilots operate in a tiny envelope between stall speed and overspeed known as the "Coffin Corner." Landing the aircraft is so challenging that another pilot has to chase it down the runway in a high-performance car and talk the pilot down by radio.

I recently put together a documentary exploring:

✈️ Why the U-2 is so difficult to fly
👨‍✈️ The elite training required to become a U-2 pilot
⚠️ The dangers of operating at extreme altitude
🚗 Why every landing requires a chase car
🛰️ Why this Cold War-era aircraft remains relevant today

I'd love to hear from current or former U-2 crews, maintainers, and military aviators.

What aircraft do you think is harder to fly: the U-2, the SR-71, or something else?

🎬 Watch here:
Why the U-2 Dragon Lady Is the Hardest Aircraft in the World to Fly

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II was supposed to revolutionize air combat.

Instead, according to recent U.S. Government Accountability Office findings, the program is still struggling with:

✈️ TR-3 software delays
⚠️ Non-combat-capable aircraft deliveries
🔥 F135 engine shortages
🛠️ Maintenance and spare parts problems
💰 Massive sustainment costs

I put together a cinematic documentary-style breakdown explaining what’s happening behind the scenes and why these issues matter for U.S. military readiness.

Would love to hear what this community thinks:

👉 Is the F-35 still the future of airpower?
👉 Or has the program become too ambitious to efficiently maintain at scale?

F-35 Crisis: Why America’s Most Advanced Fighter Keeps Struggling