USAF Lt Ben Garland has reportedly changed his mind and asked for an assignment as a Public Affairs officer rather than pilot training. He will be assigned to the USAFA athletic department rather than his original assignment to pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base. The decision process has been ongoing for some time.
While its good he made that decision now, as opposed to halfway through Read more
An A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog) crashed near Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, on Friday, according to the US Air Force. The pilot ejected and was airlifted to a hospital; locals said he complained of a back injury. As is the usual procedure, the incident will be investigated and a report issued in a month or more.
The A-10 has recently been used in Libya, most publicly attacking boats along the coast.
The Marine Times reports an AV-8B Read more
Previous articles have noted the recommendation by a government panel that women be allowed in all military roles, including combat, because their careers suffer when they are compared to males with broader or combat experience.
A recent article highlighting female Army aviators noted the statistic:
According to a study released earlier this month by the Military Leadership Diversity Commission, women account for only 16 percent of leadership positions in the military – a seemingly staggering statistic to release during National Women’s History Month.
The very next sentence, however, puts the statistic in perspective: Read more
A variety of people from both sides of the political spectrum have made implications of similarity between President Barack Obama’s decision to use military force in Libya and decisions by prior President George W. Bush.
There’s even the second-guessing of the name.
Few people might remember the original name for what eventually became Operation Enduring Freedom was actually Operation Infinite Justice. After reported outcry Read more
As reported in the New York Times, US Air Force Capt. Ryan Thulin, an F-16 pilot stationed in Aviano Air Base, Italy, describes his recent (and first) combat mission, over Libya.
Of note, he flew an 8-hour mission out of Italy, refueling at least twice on the way in and the way out. He dropped at least two 500-lb precision weapons on targets in Libya.
The Associated Press picture of Thulin accompanying the article shows him sporting a mustache. He’s not participating in the fighter pilot tradition of growing a mustache while deployed, as he’s flying from his home base. It’s just coincident timing: the war in Libya occurred during Mustache March.
As an aside, the New York Times reports A-10s and AC-130s have entered the theatre, which may represent a shift in strategy from the generally high-altitude precision bombardment that has happened to date.
A fighter pilot discussing the state of the Air Force recently lamented the rise of SNAPs in the fighter pilot culture.
POS commanders are out there…who care more about Green Bag Bible Study than they do about having a normal roll call in the squadron every once in a while. Douchebags that stand in the corner and wince when I correct a punk who starts singing by interrupting and asking “how does every good fighter pilot song start?” [Ed: The answer to that question is not for polite company…]
And they take care of their own. The SNAPs who refuse to drink out of principle and scoff when others do, Read more
A variety of sources report that six US Air Force pilots were punished over the 20 November 2010 flyby of the Iowa-Ohio State football game. (Four flew the aircraft, two acted as ground coordinators.) Soon after the event, it emerged the pilots may have been below required minimum altitudes.
The flight lead of the four-ship of T-38s, Maj Chris Kopacek, reportedly agreed to a deal including a reprimand and a voluntary removal from flight status to avoid a court martial. He also signed a waiver of his privacy rights, allowing the Air Force to publicize its response to his actions. From the Associated Press: Read more
According to the US Air Force, an F-15E Strike Eagle went down in Libya due to an “equipment malfunction.” Both crewmembers are “back in US hands” after the pilot was retrieved by US Marines and the WSO was “recovered” by Libyan rebels.
Two crew members ejected from their U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle when the aircraft experienced equipment malfunction over northeast, Libya, March 21, at approximately 10:30 p.m. CET.
Both crew members ejected and are safe.
The press release also revealed that the aircraft was flying out of Aviano Air Base in Italy, home to other American units including an F-16 fighter unit.