Awesome footage shows EA-18G Growler low altitude training May 19, 2013
Posted by David Cenciotti in : Military Aviation , add a commentShot by aircrews of the VAQ-132 Scorpions of the U.S. Navy between 2011 and 2012, the following awesome video brings you along the Military Training Routes in Washington State, where EA-18G Growlers train for terrain masking.
Flying at 420 and 540 knots and at 500 feet, pilots train low altitude ingress and egress to a target defended by enemy radars and surface to air missile batteries.
H/T to Bill Garcia for the heads-up
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Seen from the inside: stunning Lancaster’s on-board video shows aerial gunner’s view of Derwent Dam flypast May 18, 2013
Posted by David Cenciotti in : Military Aviation, Military History , add a commentOn May 16-17, UK’s Royal Air Force celebrates the 70th anniversary of one its most famous raid in RAF history: the Dams raid conducted by 617 Squadron.
The “Dambusters”, half of those never returned from the raids, were honoured with a dramatic tribute: on May 15, a Lancaster from RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, performed three runs over the Derwent Dam that, back in 1943 was used by the 617 Sqn pilots to train in preparing of the daring night missions against the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe dams, pivotal to Hitler’s industrial heartland in the Ruhr Valley.
Below, an AP image of the Lancaster taken from the ground.
Image credit: AP
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[Photo] This is a Eurofighter Typhoon undertaking electromagnetic testing May 17, 2013
Posted by David Cenciotti in : Military Aviation , add a commentThe following interesting picture depicts the first Tranche 3 Typhoon, destined for delivery to the Royal Air Force, during electromagnetic testing.
The aircraft, British single seat no 116, was injected with simulated threat signals directly into specially designed points on the nose, tail and wing tips, as part of the so-called Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) test.
Direct Current Injection technique, ensure that core Typhoon systems, including the armament, fuel and flight controls systems, possibly susceptible to radio frequency emissions from ground radars and/or TV and radio transmission masts, will be able to operate safely and correctly when exposed to intentional or accidental threats.
After completing the EMC testing, lasting several weeks, the aircraft will proceed on to engine ground testing.
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Air Force One for sale! May 16, 2013
Posted by Jacek Siminski in : Military Aviation , 4commentsUnfortunately, the title does not refer to the famous highly modified Boeing 747s (designated VC-25 by the U.S. Air Force) that is used by President Obama as these planes have undergone many upgrades, and will probably serve the U.S. Administration for a long time before being retired and replaced.
Nevertheless, if you have 50,000 USD in your pocket you may buy a plane, that used Air Force One and Air Force Two callsigns.
The auction is to start on May 15.
Image Credit: aviationlive.org
What plane are we talking about?
The VC-9C with N681AL registration, flying in the 89th Airlift Wing from February 1975 until September 2005.
Why use DC-9 when you have the 747? Well it was the short runways that 747 could not land on that were the reason for using the former.
When it comes to the Air Force One callsign, in fact any airplane the president is aboard takes over this name.
The media professionals did not like the DC-9 at all, due to the uncomfortable seats. They were nowhere near as comfortable, and the journalist cabin was not as spacious as in the original 747.
If you plan to buy a plane and inspect it before bidding you can leave 50,000 USD deposit and go to the Phoenix/Mesa Gateway.
If you do not have sufficient funds, you may buy something cheaper, e.g. 1983 Cessna 182 Skylane, with an entry price of $100. All auctions are available at the General Services Administration website.
Jacek Siminski for TheAviationist
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Disbandment of Swiss Air Force display team could make its “Flat Eric” yellow puppet mascot unemployed May 15, 2013
Posted by Dario Leone in : Airshow, Military Aviation , 1 comment so farThe Patrouille Suisse is one of the most renowned aerobatic display team in Europe.
Equipped with the F-5E Tiger the team is, together with the Turk Yildizlari (Turkish Stars), that flies the NF-5A/B Freedom Fighter, the only European display team on supersonic fighter jets.
Despite being regularly invited to attend airshows across the continent, the Patrouille Suisse could be forced to stand down from 2016 as a consequence of budget cuts.
Indeed, beginning in 2016, the ageing F-5 fleet will be progressively retired and replaced by the first Gripen examples and, simply, there will not be many military aircraft in the Swiss Air Force, at least, not enough to equip an aerobatic display team.
In spite of Swiss Minister of Defense claims that the Patrouille Suisse will survive transiting on the F-18 Hornet or the new JAS-39 Gripen (even if the Swiss Parliament has suspended the purchase of the Sweden fighters ordered in 22 examples) the chances that there will be enough resources to dispatch some of these few frontline fighters to the team appear scarce.
Along with the team, even its mascot and honorary member “Flat Eric” will probably be put apart.
Flat Eric is a yellow puppet character from Levi’s commercials that is part of the Patrouille Suisse since 2000. It flies on board aircraft number 2.
Image credit: Daniel Rychcik/Flickr
One of the maneuvers performed by the team and called “Flat Mirror” is dedicated to Flat Eric: it consists of the classic mirror performed by the two team solos during a schneider turn.
One of Flat Eric’s distinctive characteristic is that it wears a Red Arrows flight suit since 2004, when it was kidnapped by the British aerobatic display team: when it reappeared in the spring of 2005 it was adorned with this special dress.
Since it belongs to the Patrouille Suisse, it follows the team in every air show and deployment; moreover “Flati”, as it is affectionately called by other team members, posses his own Swiss Air force identification card and a log book like all other Swiss pilots.
If the Patrouille Suisse will eventually be disestablished in 3 or 4 years, the airshow circus will not only lose one of its main and best aerobatic display teams, but also one of the most funny mascottes.
David Cenciotti has contributed to this article
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