What does the second person do in a fighter jet?

The person seating in the second seat is often a “navigator” who assists the pilot and operates the weapon systems but I think that their controls are exactly the same so that the plane could be piloted from the back seat.

Can a gun shoot down a jet?

Admittedly, this was a one time event, hasn’t been repeated since then, but not only can a fast moving aircraft be brought down with a gun, it can be brought down by a gun fired from another fast moving aircraft. During the Falklands War the British naval ships came under close attack by Argentine Mirage III jets.

Are planes bulletproof?

Airplanes are definitely not bulletproof. Most aircraft fuselages are termed ‘thin-walled pressure vessels’ made of relatively weak metals (compared to steels) such as aluminum alloys. Even a handgun bullet will penetrate them easily.

Are plane windows bulletproof?

The windows on a modern airliner are actually made up of multiple layers, usually three, of acrylic with a plastic inner cover. Since the windows are essentially made from plexiglass, they aren’t bulletproof.

What type of fuses are used in missiles?

Proximity fuses, therefore, are the norm. Short, medium and long-range missiles are all now in use, some with ranges of hundreds of miles. Planes continue to carry a cannon, such as the Aden, the British adaptation of the old German Mauser MG-213.

What was the first time there was combat in the air?

However, when enemies sent people into the air at the same time, fighting was going to occur. In November 1913, the skies above the Mexican Revolution witnessed the first combat between planes. Pilots armed with pistols exchanged shots, but neither scored a hit. A year later, WWI broke out.

When was the first fighter plane invented?

In November 1913, the skies above the Mexican Revolution witnessed the first combat between planes. Pilots armed with pistols exchanged shots, but neither scored a hit. A year later, WWI broke out. In the skies above the Western Front, the fighter plane was about to be born.

What weapons were used in WW1 fighter planes?

In the skies above the Western Front, the fighter plane was about to be born. In the first clashes of the war, pilots used pistols and rifles to attack each other’s planes. When better weapons became available on the ground, pilots inevitably wanted to use them. Attempts to carry machine guns followed.