These are all the planes in the US Air Force (Graphic Photos)

A US Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft flies over Alaskan terrain after refueling, January 5, 2013.

The US Air Force is the world's premier aerial power. 

With 39 distinct types of aircraft, and many more subvarieties of each airframe, it is easy to understand why the US Air Force has no peers. Each airframe is custom-made to carry out a select mission effectively, and each pilot knows their aircraft perfectly.

Below are the 39 distinct types of aircraft that the US Air Force fields, according to the Air Force Fact Sheets. 

A-10 Thunderbolt II

Capt. Richard Olson, 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron A-10
pilot, gets off an A-10 Warthog after his flight at Kandahar
Airfield, Afghanistan, September 2, 2011.

Mission: The A-10 is specifically designed to carry out close-air support at low altitude and low speed. The A-10 is built to be highly survivable and can takeoff and land in locations near to the front lines.

Source: US Air Force

AC-130

Variants: AC-130U "Spooky" and AC-130W Stinger II

Mission: Both AC-130 variants are highly modified versions of the original C-130 airframe. The variants are both tasked with close-air-support missions, convoy escort, and point air defense.

Source: US Air Force

B-1B Lancer

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Mission: The B-1B Lancer is the Air Force's bomber backbone. It has the largest payload capacity of any aircraft in the fleet, is multi-mission capable, and can carry and deliver huge quantities of both precision and nonprecision weaponry. 

Source: US Air Force

B-2 Spirit

The B-2 Spirit approaches the boom
of a McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey,
KC-10A Extender during a Capstone
orientation flight. Capstone is a Joint Airborne/Air
Transportability Training mission providing
 interservice training for the wartime application of airlift.

Mission: The B-2 Spirit is a stealth bomber capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear munitions.

Source: US Air Force

B-52 Stratofortress

A B-52 drops a load of bombs in Afghanistan.

Mission: The B-52 is a long-range heavy bomber that is able to participate in and complete a wide range of mission sets. During conflicts, the B-52 can provide close air support, strategic attacks, surveillance, and counter-air and maritime operations.

Source: US Air Force

C-130 Hercules

Mission: The C-130 Hercules is primarily used for airlift missions and transporting equipment and troops. It can land on rough dirt strips, move oversized loads, and the airframe can be modified into a range of aircraft such as the AC-130U and the WC-130 Hercules.

Source: US Air Force

C-17 Globemaster III

A US C-17 Globemaster in flight.

Mission: The C-17 is the newest cargo aircraft to enter the Air Force's airlift fleet. The plane is capable of strategic delivery of cargo and people, can complete airdrop missions, and can move patients during aeromedical evacuations.

Source: US Air Force

C-20

Variants: C-20B, C-20H

Mission: The C-20 is a modified Gulfstream civilian aircraft. The planes are used to transport high-ranking officials from the government and Department of Defense.

Source: US Air Force

C-21

The 76th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein Air Base,
 Germany, lost three of its 13 C-21 aircraft in
January as the Air Force retires the aircraft from
the active-duty inventory. The C-21 is the military
version of the Lear Jet 35A business jet. Delivery
of the C-21 fleet began in April 1984 and was
completed in October 1985.

Mission: The C-21 is used to airlift cargo and passengers. It can also be used for aeromedical evacuations. 

Source: US Air Force

C-32

United States Air Force C-32A, the military variant
 of Boeing 757-2G4.

Mission: The C-32 is used to transport the vice president primarily, but also the first lady, and cabinet and Congress members. The plane is typically referred to as "Air Force Two."

Source: US Air Force

C-37A

Mission: The aircraft is used to transport government officials and members of the Department of Defense.

Source: US Air Force

C-40B/C

Vice commanders and members of Air Force
Reserve Command's 932nd Airlift Wing
welcomed a new "baby" to Illinois recently. They
are proud parents of a brand new C-40C aircraft that
arrived straight from the factory.

Mission: The C-40B/C is a transportation aircraft that carries combatant commanders, as well as members of the cabinet and Congress.

Source: US Air Force

C-5

Ground crews unload a US Army UH-60
Black Hawk helicopter from a US Air Force
C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft at Bagram Airfield,
in Parwan province, Afghanistan.

Variants: C-5A/B/C Galaxy, C-5M Super Galaxy

Mission: The C-5 is the largest airlifter in the US Air Force fleet. The craft can carry a combat-ready military unit anywhere in the world, as well as deliver the necessary supplies to support the unit.

Source: US Air Force

CV-22 Osprey

An MV-22 Osprey from Marine Medium
Tilt Rotor Squadron (VMM) 166 (Reinforced)
lands on the flight deck of the dock landing ship
USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) to conduct
a personnel transfer.

Mission: A tiltrotor aircraft, the Osprey is intended to provide infiltration and exfiltration abilities for special-operations forces, as well as conducting resupply missions.

Source: US Air Force

E-3 Sentry (AWACS)

An E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control
system aircraft, known as AWACS, lands at Tinker
Air Force Base, Oklahoma, March 23 after
completing a mission. The first E-3 touched down
at Tinker exactly 30 years to the day and began
an new era for air surveillance.

Mission: The E-3 is an airborne warning and control system (AWACS) plane. This means that the plane provides situational intelligence of an area and sends that back to the Joint Air Operations Center.

Source: US Air Force

E-4B

A Boeing E-4B at Bogota Airport in Colombia.

Mission: The E-4B is the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC), which serves as a command-and-control center for the president, the secretary of defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff during emergencies. 

Source: US Air Force

E-8C Joint Stars

An E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar
System from the 93rd Air Control Wing flies a
refueling mission over the skies of Georgia.
The Department of Defense will soon deploy
Joint STARS and Global Hawk unmanned-aerial-vehicle
surveillance systems over the Afghan theater
of operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Mission: The E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS), is a surveillance, command, management, and reconnaissance aircraft.

Source: US Air Force

E-9A

An E-9A takes off from Tyndall Air Force
Base, Florida during a Combat Archer training
exercise. The E-9 is used as a surveillance
platform over the Gulf of Mexico waters
providing telemetry and radio relays in
support of air-to-air weapons-systems evaluations.

Mission: The E-9A provides surveillance over the Gulf of Mexico to ensure that the area is clear for the US military to conduct weapons testing in the region.

Source: US Air Force

EC-130

The last Air National Guard's EC-130E
Commando Solo takes off above a C-130
Hercules for the final time at the Harrisburg
International Airport on Monday, April 3, 2006.
The "E" model has flown members of the
193rd Special Operations Wing into
combat since the Vietnam Conflict.

Variants: EC-130H Compass Call, EC-130J Commando Solo

Mission: Both variants of the EC-130 are heavily modified versions of the C-130 airframe. The EC-130H makes use of tactical weapon systems to disrupt enemy command, control, and communications. 

The EC-130J meanwhile is used to broadcast communications including FM radio, television programming, and communication brands.

Source: US Air Force

F-15

A flight of F-15C Eagles from the 44th
Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan,
 flies during a solar eclipse on July 22 over the island
 of Okinawa. The eclipse was a rare opportunity
for service members here to witness this event.

Variants: F-15 Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle

Mission: The F-15 is a highly maneuverable fighter intended to capture air supremacy over the battlefield. The F-15E is an upgraded F-15 that is also capable of carrying out air-to-ground missions.

Source: US Air Force

F-16 Fighting Falcon

Mission: The F-16 is a multi-role aircraft that can carry out both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. It is compact and highly maneuverable.

Source: US Air Force

F-22 Raptor

Mission: The F-22 is the Air Force's most recently deployed new fighter aircraft. The only combat ready fifth-generation fighter, the F-22 combines stealth, maneuverability, the ability to supercruise, and advanced avionics to be able to seize aerial dominance and carry out strikes against ground targets.

Source: US Air Force

HC-130

The HC-130P/N is an extended-range
version of the C-130 Hercules transport.
Its mission is to rapidly deploy to execute
combatant-commander-directed operations to
austere airfields and denied territory for
expeditionary, all-weather personnel-recovery
operations to include airdrop, airland,
helicopter air-to-air refueling, and
forward-area-refueling-point missions.

Variants: HC-130J Combat King II, HC-130P/N King

Mission: The HC-130 and its vairants are personnel recovery platforms. The aircraft can be used for disaster response and evacuations. The aircraft are able to land and operate in a range of airfields. 

Source: US Air Force

HH-60G Pave Hawk

The HH60 Pave Hawk, which was produced
as part of the Critical Rescue Helicopter program.

Mission: The HH-60G is used to personnel-recovery operations from hostile territory. The helicopter is also used in search and rescue operations, disaster response, and humanitarian assistance in civil situations.

Source: US Air Force

KC-10 Extender

A KC-10 from McGuire Air Force Base,
New Jersey resumes its flight pattern
after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker
over Afghanistan, March 17. The KC-135
crew, from the 931st Air Refueling Group,
McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, is
currently assigned to the 405th Air Expeditionary
Wing in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Mission: A tanker and cargo aircraft, the KC-10's primary mission is aerial refueling. It can also carry support personnel, equipment, and carry out aeromedical evacuations.

Source: US Air Force

KC-135 Stratotanker

A KC-135 refuels an F-16.

Mission: The Stratotanker provides the backbone of the US Air Force's aerial-refueling operations. It provides support to the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied nations. The KC-135 can also be used for aeromedical evacuations.

Source: US Air Force

MC-12W

The first MC-12 aircraft in-theater lands
after its first combat sortie at approximately
6:20 p.m. local time on June 10 at Joint Base
Balad, Iraq. The Air Force's newest intelligence,
surveillance, and reconnaissance platform, the
MC-12 is a medium-altitude manned
special-mission turbo-prop aircraft that
supports coalition and joint ground forces

Mission: The MC-12W is an intelligence-collecting aircraft that is meant to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Source: US Air Force

MC-130

An MC-130H Combat Talon refuels a CV-22B
Osprey during the honorary commanders
change-of-command ceremony on Hurlburt Field,
Florida, September 25, 2015. The honorary
commander program allows local community
leaders frequent opportunities to visit Hurlburt
Field and learn about the mission, participate in
base functions and to express their views
on issues of mutual concern.

Variants: MC-130H Combat Talon II, MC-130J Commando II

Mission: The MC-130 aircraft is intended to provide support, resupply, refueling, infiltration, and exfiltration for special-operations forces. The aircraft also carry out secondary psychological operations, such as dropping leaflets over enemy territory.

Source: US Air Force

OC-135B Open Skies

Mission: The OC-135B is the US's contribution to the Open Skies Treaty. The plane flies unarmed flights over nations that have signed to the treaty to ensure that signatories are honoring their pledges.

Source: US Air Force

RC-135

The 45th Reconnaissance Squadron's
RC-135 Cobra Ball aircraft are brought
together on the flight line at Offutt Air Force
Base, Nebraska. These aircraft are rarely
seen in the same place at the same time due
to their worldwide reconnaissance missions

Variants: RC-135S Cobra Ball, RC-135U Combat Sent, RC-135V/W Rivet Joint

Missions: The RC-135 aircraft variants are all intelligence-collecting aircraft. The Cobra Ball collects information on ballistic targets, which it reports to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Rivet Joint provides real-time on-scene intelligence collection, and the Combat Sent relays electronic-reconnaissance information to the president, secretary of defense, and Department of Defense leaders.

Source: US Air Force

T-1A Jayhawk

A T-1A Jayhawk on a training mission near
Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

Mission: The T-1A Jayhawk is used to provide specialized training to future airlift or tanker aircraft pilots.

Source: US Air Force

T-38 Talon

A T-38C Talon used primarily by Air
Education and Training Command for
undergraduate pilot a
nd pilot-instructor training

Variants: T-38A/C, AT-38B

Mission: The T-38 is an aircraft used for high-altitude supersonic training. It is used to train pilots for aircraft such as the F-15E, B-1B, the F-22, and the A-10.

Source: US Air Force

T-6A Texan II

Mission: The T-6A Texan II is a primary trainer aircraft intended to teach US Air Force and Navy pilots the common basic flying skills they will need.

Source: US Air Force

U-28A

Mission: The U-28A is used to provide on-call airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for special-operations forces.

Source: US Air Force

U-2S/TU-2S

An Air Force U-2 Dragon Lady flies a training mission.

Mission: The U-2 is a high-altitude surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft that can operate in all conditions. The plane can capture both signals intelligence and can take high detailed photographic imagery.

Source: US Air Force

UH-1N Huey

The UH-1N is a light-lift utility helicopter used
to support various missions. The primary missions
 include: airlift of emergency security forces,
security and surveillance of off-base
nuclear-weapons convoys, and distinguished
visitor airlift.

Mission: A light-lift utility helicopter, the Huey is used in a variety of support missions. The helicopter's functions include emergency security airlift, surveillance of off-base nuclear weapons, disaster response, search and rescue missions, and visitor airlift. 

Source: US Air Force

VC-25 - Air Force One

US President Barack Obama walks with
Secret Service agents from Air Force One
upon his arrival in Manchester,
New Hampshire, October 18, 2012.

Mission: Air Force One's only mission is to provide air transport for the president.

Source: US Air Force

WC-130 Hercules

Mission: The WC-130 Hercules is a weather-reconnaissance aircraft. It is flown through storms, hurricanes, and winter storms to collect and measure information about the weather pattern.

Source: US Air Force

WC-135 Constant Phoenix

The WC-135W Constant Phoenix aircraft
collects particulate and gaseous debris from
the accessible regions of the atmosphere
in support of the Limited Nuclear Test Ban
Treaty of 1963.

Mission: The Constant Phoenix is used to collect and measure atmospheric data in order to support the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963.

Source: US Air Force

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