Author: Jack Bogart

By Richard Johnson Posted in #History The McDonnell F3H Demon was a single-seat, carrier-based jet fighter developed for the United States Navy in the 1950’s. This aircraft represents a critical but troubled chapter in American naval aviation: one that pushed the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation toward design philosophies that would eventually produce the legendary F-4 Phantom II. But the path there wasn’t pretty. The F3H struggled with underpowered engines, weight problems, and structural failures that killed test pilots and delayed its operational deployment for years. First flown in 1951, the F3H emerged during the jet age transition when…

ALLENTOWN, PA (July 14, 2026) – Mack Defense today announced that the U.S. Army has placed an additional order for 115 Heavy Dump Trucks (HDTs) as part of its M917A3 HDT program for the National Guard. This latest order, combined with the 91 trucks ordered last month from the U.S. Army funded with the $47 million secured in the 2026 National Defense Appropriations Act, brings the total to 208 trucks with a combined value of more than $84 million. These recent orders are part of the new five-year contract awarded in June 2025 to Mack Defense for up to 450…

Auto-Ordnance has just announced the M1 Carbine SBR, featuring a short barrel and a threaded muzzle.What’s cooler than an M1 Carbine? An M1 Carbine with a short barrel and a suppressor, and that’s exactly what Auto-Ordnance is bringing with its M1 Carbine SBR. Not only is the barrel chopped down to 12 inches, but its muzzle is threaded 1/2×28 for easy suppressor installation.Chambered for the original .30 Carbine cartridge, the M1 Carbine SBR is available with either a 15- or 10-round magazine. It features a flip-style rear sight and an American walnut stock and handguard. The short barrel and threaded…

FORT GORDON, Ga. – Developers from the Hardware Section of Cyber Solutions Development-Maryland, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), recently collaborated with developers from the 11th Cyber Warfare Battalion’s CSD-Tactical on a project to increase the Army’s drone warfare capabilities. The project, which spanned more than a year, aligns with the Army’s “Transforming in Contact” initiative, which aims to modernize the battlefield by rapidly delivering new technology into the hands of Soldiers. Drone warfare has become one of the most significant battlefield innovations in recent years, with several countries scrambling to develop increasingly advanced drone technology following the outbreak of the…

Modern technology and outdoor adventure are a better match than many of us might think. From GPS locators to lightweight flashlights to mobile trail cameras, there are many reasons to be grateful for how technological advances can improve time spent in nature. This week’s batch of new gear focuses on that dynamic, highlighting releases that push the boundaries of human ingenuity in the oldest pursuit of all: exploration. Hunters will find innovative hauling strategies and upgraded trail cameras. Watch junkies have cool new takes on wearables to consider. Birders and campers have binoculars and flashlights to peruse, while cyclists get…

ICAST handed out its New Product Showcase category awards for 2026, recognizing 39 new products across rods, reels, electronics, watercraft, lures, apparel, accessories, and tackle storage. Among the biggest takeaways were Garmin’s new LiveScope 2 HD, three separate wins tied to the urchin bait trend, and multiple category wins from Shimano and St. Croix. But perhaps the biggest surprise came at the end, when a relatively simple, affordable spinning combo beat out all of them to take Best of Show. Here are just some of the products that stood out. Rhino Spinning Combo Takes Best of Show The biggest award…

When it comes to midsize trucks in the overlanding community, it seems like the Toyota Tacoma steals all of the attention. Don’t get us wrong — it’s a great truck, especially the current generation, but it’s far from the only game in town. Take the Ford Ranger, for example. It’s super-capable, very nice to live with, and makes a fantastic base for an overland build. That’s especially true now that ARB has debuted its Ascent Truck Cap for the 2024 and newer Ranger with the 5-foot bed. Powder-coated metal bed toppers for trucks are definitely in vogue now, but they…

We’ve got another outdoors fixed blade from Civivi to look at today, the Carveth. The name hints at the role of this one, with a marked bent towards the needs of hunters here. Few things say “hunting knife” more than a handsome, classically proportioned drop point, such as we have here on the Carveth. At 3.59 inches long, the edge is big enough for the (let’s be honest) gnarlier chores such a role demands: things like field dressing and general carving. The Civivi line is dominated by hard working steels, and the design team chose a classic for the Carveth:…

Several Historic UAS Events Originated From the FTTC GRAND FORKS – 16 July 2026 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) began operations of its Flight Test and Training Center (FTTC) at the GrandSKY UAS Business Park near Grand Forks, North Dakota, on July 18, 2016. Over the past 10 years, the FTTC has been the site of a number of historic “firsts” for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and has delivered training to more than 4,000 pilots and sensor operators that fly UAS produced by GA-ASI. “It’s been an eventful decade for the FTTC,” said GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue. “We…

There’s no place perhaps more associated with rain than the Pacific Northwest, so there’s perhaps no better place to put a rain jacket to the test. I wore the Mountain Hardwear Cloud Cipher Rain Jacket on a week-long, 96-mile backpacking trip along the Oregon coast and the literal rainforests there to put it through its paces. The Cloud Cipher ($310) is the brand’s newest, most high-end shell made of a signature DrySpell fabric that Mountain Hardwear claims is rigorously lab-tested to be fully waterproof, as well as breathable and durable. In addition to my week in Oregon, I wore the…