Aviation has forever captivated our imaginations, and the incredible machines that soar through the skies embody the essence of human ingenuity. Here we present a selection of breathtaking images that will make you fascinated with the world of aircraft. From sleek commercial airliners soaring majestically through the clouds to awesome fighter jets executing gravity-defying maneuvers, these amazing photographs are a testament to the marvels of modern aviation.
Related: These Aircraft From the Past Disappeared So Mysteriously!
1. Everything that can fit inside a rescue helicopter
2. The Space Shuttle being transported on a 747 and escorted by two F-18 fighter jets
3. When the Blue Angels were joined by the Thunderbirds and the Canadian Snowbirds. The Blue Angels are a United States Navy flight demonstration squadron, while the Thunderbirds are an American fighter aircraft unit that performs aerobatics at air shows and other occasions. The Snowbirds are the Royal Canadian Air Force's military aerobatic fly display team.
4. The only photograph ever taken of a Concorde flying at Mach 2 (1,350 miles per hour). This photograph was taken by a Raf Tornado fighter jet during its brief rendezvous with Concorde over the Irish Sea. The Tornado was rapidly running out of fuel and struggling to keep up with Concorde at Mach 2.
5. The maiden voyage of Airbus Beluga
6. On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549, piloted by Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, experienced a dual-engine failure shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport. In an extraordinary feat, he successfully landed the plane on the Hudson River, saving all 155 passengers and crew in what became known as "The Miracle on the Hudson".
7. Boeing 747 Rainbow Contrails
8. Impressive machines
9. And speaking of impressive, here's a Supermarine Spitfire, the iconic British single-seat fighter employed by the RAF and several Allied countries during WWII.
10. A lucky P-47 and its pilot from WWII
11. A plane crossing an eclipse
12. A United Airlines Boeing Dreamliner holds position in San Francisco while a British Airways Boeing gracefully descends through the fog to land
13. At Heathrow, an Air Canada 787 bursts through the mist in spectacular fashion
14. 52,000 Christmas lights decorating a B-52
15. The Raf's 100th anniversary was commemorated by 22 Eurofighter Typhoons flying above Buckingham Palace
