Memorial Day

Words simply fail me after a video like this. Everyone of our useless leaders in D.C. need to be sent this  so they can see the  pain of the families of the lost warriors.

After the fall of Ramadi I'm now convinced that no one in the Obama administration has a clue and has sold old not only this country but turned its back on the Armed Forces along with the usual suspects in congress.

My prayers for the fallen
Semper Fi

F-15C Working as a Strike Aircraft

The IAF pioneered the use of F-15 A-D models as an ad hoc ground attack aircraft back in the early 80's. While the Eagle always had a rudimentary ability to deliver iron bombs the USAF never pursued the course. In its initial development the IAF used F-15 D's to carry AGM-15 glide weapons with the C dropping Mk-82 conventional  bombs. This was the combination used during Operation Wooden Leg the attack on a PLO headquarters located  in Tunisia. (Hat Tip Foxtrot Alpha)

Later the IAF utilized CFT's on the C and D models and with this have extended the ground attack capability of these Eagles. Today they have this home grown capability that can be used in conjunction with their F-15I Ra'am aircraft.

To my knowledge the only USAF C model unit that routinely used CFTs was the 57th Fighter Squadron at Keflavik Iceland for the extra fuel that is carried.

F-15C Baz with CFT's and JDAMS

57 FIS C models with CFT's

A-10 The King of CAS

Beyond the shadow of a doubt the A-10 is the best close air support aircraft in the world today.
The Air Staff arguing for its early retirement shows that they to the man are without honor and do not really believe in supporting the Grunt on the ground. Their lack of leadership is simple unbelievable.
But that aside here is an excellent A-10 video.

American Airlines Boeing 787

Here is an excellent shot of American Airlines newest 787. What is amazing about the 787 in flight shots is the unbelievable flex of the wings. American's 787 are powered by the outstanding General Electric GEnx turbofan.

Downed Marine Helicopter Found

The downed USMC UH-1Y Huey that went down while flying rescue missions in Nepal has been found.
Unfortunately all aboard appear to have been killed in the crash.

Here is the link to the Fox News article

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/05/15/nepal-says-wreckage-missing-us-marine-helicopter-found/

UH-1Y Super Venom

Airmen Badassery,3 Combat Controllers to be decorated

Three USAF Combat Controllers will be decorated for their actions on Sept 27, 2014 in Afghanistan.
These Airman along with their Special Operation Force comrades along with Afghanistan commandos fought a pitched battle against a determined insurgent enemy force.

The three:

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Matthew J. Greiner, left, and Senior Airman Goodie J. Goodman, right, will receive the Silver Star on Wednesday, May 6, for heroism in Afghanistan in September 2014. Senior Airman Dustin H. Temple, center, will receive the Air Force Cross. (Photos released by the Air Force)

For the full article click the link
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/05/05/in-pitched-afghan-battle-insurgents-wanted-to-take-u-s-troops-hostage/?tid=hpModule_9d3add6c-8a79-11e2-98d9-3012c1cd8d1e&hpid=z12

Rafale

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for French Mirage fighter jets, there is just something elegant in their design. I've always wondered why the Rafale has not made it to the export market considering how many countries have flown Mirages over the years. Well this has all changed in the last 8 weeks, the Rafale is now been sold to the Egyptian Air Force with 24, Qatar with 24 and the Indian Air Force a current Mirage 2000 user will by initial 36 with a potential follow on for up to a total of 126 airframes.
This is good for the French but does show a problem with the U.S government getting in the way of advanced F-16 sales to Egypt and holding back on equipment for what could have been Super Hornets for the Indian AF.

SR-71, The Sled

Although long retired from the active USAF but still flying with NASA, the Sled is still a wonder of the air. To think that Clarence Kelly and the Skunk Works had to invent many of the systems for this aircraft all in the early sixties is amazing.

Today with all the computers and  technology that's available we can't get a functioning F-35. But enough of that here is some SR-71 glory.