Memphis Belle Back On Display

The iconic WWII bomber Memphis Belle a B-17F is back on public display at the National Museum of the Air Force.
The Memphis Belle was the first B-17 to complete 25 combat missions with it's original crew. First displyed displayed at Altus AFB, OK the Belle was moved to Mud Island in Memphis Tennessee in early 1987.
I was lucky enough to see the Memphis Belle in Nov 87  just prior to my move to Soesterberg AB, Netherlands.

The Air Force took the Belle back to Dayton in 2005 after repeated attempts to get the city and preservation society to keep the Belle in good preservation order for public display.

The Belle has been overhauled and was put back on display at the National Museum of the Air Force on May 17 two day prior to the 75 anniversary of the historic 25th mission.

With the Memphis Belle in the museum generations to come will be able to visit this historic aircraft.

Functional Check Flight

Here is a nice pic of a Massachusetts ANG Eagle on a functional check flight.
These flights are preformed by specially trained pilots that wring the jet out following a specific checklist. Notice the jet is completely clean including removal of the pylons.

Pearl Harbor

76 years ago today  a day that will live in infamy.

4th Fighter Wing Strike Eagles. I retired from the 334th FS the Fighting Eagles, Once an Eagle!

The 334th jet is the one with the blue tail flash.

Bitburg C models

Eagles on the ramp old school days
The Bit was an awesome TDY, the beer is an acquired taste

A Day That Will Live In Infamy

Today is the 75th anniversary of the attack on the Pacific Fleet located at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack that was planned and practiced months in advance by the Imperial fleet occurred while Japanese diplomats were still talking with the State Department.

This attack ushered the United States into WWII, like my father in law used to say. "They started it and the 20th Air Force brought them to their knees.

The USS Arizona is a living memorial to all the serviceman killed that Sunday morning so long ago.

Real Unemployment Numbers/Washington Lies

This morning the government released it latest adjusted numbers for unemployment at 4.6%. This would be essentially full employment, so how do the explain the 95.1 million Americans not in the work force?

This is an example of the B.S. stats that come out of Washington over the last 8 years to cover for a failed president.

For a more realistic view check out shadowstats by John Williams. They show the unadjusted number at 22.9 as of the end of October.

 http://www.shadowstats.com/alternate_data/unemployment-charts

New Pics

It been months since I posted anything, time to get beck into it, especially since the world is coming off the rails. But first some Eagles,


Below is the flagship of the 1st FS of the 323 Fighter Wing. The 1st is no longer active, I served in the squadron twice, the first time and it was my first F-15 assignment as a Avionics technician from Sept 84- Nov 87 then the second tome from Nov 91 - Nov 97

U.S. Uses upgraded OV-10G Broncos against ISIS

Check out the link to the Daily Beast article. Looks like we deployed the two heavily modified OV-10Gs from the Navy's  Special Warfare's Combat Dragon II program.

I've said for years that the Air Force and Marine Air have missed a golden opportunity by not pursuing  upgraded Broncos. There are a multitude of missions that an upgraded OV-10 can do that would be considerable cheaper than deploying F-16's or even A-10's.

I'm not surprised by the lack of foresight and zeal in acquiring an aircraft like the Bronco, but judging by the incompetence shown by both the Air Staff and the Marine Corps with the ongoing F-35 disaster I shouldn't be.

Anyway her is the link and a pic.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/03/09/why-is-america-using-these-antique-planes-to-fight-isis.html

Russian Attack Helicopters in Syria

The Russians announced the pull out of the majority of their Air Force units from Syria. But at the same time are beefing up their Attack Helicopter force by deploying both the KA-52 Alligator and the MI-28 Havoc.

Syria is looking more and more like the Spanish Civil War every day.

KA-52

MI-28

Dassault Super Etendard bows out

Last week when the French carrier Charles De Gaulle returned to port they launched the last sorties of the Super Etendard. The Super Etendard has served the French Navy for over 40 years and will retire from service later this year.

The jet has also been used by both the Iraqi Air Force and the Argentine Navy.
Most notable use of the Super Entendard was during the Falklands war. Using the purpose designed Exocet anti ship missile the Argentine's made two successful attacks on the British Task Force, the first heavily damaged the H.M.S. Sheffield which later was scuttled. The second was against the merchant ship Atlantic Conveyor which was sunk.

Currently the Argentine Navy who has a fleet of 11 aircraft. all of which have been upgraded to the SEM ( Super Etendard Modernization) standard.

U.S.S. Hartford ice surfacing during ICEEX 2016

Another cool video this time its the fast attack submarine U.S.S. Hartford surfacing through the ice during ICEEX 2016.

C-17 on a dirt strip

Great video of a C-17 landing on a dirt strip and unloading a pair of Apache's.
You really have to understand how big a C-17 is to know how impressive this is.

New post, New Baltic Air Cover

Its been awhile but its time to get back to regular posting on aircraft and what ever general stuff that catches my eye. Work is hectic jet engines are one of the few bright spots in the economy.

Here are two pics of the new team to cover the Baltic, the Spanish and Belgium Air Force. The will be using the Typhoon and the F-16.

Romanian Mig-21

The Romanian Air Force is one of the last 4 Mig-21 users in Europe. There Mig -21 were upgraded a number of years ago by Elbit to the lancer standard, The upgrade including new avionics suite, an improved radar and the ability to deliver precision weapons. Next year Romania is scheduled to start taken deliver of refurbished F-16's from both the Portuguese and the U.S. Air Force.
But for now we can still enjoy the very clean old school jets.