Archive for the ‘Air’ Category
A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing prepares to fuel a flight of Royal Danish Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility Feb. 1, 2012. (DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace, U.S. Air Force/Released)
Noticed this in Air Force Priorities for a New Strategy with Constrained Budgets (pdf):
More than 280 aircraft have been identified in the current budget submission for
elimination across all Air Force components over the next five years. This includes 123 fighters
(102 A‐10s and 21 older F‐16s), 133 mobility aircraft (27 C‐5As, 65 C‐130s, 20 KC‐135s, and 21 C‐27s), and 30 select ISR systems (18 RQ‐4 Block 30s, 11 RC‐26s, and one E‐8 damaged beyond
repair). [emphasis Murdoc's]
Wow. I’m not sure how exactly many are still in service, but I think that’s about a third of them.
A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 261 (Reinforced) lands aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) in the Atlantic Ocean Jan. 27, 2012. The VMM-261 is part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and was conducting flight deck certification in support of Bold Alligator 2012. Bold Alligator is a joint and multinational amphibious assault exercise involving several foreign militaries and the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, designed to execute brigade-sized amphibious assaults against low-to-medium land and maritime threats to improve amphibious core competencies. (DoD photo by Cpl. Michael Petersheim, U.S. Marine Corps/Released)
From Australian Defence Media Operations:
Precautionary suspension of Black Hawk flying operations
Army has temporarily suspended flying operations for the Black Hawk helicopters upon identifying a number of fractured bolts during a routine maintenance check.
Acting Director General Aviation, Colonel Stephen Evans said the suspension, which commenced on 19 January, was to ensure safety and is consistent with Army Operational Airworthiness procedures.
“The precautionary suspension will remain in place to allow an investigation into the cause of the fracture to be completed,” Colonel Evans said.
Three Army Black Hawks are assigned to Joint Task Force 631 in Timor Leste. Emergency aero-medical evacuations for International Stabilisation Force personnel in Timor Leste remain authorised during the temporary suspension.
The Navy Seahawk helicopters differ significantly to the Black Hawk in the affected area, and Seahawk flying operations have not been suspended.
UPDATE (24 Jan 2012): The suspension has been lifted:
The engineering investigation indicated that the defective bolts were confined to a single manufacturer’s batch and were not a fleet wide issue. The defective batch of bolts has been quarantined from use.
A Decade Late, but We’ll Take Them
Light Air Support turboprops for the Afghans. Keeping fingers crossed that we end up with a couple.
If the USAF won’t buy any, the Army should start pushing for the chance to field a few squadrons. Make noise and either get the rules changed or convince the AF to play ball.
Last F-22 Raptor Rolls Off Assembly Line
The final F-22 Raptor fighter jet rolled off the assembly line during a ceremony at the Lockheed Martin aircraft plant at Dobbins Air Reserve Base. The U.S. military is turning to the less costly F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to complement its operational fleet of 187 Raptors, amid concerns in Washington that the $153 million F-22 is too costly and too high-tech for its own good.
187 is not enough.
An A-10 Thunderbolt II from the U.S. Air Force Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., drops a AGM-65 Maverick during a close-air support training mission Sept. 23, 2011, over the Nevada Test and Training Range. U.S. Air Force Weapons School students participate in many combat training missions over the NTTR during the six-month, graduate-level instructor course. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)
Tech. Sgt. Christian Corella, covers his sector from the door of an Mi17 Hip during an emergency resupply flight Nov. 11, 2011, through western Afghanistan. The U.S. and Afghan flight crews provided supplies to a remote Afghan border patrol outpost. Corella is an aerial gunner from the 88th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/SrA Tyler Placie)
Airmen load a tank into a C-5M Super Galaxy Nov. 15, 2011, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The C-5M is the upgraded version of the C-5 Galaxy and has a 30 percent shorter take off roll, 58 percent faster climb rate and allows significantly more cargo to be carried over longer distances. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)
Two M-1 Abrams tanks from Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., are loaded in the cargo area of a C-5M Super Galaxy assigned to Dover Air Force Base, Del. The C-5M currently holds 42 world aviation records in airlift. The modernized version of the C-5, the Super Galaxy has 70 improvements, including new GE CF6 engines providing 22 percent more thrust and cutting climb time in half. New lighting in the cargo area increases safety of loading and offloading cargo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Chad E. Gibson)
This has now been expanded to include Southeast Asia War Gallery
The virtual tour site is pretty cool. Murdoc’s never been to the place, but it looks like out Boy Scout troop is going to go there next spring. Looking very forward to it.
