Tag Archives: usaf

Technology, U.S.

Harvey: What’s a DropSonde?

Video

U.S. Air Force photo Staff Sergeant Heather Heiney, 24AUG2017.

Video explainer of what a storm tracking dropsonde is:

Loading a dropsonde cannon. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Heather Heiney, 24AUG2017.

In May, the USAF 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron ‘Hurricane Hunters’ took part in the 2017 Hurricane Awareness Tour, which was meant to increase the public’s awareness of hurricane threats.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Ryan Labadens, 08MAY2017.

 

More video & pics: WC-130J SUPER HERCULES TRACKS HURRICANE HARVEY

Technology

U.S. military leads the way to energy independence

Video

09 JUL 2017 (16:20 UTC-07 Tango 06) 18 Tir 1396/14 Shawwal 1438/16 Ding Wei 4715

Video report showing U.S. Army and Air Force efforts to save taxpayer money by becoming more energy independent in Colorado:

Not just in Colorado, but the USAF is testing a hybrid electric and battery powered mobile dock system for C-5 maintenance at Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex in Georgia:  “…new mobile lift platform that is able to move and shift as maintainers move around an aircraft, eliminating the time required of traditional hard stands. Direct methanol fuel cells provide on-board battery charging, thereby enabling around-the-clock maintenance operations.”

November 2016: U.S. Army Harvesting Energy through Humping

June 2016: Massive Detrick Solar Array Only Fraction of Army’s Renewable Energy Capacity

Kit Bashing

World’s largest C-141B Starlifter model?

Image

 

U.S. Air Force by Airman First Class Thomas Charlton.

In June 2016, members of the USAF’s 437th Maintenance Squadron sheet metal and corrosion shop at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, got a new project; restore an old C-141B model.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Thomas Charlton.

The giant model was originally built back in the day when the USAF used C-141 Starlifters.  It was built to represent a C-141 that crashed in 1982, killing its crew.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Thomas Charlton.

After only a few months the model was fully restored in August 2016.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Thomas T. Charlton, 07SEP2016.

Airman First Class Drew Maifeaphomsamouth, Technical SergeantAndrew Finley, Airman First Class Michael Mooney, Airman First Class Shawn Casey, Airman Riley Carter and Senior Airman William Treiber were proud to have restored what might be the world’s largest C-141 model.

 

Technology

U.S. tax dollars fund the UTTR, Utah, for perpetual warfare!

Video

The Utah Test and Training Range uses range equipment “valued at approximately $1B.”  Also, “The annual operating budget is approximately $30.1M…” (as of 2012).

Known as UTTR, the land was first appropriated by U.S. Congress for military training in 1940, before Japan bombed Pearl Harbor at the end of 1941.  

So much land has been appropriated since then that it is the only ground based location within the U.S. “capable of supporting overland testing of cruise missiles.”

Official USAF video explainer of UTTR:

Despite the now perpetual-Congressionaly-undeclared War on Terror, the record number of bombing training missions at the UTTR was actually set back in 1994.  Not only is it used by the USAF, but by the USA and USMC.

Some people say UTTR is part of the Area 51/52 conspiracy.  NASA has used UTTR to recovery some space vehicles.

Recovery of NASA’s Genesis Return capsule in 2004.

ANCIENT NUCLEAR POWERED JET ENGINE FOUND IN IDAHO DESERT, PROOF OF ANCIENT ALIEN VISITORS?

U.S. FOOD CRISIS: USAF MAKES MONEY OFF CATTLE RANCHERS!

Me on top of the abandoned and forgotten X-21A, when I worked at the Edwards AFB bombing range in California, 1985.

U.S.

Stop your bitchin’!: USAF introduces you to their Female Sniper!

Video

At Fort Bliss, near El Paso, Texas, the U.S. Air Force runs a sniper school which boasts the only female sniper instructor in the U.S.    She might be cute but stay out of her crosshairs, she considers her killing skill “talent”:

MEET SOME OF THE 2,000 FEMALE SNIPERS IN SYRIA!

STOP YOUR BITCHIN’! FEMALE PILOT TELLS YOU WHY SHE FLYS MAFFS

Kit Bashing

1/1 scale F-4 Phantom-2 model

24 April 2017 (15:42 UTC-07 Tango 06) 03 Ordibehest 1396/26 Rajab 1438/28 Jia Chen 4715

The USAF 36th Maintenance Squadron and Civil Engineering Squadron worked together to refurbish an old F-4E Phantom static display on the U.S. Island territory of Guam.

Veterans of Foreign Wars members, and Vietnam conflict vet, pose in front of the 1/1 scale F-4E Phantom II display at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

During the Vietnam occupation many U.S. Air Force operations were launched from Guam.  The USAF version of the F-4 Phantom II was first deployed in support of the Vietnam occupation in December 1964.  For some odd reason the squadrons who rebuilt the static display painted the aircraft to represent a USAF bird based in West Germany from 1973-75.

DRONE WARS: QF-4 TO QF-16

UTAH: PHINAL PHANTOM PHLIGHT

U.S.

Stop your bitchin’! Female pilot tells you why she flies MAFFS

24 April 2017 (15:03 UTC-07 Tango 06) 03 Ordibehest 1396/26 Rajab 1438/28 Jia Chen 4715

“The U.S. Forest Service has always been a strong partner with the Department of Defense when it comes to firefighting. This is probably one of the clearest examples of the benefits of using military aircraft in a civil support role and the U.S. Forest Service is the agency that does it the best. The U.S. Forest Service and the four airlift wings within the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve have really figured it out, with everything from logistics to funding, to execution, to standardization and the direct result is we save American lives and property using military crews and equipment in a civil support role. We’ve really built a strong partnership with the U.S. Forest Service over the last 44 years.”-Colonel Bryan Allen, Air Expeditionary Group

MAFFS training in Idaho concluded on 24 APR 2017, with a total of 121 sorties, 124 flight hours & 373,900 gallons of water dropped!

Video interview with Captain Melissa Emmett on Gowen Field, Idaho, 22 APR 2017:

“We have recognized the benefits to combine training periodically for operational consistency and standardization, not only with the air wings but for our personnel, as well. The compelling reason to do a combined training again this year was the integration of the 152nd Airlift Wing, from Reno, into the MAFFS mission. We know we have a window of opportunity to get Reno proficient. The speed to that proficiency is important. When you have this kind of setting, with all four wings together, it provides a more complete setting to meet that objective.”-Kim Christensen, U.S. Forest Service

Video interview with Staff Sergeant Kelsey Herzfeld on Gowen Field, Idaho, 22 APR 2017:

IDAHO FEMALE BECOMES 1ST EVER U.S. PANZERFRÄULEIN!

“THIS IS WHERE ARMOR FIGHTS!”  FIRST FEMALE COMBAT MECHANIC!

WHO SAID WOMEN ARE PACIFISTS? MEET SOME OF THE 2,000 FEMALE SNIPERS IN SYRIA!

BOASTFUL FEMALE OWNED COMPANY LOOSES CONTRACT “DUE TO UNPROFESSIONALISM”!

Obama assassinates U.S. female reporter for revealing true origins of Islamic State

International, Technology

French Alpha-Jets invade United States!

Video

Video PAF Alpha Jets over Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, 21APR2017:

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the United States saving their sorry-asses during the First World War, the Patrouille Acrobatique de France (aka Patrouille de France, PAF) is performing at various USAF bases during the month of April.

The Patrouille de France lands at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tristin English, 19APR2017.

What looks like the gun-pod is actually the cargo-pod for the pilots’ personal items. USAF photo by Senior Airman Tristin English, 19APR2017.

Some of the Alpha-Jets had images of World War One personalities painted under the cockpit. USAF photo by Senior Airman Tristin English, 20APR2017.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Tristin English, 20APR2017.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Tristin English, 20APR2017.

Video PAF at Maxwell AFB, 08-09 APR 2017:

 

USAF Thunderbirds and Patrouille de France fly together over Death Valley, California, 17APR2017. USAF Photo by Technical Sergeant Christopher Boitz.

PAF at USAF Academy, Colorado, 19 APR 2017:

PAF at USAF Academy, Colorado, 19 APR 2017:

USAF video report on USAF Thunderbird exchange flights with the Patrouille Acrobatique de France:

Mather Air Field near Sacramento, California, 15APR2017. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Rebeccah Anderson.

Afghanistan 2011: MIRAGE 2000D CRASH RECOVERY/DEMOLITION

International, U.S.

Homestead F-16s join Italy & Israel to invade Greece!

Video

USAFR F-16 Falcons were deployed alongside NATO Italian AMX attack aircraft, and Israeli aircraft, while invading NATO Greece during operation INIOHOS.  The invasion ends on 06 APR 2017.

Vid of Homestead F-16s at Andravida, Greece:

Vid of Italian AMXs at Andravida, Greece:

Aeronautica Militare AMX

THUNDERBIRDS ARE BACK!

Technology, U.S.

Thunderbirds are Back!

Video

02 April 2017 / 21:31 UTC-07 Tango 06 (14 Farvardin 1396/06 Rajab 1438/07 Jia Chen 4715)

In Florida retired USAF Colonel, and former astronaut, Buzz Aldrin (87 years old) poses in front of a Thunderbird’s two seater F-16 before his flight as a ‘Thunderbird Celebrity’, on 02 APR 2017.

The Thunderbirds began their 2017 season in February with a show in Texas.

Last year a Thunderbird F-16CM crashed at the Air Force Academy in Colorado, an investigation blamed it on a faulty throttle. It should be noted that the F-16, as most modern USAF aircraft, is fly-by-wire, meaning there is no direct mechanical linkage between the pilot’s controls and control surfaces or engine, except by electrical wires.  Reports say the USAF is pursuing a change in hardware for the plane.  The Thunderbirds have suffered several fatal crashes over the decades, most being blamed on the pilots.

In mid-October the Thunderbirds will buzz the city of Boise in Idaho, at the Gowen Thunder Air Show.  The final Thunderbirds show for the year will be in November, in Nevada.

Thunderbirds 2017 Schedule: http://afthunderbirds.com

Gowen Field 2016: OBAMA DISAPPEARS THE LAST OF IDAHO’S APACHES!

Gowen Field 2014: OBAMA REGIME FORCING STATE RUN AIR NATIONAL GUARD UNITS ONTO FEDERAL CONTROLLED AIR BASES!

Gowen Field 2012:   IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD DEMANDS SUICIDE HOTLINE!!!