The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, single-engined jet fighter aircraft manufactured for the United States Air Force (USAF). Though designed as a lightweight fighter, it has evolved into a successful multirole aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven its worth in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. The Falcon is the largest Western fighter program with over 4,000 aircraft built since its production in 1976. Though no longer produced for the Air Force, it is still being made for export. Its relatively low cost and high performance has made it popular worldwide, serving a total of 24 countries.

From the very beginning, the Falcon was intended to be a cost-effective workhorse that could perform various missions. Advanced aerospace science and proven reliable systems from other planes were integrated into the F16. These simplified the aircraft and reduced its size, weight, purchase price and maintenance costs. The F-16 has excellent acceleration, being one of the few jets with a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than one. It can also be armed with a wide variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, rockets or bombs. An all-weather capability allows it to accurately deliver ordnance during non-visual bombing conditions. The F-16C is the upgraded version of the F-16A, with the latest cockpit control and display technology.

The Falcon has participated in numerous conflicts, mostly in the Middle East. Since the end of Operation Desert Storm, it patrolled the Iraqi no-fly zones. Two air-to-air victories were scored in Operation Southern Watch, the first one by an F-16D and the second by an F16C. On January 17, 1993, an F-16C destroyed an Iraqi MiG-23 with an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). The F-16 was also employed by NATO during Operation Allied Force over Yugoslavia, conducting air-to-ground sorties and achieving one or two aerial victories, one by a Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16A and another possibly by a USAF F-16C. A Yugoslavian MiG-29 may have been shot down by an F-16C with two AMRAAMs, but the Serbs subsequently found fragments of a Strela-2M MANPAD in the wreckage of the MiG-29.

The Boeing 747 is a long-haul, widebody commercial airliner. Sometimes called the “Jumbo Jet”, it is known for its impressive size and is one of the world’s most recognizable aircraft. It has held the passenger capacity record for 37 years and was the first commercial wide-body aircraft. It uses a double decker configuration for part of its length, and the hump created by the upper deck has made the plane a highly recognizable icon of air travel. The 747 was expected to become obsolete after sales of 400 units, but it has outlived many of its critics’ expectations. As of June 2007, 1,387 planes had been built, with 120 more on order.

Throughout its history, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA has used several different types of aircraft on a permanent, semi-permanent, or short-term basis. The agency has three 747s: a 747-100, a 747-100SR, and a 747SP. The 747-100 and 747-100SR are currently used as Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) while the 747SP is in use as Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA).

The SCAs are used to ferry space shuttles from landing sites back to the launch complex at the NASA Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center, and to and from other locations too distant for the orbiters to be delivered by ground transport. The 747-100 was was acquired from American Airlines in 1974 and was extensively modified in 1976. Its cabin was stripped, mounting struts were added, the fuselage was strengthened, and vertical stabilizers were added to the tail. The avionics and engines were also upgraded. In 1988, in the wake of the Challenger accident, NASA procured the 747-100SR from Japan Airlines on recommendation from the review board. It entered service with NASA in 1990 after similar modifications. It was the first used to ferry the new shuttle Endeavour in 1991.

Under increasing pressure from both the United States and the Soviet Union, Finland finally declares war on former partner Germany.

As tension increased between Germany and the USSR, Finland saw in Hitler a possible ally in gaining back its territory. German troops were allowed on Finnish soil as the German prepared for their invasion of the Soviet Union, a war that the Finns joined. Finnish troops captured large areas of East Karelia back from the Soviet Union, they were reluctant to trespass the old borders of 1939 and help Germany in the siege of Leningrad.

The final act of capitulation came on March 3, 1945, with a formal declaration of war against the already dying Germany.

In a naval message on February 29, Commander, Naval Surface Forces announced USS Nassau (LHA 4) a winner of the 2007 Battle Efficiency Award, more commonly known as the Battle “E”.

Established in 1974, the annually-awarded Battle “E” is based on a year-long evaluation of the overall readiness of a command to carry out its assigned wartime tasks. A ship or unit must demonstrate the highest state of battle readiness in order to win.

A ship’s sustained superior performance in six different areas contributes to the award. These areas are maritime warfare; engineering and survivability; command, control, communications, and information warfare; logistics management; surface force safety; and the Efficiency Excellence award.

“This award belongs to every member of the Nassau team,” said Nassau Commanding Officer, Captain James R. Boorujy. “Everyone on the ship put maximum effort into getting this ship ready to defend our nation’s interests to the best of its ability.”

Nassau is currently deployed as flagship of the Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group in support of Maritime Security Operations and Theater Security Cooperation efforts in the Navy’s 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. Commissioned on July 28, 1979, she has participated in various operations, including Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Support Democracy, Deny Flight, Allied Force, Noble Anvil, and Iraqi Freedom. In 2000, she won the 1999 Battle “E”.