US Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SEVEN (HSC-7) Dusty Dogs Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk and US Air Force (USAF) 48th Rescue Squadron Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters are flying joint wide-area search and rescue (SAR) sorties in support of search and rescue operations in the areas of Southeast Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey. The helos are staging out of Easterwood Airport in College Station, Texas.
48th Rescue Squadron HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter. Official US Air Force Photograph
The Dusty Dogs are normally a part of Carrier Air Wing THREE (CVW-3) but were detached and sent to the area along with additional Knighthawk rotorcraft from HSC-28 Dragon Whales. The USAF 48th Rescue Squadron Night Riders are a part of the 563rd Rescue Group, 23rd Air Force and are normally based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB) near Tucson in Arizona. These videos were uploaded on the US Navy YouTube page.
This is the “B-roll” from the footage shot for the clip above.
The engineering test article for Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser ‘spaceplane’ took to the skies on Aug 30 over NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, located at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, conducting a “Captive Carry” test while attached to a Chinook helicopter.
“We are very pleased with results from the Captive Carry test, and everything we have seen points to a successful test with useful data for the next round of testing,” said Lee “Bru” Archambault, SNC’s director of flight operations for the Dream Chaser program.
This video highlights just some of the United States military’s mobilization in response to Hurricane Harvey along the Texas Coast. Every branch of the armed services are in place and working in the disaster zone. Elements of the Air National Guard (ANG) 176th Wing based at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Alaska load up a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III with supplies and equipment and take off for Texas first. Next, a Coast Guard Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk based at Coast Guard Air Station San Diego sets out toward the catastrophe. Rescue footage shot aboard Coast Guard helicopters and small boats and Texas Army National Guard boats and high-water vehicles rounds out the footage. Thanks to YouTuber Gung Ho Vids for uploading this clip.
There also are 16 UH-60 Blackhawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the Texas Army National Guard conducting day and night wide area SAR missions along the Texas coast from Corpus Christi to Houston. The Department of Defense has also brought in and deployed dozens of Army and Marine Corps search and rescue (SAR) teams and scores of Coast Guard and other SAR-capable helicopters and supporting fixed-wing aircraft. The New York ANG and Alaska ANG have committed HC-130J Hercules and Boeing C-17 Globemaster III airlifters. The California ANG and Utah, Nebraska, and North Carolina Army National Guards are also assisting in the SAR efforts. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadrons SEVEN (HSC-7) Dusty Dogs and HSC-28 Dragon Whales made their way to the Gulf Coast from Norfolk to assist in rescue and recovery efforts as well.
Official US Air Force Photograph
After forming as a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Harvey came ashore as a Category 4 hurricane packing winds of more than 130 miles per hour at 2145 local time on Friday 8/25/2017. The storm devastated several coastal towns and did damage to towns along the entire upper Texas coast and as far inland as Austin and San Antonio. Because no weather systems were in place to “steer” the storm away from its point of landfall, the storm proceeded to meander and dump several feet of rain over thousands of square Texas miles. Houston and the entire surrounding area have been inundated by floodwaters. Louisiana has also been subjected to heavy rains and flooding by Harvey.
Official US Air Force Photograph
Here’s a bonus video of the damage done to the coastal town of Rockport which took a direct hit from the eyewall of Harvey.
Commercial air traffic into and out of the fourth most populous city in America has come to a standstill as Texas residents suffer the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, one of the worst natural disasters in Texas history. The FAA is speculating that George Bush Intercontinental Airport is set to resume at least partial operations by Thursday afternoon. However airport officials are warning that this plan is tentative and dependent upon many factors, not the least of which is the ability of would-be airline passengers to travel to the airport. Many roads leading to and surrounding IAH remain flooded or closed, including 59 and Will Clayton at the airport exit. The William P. Hobby Airport is not faring any better and has announced via Twitter that operations there should resume by Wednesday but airport officials have still not made a firm commitment.
Commercial flight cancellations are wreaking havoc on the US. airline industry as a whole. Southwest Airlines has been forced to cancel over 330 flights thus far, with more cancellations being added daily. That represents 8% of Southwest’s worldwide flights Monday, according to tracking website FlightAware. United Airlines’ second-largest hub is located in Houston and it has been one of the hardest hit, canceling 462 flights or 19% of its flights Monday. The projected financial losses for United could more than double the $125 million loss experienced by Delta Air Lines when it was forced to cancel over 4,000 flights out of Hartsfield Jackson International Airport after heavy storms in Atlanta in April.
HOBBY AIRPORT: This is a flooded runway and the roads just outside the airport. @abc13houston #HurricaneHarvey pic.twitter.com/GdILessABw
United stock has already fallen 13 percent this year through Monday. Southwest is expected to lose as much as $77 million in the third quarter since it is one of the major carriers out of William P. Hobby airport, according to a report out Tuesday from Helane Becker of Cowen & Co. Spirit Airlines, a discount operator, is also preparing to take an $11 million hit.
Meantime, President Trump paid a visit to the affected areas Tuesday, landing in Corpus Cristi and then traveling to Austin. At least 13 deaths are attributed to Hurricane Harvey so far and more than 1 million Houston residents remain homeless. Scores of families left destitute are piled into the George R. Brown convention center, as temporary housing facilities are bursting at the seams.
The Coast Guard has provided fixed-wing aircraft, such as the C-130, to bring life-saving supplies like bottled water and non-perishable food items to the evacuees. The Texas National Guard is fully deployed to assist with recovery. The Army Times reports that 16 National Guard helicopters have joined in the around-the-clock search and rescue missions, including 10 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, four UH-72 Lakotas and two CH-47 Chinooks. Guard Bureau Sgt. 1st Class Mike Houk says that the New York Air National Guard has contributed one C-130, two C-17s and three HH-60s to the effort which is bringing together rescue teams from around the country. Monday, helicopters from as far away as Utah and North Carolina will descend on the area to assist with recovery operations. Read more about the rescue here.
Target: Peace is a film produced by Consolidated Vultee in 1949 to introduce the American public (and the Russians) to their new B-36 Peacemaker strategic bomber. The film is dedicated at the outset to the 8th and 15th Air Forces of the Strategic Air Command (SAC). Similar to other films of the time, the piece does its level best to promote and reinforce the concept that effective deterrence starts with the idea that retaliation against a potential attacker would be far worse than any damage an attacker might do to the United States. Such were the times and the logic of them.
The B-36 entered service with SAC in 1948 and many aspects of the new (at the time) bomber are shown in the film. From the design, assembly, and overall manufacture of the huge aircraft to Consolidated Vultee management and SAC utilization of the Peacemaker, the film does a great job of telling the audience how impressive the engineering effort needed to create the B-36 really was.
While the Peacemaker only served as SAC’s primary strategic bomber for a few years, it was the most impressive mass-produced propeller-driven aircraft ever built. Thanks to YouTuber PeriscopeFilm for uploading this great look at a great aircraft.
When this film was made by Grumman during the late 1950s, the United States Navy Precision Flight Demonstration Team, otherwise known as the Blue Angels, was flying the Grumman F11F Tiger. The film is narrated by former Navy pilot and actor Robert Taylor. Because the Navy always pulled pilots from fleet squadrons in order to build the Blue Angels rosters, the film also makes the point that although the pilots in the Tigers might be wearing the Blue Angels patch today, they could easily be assigned to operational fleet squadrons tomorrow.
The film introduces each of the Blue Angels pilots flying with the team at the time the film was made. Footage of the Blues flying their Tigers is simply awesome, and there’s also footage of some of the training the pilots received while earning their Navy wings of gold. Explanations of the maneuvers the team flies provide some understanding of the expertise required to fly with the Blues. The team operated Grumman’s Tiger between 1957 and 1969. Thanks to YouTuber PeriscopeFilm for uploading this Blue Angels time capsule.
Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN (CVW-11) broke all the previous records for combat sorties flown and ordnance delivered during its sixth WESTPAC deployment aboard the carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) from November 6th 1970 to July 17th 1971. But CVW-11 would go to war aboard the Battle Cat again in 1972, and during that seventh WESTPAC CVW-11 broke its own records again. Though deployed early due to the 1972 Communist offensive, CVW-11 took a total of 107 aircraft aboard the Kitty Hawk to form the world’s largest Carrier Air Wing. These four (silent) videos were shot during that record-setting deployment. If you were there this is must-see footage!
From February 19th 1972 to November 28th 1972, CVW-11 consisted of VF-114 Aardvarks and VF-213 Black Lions flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II, VA-195 Dambusters and VA-192 World Famous Golden Dragons flying the Vought A-7E Corsair II, VA-52 Knightriders flying Grumman A-6A/B and KA-6D Intruders, RVAH-7 Peacemakers flying the North American RA-5C Vigilante, VAW-114 Hormel Hawgs flying the Grumman E-2B Hawkeye, VAQ-135 Black Ravens Detachment 1 flying the Douglas EKA-3B Skywarrior, HC-1 Pacific Fleet Angels Detachment 1 flying Sikorsky SH-3G Sea Kings, and HC-7 Sea Devils Det 110 flying Sikorsky HH-3A Sea Kings configured for combat search and rescue (CSAR).
The Hawk was flying sorties day and night during 1972 and there was at least one member of VAQ-135 who shot plenty of air-to-air and flight operations footage aboard the carrier during that seventh WESTPAC. These videos include cat shots and traps of every type of aircraft deployed with CVW-11 (even COD deck run launches) as well as footage shot during port calls (Subic Bay in the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Sasebo in Japan) as well as places like Da Nang in South Vietnam and other “feet dry” installations. Thanks to YouTuber D . Sturgeon for uploading these priceless looks at the Navy’s leading edge circa 1972.
Virgin America is celebrating 10 years of bringing a rockin vibe to flying! On August 8th, 2007 the airline flew its first flight between San Francisco International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.
Teammate Chris Garlington, a Guest Services team member in LAX, created this tribute video to celebrate the occasion. It’s pretty impressive!
Chris highlighted the contributions of many teammates, guests & friends who contributed their own stories and video clips to tell the story of this ambitious young airline.
The Virgin America culture is going to live on through people that create ‘Wow’ like this!
Virgin America, known for purple cabins, RED inflight entertainment system, and a hip culture set a new standard for inflight service. The airline has 65 Airbus A320 series aircraft including the new Airbus A321NEO.
In 2016, the company officially was acquired by Alaska Airlines. Virgin America is currently in the process of integrating with Alaska Airlines. By 2019, the Virgin America brand will disappear completely as their Airbus fleet will be repainted and cabins standardized to Alaska standard.
I don’t know about you. I usually hate the word epic. Some people apply the word to things that aren’t truly epic. “Epic bagel, bro.” Probably not. But there was one thing that was truly epic–The Blue Angels performance at the Chicago Air And Sea Show.
The Blue Angels, known for their tight formation flying and sneak pass sure know how to put on a great show. One of the most impressive sights is how they fly low and fast near the downtown buildings. In one of their formation passes, 4 F/A-18s passed BELOW the rooftop of the building. The HD camera footage is incredible. It’s only an 8 second clip, but I can guarantee that you’ll watch it more than once. Special thanks to our friends at Airshowstuff.com for the footage.
The Blue Angels team, based in Pensacola, still have a number of performances remaining in the season. The 2017 season concludes on the weekend of November 11-12th with an airshow at their home station in Pensacola.
On a bright and sunny day in 2004, a Ford Trimotor replica plane (known as a Bushmaster 2000) took to the skies. It should’ve been an enjoyable flight at an airshow. The flight didn’t end well. No pilot expects to encounter a bad day, but every pilot knows that risk is always part of the equation in an aircraft. To counter the risk, pilots are taught to meticulously follow their checklists. Each step is an important check to ensure that the jet is properly configured and ready to fly. Including the gust lock.
In this case, the pilot missed a critical step. The crash on September 25, 2004, was caused by pilot error due to the pilot not removing the gust lock from the tail during pre-flight. This resulted in the plane rapidly rolling to the left on takeoff and crashing into an adjacent parking lot.
Both pilots were critically injured. Two women in a nearby car received minor injuries during the crash. The crash serves as an unfortunate reminder that checklist discipline and a comprehensive preflight is crucial to safe operations. One critical oversight led to the destruction of a beautiful aircraft.
The original Ford Trimotor, nicknamed the “Tin Goose” is an American 3 engine transport aircraft that entered production in 1925. It has saw many years of service in both civil and military aviation and was sold around the world. The plane was always regarded as reliable and dependable. At one-time Ford ads proclaimed, “No Ford plane has yet worn out in service.” A statement that rings true as “Tin Goose” tri-motors are still seen in air shows around the world today.
When you are crewing an A380, the world’s largest airliner, on a 12+ hour flight, where do you rest?
The A380 might not be a commercial success, but it is an amazing aircraft and a technological marvel. It is the only airliner with two full decks. Some airliners have outfitted it with full size beds and showers so the most elite customers can rest and relax.
There is one area of the massive aircraft that isn’t that well known. Down a narrow stairway, there is a place where the cabin crew can rest and relax while on long flights. It is equipped with bunks and restrooms. Curtains separate the bunks and provide a bit of privacy for the crew.
Compared to the crew rest area on other jetliners, the A380 crew area is surprisingly roomy and quiet. It might not be hotel quality, but it provides a highly desirable escape from the masses of grumpy passengers in coach.
Anthony Toth, founder of PanAmExperience. (Photo by PanAm Experience)
When airline industry executive Anthony Toth became interested in the airlines and airliners at a young age he set out on a path toward a level of detail in a hobby most of us can only dream about. He began collecting airliner seats, which is in and of itself not that unusual, but he wasn’t happy with just having some conversation piece furniture in his living room. Mr. Toth kept on collecting and gathering pieces of airliner interiors. He built his first replica 1970s Pan American Airlines Boeing 474 airliner interior in his garage. That might have been enough for you and me, but it wasn’t for Anthony. Not even close.
Toth, who sources his airliner interiors from boneyards all over the world, ran out of room in his garage. Did he stop there? Of course not. He acquired a warehouse space large enough to accommodate his 747 forward fuselage interior replica that’s 60 feet long and 22 feet high. The replicas are detailed down to interior partition textures and inflight safety cards. He’s even got a gate area decked out with 1970s-era airline computer equipment and an authentic luggage tag rack. Toth says his replica is the coolest thing he’s ever made. I tend to agree.
Thanks to the The Coolest Thing YouTube channel for uploading this segment. Head to panamexperience.com to visit the replica in person and book a dinner…presumably not airline food from the 1970s!
Smoking is allowed onboard…well simulated smoking that is. (Photo by Pan Am Experience)
July 2017 was a great month for Avgeekery Nation! Regional airshows and events like the New York Airshow in New Windsor, the Tacoma Freedom Fair & Air Show, the Pensacola Beach Airshow, and the Milwaukee Air and Water Show thrilled and wowed crowds during the month. Military events like Sentry Eagle 2017 out in Oregon hosted civilian open houses and several events took place in Canada. The month went out with a bang at EAA Airventure 2017 at Oshkosh. There was something for everyone from one end of the continent to the other and the mid-month Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) in the UK for those with trans-oceanic wanderlust.
From our good friends at AirshowStuffVideos comes this look at the best of military aviation during the month of July. The video begins with some Rockwell (Boeing) B-1B Lancer action including an impressive night takeoff in full afterburner. Then Carrier Air Wing FIVE (CVW-5) is captured conducting flight ops aboard the carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76). Next some Army Boeing AH-64 Apaches get some work done. An Air Force 100th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) KC-135R Stratotanker refuels Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors in the next segment. Then it’s time for some BRRRTT as Fairchild Republic A-10C Warthogs work over some desert targets.
Screenshot Courtesy AirshowStuffVideos
Marine Corps Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion helos are shown refueling from a Marine Corps Lockheed Martin KC-130J Hercules tanker, followed by some Air Force Boeing F-15E Strike Eagles operating. A huge gaggle of Australian Army helicopters make an appearance and then B-2 Spirit bombers get in on the action. A Boeing B-52 or two as well as Boeing MV-22B Ospreys, General Dynamics F-16 Vipers, Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIs, Boeing CH-47F Chinooks, CVW-11 conducting flight ops aboard the carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68), and some Coast Guard HH-60J Jayhawk rescue practice are also featured. A passel of Army UH-60 Blackhawks do some work and then an Australian Boeing E-7A Wedgetail refuels from a Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker of the 132nd Air Refueling Squadron (ARS), Maine Air National Guard (ANG) to round out the action.
Avgeeks are a unique bunch of people. They tend to be slightly geeky, passionate about anything aviation, and tech savvy. One of the latest projects we came across is a fascinating combination of cool and geeky.
It’s a simulation of LAX based on actual ATC transmissions and ADS-B readouts. It looks like a Playstation 2 quality-version of a flight sim with very realistic terminals, flashing PAPIs, and a constantly updated arrival/departure board.
The display is supported by viewers who can donate here. The display is produced by using Lockheed Martin’s Prepar3d V4. Prepar3d is the successor to Microsoft’s FlightSim program.
LAX International (the real one) is one of the busiest airports in the world. Over 80,000,000 people flew through LAX in 2016. The airport has some of the most diverse lineups of airlines of any airport in the country. Five airlines consider LAX a hub. The airport has eight numbered terminals plus an additional international terminal that handles international traffic for American and United Airlines.
LAX is also a ‘hub’ for avgeeks. The east-side of the airport is a hotspot for avgeek activity. The In-N-Out Burger restaurant is a famous place for avgeeks to congregate and watch international arrivals and departures. Additionally, The Proud Bird is a recently renovated food bazaar with a host of historical static aircraft on display in the ‘back yard’.
The B-1 Lancer (nickname Bone) proved itself during Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. The bomber was a continuous presence in the Middle East from 2001 through 2015. With swept wings and 4 large afterburing engines, the mighty Bone has a top speed of Mach 1.25 with a max takeoff weight of 477,000 lbs.
The B-1 is based at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas and Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. B-1s also rotate through Anderson Air Base in Guam. From Guam, they are capable of projecting power on the Korean Peninsula. In recent weeks, they have conducted shows of force over South Korea near the DMZ.
The B-1B can be equipped with 24 conventional 2,000lb bombs or 15 500lb GBU-38 JDAM missiles. The B-1 was also nuclear capable but the fusing and accompanying hardware were removed in 1995. With refueling, the Bone has unlimited range.
The Rockwell B1-B Lancer was manufactured by Rockwell International, which is now a part of Boeing. The B-1B entered service on October 1st of 1986 with the United States Air Force (USAF) Strategic Air Command as a nuclear bomber. The B1-B had a unit cost of about $283 million back in 1998. Roughly 100 Rockwell B1-B aircraft were built. 62 are currently in service.
Editors note: An earlier version of this article stated that the B-1 is nuclear capable. While the B-1 was originally designed with this capability, the equipment required for this capability was removed in the mid-1990s.
Spirit Airlines Was Almost Swallowed By Comair Back In the ’90s.
Now one of the most popular ultra-low cost carriers for domestic (and some international) travel, Spirit Airlines was once on the brink of becoming extinct. It almost fell into the hands of the now-defunct commuter carrier Comair!
So, how’d it all go down?
Spirit Airlines was originally a tour operator, Charter One, which provided hired turboprop aircraft for those looking to travel between Chicago, Boston, Detroit and Providence, to Atlantic City (primarily for gambling trips).
This would eventually lead to similar chartered trips to southern destinations, and also international ones, such as the Bahamas.
However, Charter One would soon begin leasing its own planes, and, as it began to establish a fleet, it launched daily services in the early 90s as the newly named Spirit Airlines. Early growth was substantial, with $56 million in sales in 1994.
Vintage Spirit livery. Photo: wikipedia Anthony92931
It was only a few years later, though, when Spirit Airlines, already known for its low-cost fares, would start encountering some challenges, which made it a takeover target.
One of these challenges was the difficulty found in creating hubs, with major airlines squeezing out the low-cost carriers of the day. Additionally, ValuJet’s flight 592 crash in 1996, was devastating to all low-cost carriers who faced additional scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Comair Holdings, Inc., which had been established nearly 20 years earlier in Cincinnati, was experiencing some success due to a partnership with Delta Air Lines, which had allowed the carrier to triple its business and expand its routes, into Canada and the Caribbean, as well as increase its fleet substantially.
In 1994, it also had just leased a brand-new, $50 million terminal. They were looking to expand quickly but needed to find labor to fill the rapid growth.
Comair announces plans to buy Spirit Airlines
In 1996, Comair announced its plans to buy Spirit Airlines for approximately $20 million, a deal that had been in the works for about two years.
The agreement would have had benefits for both sides, as Comair would gain opportunities with Spirit’s low-cost labor base, and Spirit would have a bigger name to help it hold its own against the country’s major airlines.
However, the ValuJet crash threw these well crafted plans into disarray. Comair would back out of the deal just months later. At the time, it seemed like the right call. Comair’s profits would continue to climb throughout the 1990s. Even a crash of one of their CRJs in 1997 did not interrupt their climb.
Tougher times were ahead for Comair though in 2000. Comair’s partnership with Delta was expiring, and the new offer on the table was less lucrative.
Comair had three options — agree to a less-than-favorable new partnership, decline Delta’s offer and go on their own, or allow Delta to purchase Comair outright. Faced with falling stock prices, they agreed to be acquired by Delta in 2000. Comair became part of Delta Connection, Inc.
A ComAir CRJ-100 parked at Jacksonville International Airport. By David Mueller – Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1113347
Comair did retain its name for a while within the Delta network. In 2012, Delta announced that Comair would cease all operations. Delta Connection flying was transferred to other partners.
It all worked out after all…
Spirit Airlines, however, did not allow the ValuJet crash or the failed Comair deal to stand in its way. The airline launched a marketing campaign the same year to highlight its perfect safety record.
In the following years, as other low-cost carriers dissolved or abandoned routes, Spirit stepped in to fill the gaps, to much success. They focused on underserved markets and right sized the amount of flying to match demand.
Already known as a low-cost carrier, Spirit would transition to an ultra-low cost carrier in the mid-2000s, charging for carryons, beverages, and even printed tickets.
Though the airline has endured strikes and its fair share of negative publicity issues since, Spirit continues to enjoy success in a very competitive landscape. Today, Spirit Airlines serves more than 50 destinations with more than 100 Airbus aircraft.
One of the gifts of aviation is that the experience of flying is so powerful that unique moments become etched in your memory. Whether its your first flight, your first solo, or that trip that you survived by the skin of your teeth, you are left with stories to tell. And the best part is that most people actually enjoy hearing them!
My first assignment
My first assignment in the Air Force was to fly the C-21 Learjet at Scott Air Force Base. The jet was affectionately known as the “Barbie Jet”. It was a small, nimble, and sporty plane. It could climb like a rocket, especially on a cool winter day. Our unit’s official mission was to fly DVs (mostly generals and congressmen) to meetings around the nation but we also would focus on training so that pilots could become aircraft commanders faster when they moved on to larger aircraft after this first assignment.
Over the course of three years, I flew a number of amazing people. I carried countless senior government leaders, a Medal of Honor recipient, dozens of patients, and even Southwest Airlines CEO Herb Kelleher after he served as an honorary commander for the day at an Air Force base.
C-21 Learjet (Photo: USAF)
There I was…
Yet there is one experience that sticks out in my memory. Back in early 2005, I was assigned a mission to fly a general to McChord AFB. That mission cancelled but our squadron still needed to fly the hours that had been allocated to the jet that day. As a first lieutenant and relatively new pilot, I was paired with a more experienced Major for some ‘High Density’ airport training on the West Coast. We flew to Portland International, grabbed lunch, and planned the flight to head back home non-stop–taking full advantage of a strong winter jet stream.
The return flight was uneventful. We cruised in the mid-30s and had over 100 knots of tailwind to make the return trip easy. When we were about 20 minutes away from Scott Air Force Base, the approach controller asked if we had any reserve fuel to help out an airliner who had an issue. We didn’t have a ton of extra gas but we had enough to offer some assistance. We figured could always divert to Saint Louis Lambert International, if necessary. So we said, “sure!” The controller replied with:
Uhh, that’d be great. It’s an American MD-80 with a gear problem. They’ve done a low pass but we couldn’t get a great visual on it. He’s holding south of you to burn off fuel. He’s at 6,000 in the hold. I’ll vector you so that you enter the hold below him. Maintain 5,000 and turn heading 160 degrees. Once you have him in sight, let me know.
Since it was my leg, I dialed 160 degrees and felt butterflies in my belly for the first time in a while while flying. You never want to hear that another aviator is in distress but I was glad we were around to help however we could. I figured this intercept wouldn’t be too big of a deal. I had flown formation in the T-1 Jayhawk during pilot training so I generally knew what to expect. Technically this wasn’t even a formation. We’d just have to use many of the same techniques to be a good chase ship.
After a few minutes of flying and a few gentle turns from the controller, we saw the shiny MadDog in the hold with a late winter’s afternoon sky backlighting the jet. The controller gave us a great intercept heading that made the meet up look easy. We called the MadDog in sight.
We’re flying below an MD-80!
We entered the hold and sped up to align ourselves directly under the aircraft to take a look. We switched our other radio to an interplane frequency and spoke with the American captain. He described what we should see. As an avgeek who grew up near DFW airport, I recognized the angle of the nose gear and the mains on the MD-80. The gear was extended and the support trunnions looked extended. The only unusual part was that the gear doors were open. The captain mentioned that it was to be expected for the issue they were experiencing. The American crew thanked us for our help. We departed the hold and landed back at our home base with close to min fuel remaining.
When we landed, we recapped the day before heading home. It struck me at that moment how cool of a job I now had. As a 23 year old kid, the government trusted me to fly a multi-million dollar jet to fly to the busiest airports in the country. Then on this ‘routine’ training flight, I was able to see my favorite airliner up close and help out fellow aviators who were having a tough day. This wasn’t a normal job. It was a dream come true!
The next day I shared our story around the water cooler back in the squadron. Someone recommended that I call American to see what happened. I left my e-mail on a voicemail from a number I found online but never expected to hear back from them. The next day though, I received an e-mail stating that the flight landed without incident and all 125 passengers and crew were safe. That was a satisfying feeling.
In typical Air Force fashion though, our assistance was translated into a bullet on my very first officer performance review. It made us sound like superheroes. To this day, that OPR bullet makes me chuckle. More importantly though, that experience became a memory that I’ll treasure forever.
We know how much Avgeekery Nation enjoys cruise videos. They’re often the best way for many of our readers to watch state-of-the-art aircraft and warfighters while they do their thing. This video is a little bit different though. It’s not a “cruise” video because Strike Fighter Squadron ONE FIVE FOUR (VFA-154) wasn’t on a cruise when this video was produced. The Black Knights were plenty active though. Thanks to YouTuber MGDunford for sharing this awesome look at a year in the life of a Navy Strike Fighter Squadron. BKR!
VFA-154 spent their 2015 just crushing operational detachments and training from one end of the country to the other. From Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska to Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West in Florida; from Nellis in Nevada to Tyndall on the Gulf; carrier quals aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and USS Nimitz (CVN-68)- the Black Knights did it all. Their excellence in 2015 was just a continuation of their commitment to their mission.
Official US Navy Photograph
During their last deployment during 2013, VFA-154 won the both the Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific Fleet (CSFWP) “LTJG Bruce Carrier” and the Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN (CVW-11) Golden Wrench Awards for excellence in maintenance. The Black Knights also flew more than 2,100 sorties over more than 6,000 flight hours without a Class A mishap. During those accident-free hours the squadron accounted for 75% of the ordnance expended by CVW-11 in support of coalition forces.
Official US Navy Photograph
So what are the Black Knights up to these days? Why they’re on another WESTPAC deployment of course! VFA-154 and CVW-11 are flying from the deck of the Nimitz yet again.
This Michigan Air National Guard Red Devils Pilot Was One Very Cool Customer When Things Went Sideways
On July 20th 2017, a pair of Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft assigned to the 107th Fighter Squadron (FS) Red Devils, of the 127th Wing, Michigan Air National Guard (ANG) took off with another pair of A-10s from their home base at Selfridge Air Nation Guard Base (ANGB). The four jets were headed northwest toward the Grayling Air Gunnery Range, located in north-central lower-Michigan. Here’s a short video about the Grayling facility uploaded by YouTuber Q100 Y101.
Two of the pilots heading to Grayling, Captain Brett DeVries and Major Shannon Vickers, were both highly experienced Warthog pilots and veterans of multiple combat deployments, logging more than a hundred combat sorties each. A flight to Grayling for some bombing and gunnery practice, similar to hundreds of other similar flights for both pilots, was to be their mission that day. It was a flight far removed from a combat mission, but no less potentially dangerous.
Official US Air Force Photograph
Unexplained Malfunction Leads to a Convertible Warthog
All four jets completed the bombing practice portion of their flight and transitioned to gunnery. Captain DeVries, flying A-10C 80-0264 (CN A10-0614), had just begun a second run on the target at about 1340 local time when he pulled the trigger on his Warthog’s 30 millimeter GAU-8 Avenger multi-barrel cannon. The cannon malfunctioned (it has not yet been determined exactly how or why), causing the A-10C to shed its canopy and suddenly subject DeVries to the full force of the 330 knot breeze, which promptly knocked his helmet back against his ejection seat, dazing him. DeVries quickly initiated a climb from low altitude in order to clear the other aircraft and sort things out.
Official US Air Force Photograph
A Busted Bird, NORDO, and Unsafe Gear
Damage to the aircraft was extensive. Not only was the canopy missing (the windscreen was still intact), but both the primary and secondary radios were out. There were also multiple nose-area access panels that had been popped open or blown off by the gun malfunction. DeVries was concerned about loose material getting sucked out of the cockpit and being ingested by the engines. But his biggest concern was that the nose landing gear was indicating unsafe.
Official US Air Force Photograph
Staying With the Warthog
Ejection was a consideration but the pilot was concerned that the canopy separation might have damaged the ejection seat mechanism. After discussing the situation with technical experts on the ground via Vickers, DeVries made for the nearest military runway located at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), co-located with the Alpena County Regional Airport about 25 minutes flying time northeast of the Grayling range near the coast of Thunder Bay on Lake Huron.
Major Vickers (left) and Captain DeVries (right). Official US Air Force Photograph
Designed to Survive a Wheels Up Landing
Hunkered down behind the windscreen, DeVries continued to look at options. The landing gear was his real challenge. Nose gear collapse on landing might cause the jet to do all sorts of things – all of them bad. But when the Warthog’s landing gear are retracted, the main wheels are still slightly exposed under the wings of the jet. This arrangement has saved more than one A-10C from sustaining additional damage when belly landing. DeVries was betting that the exposed wheels would help him land his stricken Warthog as well.
Official US Air Force Photograph
An Almost Perfect Landing
A test of the landing gear yielded indications that the nose gear was indeed unsafe, so DeVries made his approach to the runway at Alpena with gear up, minimal sink rate, and carrying just enough speed to maintain controllability if his A-10C. Vickers was right off his wing, calling out feet above the ground as DeVries let his aircraft down on centerline. DeVries exited the aircraft quickly after it stopped and met the emergency crews waiting for his arrival.
Official US Air Force Photograph
A Unique Set of Circumstances
This mishap is believed to be the only time during the more than 40 years since the A-10C entered service that a pilot has landed a Warthog with the landing gear retracted and no canopy. Captain DeVries was not injured. A-10C 80-0264 sustained some damage, but will likely be repaired and may even return to the Red Devils. DeVries and Vickers both credit their extensive training for their ability to deal with the emergency effectively and safely. The mishap is being investigated, and Vickers’ observation of “a donut of gas” around the fuselage is an interesting facet of the inquiry.
Watch for the History, Then Read About the China Lake Survivors That Were Saved
This photographic essay documents the Boeing B-29 Superfortress boneyard at Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake in 1978. Nearly 70 B-29s spent time in one target area or another at China Lake. Some of those airframes were reclaimed and used again. Some of the B-29s there were brought to the site already in pieces. But over the years there have been a number of survivors pulled from the Mojave Desert at China Lake and displayed. Several of those aircraft appear in this video. Thanks to YouTuber airailimages for sharing these moments in time.
The two most famous China Lake survivors are the Commemorative Air Force B-29 SuperfortressFifi (B-29A-60-BN, 44-62070) and the recently restored to airworthiness B-29 Doc (B-29-70-BW, 44-69972). However, many more airframes made it out of the desert to be displayed. Two were actually flown out. Three Feathers (B-29A-40-BN, 44-61669) was flown to March AFB in 1981 after six years of work required to make the bomber airworthy. It’s Hawg Wild (B-29A-45-BN, 44-61748) was resurrected and flown all the way to the UK where she resides at the American Air Museum of the Imperial War Museum at Duxford.
Photograph Courtesy Commemorative Air Force
In Whole or Just Pieces
Other Survivors of the China Lake target areas include B-29-45-BW 42-24791, whose nose section is on display in Seattle and the rest of the airframe is stored at the National Museum of the Air Force at Dayton in Ohio. B-29-25-MO 42-65281 is currently on display at Travis AFB in California. B-29A-35-BN 44-61535 and B-29A-75-BW 44-70064 are displayed together as a single airframe at Castle AFB in California.
Official US Air Force Photograph
Movie Props and Museum Pieces
B-29A-60-BN Superfortress 44-62022 is displayed at the Fred E Weisbrod Museum in Pueblo, Colorado. The forward fuselage of B-29A-70-BN 44-62222 is on display at the Pima County Air Museum in Arizona while the rear fuselage resides at Disney Studios. B-29-60-BW 44-69729 resides at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. B-29-70-BW 44-69983 made its way to the National Atomic Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Photograph Courtesy b-29doc.com
Local or Long-Distance
B-29-75-BW 44-70102 didn’t have to go far to be displayed at the China Lake Museum compound. B-29-80-BW 44-87627 is located at the Global Power Museum at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana. B-29-90-BW 44-87779 is on display at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. B-29-90-BW 45-21739 made it all the way to the KAI Aerospace Museum in Sacheon near Seoul in South Korea. Note that this list consists only of China Lake survivors and not all surviving B-29s. There is also a Boeing B-47 Stratojet depicted in the slideshow.
