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Atlanta Airshow to Host Two F-35 Demonstration Teams

Charles Atkeison
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Atlanta Airshow to Host Two F-35 Demonstration Teams

ATLANTA — Both the U.S. Air Force and Navy’s F-35 Lightning II jets are headed to the Peach State in two weeks for a rare opportunity to witness each performing during the Atlanta Airshow.

The two F-35s from separate branches of service are not scheduled to fly together. The Air Force F-35A was made for conventional runway take-off and landings, while the Navy’s F-35C is made to launch and land aboard an aircraft carrier.

Air Force pilot Maj. Kristin “Beo” Wolfe commands the F-35A Demonstration Team based at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. The squadron is excited to begin their long awaited air show season on May 22 and 23 in Peachtree City.

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F-35A Demonstration Team commander and pilot MAJ. KRISTIN “BEO” WOLFE prepares for flight prior to stepping to the jet for a demonstration rehearsal at Hill AFB. on April 28. (USAF/ Capt. Kip. Sumner)

“The Demo Team has been looking forward to the Atlanta Airshow for months, especially considering it’s our first airshow of the season,” Maj. Beo Wolfe told AvGeekery.com from the flight line on Friday. “We didn’t get to perform in Georgia last year, so we’re super excited to be flying for the Atlanta area.”

Maj. Wolfe will pilot the F-35A during a 15-minute flight demonstration above the show crowd. Atlanta is the only scheduled performance site this year in the southeastern United States.

“The F-35A has an advanced flight control system, which allows the pilot to easily command maximum performance from the airplane,” Wolfe added. “During the show you’ll also see a variety of maneuvers in which the jet is displaying the unique capability of 50 degrees angle of attack.”

The F-35As performance highlights only a few of its precision maneuvers. Several other capabilities by the F-35 are classified, including a basic surface attack and dropping weapons.

Wolfe’s performance also includes a formation flight with an Air Force warbird. The Air Force Heritage Flight will see the F-35A fly alongside an P-51D Mustang aircraft.

“We’re extremely excited to be kicking of our 2021 show season at the Atlanta Air Show,” F-35A demonstration spokesperson Capt. Kip Sumner added. “We recommend checking us out and tagging us on social media @F35DemoTeam or #F35DemoTeam. And, if you see any of us at the show, feel free to come over and say hi.”

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

GEICO Skytypers Discuss Maintaining their WW II Aircraft

Charles Atkeison
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GEICO Skytypers Discuss Maintaining their WW II Aircraft

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team has begun their new season primed with a historic flight demonstration display loaded with aerial maneuvers flown during the second world war.

The GEICO Skytypers showcase low level maneuvers and create huge sky typed messages over the air show. The civilian squadron’s history dates back to the 1970s, and 15 years as the GEICO Skytypers.

Their flight demonstration at air shows highlights their Navy SNJ-2 aircraft as the pilots tell the story of an age before the jet engine. A flight trainer in the early-1940’s, the SNJ was known among the U.S. Army’s aviators as the pilot maker.

“There’s not a point in time when I get into this airplane that I’m not fully aware I’m flying a piece of history,” GEICO Skytypers right wing pilot Chris “CT” Thomas told AvGeekery.com during an exclusive interview on Monday. “It’s a 1941 SNJ-2 so it’s an ex-Navy airplane.”

GEICO Skytyper Pilot, Maintainer Focused on the Squadron

The Skytypers have become an air show favorite as they showcase the aerial assault of a World War II dogfight. As the warbirds soar across the sky, they also generate massive sky typed messages for the air show crowds.

“These machines are amazing, if you look at the engines with the case off, they look like a swiss clock,” GEICO Skytypers Director of Maintenance Frank Atria said. “Here it is 80-years later and they’re still airworthy, they’re still doing their job, and they make for great performances.”

The squadron includes lead pilot Larry Arken in the Skytyper one aircraft. Arken and pilots Chris Thomas, Mark Gannucci, and Chris Orr are the diamond formation. Steven Salmirs and Tom Daly perform as the more aggressive solo pilots who challenge the diamond during several maneuvers.

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GEICO Skytypers lead maintainer Frank Atria inspects the engine of a Navy SNJ-2. (Charles A Atkeison)

GEICO Skytypers back-up pilot Jim Record provides a stirring narration during each maneuver. Timed to patriotic music selections, their display is an exciting moment of living history.

The living history of these historic warbirds continue to ‘wow’ audiences at air show sites. The squadron is scheduled to perform at 12 show sites across the eastern United States in 2021. 

GEICO Skytypers 2021 Air Show Schedule
Apr 17-18…… Cocoa Beach Air Show, Fla.
May 8-9………. Ford Lauderdale Air Show, Fort Lauderdale, Fla
May 29-30….. Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park, NY
Jun 19-20……. Ocean City Air Show, Ocean City, MD
Jul 3-4………….. Kansas City Air Show, Kansas
Jul 17-18……… Greater Binghamton Air Show, New York
Jul 26-Aug 1… EAA Air Venture Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI
Aug 18………….. Atlantic City Airshow, Atlantic City, NJ
Aug 28-29……. New York Air Show, New Windsor, NY
Sep 18-19…….. NAS Oceana Air Show, NAS Oceana, VA
Oct 16-17…….. Lockheed Martin Air and Space Show, Sanford, FL
Nov 6-7………… Warbirds over Monroe Air Show, Monroe, NC

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

Navy’s Blue Angels, F-35C Demo Arrive for South Texas Airshow

Charles Atkeison
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Navy’s Blue Angels, F-35C Demo Arrive for South Texas Airshow

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and F-35C Demonstration Team arrived in the Lone Star state Thursday for their performances this weekend at the Wings over South Texas Airshow.

The six blue and gold Super Hornet jets of the Blue Angels arrived Thursday morning into Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. Two Navy F-35C Lightning IIs also touched down and are scheduled to perform on Saturday and Sunday.

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A NAVY F-35C LIGHTNING II WILL PERFORM high speed precision flight OVER THE BAYFRONT May 1-2. (US NAVY)

Unlike past years, the air base is not hosting the air show and instead going with the openness of a beach show. Air show center is located between Spoil Island and North Shoreline Blvd. overlooking Corpus Christie Bay.

“Although NAS CC will only be in a supporting role, the new format will allow greater public access for members of our South Texas community and the visitors that the show will attract,” NAS CC commander Capt. Chris Jason said. “This new show format also underscores the strength of the relationship between the military and the local community.”

Blue Angels to Showcase Faster Super Hornets

This year marks the Blue Angels 75th anniversary season and their first with the faster Super Hornet jets. The squadron said they are “excited to be on the road” to display their new aircraft.

“We will be traveling with a 100% fully immunized personnel on our team in order for the safest outcome for our community and personnel,” Blue Angels flight surgeon Lt. Monica Borza explained to AvGeekery.com. “We do have certain measures in place off-duty and we will be abiding by CDC and DOD guidelines.”

Air shows are a favorite past time for Lt. Borza, who grew up attending shows in Virginia Beach. Her father’s military life inspired her to join the U.S. Navy and become a fully licensed physician.

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Blue Angels first year Doc, Lt. Monica Borza, grew up attending summer air shows. (Charles A Atkeison)

“I grew up going to the air show every summer,” Borza said from the flight line. “My father is a former naval flight officer, so I grew up inundated amongst the aviation community and I am honored and proud to be here to represent the fleet.”

The Blue Angels new C-130J Super Hercules known as Fat Albert also arrived into south Texas. The hulking aircraft delivered equipment and key personnel needed to keep the jets flying.

Tickets remain available for VIP sections at air show center. The flying will begin at 1 p.m. CDT, with the Blue Angels performing the final demonstration beginning at 3:05 p.m.

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

WATCH: Former F-14 Tomcat RIO Analyzes TOP GUN

Bill Walton
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WATCH: Former F-14 Tomcat RIO Analyzes TOP GUN

Ward Carroll Knows Tomcats and He Shares His Insight With TOP GUN Movie Fans

Ward Carroll is a former Fighter Squadron THREE TWO (VF-32) Swordsmen F-14 Tomcat RIO and author of the well-received Punk series of novels (Punk’s War, Punk’s Wing, Punk’s Fight) along with two other books. Over his career Carroll flew with three more Tomcat squadrons and served as the Carrier Air Wing ONE (CVW-1) Operations Officer. Carroll applies his technical knowledge of the Tomcat to these videos about the 1986 Paramount movie Top Gun. In the first video Carroll discusses the reality of the flat spin scene and Goose’s fatal ejection along with his career in Naval Aviation. The video was uploaded to YouTube by Ward Carroll.

The Truth About the F-14 and Goose’s Death

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Carroll was also editor of Approach magazine and a contributing editor for Naval Aviation News. In the second video Carroll takes a broader look at Top Gun and calls out 21 “cringeworthy” technical errors made in the movie.  There are those who probably know about some of these technical errors, and there are some who know about all of them and even more. Carroll takes the movie to task- which from a technical accuracy perspective the movie deserves. See how many of these technical errors you knew about before Carroll’s dissertation and how many you know about that Carroll didn’t mention in the video. Comments please. The video was uploaded to YouTube by Ward Carroll.

21 Cringeworthy Errors in the Movie TOP GUN

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Ward’s first video didn’t include some of the most cringeworthy errors. He saved them for this follow-up. The video was uploaded to YouTube by Ward Carroll.

13 More Cringeworthy Errors in the Movie TOP GUN

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Image via IMDB

Air Force Thunderbirds Inspire Civil Air Patrol Cadets

Charles Atkeison
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Air Force Thunderbirds Inspire Civil Air Patrol Cadets

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The cadets of a Civil Air Patrol in metro Atlanta were greeted by members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds on Thursday during an exclusive online video conference.

Three members of America’s Ambassadors in Blue spoke with local teens involved with the civilian branch of the Air Force. For one high ranking cadet, the live discussion increased her motivation for a career in the military.

“It was exciting to meet with members of the Thunderbirds, and be able to ask them questions,” Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Juli Vega of the Forsyth County CAP said afterwards.

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The Thunderbirds Delta Formation flies over Cocoa Beach, Fla. in April 2021. (Image: Charles A Atkeison)

Civil Air Patrol cadets are made up of teens working hard to learn the disciplines of the Air Force. They each earn rank as they learn about all aspects of an aerospace career in the military.

Thunderbirds Inspire America’s Future Airmen

The Civil Air Patrol is an extension of the Air Force, and has provided local communities with volunteer services dating back to before World War II. They offer aide to search and rescue aircrews, disaster relief, and also volunteer with humanitarian services.

The Thunderbirds began their 2021 air show season last weekend in central Florida. Their six F-16 Fighting Falcon jets perform precision maneuvers and high speed passes before show guests.

Thunderbirds’ flight surgeon Lt. Col. (Dr.) Noel Colls lead the 45 minute discussion from their air base near Las Vegas, Nevada. He described for the cadets his career with the military and with the team.

“I get to work with a great group of people and really learn a lot,” Lt. Col. Colls stated to the cadets. “In the military you will get to do things that you will never ever get to do in the civilian world.”

The medical doctor is also a prior military pilot having logged over 540 flight hours in 20 different aircraft. He has even logged over 310 combat hours during several tours of duty.

“There is a huge spectrum of jobs available in the Air Force,” Colls added. “Sure, being a pilot is fun to get up in a jet and fly, but, it’s all about your own personality and your own desires of what you want to do.”

Many of the young cadets are interested in advancing to the Air Force Academy in Colorado following high school. Careers as a pilot, medical, and logistics were just a few of the jobs discussed during the event.

“As an aspiring pilot and hopefully a future member of the Air Force, the biggest takeaway from this conversation was that in even this group of elite aviators, success comes down to attitude, integrity, and perseverance,” Cadet MSgt. Vega, 15, added with a nod. “Without these three qualities, it is difficult to achieve your full potential either as an individual or within a team.”

Vega will soon join a few cadets from across Georgia for an uplifting military experience. They will soon get to ride aboard a C-130 Hercules aircraft during an observation flight with the 165th Airlift Wing near Savannah.

For Vega, these are two great leaps towards her future with the military.

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

SpaceX ‘Endeavour’ Launches with Four Astronauts to Space Station

Charles Atkeison
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SpaceX ‘Endeavour’ Launches with Four Astronauts to Space Station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Four astronauts launched aboard a reusable SpaceX Crew Dragon early Friday from America’s Space Coast to begin a nearly six month stay aboard the International Space Station.

This SpaceX Crew-2 mission is the second operational commercial crewed space launch. It also marks the third time Americans have launched into space from the U.S. in last 11 months.

Riding a top a Falcon 9 rocket, the Crew Dragon Endeavour lifted off at 5:49:02 a.m. EDT, from the Kennedy Space Center. The Falcon 9’s instantaneous launch time occurred as the space station flew 258 miles above the Indian Ocean.

The candle stick rocket soared up the east coast of the United States. Nearly three minutes after launch, Falcon’s spent first stage separated and the second stage immediately took over.

“I’m just so proud of the team, and what this team was able to accomplish,” Acting NASA administrator Steve Jurczyk said from the space center.

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astronauts Thomas Pesquet, Megan McArthur, Shane Kimbrough, and Akihiko Hoshide depart for Launch Complex 39A to board the SpaceX Crew Dragon ‘Endeavour’ early Friday. (NASA)

Endeavour’s crew includes NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur who will serve as Dragon’s commander and pilot. Japan’s Akihiko Hoshide and European astronaut Thomas Pesquet will round out the four person crew.

Nine minutes following launch, Endeavour successfully reached orbit. At the same time, the Falcon’s first stage made a pin point landing on a recovery platform off the coast of South Carolina.

The booster was last flown in November, placing four of the current seven station crew members into orbit. This mission also marks Endeavour’s second journey into space.

Commander Kimbrough and pilot McArthur will steer Endeavour during a one day flight to the orbiting laboratory. Based on an on time launch, Endeavour’s crew is scheduled to dock to the station on Saturday at about 5:10 a.m.

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Two Americans, a European, and a Japanese astronaut depart for the space station on April 23, 2021. (NASA)

Following docking, the crew will take two hours to prepare the hatches between Crew Dragon and the station for opening. The crew is scheduled to live and work aboard the orbiting laboratory.

This will mark the first time that two commercial crew spacecraft are docked to the space station. The Crew Dragon Resilience has been docked with the outpost for nearly six months.

One week following Endeavour’s docking, Resilience will undock from the Harmony node to bring her crew home. Meanwhile, Endeavour and her crew will stay aboard the space station until around November 1.

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

Mars Helicopter ‘Ingenuity’ Flies Higher on Second Flight

Charles Atkeison
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Mars Helicopter ‘Ingenuity’ Flies Higher on Second Flight

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA flew a powered aircraft on Mars for a second time on Thursday demonstrating that humans can control an aircraft in the planet’s ultra thin atmosphere.

The tissue box-size Mars helicopter Ingenuity transmitted several images during its flight to its host, the Perseverance rover. Located 215 feet away, Perseverance transmitted the final commands from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory one hour before the flight.

At an exact moment, the copter’s twin rotor blades were spun up to 2,537 rpm. A final system’s check was performed as the blades cut through Mars’ ultra thin atmosphere.

Likened to the Wright Brothers first powered flight, Ingenuity took off from the Martian surface at 5:33 a.m. EDT, and stayed aloft for 51.9 seconds. The controlled flight flew up to an altitude of 16 feet and then traveled seven feet.

“The helicopter came to a stop, hovered in place, and made turns to point its camera in different directions,” Ingenuity’s chief pilot Håvard Grip said on Thursday. “Then it headed back to the center of the airfield to land.”

JPL received the first data from the rover four hours later. Images and data points were relayed from the copter to the rover, and to NASA’s JPL in California.

In honor of the the first controlled, powered flight on Earth, NASA has named Ingenuity’s air field. The small flight region located near Jezero Crater is now called Wright Brothers Field.

“While Ingenuity carries no science instruments, the little helicopter is already making its presence felt across the world,” NASA’s associate administrator for science Thomas Zurbuchen said. “Just as Ingenuity was inspired by the Wright brothers, future explorers will take off using both the data and inspiration from this mission.”

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NASA’s Mars helicopter photographs the Martian surface, including its shadow, on Thursday.

This second flight is the next in a series of five planned test flights during April. Each flight is expected to take Ingenuity higher and farther.

JPL has less than two weeks to perform Ingenuity’s next three flights as below zero temperatures weaken the craft. An official date for the copter’s third test flight will be announced in a few days.

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

WATCH: A Lockheed C-141 Starlifter Triple Feature

Bill Walton
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WATCH: A Lockheed C-141 Starlifter Triple Feature

These Versatile Airlifters Became the Backbone of Military Air Transport Serving for 40 Years

The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter served with the Military Air Transport Service (MATS), then the Military Airlift Command (MAC), and finally the Air Mobility Command (AMC) of the United States Air Force (USAF). The aircraft also served with airlift and air mobility wings of the Air Force Reserve (AFRES), later renamed Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC), the Air National Guard (ANG) and, later, one air mobility wing of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) dedicated to C-141, C-5, C-17 and KC-135 training. This tribute was compiled as part of the dedication ceremony for the YC-141B (60186) held on November 14, 2020 in Marietta, GA, the birthplace of the StarLifter. The video was uploaded to YouTube by Aviation History & Technology Center.

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The first delivery of a Starlifter to an operational unit took place on 23 April 1965 when C-141A AF Serial 63-8088 was delivered to the 44th Air Transport Squadron, 1501st Air Transport Wing, at Travis Air Force Base (AFB) in California. The C-141 eventually replaced the propeller-driven Douglas C-124 Globemaster II and the Douglas C-133 Cargomaster. Production deliveries 285 aircraft began in 1965. 284 of the airlifters went to the USAF, with a single example (the company demonstrator) going to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for use as an airborne observatory. The aircraft remained in service for over 40 years until the USAF withdrew the last C-141s from service in 2006. This video was uploaded to YouTube by Skyships Eng.

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Lonnie Linton was one of the crew chiefs for C-141A AF Serial 63-8088 (the Golden Bear) at Travis AFB back in 1971. The Vietnam vet recounts his experience by visiting a similar plane at the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB. This video was uploaded to YouTube by Lon Linton.

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C-141B in flight. image via us air force

Unsolved Mysteries: The Strange Case of the Wayward Warthog

Michael Young
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Unsolved Mysteries: The Strange Case of the Wayward Warthog

USAF Captain Craig Button Broke Formation and Flew Off Alone- into Oblivion. But Why?

Craig David Button was born on 24 November 1964. Like a lot of want-to-be fighter pilots, he had lived his life as part of a military family growing up with a few moves, lots of change, and a wealth of worldly experience under his belt. Button graduated from high school in Long Island, New York and had started working toward earning his private pilot certification at the age of 17 before heading off to college. He was described as “polite”, “quiet”, and a “perfectionist”. His father was a retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and his mother was a devout Jehovah’s Witness who was known to be strongly opposed to Craig’s decision to serve in the military.

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craig button during pilot training at laughlin afb, tx (source: summit daily)

Fighter Pilot In the Making

Button graduated from the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, New York with a degree in aerospace engineering and was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) in 1990. After college, he was immediately shipped off to Laughlin Air Force Base (AFB) in Texas to complete Air Force pilot training. Upon graduation Button earned an assignment as a First Assignment Instructor Pilot (FAIP) in the Cessna T-37 Tweet trainer. After four years as a T-37 FAIP, Button was reassigned to the 355th Fighter Wing at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona to begin initial A-10 flight training and finally realize his dream of becoming a fighter pilot.

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Cessna T-37 trainer. image via US Air Force

What It (Really) Takes to Become a Hog Pilot

It takes 40 training sorties over the span of five months to complete the initial A-10 training course which consists of several training phases. Transition, or TR as it’s traditionally called focuses on basic flying, systems knowledge, and instruments. Surface Attack, or the SA phase, introduces weapons employment and gives the student his or her first taste of shooting the mighty GAU-8 Avenger 30mm Gatling gun. Nights, well…is nights…and hones night flying skills – crosschecks, deconfliction, and night weapons employment.

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A-10 Warthog. image via DVIDS

Mixing It Up With the Fighter Jocks

ACBT, Air Combat Basic Training, introduces Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM) in the Hog and also provides an opportunity for the student pilot to fight dissimilar assets like F-16 Vipers or F-15 Eagles. The Air Strike Control phase was usually near the end of the syllabus and taught the A-10 student pilot basic Forward Air Control (FAC-A) tactics, techniques, and procedures. But, the longest and most difficult training phase intertwined with all of the other five phases as it encompassed teaching Close Air Support, the Warthog’s bread-and-butter mission.

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A-10 Warthog. image via DVIDS

What Hog Pilots Live For

This phase was called SAT, or Surface Attack Tactics. It was ten sorties long, started off with basic two-ship medium altitude tactics, and culminated with low altitude high threat four-ship tactics. There are two sorties during A-10 initial training every student froth at the mouth over. The first is SA-1, the surface attack mission to the range where a fangs-out Hog driver-in-training gets to pull the trigger for the first time and unleash the power of the mighty Avenger 30 millimeter rotary cannon.

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A-10 firing the avenger cannon. image via DVIDS

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F-14 Tomcats Video: Just Doing What Tomcats Gonna Do Baby

Bill Walton
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F-14 Tomcats Video: Just Doing What Tomcats Gonna Do Baby

These Videos Will Make You Fans of the Fleet Defender…As If You’re Not Already Fans

The F-14 Tomcat holds a special place in the hearts of its former builders, crews, maintainers, and fans. For many of them the mere mention of the Fleet Defender stirs up cherished memories and the stories start up fast and furious. This video doesn’t need a whole lot of introduction.

It’s just Tomcat videos- some with musical accompaniment, and one without. But we think you’ll enjoy them, so we brought them to you. Enjoy baby!

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VF-32 F-14B. Image via US Navy 050330-N-5345W-073

F-14 Tomcat Low Level

The first video is all about flying F-14s at low altitude and high speeds. Set to the Stone Temple Pilots song “Sex Type Thing”, the video was pieced together using footage shot over several years in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Squadrons appearing in the video include Fighter Squadron ONE ONE (VF-11) Red Rippers and VF-32 Swordsmen when both were stationed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana in Virginia. The desert shots were shot on and over the various ranges at NAS Fallon in Nevada. The airshow shots were captured at NAS Oceana. All videos were uploaded to YouTube by Air Tales.

F-14 Tomcat at Sunset

If that didn’t get your heart moving check your pulse. To bring you back down a bit as the name suggests, this video depicts F-14Bs flying during dusk and/or dawn. The footage was captured over several years, again during the late 1990s and early 2000’s. The video is set to Joe Satriani’s song “Cryin.”

Next F-14 Tomcats Video: Airshow at Sea

Let’s get back to low and fast. This video is pieced together from two VF-11 F-14B demonstration flights- the 1998 USS Stennis (CVN-74) and 2000 USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) Tiger Cruise and Dependents Day cruises.

F-14 Tomcats in formation. Image: DoD
F-14 Tomcats in formation. Image: DoD

The first performance was shot from the Stennis and the second from the rear cockpit for the F-14B. Then both performances were edited together and set to Joe Satriani’s song “Surfing With the Alien.” The uploader informs us that for both performances the pilot was LCDR ‘Opie’ Taylor and the RIO for 1998 was LCDR ‘Bobdog’ Hennessy.

F-14B Tomcat Cockpit

This F-14 Tomcats video, shot in a VF-11 F-14B cockpit in 2000, should bring back some memories for you Tomcat crew dogs. Note that this particular Tomcat had the new Programmable Tactical Information Display (PTID) update in the rear cockpit for the RIO, but was still equipped with the old Heads Up Display (HUD) for the nose gunner.

WATCH: This is How the Air War in Vietnam Was Photographed

Bill Walton
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WATCH: This is How the Air War in Vietnam Was Photographed

Just One Command, Spread All Over Southeast Asia, Chronicled the Air Force’s War

This 1968 US Air Force Film Report is a mix of gun camera, strike camera, and handheld photography shot by the 600th Photo Squadron. The 600th was responsible for most of the Air Force combat footage shot during the war in Vietnam between 1966 and the end of the war. Detachment 5 of the 1352nd Photographic Group, based at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in South Vietnam, became the 600th Photo Squadron on 8 February 1966. The 600th was given responsibility for all USAF photographic services in Southeast Asia, except tactical reconnaissance photography, which was still handled primarily by Air Force Martin RB-57 Canberras, Douglas RB-66 Destroyers, McDonnell RF-101 Voodoos, and McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom IIs. This outstanding film was uploaded to YouTube by US National Archives.

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Making Movies in Entirely New Ways

Over time the 600th Photo Squadron’s operations expanded to include combat documentation, automatic gun-camera and high-speed pod and blister photography of ordnance deliveries, still photography, and photographic support of the Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF). In order to accomplish their mission they pioneered the use of several handheld camera mounts and supports, camera pods, blister camera mounts, and other methods of mounting cameras for shooting combat photography. The 600th Photo Squadron lost 11 combat cameramen killed-in-action between 1966 and 1976. Four were killed in 1968 at the height of U.S. combat operations in Vietnam.

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image via us air force

A Widespread Command

As of 1968, the 600th Photo Squadron consisted of nine detachments located at US Air Force bases in South Vietnam:  Detachment 4 based at Cam Ranh Air Base (AB), Detachment 5 based at Phan Rang AB, Detachment 6 based at Bien Hoa AB, Detachment 7 based at Da Nang AB, Detachment 8 based at Tuy Hoa AB, Detachment 13 based at Nha Trang AB, Detachment 14 based at Pleiku AB, Detachment 15 based at Binh Thuy AB, and Detachment 16 based at Phu Cat AB.

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image via time

Working With the Brass

The 600th Photo Squadron was also responsible for supporting Operating Location 1 (OL-1), which was referred to as the MACV Team and assigned to HQ Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) in Saigon. The MACV Team consisted of journalists and cameramen who covered the US Air Force, US Army, US Navy, US Marine Corps, the Royal Thai Air Force, and Allied combat units from Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and the Philippines. The 400th Aero Squadron handled film processing for the 600th on a 24 hour turnaround.

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image via us air force

Thailand Times

To compliment the 600th Photo Squadron, the 601st Photo Flight was created and headquartered at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAB). The 601st Photo Flight consisted of six detachments located at Royal Thai Air Force Bases or Royal Thai Navy Airfields at which US Air Force tactical squadrons were based:  Detachment 1 based at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB) (redesignated Detachment 17 in 1971), Detachment 2 based at Takhli RTAFB, Detachment 3  based at Ubon RTAFB, Detachment 9 based at Udorn RTAFB, Detachment 10 based at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Base (RTNB), Detachment 11 based at Don Muang RTAFB, and Detachment 12 based at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB.

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image via us air force

Meet the Blue Angels “New” Super Hornet Jets

Bill Walton
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Meet the Blue Angels “New” Super Hornet Jets

These Experienced Rhinos Are Anything But New and They All Have a History

The US Navy Flight Demonstration Team, AKA the Blue Angels, traded in their high-mileage legacy F/A-18A, F/A-18C, and F/A-18D Hornets at the end of 2020. One went to Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island in San Diego; another to NAS Corpus Christi in Texas. The rest went to museums across the country. The jets had worked hard, and their retirement was overdue. The Blue Angels fly the F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet (Rhinos) these days. But how much do you really know about their current steeds? We crunched the numbers and extrapolated the following information about the Rhinos the Blues are flying now.

Some of the Oldest Rhinos in the Fleet

Group 2
image via dVIDS

First, the Blues are flying (with one or two notable exceptions) the oldest currently airworthy Super Hornets in the world. Every one of their jets came from the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) batches. In order, the E model jets are numbers 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 17, 20, 21, and 26 off the production line. The F models are numbers 8, 10, and 18. So to say the Blues are flying “new” jets is inaccurate. The jets might be “new” to the Blues, but they’ve all been thoroughly flown before. Most of them were actually new back in the 1999-2000 timeframe. It’s also important to note that the jets, like their legacy Hornet predecessors, sometimes wear different tail numbers during service with the Blues. Where possible that information is included below.

F/A-18E-52-MC LRIP 1 Super Hornets

165534
165534 image via dvids

F/A-18E BuNo 165534 (MSN 1454/E006) served with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE (VX-9) Vampires at Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake in California for the majority of its service prior to being assigned to the Blue Angels. The jet wore side number XE 505 with VX-9. With the Blue Angels 534 has been seen wearing tail numbers 1, 4, and 6. 

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165536 image via imdb

F/A-18E BuNo 165536 (MSN 1460/E007) served with VX-31 Dust Devils at NAWS China Lake as the squadron color bird wearing side number DD 200 for many years. In 2019 this jet was one of two F/A-18Es and an F/A-18F dressed up as Maverick’s mount(s) for the movie Maverick: Top Gun II. After the jet’s duties as a movie star concluded it was assigned to the Blue Angels, where it will continue to star. With the Blue Angels 536 has been seen wearing tail numbers 1 and 5.

165538
165538 image via DVIDS

F/A-18E BuNo 165538 (MSN 1477/E011) served with Strike Fighter Squadron ONE TWO TWO (VFA-122) Flying Eagles out of NAS Lemoore in California. VFA-122 is the West Coast Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS). While with VFA-122 the jet has worn side number NJ 100 as the squadron color bird, slightly more subdued colors as side number NJ 204, and a striking blue/gray camouflage scheme as side number NJ 101. Thus far 538 has been observed wearing only tail number 4 with the Blues.

165536
image via dvids

F/A-18E BuNo 165539 (MSN 1486/E012) also served with VFA-122 out of NAS Lemoore. This Super Hornet often wore side number NJ 201. Since being assigned to fly with the Blue Angels this jet has only worn tail number 5.

F/A-18E BuNo 165540 (MSN 1488/E013) served with VFA-106 Gladiators out of NAS Oceana in Virginia. VFA-106 is the East Coast Hornet FRS. While assigned to the Gladiators the jet wore side number AD 201 as recently as 2017. 540 has been observed wearing tail numbers 4 and 6 with the Blue Angels 

Group 1
image via dvids

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