Lt Ryan McGuire, the pilot training student who lost his leg and won a fight to stay in training, has graduated and received his wings.
By becoming the first amputee to graduate from pilot training, First Lt. Ryan McGuire earned his spot among the elite group…
The new Air force pilot is reportedly headed to Altus AFB, Oklahoma, to learn to fly the C-17 Globemaster III. He has become the first amputee to earn his wings in pilot training.
The US Air Force and Navy appear to have been in an unspoken competition over their use of “green” or synthetic alternative fuels in their fighters — each vying for “firsts.”
It appears the Air Force Thunderbirds beat the Navy Blue Angels to be the first to use it in their demonstration team:
The Thunderbirds will use alternative fuel, unprecedented for any Department of Defense aerial team, at the [airshow] here May 20 and 21, officials said.
The team will fly with Camelina-based hydrotreated renewable jet fuel as part of the nation’s overall strategy to reduce reliance on foreign energy and establish greater energy security through conservation and use of “home grown” alternative energy sources, said Terry Yonkers, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics.
On a related noted, the Blue Angels apparently had an ‘incident’ Read more
A local Colorado Springs military paper repeats “one (widely-accepted)” and oft-repeated tradition of the military unit coin, or RMO (which has taken hold in many fields outside the military). Though no one knows the precise origin of the story, the article’s version of the story is nearly identical to the one found here several years ago.
Another US Navy fighter squadron conducted a change of command in the air recently.
The “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 held an airborne change of command ceremony above the deployed aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) April 27.
Cmdr. Daniel J. Sullivan IV relieved Cmdr. Randy Stearns as VFA 11 commanding officer.
Sullivan and Stearns both flew Read more
The US Air Force has reportedly taken delivery of the first production-model F-35 Lightning II — the first of a planned 1,700+ order.
Lt.jg Steve Crowston is the former enlisted Sailor who became an officer and then went through a fighter pilot naming, as previously discussed:
Crowston told the IG that [his commander, Commander Liam] Bruen and the unit’s then-executive officer, Cmdr. Damien Christopher, were in the unit’s ready room during an August 2009 all-officer review of squadron call signs, when Crowston was offered choices such as “Fagmeister,” “Gay Boy” and the group’s final choice, “Romo’s Bitch” — a reference to the quarterback of Crowston’s favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys. Crowston was the squadron’s administrative/legal officer.
Crowston is demanding an apology for the experience: Read more
Along with the USAF Academy press release confirming the death of Maj Phil Ambard, an assistant professor, the Air Force also released the names of the others killed during a gunman’s attack.
Among them was Maj David Brodeur, a 1999 USAF Academy graduate and F-16 pilot. Brodeur wasn’t in Afghanistan flying the F-16, however. He was apparently part of a unit training Afghan pilots.
Maj Ambard leaves behind a wife and five children, four of whom have followed him into military service (his daughter just returned from deployment). Maj Brodeur is survived by a wife and two children.
Update: Official military release on those killed in the attack, indicating LtCol Frank Bryant was also an F-16 pilot killed in the attack. Maj. Jeffrey Ausborn was also killed; he was a T-6 pilot, though his primary weapons system is unknown. The military released an additional report intended to dispel inaccurate press reporting on the incident.
The unsung hero of the long duration sortie (or small bladder), the piddle pack is now the focus of a lawsuit:
American Innotek, the California company that makes the [“Flight Extender”]…is suing the federal government over alleged infringement of its patented urine containment bag.
Apparently Innotek lost their contract when their “Flight Extender” was replaced by New York City Industry for the Blind’s “Piddle Pak.” (The name likely came from the affectionate appellation, not the other way around.) Innotek alleges that the piddle pak infringed on their patent.
Who would ever think the potty-in-a-pouch would ever be such a big deal? Then again, ask any fighter pilot on a long flight after he drank too much coffee in the brief…