Saturday, December 31, 2005
Air Vectors : The Vickers VC10
Greg provides a history and description of the VC10.
| | |
|
Air Force Hands Over Keys to German Base
The U.S. Air Force on Friday handed over the keys to Rhein-Main Air Base to the operator of Frankfurt International Airport.
The 120 buildings on the base are to be bulldozed to make way for a third terminal.
| | |
|
Opposition mounting against jet deal
Thailand's house subcommittee on military budget and efficiency said it was unhappy over the way the government had acted in negotiating a deal to buy 12 Su-30s.
Peeraphan Saleeratwipak, chairman of the subcommittee, said the government had asked for $500 million for the 12 jets, although the maximum cost of a fleet of SU-30s would only amount to $420 million.
| | |
|
Fort Wayne's 122nd Fighter Wing headed to Iraq mission
The Indiana Air National Guard 122nd Fighter Wing based at the Fort Wayne International Airport will deploy to Iraq soon.
It will be its largest overseas deployment in more than four decades.
| | |
|
Congress Revives Missile Killed by DOD
Despite attempts by the Pentagon to kill the Joint Common Missile program, House and Senate conferees are keeping it alive by funneling funds into the program.
Last week, they gave the program $30 million to continue the missile's development.
| | |
|
German media: United States Prepares Iran Strike
Washington is preparing its NATO allies for a possible military strike against suspected nuclear sites in Iran according to German media reports.
It is sending high-level officials to prepare its allies for a possible attack rather than merely implying the possibility of an attack.
| | |
|
Base cancels April air show
U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort has canceled next year's air show after the Blue Angels failed to include Beaufort on its 2006 schedule.
| | |
|
C-17 pilot won’t fly during inquiry
Hickam Air Force Base commander Col. William J. Changose has grounded himself from flying while an investigation is conducted into a midair collision last week between a C-17 he was piloting and a KC-135R.
He was conducting C-17 flight instructor re-qualification when the Dec. 22 accident occurred.
| | |
|
Friday, December 30, 2005
Poland Takes Over NATO Air Patrol Mission in Lithuania
Two Polish MiG-29s has landed at an air base in nothern Lithuania on Thursday to prepare to take over NATO patrols of Baltic air space.
Two more MiG-29s will arrive today.
| | |
|
WWII fighter group shrine
The 406th Fighter Group will have a permanent display at the Pima Air Space and Museum.
The exhibit will feature photographs, personal items and memorabilia donated by the group's members.
| | |
|
Pentagon to kill F-35 back-up engine: consultant
Pratt & Whitney will be the sole engine supplier for the F-35 according to Loren Thompson, chief executive the Lexington Institute.
The plan is subjected to approval by the White House budget office and the U.S. Congress.
| | |
|
Nine injured
Seven Royal Nepalese Army soldiers and two civilians were injured when their Mi-17 crash-landed on Wednesday.
The helicopter was ferrying a team of technicians to repair another Mi-17.
| | |
|
Saab wins 150 mln skr order from Swedish military to integrate missile on Gripen
Saab AB will begin to integrate the IRIS-T air-to-air missile onto the Swedish Air Force Gripen.
Saab plans to test-fire the first IRIS-T missile from a Gripen in 2007.
| | |
|
General prepares to do battle with the numbers
Gen. Ronald Keys, head of USAF ACC, is preparing face the possibility of cuts to its manpower when the Quadrennial Defense Review is published.
| | |
|
Putin wants Russia to assist its weapons exporters
Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to use its growing economic strength to support its $5 billion arms export industry.
Russian arms exporters should get cheap government loans to help finance customer purchases, Putin said.
| | |
|
Panel set up to study Russian jets
The Royal Thai Air Force has set up a panel to study whether buying Russian Su-30s would fully serve the interests of both the armed forces and the government.
Air Force chief ACM Chalit Pukpasuk said that while the F/A-18 meet the needs of the service, it has yet to obtain approval from Washington for export.
He also denied that the Air Force has gave in to the government's plan to barter farm produce, mainly chickens, for the Russian fighters.
| | |
|
Russia to begin supplying Su-30MKM fighters to Malaysia in 2006
Malaysia will receive its Su-30MKM fighters from Irkut in 2006.
| | |
|
£40bn Saudi fighter jet deal brings RAF shortage fears
Saudi Arabia is expected to obtain more than 200 Eurofighter Typhoons in the long term.
There are fears within the RAF that this could produce a spare parts shortage when the Saudis are given priority of supply.
The situation happened in the 1990s when Saudis bought Tornados and RAF jets were left unserviceable as spares were given to Saudi Arabia first.
| | |
|
Thursday, December 29, 2005
EU launches Galileo satellite, challenging US
The first Galileo navigation satellite was launched on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur cosmodrome on Wednesday. The system will challenge the U.S.
GPS system.
The Giove-A is the first satellite in the EU's £2.4 billion Galileo program. It is build by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd of University of Surrey.
A plaque is attached to the side of Giove-A as a tribute to a young aerospace engineer who worked on the project and was killed in last year's Indian Ocean tsunami.
| | |
|
陸自ヘリ墜落は操縦ミス＝記念行事の事故－長崎
Remember the JGSDF AH-1S
crash in September? The accident report has been published. Thanks to Yohko.
The reported stated that the co-pilot bank too steeply and the aircraft lost altitude. The pilot's judgement of the co-pilot skills were also incorrect.
| | |
|
Bagram A-10s take fight to enemy
Since Sept. 15, the USAF 354th Fighter Squadron's A-10 Thunderbolt IIs have flown more than 1,700 combat sorties in Afghanistan.
| | |
|
Bomb wing flies in from South Dakota
The USAF 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota began transferring to Guam on Wednesday.
The move to Andersen Air Force Base is part of the 120-day Air and Space Expeditionary Force rotation.
| | |
|
NATO reaches 1,000 relief sorties in Pakistan
NATO Disaster Relief Team in Pakistan helicopter crews have flown more than 1,000 relief flights delivering aid since Nov. 6.
There are five NATO helicopters supporting the effort, four German CH-53 helicopters and Luxembourg contributed one MD Explorer Air Rescue Helicopter.
| | |
|
Lockheed May Get $1.15 Billion Order for 26 Transport Planes
According to a Pentagon budget proposal, Lockheed Martin may receive a $1.15 billion U.S. military order for 26 C-130J over the next two years.
The plan would authorize purchase of 13 planes in each of fiscal 2007 and 2008.
| | |
|
Museum to restore Ted Williams plane (Free Registration)
The Saratoga Foundation plans to display a refurbished F9F Panther which Boston Red Sox hitter Ted Williams flew while as a Marine Corps reservist in Korea.
The Saratoga Foundation recently bought a Panther jet that had been damaged in a crash landing at an air show ; it is 1 of only 9 Panthers remaining.
The foundation plans to bring the plane to Rhode Island and restore it with the same markings that Williams' plane bore: the tomcat logo of Squadron VMF-311.
| | |
|
Hurricane hunters close out record season
The "Hurricane Hunters" of Air Force Reserve Command's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew their last mission of the record 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season in December.
The unit met another milestone, flying every mission in the new WC-130J Hercules.
| | |
|
'Dhanush' test fired from Bay of Bengal
India successfully tested its medium range surface-to-surface missile Dhanush from a ship in the Bay of Bengal off the eastern coast.
Dhanush is a naval version of the surface-to-surface Prithvi missile.
| | |
|
C-17, tanker collide off O’ahu
It has been reveiled that Hickam Air Force Base commander Col. William J. Changose was flying the C-17 that collided with a KC-135 will attempting to refuel in mid-air.
The collision sent the Air Guard KC-135R into a dive.
| | |
|
Campaigning for the C-17 (Free Registration)
Worried that Pentagon officials are unwilling to buy more C-17s because of their high costs. Long Beach city officials are looking at ways to help lower Boeing's costs.
Long Beach's utility company is willing to give the company a five-year, 15 percent discount on its energy bill.
The fire department wants to chip in by taking over the responsibilty from Boeing's internal fire department.
| | |
|
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Chalit delays fighter choice to meet the govt half-way
Thai Air Force commander, ACM Chalit Pukpasuk, has postponed the selection of new aircraft and said he is looking for a compromise over the procurement plan.
He would choose the aircraft type that would meet the interests of both the air force and the government.
| | |
|
F-22A took long road to initial operational capability
With the F-22A Raptor's initial operational capability declaration Dec. 15 came the capstone of a process that began 76 months earlier, in August 1997.
| | |
|
長崎・大村航空隊「ＳＨ―６０Ｊ」、鹿屋で点検飛行中 ／鹿児島
Thanks to Asagiri Yohko for sending in this piece of article and Tengu for translating it for me. A JMSDF SH-60J suffered a TFOA incident on 20 Dec.
The part is a buffer material, rubber, length 60 cm, width 6 cm, 2 mm thick, weighing 24 g, half-transparent black.
The chopper took off from Kanoya NAS at 10am and the part was found missing after it flew back at 11:50am.
| | |
|
Two US pilots die in Iraq helicopter collision
An AH-64 collided in mid-air with another Apache in west Baghdad on Monday night killing two pilots.
The other Apache involved in the collision landed at a base in Taji, north of Baghdad.
| | |
|
Pacific Rim on cutting edge of ballistic missile defense
18 ships will join USS Lake Erie to be equipped with missile defence technology to track and shoot down ballistic missiles.
| | |
|
Suit against sending aircraft carrier to India for scrapping
Greenpeace and Ban Asbestos have lodged a suit against sending the decommissioned aircraft carrier Clemenceau to India for scrapping.
The two international environment protection groups lodged the suit Monday with the Paris administrative court.
| | |
|
IAF trainer aircraft crashes in Bangalore
A Kiran Mk. 1 from the Indian Air Force crashed on the outskirts of Bangalore on Tuesday morning.
Both pilots ejected safely.
| | |
|
Poland to provide security for Baltics
Poland will send four MiG-29s to help patrol the Baltic States for a period of three months starting in January.
Six pilots and 70 airmem will be deployed.
| | |
|
Proposed joint use of Kadena opposed by local residents
The communities of Okinawa City and Chatan passed resolutions last week opposing plans to allow the Japan Air Self-Defense Force joint use of Kadena Air Base.
| | |
|
Mid-Air Collision Damages Plane
A Hawaii Air National Guard KC-135 suffered damage when its boom hit a USAF C-17 while attempting to refuel on Dec. 22.
There was some damage to the tail section of the KC-135 and the boom itself.
| | |
|
Serial Mi-28N helicopter makes inaugural flight
A serial model of the Mi-28N made its maiden flight at the Rostov Helicopter Plant.
A total of three Mi-28 will be delivered.
| | |
|
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Indo-Singapore air exercise Sindex 06
Official press release from the Indian government on the joint exercise between the Indian Air Force and Republic of Singapore Air Force next week.
The IAF will take part with a squadron of MiG-27s.
| | |
|
Putin's show of strength triggers fear of fresh nuclear arms race
The introduction of Topol-M missiles and hawkish accompanying language by Russian military commanders has sparked fears of a new arms race between Russia and the United States.
| | |
|
Two ships enough to stop missiles: Defense Agency
The Japanese Defense Agency believes that deploying two Aegis warships armed with SM-3 missiles are sufficient to shield Japan from ballistic missiles.
Japan's four Aegis ships will be fitted with SM-3 interceptors and Block IV Aegis radar systems by 2010.
| | |
|
Tsunami Memorial service at AF Station in Car Nicobar
The Indian Air Force will build a memorial for the airmen and their family members that were killed by the tsunami last year on the Nicobar Islands.
| | |
|
The jet engine's roar? Get used to it from Super Hornet
General Electric has come up with a fighter engine that is quieter than existing ones but it is too heavy for jets.
| | |
|
Call for Sea King choppers to be retired
The Australia Defence Association request that the six ageing Sea King helicopters be retired.
Executive director Neil James said the fleet is now too small to be effective for the type of operations experience by the Navy.
| | |
|
Plane carrying Bono to Bosnia skids off runway on landing
Spanish Defence Minister Jose Bono escaped unharmed from a crash landing in Bosnia on Sunday.
The C-130 overshot the runway at Mostar airport. The plane came to a stop in a field about 200 meters from the edge of the tarmac.
| | |
|
RAAF 'covered up' pedophilia
A woman RAAF employee was told to cover up the fact her children were sexually assaulted by a senior officer.
When she tendered her resignation, her commanding officer asked her to remove the reason from her letter, and to "let it go".
The senior officer was convicted in September.
| | |
|
Russia offers copters for SU-30 deal
A Royal Thai Army source says that said Russia might sell four Mi-17 helicopters at a special price or even 'give them free' to Thailand if the Su-30 deal is successful.
The Army badly needs helicopters as only half of its helicopters are still functioning.
| | |
|
US eyes big Pakistan, India arms sales (Free Registration)
Washington is preparing to sell arms to archrivals India and Pakistan next year.
| | |
|
Monday, December 26, 2005
No News Today
In memory of the 220,000 people that were killed and the lives of millions more that were altered forever by the Indian Ocean Tsunami one year ago, there will be no news today.
| | |
|
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Missile shield project to proceed
The Japanese cabinet has approved the joint development of a next-generation interceptor missile with the United States in April.
The interceptor will be based on the SM-3 missile.
| | |
|
Notebook: U.S.'s New Air Weapon
CBS News correspondent David Martin visits Langley Air Force Base to see the F-22A.
| | |
|
For Gorshkov, Navy pilots head to US for training
Four Indian pilots are currently training on the T-45 with the U.S. Navy in Pensacola, Florida.
This is to prepare them for the arrival of Admiral Gorshkov in 2008. A total of 32 pilots will be trained.
| | |
|
Kalaikunda gets ready for another air exercise
The RSAF will deploy 8 F-16s to Kalaikunda Air Force base, India from Jan. 03. The exercise will lasts 18 days.
| | |
|
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Helicopter crewman died in ''Supermanning'' stunt
A U.S. Navy helicopter crewman fell to his death while carrying out a stunt called 'Supermanning.'
Supermanning involves hanging from the ramp of a helicopter and letting the rushing wind 'fly' the body. The person is only attached by a safety belt.
| | |
|
Antitrust office checks tender for helicopter upgrading
Czech's Antitrust Office is checking a tender for upgrading of 16 Mi-171S helicopters that the country received as a re-payment of Russian debt.
The investigations came after the losers complained that the winner, Ceska letecka servisni, was given preferential treatment.
| | |
|
Moldovan ex-defence minister may be sentenced to 11 years in prison
Former Moldovan Defense Minister, Valeriu Pasat, could be jailed for up to 11 years for selling the country's MiG-29s.
The planes were sold to the United States in 1997.
| | |
|
DRDO system to arrest IAF flying losses
The Indian Air Force will be getting a new arrester barrier system made by the DRDO.
The current barrier can only arrest a 20.4 ton fighter, insufficient to stop the Su-30.
| | |
|
Israel Navy to deploy first UAVs
The Israel Navy wil deploy Israel Aircraft Industries Mahatz I UAVs for maritime patrol.
The UAVs are equipped with EL/M-2022U UAV maritime patrol radars.
| | |
|
RAF blow in Saudi deal for Typhoons
Saudi Arabia's purchase of Typhoons will leave some RAF squadrons flying with old Tornado interceptors.
RAF will also have to make do with fewer instructors as some will be second to teach Saudi pilots on operating the Typhoon.
| | |
|
Friday, December 23, 2005
