The US Air Force Academy annually hosts Teen Aviation Camp, inspiring the children of active duty, retired, reserve, or guard Air Force members to a career in aviation.
Teens and their families only have to pay for the cost of transportation to the Academy, the camp and its activities are free. The Air Force Services Agency sponsors and organizes the camp… Read more
Poland has reportedly agreed to a permanent US Air Force presence on its soil — a presence that would include US F-16s and C-130s.
According to the AirForceTimes, in 2013 an aviation detachment will reportedly be permanently assigned to Poland to provide support for US aircraft.
The US Air Force reported that an F-16C Fighting Falcon crashed during combat training exercises near Caliente, Nevada, on Tuesday evening. The pilot was reported “missing.”
Unfortunately, that often means the pilot was lost with the aircraft.
No names or further status have been released. The Nellis AFB video media release can be seen here.
A recent ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point marked the beginning of the end of an era. The first EA-6B Prowler ever delivered to the US Marines retired on June 10 off this year:
In early 1977, the Marine Corps received its first EA-6B Prowler, tail number 160432 and marked with the number 000…[at] Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. Read more
A recent Army article noted the continuation of a longstanding aviation tradition: conducting sorties with American flags onboard the aircraft. These “combat experienced” flags are then given to any of a variety of organizations or requesting individuals back home.
The [Army aviators] fly the flag a bit differently. They fly their flags inside an Apache attack helicopter while patrolling the skies of Iraq. Read more
An official news release features US Air Force Major Jaime Nordin and her attempts to balance her life as an F-16 fighter pilot and mother. While many people consider being a fighter pilot “who they are,” it seems Nordin is in transition:
“Being a mom and a fighter pilot are both equally demanding, which makes having only 24 hours in a day hard,” she said. “But more and more, I’m becoming a mom, and a fighter pilot is my trade.”
Everyone has priorities in life; having children can put a new perspective on things. For those that are curious, the article describes some of the details about female fighter pilots who get pregnant. Nordin was grounded Read more
The US Air Force Academy has purchased new training aircraft to replace those it has leased for more than a decade. USAFA has not purchased a training fleet since the ill-fated T-3A Firefly killed 3 cadets and 3 officers from 1995 to 1997.
The Cirrus T-53A is a single engine propeller driven aircraft and will be used in USAFA’s flight training program. The T-53 acquisition will run $6.1M for the fleet of 25. The local article also notes the aircraft is equipped with a whole-aircraft parachute.
The aircraft will be evaluated by test pilots from Edwards Air Force base before its use as a cadet trainer.
A Naval aviator reportedly ejected from his T-45 Goshawk in southern Texas. The T-45 normally carries two, but the pilot was flying solo.
As with every other mishap, the Navy will investigate and a report will be available some months from now.