New Fighter in Air Force’s Future?

The Air Force Times reports on a move by the Air Force to look into a new light attack aircraft to be fielded in the 2012 timeframe.  The article notes that it is an “early step.”  In fact, it is a “capability request for information,” which is barely more than market research on the feasibility of a system.

Still, the interest in an airplane which would presumably be used in counterinsurgency operations is intriguing.  For some time, air enthusiasts have lamented the absence of aircraft like the venerable Skyraider that performed such an important, though sometimes niche, mission in Vietnam.  The Skyraider and other aircraft similarly situated were eliminated due both to technology and the belief that their roles would no longer be needed in future wars.  That logic, incidentally, is similar to that which is ending F-22 production now.

Mission Aviation Featured at Oshkosh

Mission Aviation Fellowship displayed its new Kodiak aircraft at the Airventure airshow in Oshkosh recently.

MAF has always participated in the air show, but the organization’s presence was greater this year due to the event’s “Fly4Life” theme. The theme focused on public benefit aviation, with a whole section devoted to missionary aviation.

John Boyd, President of MAF, said the ministry is still in need of more people to serve in remote areas where isolation and poverty are facts of life. He asked for people to consider partnering with the ministry in some way, whether financially or by giving of their time.

Links to MAF and other mission aviation organizations are listed here.

Military Academies Top Best Colleges List

Barely a week after topping the Princeton rankings for the best American universities, the US military academies again excelled when Forbes magazine and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity ranked the nation’s 600 best colleges.  The US Military Academy at West Point topped the list at #1.  The US Air Force Academy came in at #7, and the US Naval Academy at Annapolis ranked #30.  The complete list can be seen here.  (Both the Army and Air Force also highlighted the news.)

Forbes said they used a somewhat different criteria than some ranking systems:

Will my courses be interesting and rewarding?
Will I get a good job after I graduate?
Is it likely I will graduate in four years?
Will I incur a ton of debt getting my degree?

Given the fact that graduates have secure jobs with reasonable pay and no debt, it make sense that military academies would rise near the top of the list.

Forbes also has an interesting article on “How West Point beats the Ivy League.”

Military Officers’ Clubs “Nearing Extinction”

The decline of military officers’ clubs has been ongoing for several years.  As noted in Christian Fighter Pilot is not an Oxymoron,

Over the past few years, the popularity of [officers’ clubs] has waned, probably because the military culture has changed.  One commander attempted to correlate membership at the O’Club with membership at a country club, which only seemed to emphasize the generational gap between his peer group and ours.  Being part of a country club was prestigious to him and his colleagues; to the younger group, it was the equivalent of a retirement community.

Now, USA Today notes that military officers’ clubs are “nearing extinction;”  Read more

MRFF Files Response against Motion to Dismiss

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation quietly filed its response to the US Department of Justice’s motion to dismiss the Chalker v Gates lawsuit.  The lawsuit challenges the practice of allowing prayer at mandatory military formations and ceremonies. It demands that Specialist Dustin Chalker, an atheist, and “those similarly situated” not be forced to attend ceremonies that include a “sectarian prayer.” In comparing the two filings, it seems as if the two groups of lawyers were sometimes speaking past each other.

The MRFF’s response brings up some interesting points, but also ignores some valid issues. It also significantly changes the concept of the original suit. Read more

Fighter Pilot Remembered for Christian Faith

Capt. Mark McDowell perished a few weeks ago when his F-15E Strike Eagle crashed in Afghanistan.  His WSO, Capt. Thomas Granith, was also killed in the crash.  McDowell’s grandfather noted his call to flying:

(Flying) was his life. He died doing what he wanted to do. He wanted to fly. He was called to fly…God called him to be a pilot.

His memorial service was recently held at First Baptist Church of Belmont in North Carolina.  Much of the service focused on “Mark’s strong faith in God.”

“Mark was always seeking to know more about the Scriptures…”

The service concluded with a powerful message on faith in Jesus and an invitation for everyone in attendance to accept him. Read more

Navy Reverses Restriction on Religious Speech

As previously noted, in June the Liberty Council wrote a letter to the Navy demanding the removal of restrictions on religious speech on its “Navy for Moms” website.

According to a press release, the Liberty Council received a reply from the Navy in which it announced the institution of new guidelines that removed the restrictions on religious and political speech in the Navy for Moms forum.  Liberty Council’s Mat Staver said

We applaud the Navy for responding by removing restrictions on religious speech. To forbid ‘Christian Chat’ as a chat forum for Navy Moms, under the notion that the name is too divisive for a public forum, was absurd. About 90 percent of Americans profess belief in God, and the majority of them are Christian. Of all places, religious freedom must be respected in our armed services.

Also noted at the Religion Clause.

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