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Allegiant Retires Their Elderly MD-80 Fleet, Goes Totally Airbus

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Allegiant Retires Their Elderly MD-80 Fleet, Goes Totally Airbus

After a busy holiday travel season, Allegiant Air is ready to retire the last of its McDonnell Douglas MD-80 fleet.  The last Allegiant MD-80 took off from Fresno, California to Las Vegas on the evening of November 28th. 

It landed at Las Vegas with a flyover of Las Vegas and a water cannon salute after landing. The Allegiant MD-80 fleet has connected small cities with world-class destinations around the United States for 16 years, but the low-cost carrier is ready to simplify and move forward with their fleet of Airbus 319s and A320s. The final flight was scheduled for November 28th to fly to Fresno and then back to their main hub in Las Vegas; a route they’ve done since Allegiant’s beginning in 1999.

An Allegiant Airlines MD-80
An Allegiant Airlines MD-80

Allegiant Air’s Opportunistic Background

With the domestic proliferation of the Airbus A320 in the early 2000s, we started to see major airlines announce retirement plans for their McDonnell Douglas aircraft and begin selling their used MD-80s.

Allegiant used this time to purchase the MD-80 at a better price and continued to operate short to medium distance nonstop routes across the United States at a lower cost for their customers.

Allegiant Used To Only Fly The MD-80

In 2002 Allegiant was operating a fleet primarily of MD-80s bringing passengers from smaller cities to world-class leisure destinations like Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, and Southern California. Drew Wells, Vice-President of Revenue and Planning for Allegiant, said that they’ve done the same with the Airbus A320 by staying, “true to our core values and being opportunistic and bringing in the right fleet and aircraft when the right price point is there.”

In 2012 Allegiant put into action a 10 year transition plan. Now Allegiant is ready to retire it’s fleet of MD-80s in favor of the Airbus A320, ahead of schedule.

Allegiant Airlines A320 that recently replaced the MD-80s in the fleet.
Photo by redlegsfan21. Post on Flickr.

Allegiant Transitioned from the MD-80 Faster Than Expected

The successful purchase of several used Airbuses accelerated the retirement of Allegiant’s MD-80s to this year instead of their planned retirement in 2019.

This caused some challenges for the carrier:

– Technicians were taking on the new aircraft at a rate never before seen by Allegiant Air. Great deals and a surprising order for brand new A320s from Airbus expedited the process. Allegiant’s crews took about 35-40 days to process each new aircraft.
– Ensuring they have enough pilots trained and ready to safely man their new fleet has also put them under pressure. They anticipate being fully manned by March of 2019.
– There was also a delay in receiving some of their new aircraft from Airbus which forced Allegiant to operate with 6 fewer aircraft.

How Does the A320 Change Allegiant Air?

As technology progresses, oil and fuel costs fluctuate, and the economy changes, Allegiant is always looking to maintain a cost effective means for air travel. The new Airbus fleet is significantly younger than the MD-80 and Allegiant is already seeing improvement in the fleet’s reliability, network possibilities, and revenue.

The MD-80 was designed and brought into production in the 1970s and today the approach to maintaining these aircraft is still very much prognostic.

Upgrading to the Airbus A320 comes with a modern maintenance platform, Skywise, that will ensure a more proactive approach to the maintenance of the aircraft. They’ll be able to better anticipate the maintenance needs of the aircraft, which means less downtime and more airtime for the fleet.

The A320 aircraft family is also more fuel efficient by about 30% and it has a better maximum takeoff weight than the MD-80. This opens the doors for new routes for Allegiant and a little more room for passengers. Now only Delta and American fly the MD-80 aircraft.  American is scheduled to retire their MD-80 fleet in 2019 with Delta following by 2020.

Allegiant Air’s New Routes

This November Allegiant Air launched four new routes exclusively operated by their fleet. You can now fly between Phoenix, Mesa, and Saint George, Utah. They’ve also connected Punta Gorda with Omaha, Syracuse, and Appleton.

Streamlining the Fleet

Operating and maintaining two different aircraft types has been a logistical and financial headache. After a year of hard work bringing in the A320s and retiring the MD-80s Allegiant is looking forward to an updated, efficient and simplified fleet to bring them into 2019 and beyond.

Editors note:  The original article incorrectly stated that the final flight was between Flint, Michigan and Las Vegas.  We corrected the error.

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian Give Tour Of Chartered VIP Boeing 747SP

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Kanye West and Kim Kardashian Give Tour Of Chartered VIP Boeing 747SP

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian recently took a ride on an ultra rare Boeing 747SP, owned by the Sands Corporation. Their trip has attracted some scrutiny mainly due to the perceived environmental waste of flying a nearly empty jumbo jet. Twitter lit up with comments about how wasteful their trip was while other comments focused on the fact that they’d love an exclusive 747 ride too.

We at Avgeekery were more excited by the fact that West and Kardashian posted video of the inside of the classic VIP aircraft. To our knowledge, no other videos of the interior of this particular jumbo jet are available online. In the Instagram video, Kim highlights the many bedrooms inside the jet along with a section of the jet configured with mid-2000s style first class seats. In addition to the tour of the main cabin and the seating area on the second deck, she also shows Kanye sitting at one of the many lounge areas behind a large desk. While the jet appears far from new, it looks like it is incredible shape for being a nearly 40 year old aircraft. The interior configuration resembles another VIP configuration, Air Force One. That modified Boeing 747-200 is the President of the United States personal aircraft.

Tail number VP-BLK is one of the few remaining airworthy Boeing 747SP aircraft in the world. It is configured in a VVIP (that’s very VIP) configuration that is estimated to very comfortably sit around 60 people. The jet was originally designed for a three-cabin configuration with around 330 people. The Boeing 747SP has the characteristic features of a Boeing 747 but is significantly shorter, features a taller tail for stability purposes and has a modified wing with a simpler flap design to save weight. The jet was designed in the early 1970s as a way to offer jumbo jet amenities on routes that were too distant for the early Boeing 747-100s and -200s. Only 45 of the Special Performance version of the 747 were ever built, far below the expectations of Boeing. Today, there are less than 10 still in service, primarily serving as VIP aircraft for government officials.

Below is a video by YouTube user Speedbird of tail VP-BLK arriving a departing from Las Vegas, Nevada where the aircraft is based.

Diabetes Doesn’t Have to Sideline An Aviation Career

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Diabetes Doesn’t Have to Sideline An Aviation Career

Meet Brittany, a successful flight attendant who doesn’t let diabetes Type 1 get in her way.

Many young people dream of a career in aviation. A booming aviation industry, great pay, unique benefits, and plenty of time off can make it an attractive career. Becoming a pilot or flight attendant isn’t easy though. In the case of a pilot, it takes years of slugging through expensive lessons, then gaining experience by acting as an instructor or taking lower-paying jobs before finally getting the chance to fly an airliner. While the path to become a flight attendant isn’t as lengthy, it still requires tremendous dedication and significant training. Dedication isn’t the only thing you need to make it in aviation though. You also need to be healthy. Certain disabilities and conditions can disqualify you. Diabetes (both Type 1 and Type 2) is a challenging condition for anyone interested in a career in aviation.

Type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes is a limiting condition, but it doesn’t have to end your dream of a career in the skies. Currently, a person with Type 1 cannot be an airline pilot. If the condition is well controlled, they can only qualify for a Class 2 or 3 medical certificate. That qualifies someone to fly as an instructor or fly recreationally. A more-strict class 1 medical is required to pilot an airliner. A person with type 1 diabetes cannot currently gain a Class 1 medical certificate.

Fortunately, other career options exist in aviation for someone with Type 1 diabetes. Flight attendants are allowed to fly with diabetes as long as the condition is well controlled. We recently had the opportunity to chat with Britany Tomlinson, a flight attendant for a major airline who also has Type 1 diabetes.

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Hi Brittany! Thanks for taking the time to chat with Avgeekery and share your story. We’d love to hear about your journey in aviation and how you became a flight attendant.

What aircraft do you fly on?

Hi! Thank you for the opportunity to share my story. I’m qualified to fly on the Airbus A319 and A320 as well as Boeing 737, 757, 767, 777, and 787 aircrafts.

How long have you been flying?

I’ve been flying for 2.5 years.

What made you fall in love with aviation?

The love for aviation was cultivated from a young age for me. I grew up hearing wonder-filled stories from my grandparents who met while working at Pan Am. My grandma was a stewardess and my Pappy ran the special services operations for Pan Am out of LAX so I was brought up in awe of aviation and the opportunities it brought to them.

On top of that, my mom and dad own and operate a WWII museum and Brewseum in Honolulu, so growing up and spending so much time in the museum, I was constantly being told incredible stories of aviation during WWII.

Tell us about your favorite aviation story in your career.

My favorite memories are always the interesting people I’ve met over the years in the skies. I really believe the people are what make this job so wonderful. I’ve met celebrities, people flying for the first time, children in love with aviation, people from other cultures, and my fellow flight attendants who go the extra mile to make sure everyone is safe and happy. I was even lucky enough to meet my boyfriend on a flight which is a memory that always makes me smile.

Being a Type 1 diabetic and a flight attendant makes you pretty unique and bad ass. How do you deal with this challenge?

Thank you! I wear an Insulin pump, which is about the size of a beeper and gives me a continual flow of insulin, and every time I leave for a trip I double and triple check I have all of my supplies just in case I’m gone for days at a time.

I used to have to check my blood sugar constantly by pricking my fingers but recently I was fortunate to start using the DexCom CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) which is a sensor I wear on the back of my arm that reads my blood sugar every three minutes and alerts me on my phone if I’m trending high or low. It’s been a life changer especially in this industry where I’m in different time zones and sleeping at odd times.

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Are there any special requirements or briefings that you have to give to other crew members because of your condition?

Yes, I tell my crew members I’m diabetic before each flight because it’s information pertinent to the safety of our flight. We need all of the necessary information available in order to be prepared to get passengers safely from point A to B. Fortunately, I’ve never had an issue with my diabetes in my 2.5 years of flying. I always keep glucose tabs in my pockets however, just to make sure I have them readily available if I experience low blood sugar while I’m in the aisle. Every flight attendant is medically trained so I’m thankful we all know what symptoms to watch out for.

What advice do you have for men and women who have diabetes and still want a career in aviation?

I would tell those men and women with diabetes to not let society or this disease hold you back from fulfilling your dreams. However, you must be prepared for a complete lifestyle change, erratic sleep schedules, time zone changes, and long shifts. Despite all of this, I wouldn’t change it for the world. If you’re truly dedicated, there will be so many wonderful experiences that can and WILL make up for the hectic lifestyle this career brings. This career is not for the faint of heart by any means, but if you’re ready to put your health before anything else, it can be possible.

Thanks for joining us!  We thank you for sharing your story and showing others how they can overcome challenges to achieve their dream of a career in aviation.

You can follow Brittany’s travels on Instagram at @Britzidoodle.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

All part of ja-plan ⛩

A post shared by ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brittany Tomlinson (@britzidoodle) on

Alabama Dries Their Field With Helicopters Before Auburn Game

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Alabama Dries Their Field With Helicopters Before Auburn Game

We’ve heard of NASCAR using jet engines to dry the track after rain, but this is a new one.

Facebook user Jay Jacks posted an incredible video of two helicopters drying the field before today’s game against Auburn. Before the game, Birmingham received about .4 inches of rain. Not a huge amount but enough to make the field wet and potentially sloppy. Something had to be done to dry the field. After all, Alabama is 11-0 and haven’t lost in over a year.

Rain wasn’t going to get in their way of a pursuit of their second National Championship in as many years. Number one ranked Alabama wasted no expense to ensure that they would play on a crisp, dry field. They brought in two helicopters to dry the field. It made for a pretty incredible site. See the full, original video embedded below:

GE’s Original ‘Classic’ 747 Testbed Takes One Last Flight To Her Resting Place

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GE’s Original ‘Classic’ 747 Testbed Takes One Last Flight To Her Resting Place

A former PanAm Clipper, one of the last flying Boeing 747 classic jets retired recently. Tail number N747GE which flew as GE’s flying testbed for its engine programs was the 25th Boeing 747 built. It first flew in 1969 and was later delivered to PanAm. The jumbo jet was sold to GE in 1992, shortly after the demise of PanAm World Airways.

Over the course of its 26 year career as a flying testbed, the jet flew nearly every engine that GE developed and maintained during the same period. The 747 most notably carried the now iconic GE-90 engine that would power a whole generation of long-range Boeing 777 aircraft. The jet also flew the GEnx engine which now powers the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

According to GE, “The transformation from passenger aircraft to a flying testbed required significant modifications, including removing seats, strengthening the left wing and tail for flight testing and installing data systems. The aircraft provided critical flight data on more than 11 distinct engine models and 39 engine builds, including widebody engines like the GE90, GEnx and the Engine Alliance GP7200, CF34 engines for regional jets, narrow body engines like CFM56 and LEAP, and the Passport for business aviation.”

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GE’s Boeing 747 Testbed is taxied across a road to the Pima Air and Space Museum. Photo by GE

On November 15, 2018, the Boeing 747 lifted off one more time for its final flight from Victorville, California to Tucson, Arizona. It will be displayed at Pima Air And Space Museum. After landing at Tucson, the aircraft was towed to the museum. It will be on display at the museum yard, which now hosts a number of other historical aircraft including the YC-15, SR-71 Blackbird, and a number of rare World War II aircraft.

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Being towed to her new home. Original Flight Test Operations pilot Gary Possert long hoped that the Queen of the Skies would be retired to a cushy museum gig, versus being scrapped. His wishes came true. Photo by GE

The last flight was a bit of a bonus flight for the elderly Queen of the Skies.  The trip to Pima wasn’t a guarantee. GE even produced a video of its expected last flight that took place earlier in January of 2018.  It’s great to see that the Queen of the Skies–one of the last non-military derivative ‘classic’ Boeing 747s–will have a long retirement ahead of her.

“Hey Captain, How Fast Are We Flying?” It’s a Complicated Answer

Rob Graves
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“Hey Captain, How Fast Are We Flying?” It’s a Complicated Answer

One of the most common questions we get asked by passengers is how fast we’re going. Usually it is asked about takeoff or landing as it is easy to find out how fast we’re going at cruise. For that, simply look at the inflight entertainment system which gives a readout from the onboard GPS system. When I give an answer to the takeoff or landing speed, I’ll say it depends. On what you may ask? It depends on many factors, to include the weight of the aircraft, the wind, the airport elevation, the runway conditions (wet or dry) and even the terrain surrounding the airport.

Even after explaining all that, I have to give an approximate answer because our airspeed up front is given to us in knots and not the more familiar miles or kilometers per hour. A “knot” is a nautical measure of speed which means nautical miles per hour. A nautical mile is 6076 feet as opposed to a statute or “normal” mile which is 5280 feet. In ancient days, sailors would feed a rope over the side of their ship for a specified amount of time and then measure the number of knots (which had been tied into the rope at regular intervals) that had been pulled overboard. The number of knots pulled over was proportional to the speed of the ship.

Later on, a nautical mile was defined as one minute of arc along a meridian (north-south line) on a nautical chart. This made chart reading easier and was picked up by aviation as a standard navigation protocol since early overwater aviators would have to use the same charts as used for surface navigation.

That all sounds very interesting, but are we really using the GPS readout to determine our takeoff and landing speeds? No. We are not. Airplanes stay in the air by virtue of the wind moving over the wings. Not enough wind, the wing stalls and it drops like a rock. The question is how do we know how much wind is moving over the wing?

1599px United Airlines Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 800 on final approach at San Francisco
Bill Larkins [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Wind Over the Wings

To determine how much wind is flowing over the wings we use an airspeed indicator which is simply a sensor connected by plastic tubing to those odd shaped pointy things you see attached to the fuselage near the front of any airliner. Those are called pitot tubes. The tip of a pitot tube has a small opening which is connected by tubing to a pressure sensor. A measure of the air pressure from the pitot tube when compared to the ambient pressure is proportional to the speed of the aircraft through the air.

Pitot tubes, in combination with static ports (which measure ambient pressure) and their related indicators, are collectively known as the pitot-static system, and constitute one of the most vital systems on any airplane. This is why you usually see so many pitot tubes on the front of airliners. They provide redundancy.

At this point you may be raising an objection: But isn’t air a compressible fluid, and wouldn’t this compressibility skew the results as, say, temperature changed or other conditions changed? Why yes, yes they would Poindexter. Move to the front row and give yourself a star.

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Notice the pilot tubes on this now retired Boeing 737-500. Photo by Bill Abbott. (Flikr)

ICE-T (Not a drink from Long Island)

Pilots of a certain age will remember the torture inflicted by their instructors by being required to perform the dreaded “ICE-T” problem using the E6B government issue “whizz wheel” circular slide rule. This usually occurred as they were struggling to realize their dream of being a jet pilot while attempting to not throw up in the flying sterno can known as the T-37 in the west Texas summer heat. ICE-T was not an exotic drink from Long Island, but rather an acronym which stood for Indicated Calibrated Equivalent True airspeed. These terms referred to an airspeed conversion from the indicated speed shown on your panel to your actual velocity through the air known as “true” airspeed.

Performing this calculation was a drawn out process using inputs such as your pressure altitude and temperature deviation (from a standard day). It was necessary because your “true” airspeed was used in navigation calculations such as time-distance-fuel determinations.

Today, of course, those calculations are all automated by an onboard computer known as the air data inertial reference unit or ADIRU. This system takes all the pitot static input data and combines it with attitude and position data from the inertial reference units (IRUs) to provide one stop shopping data supply to the pilots’ displays, the autopilot, and even the engines which use the data to optimize things like fuel burn.

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DOD photo/Senior Airman Sheila deVera

Do We Have Enough Gas?

Once you know your “true” airspeed or actual velocity through the air, you need to apply your known wind correction to determine your actual velocity across the ground. This is important, because if the headwind is, say, 30 knots stronger than what you planned for, you might not have enough fuel to reach your destination. This can ruin your day on a long overwater leg.

In years gone by, flight plans would be “winded” with the latest forecast from aviation meteorologists. The plan was only as good as the forecast, and fuel needed to be closely monitored to determine if actual headwinds were greater than forecast. INS (inertial navigation) and GPS systems have greatly increased the accuracy of fuel planning as they give real time wind readouts. You instantly know if your plan was accurate.

Wind correction data input, as you might imagine, is also automated on modern transport aircraft and fed into the aircraft’s flight management system (FMS) through an automatic data upload. This system will give you a helpful INSUFFICIENT FUEL warning if it thinks you’re not going to make it. Usually this warning means that you fat-fingered your flight plan input and told the airplane that you’re going back to your origination as your destination or some similar easily rectified mistake.

In Conclusion

Airspeed is important for reasons beyond satisfying the curiosity of aviation fans. In the immediate short term, it keeps airplanes aloft by informing pilots when they are getting slow, which is an unforgivable sin in aviation. In the long term, knowing ground speed, which is derived from airspeed plus wind inputs, lets pilots know that they will arrive at their destination with enough fuel.

Happy Veterans Day- Thank You Veterans and Families!

Bill Walton
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Happy Veterans Day- Thank You Veterans and Families!

Our Profound Respect and Sincere Thanks Go Out to Every Veteran and Every Vet Family

Happy Veterans Day! From the grunts to the wing wipers, boomers and gas passers, brown shoes and black shoes; wearers of desert boots, jungle boots, LPCs, boondockers, jump boots, flight boots or deck boots; MOPPs, brain buckets, ACHs, MICHs, SPHs, HGUs, berets, boonie hats, pith helmets, leather helmets, dixie cups, 50-mission crush hats, M1 steel pots, flak helmets, or Kevlar PASGTs; scrambled eggs or plain visors on your combination cap; campaign hats or pisscutters; red, purple, yellow, brown, green, blue, or white flight deck jerseys with cranials and goggles (always on of course)- thank you.

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Image via USAF

More Than the Suit

Whether you turned out in OD green, BDUs, ACUs, fatigues, dress blues, pinks, Class As, or whites; tiger-stripe, chocolate chip, woodland, coffee stain, MARPAT, or NWU camo; khakis or cracker jacks; heated suits, space suits, flak suits, poopie suits, or blue suits; khaki, dayglow orange, sage green, or desert tan cotton or Nomex zoombags and speed jeans; were a grunt at the front, tip of the spear, or in the rear with the gear; ground pounders, lifers, or newbies; built, fused, or uploaded JDAMs, MOABs, ASRAAMs, Paveways, GPs, Snakeyes, Rockeyes, Walleyes, SRAMs, or Zunis; with facepaint or flash cream- thank you.

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Image via USN

Alphabet Soup of Thanks

Whether you were gomers or stick shakers, paddle wavers, nose gunners, tail gunners, belly gunners, ball turret gunners, waist gunners, tube slugs, or tanker toads; served in squadrons designated ATU, BTG, BTU, CQTU, GMGRU, H&MS, HC, HM, HMA, HML, HMLA, HMLAT, HMH, HMHT, HMM, HMMT, HMR, HMR(L), HMR(M), HMT, HMX, HS, HSC, HSL, HSM, HT, HTU, HX, IBTU, JYU, MALS, MTACS, RVAH, RVAW, VA, VA(AW), VA(HM), VAH, VAQ, VAW, VC, VCN, VCP, VF, VF(AW), VFA, VFC, VFP, VJ , VMA, VMAQ, VMAQT, VMAT, VMAT(AW), VMB, VMC, VMCJ , VMF, VMFA, VMFA(AW), VMF(AW), VMFAT, VMF(N), VMFP, VMGR, VMIT, VMJ, VMM, VMMT, VMO, VMP, VMR, VMS, VMSB, VMT, VMTB, VMU, VMX, VMU, VP, VP-AM, VP-HL, VP-M, VP-MAU, VP-MS, VPP, VPU, VQ, VR, VRC, VRU, VS, VSF, VSX, VT, VU, VUP, VW, VX, VXE, VXN, ZMQ , FAETU, AETU, MARS, HEDRON, FAWTU, AIRBARSRON, HATU, GMSRON, MALS, AIRFMF, FASRON, or SWU (whew!)- thank you.

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Image via USN

What’s in a Name? Respect and Admiration

Whether you’re a proud member of the Betio Bastards, Old Ironsides, Hell on Wheels, Red Bull, Gunslingers, Diamondbacks, Mad Foxes, Spearhead, Americal, Railsplitters, Dirty Dozen, Blue Foxes, Debden Eagles, Zemke’s Wolfpack, Bloody 100th, Soaring Stallions, Green Bats, Ghostriders, Buzzards, Old Buzzards, Blue Diamonds, Black Sheep, Stingers, Tacos, Green Mountain Boys, Happy Hooligans, Red Tails, Spikes, Black Cats, Vampires, Bomber Barons, Red Devils, Beeliners, Pegasus, Green Mountain Boys, Flying Tigers, Ugly Angels, Death Jesters, Black Knights, Warlords, Zappers, Garudas, Wallbangers, Jolly Rogers, Red Rippers, Swordsmen, Black Aces, Kestrels, Pukin’ Dogs, Arabs, Sundowners, Sunday Punchers, Skinny Dragons, Thunderchickens, Totems, Tomcats, World Watchers, Wizards, Conquistadors, Providers, Warbucks, Sabrehawks, Sea Dragons, Fleet Angels, Dragon Slayers, Grandmasters, or thousands of others- thank you.

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Image via US Navy

Code for Jobs Well Done

To the graduates of Canoe U or the Blue Zoo, Quantico, USMA, or USCGA; AOCS, NACCS, or ENJJPT; who went to boot camp, a recruit depot, or basic training; COs, XOs, JOs, CAGs, butter bars, full bulls, NFOs, GIBs, RIOs, FNGs, PCs, or OODs; wing kings, PJs, dot chasers, BB stackers, EWOs, DSOs, crowd pleasers, or one stripers; served in TFWs, TRSs, BSs, ARWs, AACSs,  ACCSs, TEGs, ARSs, FTWs, RQWs, SRWs, SBWs, SOSs, TAC, SAC, MAC, ACC, AMC, ARRS; were PPCs, FAWs, TACCOs, SENSOs, or R2D2s; were bus drivers, flat hatters, trash haulers, crew chiefs, loadmasters, ravens, snipes, bubbleheads, rotorheads, squids, spooks, sparks, commos, intel pukes, swabbies, Coasties, pingers, ordies, checkers, shooters, tweakers, or nukes (glowing just a little in the dark)- thank you.

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Image via USAF

Doing Their Duty

Whether you ate C rations, K rations, MREs (three lies for the price of one), gray veggies, green eggs, sliders, rollers, SOS, or mystery meat in a chow hall, mess deck, or from a roach coach/gut truck; drank lifer’s juice, bug juice, or “potable” water; climbed mountains, stairs or ladders; slept in a bunk under a ceiling, in a rack stacked four high under a low pipe-festooned overhead in a berthing compartment, under the stars out in the open, or well below zero in a bag; closed doors, hatches, or panels; stormed beaches, assaulted atolls, fought in trenches, slogged the paddies, called in artillery, flew CAS, prayed for CAS, flew CSAR, guarded arsenals, swabbed decks or mopped floors, deployed almost anywhere on earth from the bottom of the deepest ocean to the edge of space and beyond, came home, and deployed again far too soon- thank you.

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Image via USAF

Jobs That Needed Doing on All the Ships at Sea and More

To all of you active duty, reserve, guard, and retired jarheads, dogfaces, tunnel rats, desert rats, G.I.s or leathernecks wearing MOLLE or ALICE; chest plates or shemaghs; working in sick bays or field hospitals; sweating the gas or passing it; 11Bs, 13Ts, 14Zs, 15Rs, 19Ks or 25Ls; 0211s, 0331s, 0317s, 0481s, 0521s, 0681s, 0844s, 0911s, 4212s, 8026s, FiSTers, or 7556s; ABs, AEs, ATs, BMs, CTs, EODs, GMs, NSs or PRs; ‘gators, wizzos, airdales, cones,  jocks, scope dopes or shellbacks; CHENGs, COBs, CWOs PFCs, SWCCs with the SBTs, or just haze-gray-and-underway sailors crewing AKs, AEs, DDs, DEs, DDGs, AGERs, BBs, CAs, CGNs, FFGs, FFs, AOEs, LHDs, LSDs, LCSs, MSOs, SSs, CVEs, CVLs, CVAs, CVNs, PCs, SSNs SSBNs, SSGNs, AGOSs, ATFs, LCACs, APDs, PBRs, RCBs, SOC-Rs, or CCBs- thank you.

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Image via USMC

Fondness for Nicknames- Kind and Unkind

Whether you carried an M-1, M-14, M-16, M-4, MP-5, M249, M-60, or M107; rode to war in an LCVP, MUTT, HMMWV, Willys Jeep, AMTRACK, 6X6, M117, or DUKW; crewed a Grant, Sherman, Chafee, Stuart, Pershing, Patton, Sheridan, Bradley, STRYKER, or Abrams; took to the skies in a Camel, Jenny, Peashooter, SPAD, Jug, Queen, Hosenose, Barge, Forked-Tail Devil, Whale, Scooter, Drumstick, Warthog, Big Mac, Able Dog, Banjo, Stoof With a Roof, Big Stick, Vark, Drut, Rhino, Hog, Turkey, Deuce, Six Shooter, Lawn Dart, Snoopy, Snake, Angel, FRED, Ford, Crowd Killer, Guppy, White Rocket, Loach, Gooney, Bone, Hummer, Hoover, Strato-pig, Bug, Super-Bug, Catfish, Loach, Hook, Jolly Green, Habu, Mohawk, Bronco, Porker, Lead Sled, Cranberry, Edsel, Frog, Phrog, Slick, Hooky-Took, Big Mother, Hog, Scrapper, Ghost, Herk, Hun, Smurf, Tweet, Bronco, Angel, Duckbutt, Superfort, Dumbo, Old Shaky, BUFF, SLUF, Zipper, or a Pig- thank you.

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Image via DOD

Battle-Borne

Whether your battle was Kasserine Pass, Gela, Centuripe, Anzio, Monte Cassino, Overlord, Cobra, Arnhem, Bastogne, Remagen, Bataan, Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, Tassafaronga, Buna, Bougainville, Kolombangara, Bismarck Sea, Tarawa, Eniwetok, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, Matterhorn, Bloody Ridge, Chosin Reservoir, Pork Chop Hill, Inchon, Old Baldy, the Pusan Perimeter, Hamburger Hill, Ia Drang, Khe Sanh, Dong Ha, Arc Light, Linebacker, Dak To, Flaming Dart, Market Time, Tet, Bolo, DeSoto, Iron Hand, Kham Duc, Steel Tiger, Cambodia, Laos, Nickel Grass, Frequent Wind, Lebanon, the Dominican, Gulf of Sidra, Grenada, Just Cause, Earnest Will, Praying Mantis, Eagle Claw, El Dorado Canyon, Khafji, 73 Easting, Mogadishu, Rhino, Kabul, Tora Bora, Al Faw, Kandahar, Karbala, Basra, Deny Flight, Desert Strike, Desert Fox, New Dawn, Allied Force, Fallujah, Mountain Thrust, Medusa, Kamdesh, any of thousands of other clashes, or any period of the Cold War, and indeed any battle or war, anywhere- thank you for running toward the gunfire. Or for doing what it took to prevent it.

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Image by Joe Rosenthal via US National Archives

They Also Served. And Well

Man or woman, dead of night to death by noon; if you were Delta, Ranger, SEAL, Force Recon, Night Stalker, DEVGRU or AFSOW; snake eaters, frogs, operators, weekend warriors, brown hats, crunchies, MPs, SPs, or hurricane hunters; docs, jaw breakers, techies, nurses, weather guessers, medics, tops, gunnies or chiefs; whether your slogan was IYAOYAS or YARFO or FM- from someone who was one once upon a time to all the rest- past, present, and future- thank you and your families for your sacrifice, service, and devotion to these United States of America.

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Image via USN

Blue Angels Homecoming Airshow Connects the Past, Inspires the Future

Charles Atkeison
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Blue Angels Homecoming Airshow Connects the Past, Inspires the Future

PENSACOLA, Fla. — The cradle of naval aviation will host the final air show of the year for the Blue Angels this week as they perform their popular demonstrations above the airfield at the Naval Air Station Pensacola.

The Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron known as the Blue Angels will perform on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The team’s high-gloss blue and gold jets will perform nearly 31 high precision maneuvers to demonstrate the handling characteristics of the F/A-18 Hornet.

The Blue Angels Diamond Team includes “Boss” and newly promoted Captain Eric “Popeye” Doyle in Angel 1, LCDR Damon Kroes, Maj. Jeff Mullins, LCDR Nate Scott. The two solo pilots, LCDR Tyler Davies and LCDR Brandon Hempler, will push the envelope of their Hornets as they perform high speed passes near the speed of sound.

For a few of the pilots, this weekend will mark their final performances as the Blue Angels conclude their 72nd anniversary season. Kroes, Scott, and Davies will return to fleet in a few weeks as new faces join the Blues.

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NAS Pensacola will host the Blue Angels Homecoming Airshow November 3 and 4. (Charles Atkeison)

Former Blue Angels lead solo pilot John “Gucci” Foley summed up on Wednesday what the annual Homecoming air show means to him. Foley, who served with the Navy’s elite flight demonstration squadron between 1989 and 1991, feels this air show above any other is a very special one.

“It is a deep sense of purpose with a connection to something larger than self,” Gucci explained. “Homecoming is about connection, inspiration, and gratefulness; and to honor the current team and their families.”

Foley, who travels as a popular motivational and keynote speaker for corporate and private leadership, takes pride in watching his former squadron perform. Watching their practice this week, his face grinned often and he pointed skyward occasionally with insider comments as their six jets prepared for the special weekend.

“I encourage and draw joy from the newbies,” Foley added as he referenced the new Blue Angels pilots and team members. “I reconnect with past teammates — tradition never retires. This is why I’m glad to be here!”

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Former Blue Angels pilot John Foley meets with current pilot Nate Scott on Wednesday. (Blue Angels)

The former pilot also reconnected with current slot pilot Nate ‘Utah’ Scott on Wednesday at their home base. Nearly three decades ago, LCDR Foley met with a then five-year-old Nate during the San Francisco air show which launched a dream for the youngster.

“In 1990, I was (Blue Angel) #7 and took this picture on the pier at San Francisco,” Foley described as the two shared memories of that special day, including a framed photograph. “I flew out to help celebrate that moment this week with his family.”

John Foley’s patriotism and belief in inspiring children and adults to reach for higher goals in life can also be seen within the Blue Angels. Reflecting on the special photograph featuring Scott and himself, Foley turned with a smile to say, “This continues today as Nate and the team inspire the next generation. The Blues do this everyday to thousands of people.”

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

BREAKING: Lion Air Boeing 737-MAX8 Crashes On Departure

Avgeekery
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BREAKING: Lion Air Boeing 737-MAX8 Crashes On Departure

A Boeing 737-MAX 8 operated by Lion Air has crashed. Flight JT 610 took off at 7:20am local time from Jakarta.  It was scheduled to arrive in Pangkal Pinang just an hour and twenty minutes later.

The aircraft lost contact with controllers just 13 minutes after departure. FlightRadar shows that the aircraft last reported its position over the Java Sea, about 40 miles from the coast of Java. While ADSB data on the web can sometimes prove inaccurate, the flight speed and altitude profile looked slight unusual. The 737 flew much of its departure at over 300 knots and only reached a max of 5,400 feet MSL.  On initial departure, the aircraft climbed to 2,000 feet, then descended back down to 1,400 feet before beginning a shallow climb at over 300 knots. The final ADSB return from FlightRadar24 shows a steep drop in altitude before the aircraft ceased reporting. There were 178 passengers onboard the aircraft.

CNN is quoting the Indonesian Transport Minister who said that they pilots requested a return to base shortly after departure.

There is no word on the condition of those aboard yet but video posted by Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, Head of BNPB Information and Public Relations Center, shows that the likelihood of survival from the debris profile is slim. Additional photos show personal effects recovered from the Java Sea.

Indonesian-based Lion Air has had a troubled safety record and was even banned from the EU for a while due to significant safety concerns. In addition to a number of incidents, this would be their 5th major accident in less than 19 years of operations.  This particular 737-8MAX was only two months old.

This is also the first major accident of a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.  Boeing’s latest 737 MAX family offers more efficient LEAP-1B engines, along with upgraded winglets, minor aerodynamic improvements, and a fly-by-wire spoiler system.  The first 737 MAX 8 aircraft was delivered in 2016.

This is breaking news.  We’ll post updates in the story as we receive them.

This Probably Is The Most Realistic A-10 Model Ever Built

Avgeekery
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This Probably Is The Most Realistic A-10 Model Ever Built

We love the creativity of airplane modelers. They are able to shrink the thrill of aviation and put it into smaller scale for everyone to enjoy. We’ve seen Boeing 747s that are so large, we’re pretty sure that you could fly a real human inside. But this A-10 model stands above the rest.

It was recently flown by Kurt Tötsch who flew it at the Barone Rosso Airshow 2018. The ultra-realistic model features nearly exact maintenance panels and even has a frightenly accurate 30mm gun. The model jets flying characteristics are pretty realistic too. Check out the scene where it rolls into a strafing run followed by an egress with a barrel roll. It looks scary enough to frighten the Taliban!

The model is built by Mibo. (http://www.mibojets.com/product/a10-1/) If you are interested in purchasing one of your own, be sure to set aside plenty of cash. This model isn’t cheap. A kit will set you back almost four thousand Euro. That’s about $5,200 just for the kit. Engines and accessories will cost you even more.

Check out this video posted by RCScaleAirplanes below.

2018 Culpeper Air Fest- A Review Of the “Best Little Air Show in the East”

Randy Jennings
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2018 Culpeper Air Fest- A Review Of the “Best Little Air Show in the East”

This year’s Culpeper Air Fest started with a fall chill in the air and overcast skies. Fortunately the clouds began to break up, in time for the start of the show.

Flying activities kicked off with an impressive display of remote control aircraft. These handmade planes are fun to watch, especially the flying lawnmower. Only in America can you see a “lawn mower”. Aerial performers, from the nearby Flying Circus Airshow, started the piloted show with a patriotic parachute jump to start the day’s fun. The Airshow also brought their wing walking talents to the show.

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Former Astronaut Joe Edwards beat up the field in his North American T-28 Trojan, showing what this old bird still had some serious capability in it.

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Art Nalls flew solo demonstrations in both the L-39 Albatros as well as his own FRS2 Sea Harrier. As the only privately owned Sea Harrier in the world, this aircraft, XZ439, is a rare bird indeed. Later on, the Warrior Flight team flew a stunning two ship performance featuring L-39s.

AV4 1The Air Fest also conducts science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities for area students, to encourage the children’s interest in these fields. Culpeper fifth graders were treated to hands on STEM exhibits as a field trip days before the show.

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The twelve ship Potomac Flight, conducted a large formation flyover with nine North American T-6 Texans, two Douglas C-47s, and a Beechcraft C-45. The previous day, the Potomac Flight took part in a rare overflight of the Pentagon and Arlington Cemetery to honor disabled American veterans.

Manfred Radius flew his acrobatically rated Salto II sailplane, in an elegant demonstration of both his talent and the aircraft’s capability.

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The Military Aviation Museum flew up a Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane, to take part in a heritage flight with the Sea Harrier. Sadly this flight was canceled due to unfavorable winds, though the beautiful warbirds taxied out on the field for the crowd to admire.

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Tragically the show had a fatal crash, the night before when aerobatic pilot Jon Thocker was killed. Preforming a special night routine for show sponsors, Thocker was a member of the two man team from Redline Airshows. Both the NTSB and FAA were on the scene to investigate, though the cause has not been officially determined. After conferring with state and federal officials, the Air Fest organizers fittingly went on with the show Saturday morning.

The Culpeper Air Fest bills itself as, “Best Little Air Show in the East”, and this simply does not do the show justice. The show continues to improve, be it the: growing STEM educational training, increased number of performers, professionalism of the organizers, and overall showmanship. It will be a joy to experience the Culpeper Air Fest in the years to come.

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Britain’s RAF Red Arrows to Tour North American Airshows in 2019

Charles Atkeison
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Britain’s RAF Red Arrows to Tour North American Airshows in 2019

Britain’s Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team announced today they will perform at air show sites across the United States and Canada during a nine-week visit in the summer of 2019.

Nicknamed the Red Arrows, their nine BAE Systems’ Hawk T1 Mk1 jets will demonstrate above the Americas this August and September. Around ten air show locations and fly-bys will be announced in a few months as the host locations.

The tour, code named Western Hawk 19, will also see the Red Arrows fly with military and civilian aerobatic teams, including the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the Canadian Snowbirds. The squadron is popular for their Diamond Nine shape formation and close formation maneuvers.

The Red Arrows 55th anniversary season will begin in May with show dates in the United Kingdom. The team will spend about ten days preparing themselves and the jets for their trip across the Atlantic in July.

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The RAF Red Arrows and USAF Thunderbirds performed together over the U.K. in July 2017. (RAF)

The Red Arrows’ 2019 season begins with their 4,961st display in the team’s history which dates back to 1965. Their 5,000th event may take place in August during their North America tour.

“The Red Arrows’ pilots, engineers, and support staff have been delighted to support numerous events promoting science, technology, engineering, and maths – helping to inspire the next generation of RAF personnel,” Wing Commander Andrew Keith said this week. “We look forward to building on the success of 2018, flying the flag, and promoting the UK in 2019.”

The squadron concluded their 2018 season on October 12, having visited 60 show sites across the U.K. and Europe. The team also spent this past summer celebrating the Royal Air Force’s 100 anniversary year.

“After an incredible year celebrating RAF100, it seems only fitting that the Red Arrows prepare to illuminate the skies of our closest allies in 2019, celebrating and strengthening our incredible relationship with the U.S.,” Britain’s Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said on Sunday.

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The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team Red Arrows’ Hawk T1 jets perform inverted in 2018. (RAF)

Winter training for the Red Arrows’ 2019 season officially begin this week following a two-week break for its pilots to allow the maintenance crews time to prepare the jets. The team will also welcome a few new pilots to the team for next year.

“The first half of the Red Arrows’ display consists of synchronized, formation aerobatics, followed by a more dynamic second half,” Keith said. “Red (Arrows) 1 to 5 form the front section of the team’s formation, known as Enid, and Reds 6 to 9 make up the rear part called Gypo.”

He added, “The Synchro Pair, Reds 6 and 7, perform the highly-popular opposition maneuvers during this latter section of the show. During a display, Red 10 acts as the team’s supervisor who maintains two-way radio contact with the team leader (and) provides the commentary.”

The squadron is based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire in central England.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

Air Force Investigation Details Fatal Thunderbirds Jet Crash

Charles Atkeison
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Air Force Investigation Details Fatal Thunderbirds Jet Crash

The U.S. Air Force on Tuesday released their investigative report into the fatal crash of a Thunderbirds pilot last April detailing the cause and events surrounding the accident.

Thunderbirds slot pilot Major Stephen Del Bagno, 34, died during a training flight maneuver over the Nevada desert as the squadron prepared for their next air show. After experiencing a negative 2-G (gravity) maneuver followed quickly by a positive nearly 9-G maneuver, Maj. Del Bagno past out only to regain consciousness too late to avoid the crash.

The USAF Aircraft Investigation Board, led by Brig. General Case A. Cunningham, states in their report that Maj. Del Bagno was not at fault for the crash. Gen. Cunningham’s final words confirmed the pilot simply could not transition his body during this push-pull effect from a “diminished tolerance to positive G’s induced by the physiology of exposure to negative G’s”.

The squadron of six F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft were in the midst of practicing one more day over the desert floor located just north of their Las Vegas home at Nellis Air Force Base. The Thunderbirds were scheduled to depart Nellis the next day for their next air show site at March Air Force Base in California.

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Thunderbirds diamond days prior to the April crash with Maj. Stephen Del Bagno third from top. (USAF)

Under good weather conditions, the aircraft performed the High Bomb Burst Cross maneuver — a favorite with air show crowds. As the aircraft fly in different directions afterwards, the jets then began their return to formation known as the High Bomb Burst Rejoin.

It was at this moment that Thunderbird 4 pilot Major Del Bagno experienced the negative 2-G force to an extremely high 8.5 G’s. He blacked out for several seconds before regaining consciousness a split second prior to the crash. He never attempted to eject.

At impact, his airspeed was recorded at 419 knots with his F-16C at an attitude of “57 degrees nose low with 89 degrees of left bank”. The forces on the aircraft were recorded at 4.5G’s.

“As (Maj. Del Bagno) initiated the Split-S at 1028:59 (a.m. local time), (he) selected idle power on the engine throttle and pulled back on the control stick to drop the nose of (Thunderbird 4) toward Thunderbird 1 to affect the rejoin. This operation took the Thunderbird 4 from -2.06 G’s in inverted flight to a maximum of +8.56 G’s at 1029:03 a.m.,” the official investigative report outlined.

“Approximately one second later at 1029:04 a.m., the pilot experienced a G-LOC and stopped providing deliberate flight control inputs with the aircraft at 68 degrees nose low. The pilot began a period of absolute incapacitation with the aircraft accelerating through 356 knots calibrated airspeed and rapidly descending through 6,556 feet mean sea level.”

“For approximately the next five seconds, the pilot remained in a state of absolute incapacitation and made no deliberate flight control inputs with the aircraft accelerating through 415 knots at 60 degrees nose low and 406 feet. At 1029:09 a.m., the pilot began deliberate flight control inputs as he transitioned from absolute to relative incapacitation. The aircraft impacted the ground at 1029:10 a.m. fatally injuring the pilot.”

Seconds later, the Range Safety Officer and the Thunderbird 6 opposing solo pilot Maj. Matt Kimmel radioed, “Knock it off!”. Thunderbird 5 lead solo pilot Maj. Whit Collins then climbed high over the crash site to look for a parachute.

One minute following the crash, Thunderbird leader Lt. Col. Kevin Walsh ordered the two solos to retun home to Nellis as they reported they were low on fuel. He then told Thunderbird 2 and 4 to return to Nellis. Lt. Col. Walsh remained above the crash site as emergency vehicles arived minutes later.

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The Thunderbirds perform the High Bomb Burst over Cleveland, Ohio last season. (USAF)

During the last 90 days with the Thunderbirds, the report states that Maj. Del Bagno piloted the F-16C a combined 79 times and logged 92.9 hours. Del Bagno joined the Thunderbirds five months earlier.

The report adds weather was not a factor in the accident with calm winds, a 10 mile visibility, and “a few clouds at 14,000 feet (and) a broken ceiling at 19,000 feet”.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

F-22 Raptor and Warthog, Aerobatic Pilots Ready for Wings Over North Georgia

Charles Atkeison
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F-22 Raptor and Warthog, Aerobatic Pilots Ready for Wings Over North Georgia

ROME, Ga. — The Air Force F-22 Raptor and A-10C Warthog will join with several of the nation’s top aerobatic pilots this weekend as they perform under the blue skies of the Wings Over North Georgia air show.

The two military jets will come together to perform the crowd favorite Heritage Flight each afternoon. The rare sight of the F-22 and the A-10 will fly in formation joined with a P-51 Mustang to represent the Air Force’s 75-year-old legacy.

“We will fly our A-10 demonstration and it will be followed by the Raptor demonstration, and then we will have the Heritage Flight,” Air Force SSgt Horace said on Friday. “It’s gonna be an exciting show and we are happy to be here in north Georgia.”

F-22 pilot Major Paul “Loco” Lopez and A-10 pilot Capt Cody “ShIV” Wilton will each demonstrate the handling of these aircraft both low and high over the Richard Russell Regional Airport. Great weather is forecast for a high show each day.

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Six warbirds will recreate the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor during Tora! Tora! Tora! (Atkeison)

New to the Rome air show will be Tora! Tora! Tora!, a flight team made up of six aircraft which will recreate with pyrotechnics and strong narration the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The chilling performance will feel very real as the aircraft storm across the airfield, smoke-on during moments of the 15 minute performance, firey explosions across the airfield, placing guests in Hawaii in December 1941.

Aerobatic pilot Patty Wagstaff will perform aboard her blue Extra 330SC aircraft during the Rome air show. She discussed with AvGeekery about the handling of her latest aircraft.

“It’s kind of a monster – its called a beast,” Wagstaff said on Friday. “It’s got alot of power and it just wants to go up. The hardest thing in this airplane is pulling the power back and slowing it down sometimes. It’s amazing.”

Patty will perform a 13-minute flight demonstration each day over the Rome air show. “I like to do barnstormer type aerobatics as I like to keep it low and close to the ground,” the three-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion added. “I feel if you keep it moving, keep it in front of the crowd, keep the smoke on, you keep the attention.”

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USSOCOM Para-Cammandos will deliver the U.S. flag and honor our P.O.W.’s over Rome. (Atkeison)

Tickets for the Wings Over North Georgia remain available online and at the gate. Gates open at 9 a.m. and the flying will begin at noon.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

 

Atlanta Airshow to Host Military and Civilian Aerobatic Performers

Charles Atkeison
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Atlanta Airshow to Host Military and Civilian Aerobatic Performers

HAMPTON, Ga. — The only air show to be staged from a sports stadium will make its return next weekend as popular military and civilian aircraft perform over and inside the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The second annual Atlanta Airshow will feature top jets from the U.S. Air Force, and include several of the nation’s civilian aerobatic pilots performing above the world’s only Aerial Stadium. The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and Fairchild Republic A-10C Warthog will headline the two-day show on October 13 and 14. Gates will open at 10 a.m. and the first flights will begin at noon.

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The A-10C Thunderbolt II, aka the Warthog, will perform at the Atlanta Airshow. (Charles Atkeison)

“We’re looking forward to featuring the F-22 Raptor at the Atlanta Air Show at Atlanta Motor Speedway,” Chris Dirato, Director of Public Relations, said on Wednesday. “The Raptor’s performance defies imagination as it does back flips and stands motionless in mid-air.”

Piloted by Major Paul “Loco” Lopez, the F-22 Raptor is the only operational fifth-generation fighter aircraft. The popular 21st century stealth jet will demonstrate many of its thunderous maneuvers at low altitude.

“We can’t wait for Major Lopez to showcase the full capabilities of the Raptor,” said Dirato. “Fans will clearly see how it can’t be matched by any known or projected fighter aircraft.”

Comedic aerobatic stunt pilot Kent Pietsch is returning for the second year of the Atlanta Airshow. Last September Kent made airshow history as he performed a rare landing inside a stadium during an air show. He hopes to do it again on the short runway of the racetrack.

Kent will attempt to perform a touch-and-go maneuver a top a speeding RV inside the stadium. He will then hold his position for only a few seconds before taking off before the RV makes its own turn at the end of the raceway. Kent will have only seconds to execute the maneuver.

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Kent Pietsch will try to land his aircraft a top an RV inside Atlanta Motor Speedway. (Charles Atkeison)

Outside the stadium several historic and commercial aircraft will sit on static display for guests to observe. Special military and aviation-themed events are also scheduled during the air show.

Tickets remain available online and will also be sold at the gate each day. The Atlanta Motor Speedway is located 29 miles south of Downtown Atlanta. Follow I-75 south to the Tara Blvd. exit and travel south to Speedway Blvd.

Air show officials state that unlike NASCAR races which are held at the stadium, there will be no tailgating or loitering allowed in the parking lot during both days. The aircraft aerobatic box is one reason for the rule which will be enforced.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

 

Watch See and Hear What It’s Like to Fly a Spitfire Warbird

Bill Walton
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Watch See and Hear What It’s Like to Fly a Spitfire Warbird

It’s no secret we love EAA AirVenture. So much to do and see and hear! The recording of incredible video footage and eye-watering pictures happens all day long, but sometimes something rare occurs. This year the Royal Air Force (RAF) celebrated its 100th anniversary. At many airshows, all around the world, warbird tribute flights were conducted to highlight the RAF’s birthday. EAA AirVenture 2018 was no exception. We’re fortunate to be able to bring you this awesome helmet-cam video of the Vintage Wings of Canada’s Spitfire Mk IXe flying one memorable RAF tribute flight. The video was uploaded to YouTube by our good friends at AirshowStuffVideos.

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Like so many warbirds the Spitfire flown in the video has a bit of backstory. She is a Spit Mk IXe serial number TE294, and was built by Vickers Armstrong at Castle Bromwich for the RAF. After TE294 was completed on 9 June 1945 she saw service with the RAF’s 39 Maintenance Unit at RAF Colerne located in far western Wiltshire in the south of England. TE294 was powered by a Merlin 70-series engine optimized for high-altitude performance with a two-speed, two-stage supercharger and a Bendix-Stromberg carburetor.

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Spitfire IXe TE294 wearing the markings of Spitfire IX MK304. By J. S. Bond [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
The Spitfire TE294 is painted to represent was also built by Vickers Armstrong at Castle Bromwich. MK304 briefly saw service with 310 Squadron (Czech) before being transferred to 442 Squadron RCAF. The aircraft was flown several times by Flight Lieutenant Arnold Roseland. MK304 was powered by a Merlin 66- the most powerful Merlin engine installed in Spitfires, producing 1,720 horsepower. Roseland flew some 65 combat sorties with 442 Squadron, including a memorable scrap over the Normandy beaches during which “Rosy” Roseland bagged a pair of Focke-Wulf Fw-190 Würger (Shrike) fighters.

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Spitfire Mk IXe. Image via RCAF 19 Squadron

Unfortunately only about a month after his engagement over Normandy Roseland lost his life in combat against the Luftwaffe. MK304 was damaged, repaired, and damaged again before the end of September 1944 and soon thereafter retired from RCAF service. TE294 served with 122 Squadron RAF before she too was damaged and sold off to the South African Air Force (SAAF) where she was damaged again and was subsequently stored for decades. In 1999 TE294 was acquired by the Comox Air Force Museum for restoration. In 2013 Vintage Wings of Canada took over the project to restore Spitfire IXe TE294.

BONUS: Here’s a look at what we think may be the same RAF Tribute Flight from the ground. This was also uploaded to YouTube by AirshowStuffVideos. Turn those speakers up (and ignore that pesky PA guy!).

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Champion Aerobatic Pilots to Perform at Wings Over North Georgia

Charles Atkeison
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Champion Aerobatic Pilots to Perform at Wings Over North Georgia

ROME, Ga. — World and national aerobatic champion pilots will take to the autumn skies in October demonstrating high performance maneuvers and a dizzying array of 360-degree turns during the Wings Over North Georgia air show.

Top civilian pilots are poised to join the pilots of popular military aircraft, including the F-22 Raptor and A-10C Thunderbolt II, at Rome’s Richard Russell Airport on October 13 and 14. The family-fun show will combine aviation, popular music, and great food into a full weekend.

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Aerobatic champion Patty Wagstaff will return to Wings Over North Georgia VII. (Charles Atkeison)

The first lady of aerobatics Patty Wagstaff will return to the north Georgia show as she performs twist-and-turn maneuvers and low-level high speed flying. Piloting her German-built EXTRA 300XL monoplane, the U.S. National Aerobatic Champion will demonstrate rolls while climbing straight up as she pushes her aircraft to the limits each day.

“Every low-level performance and every maneuver is styled and executed to demonstrate the precision, artistry, and heart-stopping excitement of a perfectly executed aerobatic maneuver,” Wagstaff said recently during a plane-side visit.

In the year following her win as the International Aerobatic Champion of 1993, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum placed her Extra 260 airplane on display next to that of Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Vega. Her aircraft remains there to this day.

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Red Bull Air Race pilot Michael Goulian has performed in Austria, Hungary, Russia, France, Japan, and the United States during 2018. When he is not performing during the popular Red Bull Air Races he is piloting his EXTRA 330SC during air shows including EAA Oshkosh and Rome.

Michael has a busy October lined up as he resumes Red Bull in Indianapolis on October 6 and 7, followed by the Rome air show, and the NAS Jacksonville air show on October 27 and 28.

“I would have to say there’s no such thing as a break for our team ever, so we did what we always do, which is work and fly airplanes,” Mike said while in Kazan, Russia in August. “But that’s what we love.”

Veteran aerobatic performer Buck Roetman will soar over the Russell Airfield performing unique maneuvers as he pilots his modified Pitts S2S. Past air show guests know of his popular yellow bi-plane as it pirouettes — smoke-on — in the openness of the blue sky.

One of Roetman’s favorite stunts is the Ribbon Cut. Soaring at over 200 m.p.h. and 18 feet above the deck, his Pitts aircraft will slice a thin ribbon stretched across the width of the runway. Buck insists that this is no easy feat.

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“Each year, we carefully assemble a lineup of acts that perform the top demonstrations in the industry, but also want to show a lot of diversity in the type of flights and aircraft that participate,” said John Cowman, president of JLC Air Show Management who is bringing the Rome air show back for a seventh consecutive year. “With Buck, Patty, and Mike, we have three of the absolute and most diverse performers in the industry.”

World Air Race Champion of 2016 and Reno National Air Race pilot Scott Farnsworth will also take to the skies over Rome to demonstrate his own style of aerobatics. Scott will perform in a former Czech Republic trainer, the L-39 Albatros.

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Aerobatic pilot Scott Farnsworth aboard his blue L-39 Albatros aircraft recently. (Dash)

Unlike most aerobatic performers, Scott’s plane is a jet aircraft capable of high gravity-force climbs and high speed passes. His blue L-39 will add a little extra to the show’s performance line up.

“(Scott’s) prowess as a championship racer seamlessly translates into an air show demonstration packed with high speed passes, turns, and aerobatics,” said Brenda Little, spokesperson for the Rome Air Show. “His single-engine aircraft can reach speeds exceeding 550 mph with a rate of climb of 4,130 feet per minute.”

Tickets for the Wings Over North Georgia remain available. VIP ticket packages, airport reserved parking passes, and general admission tickets remain available as of today. Ms. Little notes that select ticket packages tend to sell out in the weeks prior to the show.

(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

Watch Military Jets Making Freedom Noises in Pacific Skies

Bill Walton
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Watch Military Jets Making Freedom Noises in Pacific Skies

This recently shot high-definition footage features US military aircraft operating from Anderson Air Force Base (AFB) on Guam in the Marianas during Valiant Shield joint training exercises. The footage is mostly takeoffs and departures, but it’s the variety of aircraft seen in the clip that makes it so awesome. The video was uploaded to YouTube by Ultimate Military Channel. The routine and the rare cataloged below the clip.

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The video starts off with a section of Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning IIs from VMFA-121 Green Knights departing. Then a Boeing E-3 AWACS from the 552nd Air Control Wing (ACW) at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma gets moving. Next up a pair of Boeing P-8A Poseidons from VP-5 Mad Foxes depart. A US Marine Corps Lockheed KC-130J Hercules tanker splits next. Boeing B-52H Stratofortress serial 60-0021 nicknamed Black Jack and assigned to the 96th Bomb Squadron (BS) Devil’s Own at Barksdale AFB is next to head out with Mark 62 Quickstrike mines on its racks.

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VP-5 P-8A Poseidon. Image via US Navy

A Boeing (Northrop Grumman) E-8C JSTARS from the 461st ACW in Georgia gets going next. Then another Poseidon, this one from VP-30 Pro’s Nest (all the way from Jax) takes to the skies. Now it’s time to turn those speakers way up, because the footage of the next several departures was shot from the rear quarter- meaning thunder! Carrier Air Wing FIVE (CVW-5) Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornets from VFA-195 Dambusters and VFA-115 Eagles, F/A-18F Super Hornets from VFA-102 Diamondbacks, and EA-18G Growlers from VAQ-141 Shadowhawks all make some sweet freedom noises.

A U.S. Navy F A 18E Super Hornet aircraft assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron VFA 102 right and an EA 18G Growler assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ 141 demonstrate an a
VF-102 F/A-18F refuels VAQ-141 EA-18G. Image via US Navy

Oddity warning: The next departure is an Omega Tanker Boeing 707-368C (registered as N707MQ) contract aerial tanker. Then a Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker from the 909th ARS fitted with a drogue on its boom takes off. Finally we see some camera-shy McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagles from the 18th Wing at Kadena depart. Look closely and you’ll observe some interesting aircraft on the ground in the background as well. Lockheed EP-3E Aries II electronic reconnaissance Orions from VQ-2 World Watchers, various KC-135Rs and KC-10A Extenders, and B-1B Lancers from Dyess AFB are all on the vast Andersen AFB ramps. Did you spot the Hawker Hunter Mk. 58 contract adversary jet or the one and only Japanese Kawasaki UP-3C Orion on the entire planet there too?

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EP-3E Aries. Image via US Navy

The second video from this exercise features some of the same footage pre-flight but adds BB stackers loading those Mark 62s up and later the release and detonation of the B-52H’s payload as observed from a VP-5 Poseidon. Enjoy!

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BREAKING: USAF T-6A Trainer Down in San Antonio- Crew Safe

Bill Walton
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BREAKING: USAF T-6A Trainer Down in San Antonio- Crew Safe

On Tuesday 18 September at approximately 1600 local time a United States Air Force Beechcraft T-6A Texan II turbine-powered trainer crashed in a field in the vicinity of Rolling Oaks Mall near Nacogdoches Road just outside Loop 1604 in the northeastern San Antonio, Texas, area. The crew of two aboard the trainer successfully ejected from their stricken T-6A and suffered only minor injuries. After being taken to the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph (JBSA) Medical Clinic for evaluation the two were released. Their names have not yet been released to the public.

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T-6A Texan IIs. Image via USAF

The trainer, belonging to the 12th Flying Training Wing (TTW) and based at JBSA, is one of 444 being used for primary pilot training at several Air Force Bases (AFBS) by the USAF and at Naval Air Stations (NASs) by the US Navy, and by the countries of Argentina, Canada, Greece, Iraq, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing subsequently suspended flights of the T-6A. The cause of the crash is not known, but an Air Force investigation team was on the ground along with military and civilian firefighters, said Randy Martin, the wing’s spokesman.

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T-6A Texan II. Image via USAF

There were no civilian casualties, and the extent of damage to property is being evaluated. “We are grateful to the community and the first responders who rushed to help our Airmen at the site of the crash,” said Col. Mark Robinson, 12th Flying Training Wing commander. “While we can’t rule out any specific cause, initial indications do not give us reason to believe that the On Board Oxygen Generation System is a factor in today’s accident. We are pleased to confirm that our pilots were treated and released from our medical facility,” Robinson said. We’ll update this story as events warrant.

Red Tails Legacy Flight Honors Tuskegee Airmen of Yesterday and Today

Charles Atkeison
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Red Tails Legacy Flight Honors Tuskegee Airmen of Yesterday and Today

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The legacy of the Red Tails of the Tuskegee Airmen was honored recently as the warbirds of yesterday and today soared together during a special flight across the blue skies of central Alabama.

Two Red Tailed F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 100th Fighter Squadron near Montgomery took off from Dannelly Airfield to join an F-22 Raptor and a Red Tailed P-51C Mustang for a special tandem flight on September 6. Of historical interest, each aircraft was piloted by American-American.

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The Red Tails Legacy pilots include Maj. Paul Lopez (L), Brad Lang (3rd from L), and Maj. Rich Peace (R). (Charles Atkeison)

The Montgomery air base continues to honor the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen who became the first group of African-American military aviators, maintainers, and navigators who held support jobs at the start of World War II. On the flight line of the 100th FS rests four gray F-16 jets painted with the famous Red Tails on it vertical stabilizer.

“The 100th Fighter Squadron was one of the Tuskegee Airmen squadrons during World War II, a famous all African-American squadron from the 332d Fighter Group, activated on Feb 19, 1942 at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama,” Spokesperson SSgt. Jared Rand explained. “It was returned to duty in 2007 as a replacement of the Alabama Air National Guard’s 160th Fighter Squadron so the state could honor the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.”

Major Paul “Loco” Lopez is the commander and pilot of the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team based at the 301st Fighter Squadron at Langley AFB. Last November, he earned the distinction of becoming the team’s first African-American leader.

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The Red Tails Legacy Flight lead by the P-51C Mustang and included the F-22 Raptor and twin F-16 Fighting Falcons. (Charles Atkeison)

“We all stand on the shoulders of giants,” Maj. Lopez said from Dannelly Field prior to the historic flight. “If you look around on the ramp (here) you see how the military, particularly the Air Force, values preserving our legacy and honoring our heritage by painting Red Tails on to the F-16s of the 100th Fighter Squadron.”

An Army Air Corps program started in 1941, the Tuskegee Airmen was an experiment begun to train African-American men to pilot, navigate, and maintain military aircraft. As war spread across Europe, the Red Tail aircraft was woven into the Allied armies.

Air Force Maj. Rich “Sheriff” Peace of the 100th FS piloted the lead F-16 during the legacy flight that Thursday afternoon. His F-16 served as the lead with a second Fighting Falcon in flight to photograph the historic event.

“The legacy flight was to honor the memory of the Tuskegee Airmen, and to bring visibility and light to the sacrifices they made then, what we’re doing now, and how they paved the way forward to the future,” Maj. Peace said following the flight. “To see what their work and sacrifice led to today was a pretty amazing thing. I was honored and proud to be part of it.”

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The Red Tails Legacy Flight was a popular event at the 187th Fighter Wing, Alabama Air National Guard Base, on September 6, 2018. (Charles Atkeison)

Commemorative Air Force Red Tail Squadron leader Brad Lang is an African-American pilot who preserves the memory of the Tuskegee Airmen. Built in 1944, and served as a trainer during the final months of the second World War, Lang piloting the P-51C Mustang Tuskegee Airmen was the perfect aircraft to represent the fighters of yesteryear.

“The Tuskegee Airmen trained right down the road at Moton Field flying various aircraft back in the day in the 1940s,” Maj. Lopez added as we stood near two gray F-22 Raptors. “For me it’s just very humbling knowing that a lot of people went through great sacrifices that we can all be here and for me to be doing this and share the airplane (F-22) and my team with the community means the world to us.”

Today, Lopez is closing in on the completion of a very busy and successful first air show season with the team. He will continue to command and perform with the demo team during the 2019 season. For Lopez, Lang, and Peace, they are but a few of today’s pilots who carry the torch forward and the legacy of the Red Tails.

(Charles A Atkeison was the only journalist to capture the Red Tails Legacy Flight from the flight line. He reports full time on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

 

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