Tag Archives: holloman afb

Holloman AFB F-16 Crashes

Last Wednesday, a fledgling F-16 pilot had reason to be thankful when he successfully ejected during a training mission out of Holloman AFB, New Mexico:

“The pilot successfully ejected and was transported to a local medical facility,” Holloman Director of Media Relations Arlan Ponder said. “He was part of a training mission…”

The First Lieutenant was likely an upgrading student, as the squadron at Holloman actually belongs to the primary F-16 training unit at Luke AFB, Arizona.

As is the normal routine, the Air Force will investigate the incident and report on it some months from now.

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Holloman Centrifuge Spins to a Stop

As of October 27th, the US Air Force centrifuge at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, has ceased operations.

The closure was a result of BRAC; a replacement centrifuge is being built at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.  Until it opens in 2012, aircrew will use the contractor-run centrifuge at the former Brooks AFB in Texas.

The centrifuge will continue to be a “rite of passage” for fighter pilots in both the US and many international air forces.

“Demons” in US Military Cause Protest, Sort of

If you can get past the title, Dr. James White’s article “Strippers Going to War” has an interesting perspective on religion in the military.  Dr. White is Professor of Theology and Culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

White’s topic is the Christian reaction — or over-reaction — to perceptions of sin or evil in the culture.  In one example, he cites the case of Pastor Donald Crosby of the Kingdom Builders Church of Jesus Christ in Warner Robins, Georgia.  (The story was originally covered by USA Today via WMAZ in Macon, Ga.)  The pastor enrolled his son in the local high school, only to discover their mascot was…a demon:

He’s been collecting signatures of protest ever since, saying that a pitchfork-wielding mascot sends the wrong message to teens.  “Hundreds of children gather into one place at one time chanting ‘Go Demons.’  It’s the equivalent of us gathering into a church on Sunday morning and shouting ‘Go, Jesus’ or ‘Hallelujah Jesus,’ the pastor maintains.

Interesting thing is, that’s not at all the history behind the mascot:

School principal Steve Monday says that the origin of the mascot isn’t religious at all.  In fact, it started in World War II from the 7th fighter squadron at Robbins [sic] Air Force Base, Read more