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
Pictures of the US military arriving in disaster areas and providing aid and comfort are ubiquitous. They are so prevalent, in fact, some people forget the US military is not a humanitarian or aid organization. While they’ve been known to distribute MREs or other military-style aid in response to crises, the military often simply provides a conduit for other agencies who are better equipped to provide aid.
Such was the case in Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11th. The relief effort notably included C-17s flying into Sendai, Japan, in the first such delivery of emergency aid in the region. The US Air Force aircraft were loaded with nearly 100 tons of emergency aid supplies…from Samaritan’s Purse. As noted in the official release:
A C-17 Globemaster III from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson…download[ed] supplies, including four pallets of water and six pallets of blankets and food from Samaritan’s Purse in partnership with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Japan Mission Center in Osaka and other church partners in Japan.
Members of the US military helped unload the charity’s 747, then load four 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.
The US Army proudly announced its MQ-1C Gray Eagle had successfully employed a Hellfire missile in Iraq.
Of course, the Army’s Gray Eagle is essentially the same aircraft as the Air Force’s Predator, which has been armed for some time.
The article notes some of the differences between Air Force and Army operations:
The Air Force’s Predator drones are flown by officers who are usually located back in the USA and connected to the airframes by satellite link. But flying the Army’s Gray Eagle is an enlisted soldier’s affair, done in theater and close to the ground troops that the airframe serves.
According to the Air Force Times, the all-female F-15E Strike Eagle combat flight orchestrated as part of Women’s History Month “spark[ed] debate” over the issue of women in combat. The article is largely composed of reader inputs to the Times’ calls for comment. Most of the comments support lifting restrictions, and most (including women) also say the standards should be the same for men and women.
The ironic part of that statement is men and women aren’t currently held to the same standard; for example, in every service women have different Read more
The Air Force Times obtained the investigation report of the T-38 fly-by of the Iowa-Ohio State football game that was deemed too low to be legal. The report is not flattering of the pilots, but does reveal there was at least one mitigating factor:
An Air Force pilot who led a dangerously low flyover before an Iowa football game told investigators he descended to avoid other air traffic and then lost track of his altitude because he was busy with other tasks, according to a report documenting missteps in the flight’s planning and execution…
Two small planes had taken off without clearance Read more
USAFA economics instructor R. David Mullin released a letter through the MRFF criticizing the most recent religious climate assessment. Pam Zubeck of the Colorado Springs Independent tried to get the Air Force to corraborate the MRFF ally’s description of the Religious Climate Review Team led by USAF General (Ret) Patrick Gamble:
In the statement, Mullin notes, “To my knowledge, none (of those in contact with the MRFF) will come forward with their stories of victimization by the establishmentarianists. Why? Because of what the Religious Climate Review Team is not. You are a former USAFA Commandant, another member is a former USAFA Dean of Faculty, and another was a USAFA Permanent Professor for over 30 years. Therefore, you cannot credibly claim that the team is disinterested.”
(Oddly, despite his criticism, it seems Mullin did “come forward” and speak to Gamble’s group.)
According to the CSIndy, the Air Force declined: Read more