General Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff, has indicated the F-22 grounding will be lifted as of tomorrow. The jets have been largely inactive since the fleet was grounded in May over concerns about life support systems.
According to open sources, the US Air Force’s fifth generation fighter is slated to return to flight in the near future. The F-22 fleet was grounded four months ago following crashes in which the jet’s oxygen system was thought to be implicated.
Much of the fighter pilot lexicon is not suitable for the ears of Mom or the kids. When translated, this is one of those terms.
YGBSM is short for “You Gotta Be Sh-tting Me,” which is obviously a term of shock, disbelief, or resignation at a realization of institutional stupidity. Where did it come from, and why is it so popular in the fighter pilot community?
Lt Col Allen Lamb, USAF (ret.), wrote a first person account about being one of the Air Force’s (the world’s) first SAM-killers, otherwise known as “Wild Weasels:” Read more
A T-34C Turbomentor, a primary training aircraft for the US Navy, crashed last Wednesday evening. The two-man crew survived. The T-34 does not have ejection seats; it is unclear if they bailed out or ditched. They were picked up by a Coast Guard helicopter that was already on patrol.
As with every military mishap, the incident will be investigated and reported on several months from now.
The Associated Press reported that an Air Force Academy cadet was “safe” after his glider “crash landed” in Colorado Springs:
Academy spokesman First Lt. Meredith Kirchoff said Monday the glider lost lift and came down four miles east of the airfield.
While the AP called it a “crash” landing, the local Colorado Springs Gazette said it was an “emergency landing.” The cadet reportedly described it even less dramatically: Read more
According to the Military Times, the midair collision of two F/A-18s from Naval Air Station Fallon last year was the result of a very simple pilot error:
Shortly after takeoff, they moved into a “wall formation” with the Super Hornets four abreast, putting 1.2 nautical miles between the two planes that eventually would collide. The lieutenant commander was flying one of the two inside planes.
“90-right, go,” the lieutenant commander announced, signaling everyone to turn.
While the three other planes turned right, for some reason the lieutenant commander turned left. Read more
According to the Wall Street Journal, a US Air Force C-130 and an unmanned RQ-7 Shadow collided over Afghanistan on Monday. The C-130 was damaged but landed safely; the RQ-7 apparently did not survive.
The name of the UAV is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The RQ-7 is a tactical UAV generally operated by US ground forces. DefenseTech.org has pictures of the C-130.
The Associated Press notes the beginning of training for four Afghan women who will ultimately be pilots in the Afghan Air Force. They are undergoing language training this year and will begin their pilot training next year.
The ladies brought attention to the fact Afghanistan isn’t like it used to be:
For women in Afghanistan, said Afghan Air Force 2nd Lt. Masooma Hussaini, it’s not like “it was in Taliban times.” Her sisters are in school, women work in offices and, by next year, Hussaini and three other young women could be among their country’s first females piloting military helicopters.
The article notes some men in Afghanistan may not be ready for the change. As the US begins its withdrawal, it will be interesting to see what becomes of the fledgling Afghan Air Force.