Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford is one of the largest remaining stations with a regular American presence in the UK. In this video we first see an Airbus A400M Atlas airlifter stooging around in the pattern. After that we see three 2nd Bomb Wing (BW) B-52H Stratofortress bombers approach and land- The Big Stick 61-0020 (CN 464447) of the 20th Bomb Squadron (BS) Buccaneers,Black Jack 60-0021 (CN 464386) of the 96th BS Red Devils, and Posse 60-0024 (CN 464389) also of the 20th BS- all from Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB) near Shreveport in northwestern Louisiana. Note the crosswind component on the active and resultant crabbing landings the BUFFs make. Thanks to YouTuber blizzardthewatcher for uploading these great clips.
RAF Fairford also hosts the annual Royal International Air Tattoo. This second video features the approach, landing, and taxi to the ramp of very first Lockheed Martin C-5M Super Galaxy 86-0013 (CN 500-99) of the Air Mobility Command’s 436th Airlift Wing (AW), 512th Air Force Reserve (AFRES) AW based at Dover AFB in Delaware.
After the C-5M is parked we see Rockwell Boeing B-1B Lancer 86-0124 (CN 84) with the 9th BS Bats taxi to the active and takeoff using every available pound of thunderous afterburning thrust. This particular Bone is based at Dyess AFB near Abilene in Texas. You might want to turn your speakers down for this clip. Not!
Alaska Airlines unveiled a new special baseball-themed livery late Wednesday. The announcement appeared to be tied to the fact that Alaska will be taking over for Virgin America as the official airline of the San Francisco Giants Baseball Team. Alaska Airlines will supercede Virgin America’s role starting with the 2018 season. This was a move that wasn’t totally unexpected. Virgin America became the team’s official airline back in 2008. Since then they’ve sponsored stadium signage and the swanky Virgin America Club Level that hosts purple lighting, fancy tile floors, and consolidated food options. In the past few months, Alaska Airlines signage has begun to appear behind home plate during baseball games with additional advertising throughout the stadium. The new agreement between Alaska and the Giants extends the partnership for an additional seven years. The partnership includes a specially-themed Giants aircraft.
Image: AlaskaAir
The extended partnership features several cobranded elements which will be introduced over the next several months leading into the 2018 season. They include:
An Alaska Airlines customized suite located in AT&T Park’s right field with views of McCovey Cove;
The naming rights to the AT&T Park Club Level which will be called the “Alaska Airlines Club Level” and be updated to combine the look and feel of the airline with the premium level experiences Giants fans have appreciated on this level of the ballpark; and
The new Giants-themed Airbus 321, operated by Virgin America, will feature the iconic Golden Gate bridge in orange across the fuselage with the orange and black Giants logo above the wing and a large black “SF” on the back section of the fuselage. The Alaska/Giants partnership will also feature many fan-friendly components including:
Alaska in-flight Giants offers;
Special vacation packages for Giants fans through the Giants Vacations program;
Alaska serving as the presenting partner for the Giant Races, which are a series of foot races that include events such as a Half Marathon, 10k, 5k and Kids Race/Family Relay, held in Scottsdale, Sacramento, San Jose and San Francisco and benefit local community groups;
Continuation of the highly popular “Two-For-One” Flight Voucher event for the first 40,000 Giants fans attending a Giants home game each season. The first “Two-For-One” event will be this coming Sunday, Sept. 17; and
Alaska will launch a seasonal, twice daily flight from San Francisco to Phoenix, Arizona for Giants fans to attend Spring Training in 2018. The flight schedule is being finalized and tickets will go on sale later this year.
The new Giants-themed livery will be painted on a Virgin America Airbus A-321NEO sometime in early 2018. We’re assuming that one of Virgin America’s new 10 A321NEOs will be repainted or it will be painted with the theme prior to delivery from Airbus. The drawing of the Giants plane is slightly odd though. Most special liveries still feature the airline logo somewhere in the design. This drawing shows a blank tail, perhaps to make it easier to add Alaska titles to the jet at a later time. Additionally, the drawing that Alaska provided shows an old A321 not an A321NEO with much larger engines. Virgin America doesn’t fly the original A321.
One interesting note…Virgin America’s Twitter account congratulated Alaska Airlines on the new partnership. While they are technically already one company, the tweet felt a little sad. It felt more like a former lover congratulating her ex on his engagement to someone else. This transition of sponsorship is another small but steady sign that Virgin America is truly folding into Alaska Airlines. Virgin America’s Airbus fleet will begin being repainted to Alaska within the next few months. The Virgin America name will be retired by the end of 2019.
In the run up to the 1967 Six-Day War in the Middle East, the Israeli Air Force was significantly outnumbered by the Arab air forces of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan and Iraq as well. Egypt’s air force alone had 50 percent more comparable combat aircraft than the Israelis. As early as 1953 it was clear that neutralization of the Arab air bases would be vital in any future conflict. By 1960 operational planning centered around executing a simultaneous strike on all the Arab bases in range of Israel. The operations branch commander of the IAF, Rafi Har-Lev, and the top navigator in the air force, Rafi Sivron, began work on Operation Moked- the simultaneous neutralization of the Arab air bases.
The basis of the planning was intelligence- not only were the dispositions and activity cycles of the Arab squadrons determined, but they also were able to secure information on the runway thickness and design of the bases. Planning began in earnest in 1963 and was continually updated by the flow on intelligence from reconnaissance and human sources.
Since trapping the Arab combat aircraft on the ground was key, the Israelis and the French (before their abrupt change in foreign policy under Charles De Gaulle shifted away from Israel in 1967 after the Six-Day War) co-developed a new type of bomb specifically designed for destroying runways. After its release, a first rocket acted as a braking rocket to slow the munition to get it to the optimum penetration angle. A second rocket then fired that drove the bomb through the runway and within six seconds the explosives detonated, creating a larger crater than would have been possible with a conventional bomb. Israeli Military Industries (IMI or “Taas”, it’s Hebrew name) was the lead contractor for the new weapon.
Aircraft carrying the new bombs would target eighteen air bases in Egypt, six bases in Syria, and two bases in Jordan. Once the runways were knocked out, the rest of the strike force could pick off the grounded Arab aircraft with guns and rockets. On 5 June 1967 at 0700 hours, the command went out from the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv “Execute Moked”. One-hundred sixty aircraft took off in the first wave. Jordanian radar detected the strike force but assumed that they were US Navy aircraft of the Sixth Fleet which were known to be in the region. At 0745 hours, Egyptian fighter aircraft were finishing up landing after their dawn patrols of the airspace adjoining Israel. Maintenance crews and pilots were in the process of heading to breakfast before the next patrol cycle began and that was when the Israelis struck. As each aircraft delivered the new runway bombs, they swung around and commenced strafing runs against the flight lines of trapped aircraft. While ten percent of the strike force was lost, within six hours the air forces of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan were neutralized. As Mordechai Hod, the commander of the Israeli Air Force said before the attacks “A jet aircraft is the deadliest weapon in existence- in the sky. On the ground, it is useless.”Operation Moked was a hugely successful gamble. The Israelis committed nearly all of its aircraft to the strikes, leaving only 12 fighters to protect Tel Aviv, something that the IDF commanders didn’t fully reveal to the Israeli government.
The runway cratering bomb was further developed starting in 1971 by the French weapons firm MATRA as the Durandal, named for a mythical French sword. The Durandal differed from the 1967 anti-runway munition in that after release, a braking parachute was used to stabilize the bomb instead of a braking rocket. There is a oft-repeated misconception that Durandal was used in Operation Moked, but that would have been nearly ten years before Durandal was available. Rather, the 1967 weapon was a distinct program that led to the current Durandal weapon. The Durandal was put into production for the French in 1977 and in 1982, it was evaluated by the United States Air Force for use by the General Dynamics F-111. It would subsequently be cleared as well for the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle and received the designation BLU-107 and was used to great effect during Operation Desert Storm. The Durandal was designed for a shelf life of 11 years and if was carried on three sorties and not used, it was withdrawn from use. As such, the BLU-107 Durandal is no longer in use by the USAF.
US and Russian relations have been rolling downhill for a number of years. With tensions high between the two nations, one misstep could result in a very dangerous standoff between two nuclear powers.
EUCOM recently released photos of a very close intercept that occurred earlier this year over the Baltic Sea. In their accompanying statement, they said, “A U.S. RC-135U flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea was intercepted by a Russian SU-27 Flanker June 19, 2017. Due to the high rate of closure speed and poor control of the aircraft during the intercept, this interaction was determined to be unsafe.”
This is far from the first time of a close intercept. RC-135s have had close interactions with both Russian and Chinese fighters over the past few years. Still, these photos are visual proof that tensions remain high between the United States and its rising adversaries.
One of the most popular sights at any air show was always Heritage and Legacy flights, with military aviation past and present joining in the sky in symbolic formation spanning generations from WWII, Korea and Vietnam.
The Air Force accomplishes this with their Heritage program. The Navy used to do so with a Legacy program too, but they stopped several years ago. And they will remain stopped until the air show community helps, or the Navy decides to pay for it.
For 15-20 minutes at various show sites each year, the Navy’s single ship F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Tactical Demonstration teams from Strike Fighter Squadrons VFA-122 and VFA-106 shred the skies for spectators and show off some of the various capabilities of the jet and the men and women who crew them.
But from time to time, in past years at least, they were joined at the end of their demos by old Navy warbirds for something called a “Naval Aviation Tailhook Legacy Flight”, where the past and present of Naval aviation would come together in the sky.
Navy Legacy formation, joined by Scott Yoak in his P-51 Mustang “Quick Silver” at the 2017 TICO Warbird Airshow. Photo: Mike Killian (Team Aeroshell photo pilot)
But in recent years, the Navy Legacy flights have virtually vanished due to budget issues, and therefore are not officially back on air show rosters yet. The formations, however, are still flown on case by case basis on rare occasions, the most recent being at the Cleveland National Air Show Sep 2-4 when TAC DEMO took a hint from the Air Force Heritage Flights and wanted to fly some Legacy passes with the CAF Dixie Wing Corsair also performing at the show, and so they secured the necessary approvals to do it.
Although the Navy funds the training and execution of the active duty demos, due to the fiscal situation dating back to sequestration in 2013 they are currently unable to provide funding for the civilian side of the program.
Legacy flight with VFA-106 sporting a tribute paint scheme to VFA-15, in formation with Jim Tobul and his F-4U Corsair “Korean War Hero”. Photo: Mike Killian (Team Aeroshell photo ship)
Matter of fact, the TAC DEMO pilots in Cleveland weren’t even aware there used to be an official Legacy program, which speaks volumes to the length of the time Legacy flights have now been grounded.
I’ve had the honor to work with the Navy TAC DEMO team on two Legacy shoots this year, in an effort to promote the shows and teams, and bring attention to returning Legacy flights back to the show circuit. Both the Navy and civilian warbird crews have been very supportive, but needs the community as a whole to come together the same.
For the program to return, warbird crews must train with the active duty TAC DEMO flight crews on each TAC DEMO team prior to the start of the air show season, but to accomplish this the warbird aircraft and their crews need to transit to either NAS Lemoore in California (VFA-122 Demo Team), or NAS Oceana in Virginia (VFA-106 Demo Team).
Two TAC DEMO Super Hornets from VFA-106 in formation with Them Richard piloting the Dixie Wing Corsair for a Legacy photo shoot recently. Photo: Mike Killian (Gary Baker photo pilot).
The costs to do so, and transit these warbirds and their Legacy trained crews to select TAC DEMO show sites to fly the Legacy Demos, is expected to cost at minimum $300,000 annually.
For this reason, the Navy Tailhook Legacy Flight Foundation (NTLFF) was established in 2015, to raise the funding necessary to accomplish Tailhook Legacy training and then execute Tailhook Legacy flights at all the air shows on the TAC DEMO team’s schedule.
“Although TACDEMO has been able to come back, the Legacy funding has not. We had training scheduled for 2016, but it was cancelled about a week prior due to flight hour funding issues,” says Bernie Conaway, President/Director of Operations at the Navy Tailhook Legacy Flight Foundation.
“Your support will provide the funding to fly these aircraft to training, and once training is complete, your support will provide for moving these warbirds to each show. Unlike the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation, we’re not funded by a billionaire, we are Navy verterans who are trying to bring the program back,” added Conaway.
“Without support, the program will remain grounded and these majestic formation flights will not grace the skies,” he adds.
From the NTLFF mission statement:
“The Foundation will be the backbone of the civilian part of the program to ensure Navy Tailhook Legacy Flights can continue with or without DoD augments. Flying vintage aircraft is a resource-consuming endeavor, which requires considerable funding to enable aircraft to transit to/from air shows and other aerial events (i.e. Presidential Memorial flyover). Many vintage aircraft are maintained and operated by non-profit organizations or private individuals at significant cost to the sponsor(s). NTLFF will provide air show booking services, liaison services and cover the cost of flying warbird aircraft to/from events.
Legacy formation break, Hornets in full burners. Photo Credit: Mike Killian (Gary Baker photo pilot)
In addition to supporting the Navy warbird community, NTLFF will promote the history of Naval Aviation and the rich traditions that have carried it through the years. Through the use of electronic media, NTLFF will provide access to information on the various events, aircrew, personnel and aircraft that are part of the rich tradition of Naval Aviation and will feature information about the aircraft and pilots who perform the Navy Tailhook Legacy Flight.”
Such flights memorialize the rich history of those who came before, promote the tradition and legacy of Naval Aviation and support the efforts of the Navy in attracting and recruiting quality applicants to serve in Naval Aviation.
After all, air shows are, without question, the single biggest recruiting tool for the U.S. military, so it would seem beneficial to bring these Legacy flights back, and soon. Not only that, but they can prove very beneficial to the non-profit museums and organizations who maintain and operate the warbirds as well, which are true living pieces of aviation history.
Two Super Hornets from Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-106 “Gladiators” in formation with Thom Richard flying the Commemorative Air Force Dixie Wing’s Corsair. Photo Credit: Mike Killian (Gary Baker photo pilot)
For more information on the grassroots civilian non-profit NTLFF organization, and to donate, please visit https://www.ntlff.org.
Lockheed Martin is in heated competition with Saab in Sweden to supply the IAF with single-engine fighter planes to amp up the country’s combat capabilities. The Indian government has set plans in motion to add at least 100 fighter jets to its military arsenal, after a deal with French manufacturer Dassault Aviation was scaled back last year.
U.S.-based Lockheed has offered up its F-16 Block 70 while Saab is proposing its Gripen-E. Both aircraft models come with state-of-the-art avionics, advanced radar systems and weapons capabilities, in addition to lower operational costs.
Rendering of the F-16 Block 70 offered to the Indian Air Force. Image: Lockheed Martin
Lockheed says the F-16 Block 70 is unprecedented and technology enhancements build upon previous combat experience. The much touted configuration features improved pilot situational awareness with a new imagery screen, moving color maps and night vision. Advanced APG-83 AESA radar from Northrop Grumman includes detailed digital map displays with pan and zoom features and capabilities from the F-22 and F-35 AESA radar systems.
Saab calls its Gripen-E the ‘Smart Fighter.’ The next generation fighter aircraft combines sensor fusion, BVR capability and also features AESA radar systems. The Gripen-E has a multi-frequency data system that provides optimal pilot situational awareness. Data collection about each fighter jet’s position, weapon and fuel status can be shared with other Gripen jets through a data link.
GripenE is in competition with Lockheed Martin. Photo: Saab
Discussions with Indian Air Force officials are ongoing with both Lockheed Martin and Saab. In the hopes of sealing the deal, Lockheed is giving the Indian government an added incentive to win the coveted manufacturing contract. The U.S.-based military giant has suggested making India the sole manufacturer of F-16 fighter jets worldwide. However, the pending arrangement is contingent upon Lockheed being awarded the lucrative Indian contract, according to company executive Randall L. Howard, while Saab is countering the offer with a similar deal.
In anticipation of a possible agreement, Lockheed has announced tentative plans to close down its F-16 production plant in Fort Worth, Texas. Howard says after the closure, new military aircraft orders would be fulfilled from a planned Greenville, South Carolina facility. However, all production of IAF F-16s would be moved to India if Lockheed Martin wins the contract.
If the new strategic partnership moves forward, it will provide India with a world-class production base that would eventually expand to become the single production facility servicing jet fighter demand worldwide. The potential Lockheed Martin partnership was seeded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make-in-India’ plan. It requires that at least 100 of the new military jets be produced locally in India.
President Trump has been encouraging companies to invest domestically and create jobs in the United States under his ‘America First’ campaign. Even so, Lockheed Martin executives say the U.S. government is supporting the partnership plan because the billion-dollar deal would finance thousands of American jobs at Lockheed and its suppliers. In the coming days, the Indian government is expected to issue formal requests to both companies.
ROME, Ga. — The sounds of autumn across north Georgia will became a bit louder as military and civilian aircraft perform aerobatic maneuvers during the Wings Over North Georgia Airshow in October headlined by the Blue Angels.
The popular northwest Georgia event will combine aviation’s top aircraft, live music, and great food into a family fun weekend. Ticket packages remain available for the airshow at Rome’s Richard B. Russell Airport on October 21 and 22.
Top military and civilian aircraft will scream across the flightline as fighter jets and aerobatic performers demonstrate gravity defying maneuvers. While on the ground, guests will receive an up close look and even go aboard a few of the dozens of popular planes and helicopters on static display.
The sixth annual Wings Over North Georgia will be the first headlined by America’s Pride, the U.S. Navy and Marines Blue Angels. And, for many of the Blue’s officers and enlisted, the Rome airshow will be a homecoming as they return to their native metro Atlanta for a brief visit.
Lead solo and Angel 5 pilot Commander Frank Weisser, and opposing solo and Angel 6 pilot LT Tyler Davies are native of Atlanta and Kennesaw, respectively. Even Blue Angels C-130 transport aircraft pilot Major Mark Montgomery is a native of nearby Cartersville. The homecoming will also include two metro Atlanta natives who maintain the airframes and hydraulics of the Blue’s F/A-18 Hornets, Chief Petty Officers Demaude Prescott and Daniel Yater.
Historic aircraft flown during World War II and into the jet age will sit poised on display as visitors receive an up close tour while military and civilian aircraft soar high above Rome’s Richard B. Russell Airfield.
New York’s Air National Guard’s C-17 Globemaster III will join the north Georgia air show to perform one flight demonstration on each weekend afternoon. The C-17 is a heavy lift air refueling aircraft capable of ferrying 170,500 pounds of cargo or up to 100 service personnel over long distances.
“Wings Over North Georgia has been hosting so many of the air show industry’s finest military jet demo teams, this is our first time hosting the NYANG C-17 Demo Team,” said air show Director Jim Hite on Monday. “Adding this heavy air lifter demo to the performer line-up headlining Blue Angels jet team and Fat Albert Airlines is just over the top for us retired Air Force tactical air lifters.”
Cowman’s team have announced the addition of the popular Smoke-n-Thunder Jet Truck to the Rome line up. Based in Castle Rock, Washington, the Jet Truck will join the previously announced pilot Bill Braack’s Jet Car to create the first airshow with two ground performs.
“It’s not everyday our air show guests gets an up close opportunity to witness these two flame throwing 350-plus m.p.h. Jet Powered vehicles perform together while producing over 35,000 Horsepower,” Cowman commented as he reviewed video of the Jet Truck from his office. “That’s equivalent to NASCAR’s entire Daytona 500 starting line-up”
The Hot Streak II Jet Truck uses twin jet engines mounted on a 1957 Chevy pick-up truck. Its pilot, Hayden Proffitt, will ignite the engines and the crowds will light up with the thrill of Smoke-n-Thunder.
The sleek jet car is scheduled to race an aircraft down the runway during the afternoon show. “As I’m experiencing 4.5 G’s as I accelerate down the runway, I’m paying attention to how the JetCar is handling, but also where my shut down marker is,” Bill said. “Everything happens very fast as I’m accelerating to nearly 400 m.p.h. — there’s no time for distractions.”
The USSOCOM Para-Commandos parachute demonstration team will also skydive from 12,000-feet above the crowd in a heart-felt patriotic moment to deliver the American flag. The power of this air show will also be created by the civilian performers who will take to the sky to pump up the aviation fans. Scott Yoak’s P-51D Mustang “Quicksilver”, Jim Tobul’s F4U Corsair, and Rob Holland’s MXS-RH aircraft are a few which will entertain the crowds.
Aircraft will scream across the crowds as fighter jets and aerobatic performers demonstrate gravity defying maneuvers. While on the ground, guests will be able to visit up close dozens of popular planes and helicopters.
Several civilian aerobatic flights include the Lucas Oil bi-plane flown by Michael Wiskus, the humorous Jelly-Belly Comedy Flight, and pilot Bob Carlton’s jet sail plane. Hometown flight demonstration team Tiger Flight will take to the air first to perform the missing man formation during the National Anthem.
“Advance tickets sales remains strong with sales to date over 100% over last year at this time,” said Cowman during a visit to the air show site. “It’s crazy, but great and our air show performer lineup is solid.” An Air Force veteran, Cowman expects over 75,000 will attend the two-day event.
Cowman paused as the sun began to set over the Rome airfield. As the American flag was lowered for the day he added in a hushed voice, “Being retired Air Force veterans, one of our key goals is to highlight our nation’s military strength and salute our veterans — from World War II to present day.”
Tickets for the Wings Over North Georgia remain available on-line at WingsOverNorthGeorgia.com, for VIP ticket packages for on-site reserved airport parking, family four-packs of tickets, box seating, patio seating, and chalet experiences. Guests interested in on-site camping options for the show can choose between premium infield and standard dry camping options.
Airport and remote parking lots will open each day at 7:30 a.m. and the gates will open to guests at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The opening ceremonies will kick-off each day at 11:15 a.m. followed by the first flying performances at noon.
A massive Kids Zone play area will allow children of all ages to play and jump on aviation-themed bounce houses, educational activities, swings, and a climbing wall. Located inside the main gate, wristbands will be available for purchase for unlimited fun all day.
(Charles Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology, and will cover the Wings Over North Georgia. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
Air shows bring out millions of spectators across the U.S. every year. Coast to coast it is the single biggest recruiting tool for the U.S. military, and gives them and civilian pilots the chance to share their passion of aviation with citizens who ordinarily would never get the chance otherwise.
But the shows also give an opportunity to teach the important history of aviation to the country, by bringing aircraft past and present together in the sky and symbolizing a nation united across several generations.
A Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-106 “Gladiators” in formation with Thom Richard flying the Commemorative Air Force Dixie Wing’s Corsair. Photo Credit: Mike Killian (Gary Baker photo pilot)
The Navy accomplishes this with their single ship F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Tactical Demonstration, courtesy of Strike Fighter Squadrons VFA-122 and VFA-106.
For 15-20 minutes they shred the skies to show off just some of what their birds can do. But from time to time, they are joined at the end of their demos by an old Navy warbird from the WWII, Korea or Vietnam era, for something called a “Naval Aviation Tailhook Legacy Flight”, where the past and present of Naval aviation join forces in a symbolic formation.
Two Super Hornets from Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-106 “Gladiators” in formation with Thom Richard flying the Commemorative Air Force Dixie Wing’s Corsair. Photo Credit: Mike Killian (Gary Baker photo pilot)
The flights are now few and far between, so it was a real treat recently to be honored to work with the Commemorative Air Force Dixie Wing and pilot Thom Richard on an air-to-air photo/video shoot with Richard flying the Dixie Wing’s Corsair in formation with not one, but two Super Hornets from VFA-106 TAC DEMO.
Richard, owner of Warbird Adventures and the 2015 Air Race 1 World Cup gold champion, flies the Corsair at select air shows throughout the year. He has nearly 30 years flying experience, and has accumulated over 10,000 hours flying vintage warbirds.
Both were performing at the Cleveland National Air Show over Labor Day weekend Sep 2-4, so the Navy, Richard and CAF Dixie Wing wanted to take the opportunity to get together to produce some new publicity images.
ABOVE: Watch from the cockpit of the Corsair, in 360 Video
Typically these shoots are done on demo fuel and conducted either just before or just after the demo. But this was a dedicated imagery mission, aiming for the golden hour of sunset light.
Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas. We waited 2 days to fly, hoping the late afternoon lingering clouds would break up. We didn’t need clear skies, if anything partly cloudy is preferable for drama and depth, but the clearing skies never came.
The CAF’s FG-1D Corsair “530” never saw military combat, but was used stateside in various roles until being stricken from active duty by the US Navy in 1956. It was rescued from destruction in 1957 by Ernest Huggins, then transferred to Skip Underwood of Tulsa, Oklahoma a year later.
The CAF Dixie Wing Corsair over downtown Cleveland. Photo Credit: Mike Killian (Gary Baker photo pilot)
Underwood later sold it to Marvin L. “Lefty” Gardner in 1960, and it was later painted as #530 from VMF-312 representing 1st Lt. MO Chance.
Gary Baker, a career pilot with United, stepped in to be my photo pilot, providing his RV-6 as photo ship, since the air show would not provide one themselves (our thanks again to Gary, as the shoot would have been lost without him).
It was windy on the ground for departure, which concerned us a bit, as we need stable air to use slower shutter speeds to capture the motion of the Corsair’s prop spinning. But once we took off the air became surprisingly smooth.
Navy Legacy in action with the CAF Dixie Wing Corsair. Photo Credit: Mike Killian (Gary Baker photo pilot)
Our takeoff was followed immediately by Richard in the Corsair, and then both Super Hornets.
Officially, Navy Tailhook Legacy Flights are not back on air show rosters yet, but the formations are flown from time to time (as we saw in Cleveland). That’s because, although the Navy funds the training and execution of the active duty demonstrations, due to the fiscal situation dating back to sequestration in 2013 they are currently unable to provide funding for the civilian side of the program.
It was for this reason that the Navy Tailhook Legacy Flight Foundation (NTLFF) was established in 2015, to raise the funding necessary to accomplish Tailhook Legacy training and then execute a Tailhook Legacy flight at all the air shows on the TAC DEMO team’s schedule.
My view from the slow, Legacy formation break, Hornets in full burners. Photo Credit: Mike Killian (Gary Baker photo pilot)
The grassroots organization relies on donations; the minimum budget for one season is over $300,000. For more information, and to donate, visit https://www.ntlff.org.
The CAF Dixie Wing is a non-profit, tax-exempt “flying museum” based near Atlanta, which depends on contributions of time and donations to carry out its mission. For more info, and to donate, visit http://dixiewing.org
View the 2017 Navy TAC DEMO air show schedule HERE.
A few more images below:
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– Follow Mike Killian on Instagram and Facebook, @MikeKillianPhotography
If you ever go to Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, you’ll see a fantastic exhibit of a United Airlines Boeing 727-100 suspended from the ceiling. Guests can enter the jet as part of the exhibit. They’ll walk throughout the cabin complete with a very-retro 1980s cabin and ‘steam’-gauged cockpit. There is typically a retired United captain who volunteers his or her time to answer questions.
While the jet is a fascinating exhibit, what is equally impressive is how the jet got there. United landed the jet at an airport too small for airliners. It was the only possible way to transport the donated aircraft.
The Museum is located near the former Meigs Field that was located just south of downtown Chicago. The airport wasn’t built for jet airliners. The runway was only 3,900 feet long. On September 28, 1992, Captain BC Thomas pounded the tri-holer into the pavement at the piano keys. (Piano Keys is aviation speak for the very start of the runway). It wasn’t the smoothest landing. You can set the jet blown by the winds on a flaps 40 approach. They jet seemed to touched down hard and bounced. Thomas recovered and applied full thrust reversers. He landed with plenty of runway to spare. In a post landing interview, Thomas said that the gusty winds and turbulence made it a challenging approach. We believe him.
Local media covered the landing. Video of coverage uploaded by BC Thomas to Youtube.
Once the Boeing 727 taxied clear, it parked at the ramp in front of the assembled media. The Boeing was then loaded on to a barge. It traveled to Indiana for exhibit preparation and painting back to its original 1960s paint scheme. When the jet was ready for display, the jet then traveled back to Chicago where it was ‘taxied’ via tug through Chicago streets to the museum. The Boeing 727 received its own exhibit hall. It was lifted to the ceiling via crane and opened to the public in 1994.
Much has changed in the past 25 years. Meigs Field is now a park, much to the chagrin of avgeeks. The famous airport’s runway was torn up under the cover of night under orders from Mayor Daley in 2003. The shady tactic put an end to the business friendly airfield located less than 2 miles from downtown Chicago. The Boeing 727 is preserved though. It will inspire museum visitors for generations to come.
Pilots, flight attendants and other airline crew appear to lead a charmed life. Traveling around the world on a daily basis, their roles have been romanticized. Even if it’s not all glamour and fun, their career paths make for some interesting stories, and plenty of jaw-dropping photos. Plenty of aircrew post photos of their day and we love it! Instagram has actually emerged as a way to learn about the ups and downs of the airline industry. For snapshots of what goes on in the air, on the ground and around the globe at some of your favorite airlines, here are the 10 aircrew you should be following on Instagram.
1. @pilotmaria
Want some girl power in your Instagram feed? Maria Pettersson is a Swedish pilot for Ryanair, who really makes the pilot life look ultra-glam view from the cockpit. She’s super popular on Instragram. She’s has over 430,000 followers! She shares her flying experiences and is an advocate for more women in aviation. Just check out her recent feature in Elle photo shoot.
A post shared by Maria Pettersson (@pilotmaria) on
2. @althani350
Airbus pilot Khalifa Al-Thani flies for Qatar Airways, and his photos are a mix of in-flight images, and the best of the best from his stops around the globe, from New York to San Francisco, London to Doha. He also posts photos of the other magnificent aircraft he spots on the job, so keep your eyes peeled for an array of other airlines.
A post shared by Khalifa Al-Thani (@althani350) on
3. @elisavalentiina
Elisa is a flight attendant at Lufthansa. She posts a mix of work-related photos, but also images of her stops around the world, whether she’s lounging poolside in the Amwaj Islands, enjoying an In-N-Out burger in Dallas or strolling the streets of Prague.
A post shared by Flight attendant| 21| Hamburg (@elisavalentiina) on
4. @borneogeek
A Hong Kong Airlines pilot, @Borneogeek appears to travel between various Asian destinations and the United States on both the Airbus A330 and the Boeing 747. He posts photos of the cockpit, views from the sky and lots of aircraft exteriors. However, he also shows pilot life from a first-person perspective, and always with witty and sarcastic comments that’ll leave you grinning.
It must be hard to balance a military and civilian pilot career. But somehow Troy manages to fly the amazing 787 Dreamliner and be an amazing photographer on the side. His subjects range from airplanes to nature to beautiful models.
I had the opportunity to interview Lt. Lance Benson of the U.S Navy Blue Angels at Thunder Over Michigan 2017. Members of the media took turns asking questions. Below are the paraphrased questions we asked during the interview.
Interview Lt. Lance Benson U.S Navy Blue Angels #4
0:04 Introduction
0:44 How did you become a Naval Aviator?
1:06 Did you participate in ROTC? When did you join the U.S Navy?
1:17 How do you balance work and family?
2:00 Has your family had the opportunity to watch the Blue Angels perform at different Airshows around the country?
2:13 Who inspired you to become an Aviator?
Interview David McMillan U.S Navy Blue Angels AM2 Aviation and Structural Mechanic
2:40 Introduction, Follow-up question: How did you become involved with the Blue Angels?
3:12 Describe your role with the Blue Angels?
3:20 Can you describe the training required to service aircraft?
3:30 What was the most difficult part about training?
3:42 Describe your favorite part of being a member of the Blue Angels.
3:53 Throughout your travels with the Blue Angels do you have a favorite location (airshow)?
4:25 How do you feel about being part of the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow?
4:33 Explain why everyone should see the Blue Angels perform.
Interview Kevin Walsh Airshow Director Thunder Over Michigan
Note: The Wind Speed Increased dramatically without notice, I did the best I could to reduce the wind noise in post processing.
4:40 Introduction
5:03 History of the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow
5:52 When was the first Blue Angels performance at Thunder Over Michigan? Follow-up question: Blue Angels relationship with the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow?
BONUS:
Be prepared for the incredible sound of Six Blue Angels as they start their jet engines in perfect synchronization and taxi for their first practice at the Thunder Over Michigan 2017 Airshow. The audio has been remixed into a thunderous 5.1 Surround Sound.
United States Navy Blue Angels Start-Up and Taxi in 5.1 Surround Sound (4k):
[youtube id=”HJSq9_f87Ao” width=”800″ height=”454″ position=”left”]
The Film Takes a Look at mid-60s US Navy Carrier Ops in the Med and a Whole Lot More
“Operation Saratoga” is a film shot aboard the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CVA-60) during her Mediterranean Sea cruise that took place between November 28th 1964 and July 12th 1965. Carrier Air Wing THREE (CVW-3) was deployed aboard Super Sara for this Med Cruise. The film not only documents CVW-3 flight operations aboard and around the carrier, but also everyday life aboard the carrier itself, underway replenishment (UNREP), and a high-line transfer of a sailor from the destroyer USS Davis (DD-937) to the Super Sara for medical treatment. Thanks to YouTuber British Pathé for uploading this look at life aboard the Saratoga during the mid-1960s.
During the time the film was shot CVW-3 consisted of VF-31 Tomcatters flying the Phabulous McDonnell Douglas F-4B Phantom II, VF-32 Swordsmen flying the Vought F-8D Crusader, VA-34 Blue Blasters and VA-36 Roadrunners both flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, VA-35 Black Panthers flying the Douglas A-1H Skyraider, RVAH-9 Hoot Owls flying the North American RA-5C Vigilante, Detachment 60 of VAW-12 Bats flying the Grumman E-1B Tracer, and Detachment 60 of HU-2 (HC-2) Fleet Angels flying the Kaman UH-2A Seasprite. After this cruise VA-35 detached from CVW-3 and began their transition to the new Grumman A-6A Intruder all-weather attack bomber.
