Gunship Collection (#7)

An AC-130U gunship jettisons flares over Florida
August 20, 2008 - An AC-130U gunship jettisons flares over an area near Hurlburt Field, Florida. The flares are a countermeasure for heat-seeking missiles that may be launched at the aircraft during

A UH-60 Black Hawk landing at a military base in Iraq
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter landing at a military base in Iraq

Serbian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter in flight over Serbia
Serbian Air Force Mi-17 utility helicopter in flight over Serbia

A Bulgarian Air Force Mi-8 helicopter in flight over Bulgaria

An A-10 Thunderbolt II receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker
May 8, 2011 - An A-10 Thunderbolt II receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker over the skies of Afghanistan while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom

Two A-10 Thunderbolts taxi out to the runway
July 26, 2008, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan - Two A-10 Thunderbolt II jets taxi out to the runway. The jets are experts at close air support missions

Czech Air Force Mi-24 Hind helicopters in formation over Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

An Afghan Air Force Mil Mi-17 helicopter over Afghanistan
December 1, 2012 - Members of the Czech Air Force train in an Afghan Air Force Mil Mi-17 helicopter during a mission from Kabul, Afghanistan

A CH-46 Sea Knight and Mi-8 helicopter at Al Kut, Iraq
A US Marine Corps CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter sits with engines running on the flight line at Al Kut, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom

A group of AH-64D Apache helicopters on the runway at COB Speicher
A group of four AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters return to COB Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq, after completing a mission over Northern Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom

An AH-64D Apache Longbow fires a hydra rocket over Iraq
An AH-64D Apache Longbow fires a Hydra 70 rocket while on a mission over Northern Iraq

U. S. Army AH-64D Apache helicopters prepare for takeoff
U.S. Army AH-64D Apache helicopters prepare for takeoff at the Letzlingen Army Training Center, Germany, during Exercise Bora 2011 in preparation for Afghanistan deployment

A UH-1N Huey and an AH-1W Super Cobra land on flight deck of USS Essex
Camp Foster, Japan, September 23, 2008 - A UH-1N Huey and an AH-1W Super Cobra land on the flight line of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2)

An A-10 Warthog breaks over the Pacific Alaska Range Complex during live fire training
Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska - An A-10 Warthog breaks over the Pacific Alaska Range Complex during live fire training

German Tiger Eurocopter flying over the town of Fritzlar, Germany, in preparation for Afghanistan deployment

An AH-64D Apache Longbow Block III prepares for takeoff
An AH-64D Apache Longbow Block III attack helicopter prepares for takeoff at Camp Speicher

Polish special forces member fast-ropes from a Lithuanian Mi-8 helicopter
September 16, 2010 - A Polish special operations forces member fast-ropes from a Lithuanian Mi-8 helicopter in Klaipeda, Lithuania, during Jackal Stone 10

AH-64D Apache helicopter on a mission over Northern Iraq
AH-64D Apache Longbow on a mission over Northern Iraq

A German Army UH-1D helicopter, Germany
A German Army UH-1D helicopter of MTHR 30 from Niederstetten, painted in 30th anniversary colors, Rheine-Bentlage Airfield, Germany

Airman directs an AH-1W Super Cobra onto the flight deck of USS Essex
Okinawa, Japan, September 23, 2008 - Airman uses hand and arm signals to direct an AH-1W Super Cobra onto the flight deck of USS Essex

An A-10 Thunderbolt maneuvers through the sky
May 16, 2006 - An A-10 Thunderbolt from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, approaches a target called in by Joint Terminal Air Controllers during Urban Combat Air Support training

German Tiger Eurocopters at Fritzlar Airfield, Germany, in preparation for Afghanistan deployment

OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters parked at Camp Speicher, Iraq

A Macedonian MI-17 helicopter landing as part of a medical transport flight
Camp Pepelishte, Macedonia, June 11, 2011 - A Macedonian MI-17, carrying a simulated trauma patient, lands as part of a medical transport flight during the 2011 Medical Training Exercise in Central

An A-10 pilot prepares to shut down engines following his arrival
October 15, 2008 - An A-10 pilot prepares to shut down engines following his arrival at the Salina, Kansas airport for Hawgsmoke 2008

An AH-2 Sabre at sunset in Natal, Brazil
An AH-2 Sabre (Mi-35M) at sunset in Natal, Brazil, during exercise Cruzex 2013

An aerial gunner surveys the surrounding area during a combat mission in Afghanistan
October 10, 2011 - An aerial gunner surveys the surrounding area for possible insurgents during a combat resupply mission in Barge Matal in the northern Kunar Valley, Afghanistan. U.S

A Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopter of the German Army taken on the base at Le Luc, France

A-10 Thunderbolt IIs flying over Razorback Range, Arkansas
December 30, 2013 - A-10 Thunderbolt IIs conduct a training mission over Razorback Range, Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center, Arkansas

An A-10 Thunderbolt II over the skies of Afghanistan
May 8, 2011 - An A-10 Thunderbolt II returns to mission after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker over the skies of Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom

Sailors and Marines watch an AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter lift off the flight deck
Pacific Ocean, August 12, 2011 - Sailors and Marines aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18)

An AH-64 Apache helicopter in midair, Conroe, Texas

Four AH-64 Apache anti-armor helicopters fly in formation at dusk while returning from a training mission

Republic of Singapore Air Force AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters at Pinal Airpark, Arizona

The Sea King helicopter and the Agusta A109 of the Belgian Army
The Sea King helicopter and in the background the Agusta A109 of the Belgian Army

An Afghan Air Force aerial gunner makes final checks on a Mi-17 helicopter
July 20, 2013 - An Afghan Air Force aerial gunner makes final checks on a Mi-17 helicopter before a functional check flight mission after routine maintenance at Kabul International Airport

An AH-64D Apache Longbow Block III on the flight line at night
An AH-64D Apache Longbow Block III attack helicopter waits on the flight line at night at Camp Speicher

A Dutch AH-64 Apache deployed to Frosinone Air Base, Italy for training

German Tiger Eurocopters at Stendal Airfield, Germany, during Exercise Bora 2011 in preparation for Afghanistan deployment

Two AH-64 Apache helicopters prepare to land on on the runway
Two AH-64 Apache helicopters prepare to land on the active runway at COB Speicher, Tikrit, Iraq

AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters taking off on a mission in support of exercise Angel Thunder 2013

Hellfire missiles on an AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter
Close-up view of the Hellfire missiles on an AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter, Tikrit, Iraq

An AH-1Z Cobra helicopter takes off from the flight deck of USS Makin Island
Red Sea, April 16, 2012 - An aircraft handler signals to an AH-1Z Cobra helicopter as it takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8)

A U. S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II
A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II turns on to final approach at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada

Azerbaijan Air Force Mi-17 helicopter during Exercise Isik 2016, Konya, Turkey

An Apache Helicopter at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan
An Apache Helicopter at Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan

An AH-64D Apache Longbow Block III waits for an OH-58 Kiowa to clear his flight space
Tikrit, Iraq - An AH-64D Apache Longbow Block III attack helicopter waits for an OH-58 Kiowa to clear his flight space

A Mi-35 attack helicopter at Kunduz Air Field, Northern Afghanistan
A Mi-35 attack helicopter operated by the Afghan National Army Air Corp (ANaC) at Kunduz Air Field, Northern Afghanistan

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

"Gunship: A Powerful Legacy of Naval and Air Superiority" From the British battleships that ruled the seas to the Union gunboats sunk in Galveston Bay, history is filled with tales of formidable gunships. As an A10 Thunderbolt II taxis down Bagram Air Field or a Bell 209 AH-1 Huey Cobra takes flight, their presence commands attention. At Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, an A-10 Thunderbolt II emerges from the hot pit, ready for action. The skies come alive with the roar of engines as an F-16 Falcon and AH-64 Apache from the Royal Netherlands Air Force join forces. In a mesmerizing display of power and grace, a P-51 Mustang, an F-16 Fighting Falcon, an F-15 Eagle, and an A-10 Thunderbolt II soar through the sky. Their combined might showcases the evolution technology over time. One cannot overlook the Lockheed AC-130A-LM Hercules 53-3129 as it dominates both land and air. Its imposing figure strikes fear into those who dare challenge its supremacy. The Boeing Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche stands as a testament to innovation in aerial warfare. With advanced capabilities and stealth design, it represents cutting-edge technology at its finest. Yet not all they are found soaring above; some have made their mark on water too. In a vivid depiction captured by artists long ago, we witness a terrible episode of naval battle between torpedo boats in front of Porto Arturo. It serves as a reminder that gunships have taken many forms throughout history. Even closer to home lies evidence of their impact – like when we gaze upon the starboard side of Delta moored in River Tyne or feel gusts whipping across our faces at Wind on The Firth Of Forth in 1917 – these scenes remind us how these vessels shaped our world.