In an interesting turn of events, Lt Dan Choi, a widely-known homosexual US Army National Guard soldier facing discharge, and former Capt Jim Pietrangelo, who was reportedly discharged in 2004 for being homosexual, handcuffed themselves to the White House perimeter fence on Thursday. Both were in uniform, Read more
The US Air Force has long flown QF-4s, with the Q designation indicating that the aircraft is a “drone.” The drones are still sometimes flown by a pilot in the cockpit, but are modified to be able to be flown unmanned, with control coming from a ground control station. They are used as targets for various missions, often testing of air-to-air missiles and radar systems. Though there are generally safeguards to protect the drone (it is expensive, after all), drones do occasionally get shot down (and that is also sometimes the objective).
Apparently, a “dwindling supply” of QF-4s (and also a shrinking supply of parts to keep them flying) has inspired the Air Force to now begin turning F-16s into drones. Boeing has reported the award of a the first part of a $69 million contract to convert 126 aircraft, reportedly from the boneyard, to QF-16 “Full Scale Aerial Targets,” aka “drones.”
In theory, the F-16 will be “easier” to convert than older aircraft, as it already has a computer-controlled, fly-by-wire flight control system, as opposed to the mechanical stick-and-rudder of the F-4 and prior airframes.
The QF-16s will apparently be the US Air Force’s newest “RPVs.”
Two single seat F/A-18E Super Hornets collided in the airspace over Nevada during a training sortie Monday night. One pilot ejected and was recovered safely, while the other was able to land his damaged aircraft.
The Super Hornet is a larger, more modern and advanced version of the F/A-18A/C Hornet. The crash occurred on the heels of another Hornet ejection just last week.
Update: The F-35B has now accomplished the significant milestone of a vertical landing. Video from some of the testing can be seen here.
A news article at the Marine Times notes that the F-35B, the Marine Corps variant intended to replace the STOVL Harrier, has hovered in flight for the first time. Flight test programs are built on gradual advances, and as a result the JSF did not land from a hover, though it did a slow speed landing at 70 knots (probably about half the speed of a normal landing).
Like many large military acquisition programs, the F-35 test program has come under increasing criticism for delays and potential cost increases.
Chuck Holton at “Boots on the Ground” happened upon a first-person video capturing the aftermath of an IED attack on US forces in Afghanistan. The candid video shows both the resilience of the military vehicles in which US forces were riding (they were damaged but not destroyed) as well as the resilience of American forces themselves.
Near the end of the 8 minute video, the troops hold a worship service, led by a guitar-playing Chaplain. The makeshift chapel resounds with the voices of those who truly know that God is a God of wonders.
A DoD news release notes the practice of Chaplains travelling throughout Afghanistan to serve even at the smallest forward-deployed units in combat. The lengths to which these Chaplains go, FOB-hopping throughout the combat area, are another indicator of the importance of religious exercise within the US military.
A US Army National Guard Chaplain is under investigation for violating “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” by allegedly “telling” a superior Chaplain that he was gay.
Aris Fokas is a United Church of Christ minister who joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 2003 at the age of 39. Fokas has reportedly denied the disclosure, though he reportedly
declined to say anything about his sexual orientation other than to acknowledge he is single and has never been married.
He noted, too, that the United Church of Christ ordains openly gay and lesbian ministers, a denomination-wide policy since 1980.
In an apparent attempt to defend himself, Fokas says Read more
The US Air Force’s Air University has published Attitudes Aren’t Free: Thinking Deeply about Diversity in the US Armed Forces. It contains a variety of opposing ideas on religion in the US military, homosexuality, race and gender, and social policy.
While the nearly 600 page work will take time to review, it will be interesting to see how (or even if) it is received. It has the potential to be an interesting point of discussion, or perhaps little more than a minor publishing opportunity for some of its authors.
The tome contains articles from Barry Lynn, Gordon Klingenschmitt, Chris Rodda, Jay Sekulow, and Elaine Donnelly, among others. It can be viewed or downloaded as a PDF here. The primary website is DoDPolicy.org.