New Pilots, Officers Selected for the Air Force Thunderbirds
WEBJul 11, 2019 · NELLIS AFB, NV — The Air Force Thunderbirds have selected six new pilots and officers recently for the 2020 and 2021 air show seasons. The Thunderbirds will rotate new pilots into aircraft 2, 4, and 6 this November as the squadron prepares to begin training for next season.Air Force officials also selected a new operations officer, executive officer, and public affairs officer.
Commando II: The Latest Shadowy Special Ops Hercules
WEBJun 18, 2020 · Replacing Spec Ops Legends. The MC-130J has largely replaced the aging fleet of 37 special operations-dedicated MC-130E Combat Talon I and MC-130P Combat Shadow airlifter/tankers. The original name for the MC-130J was Combat Shadow II in honor of the MC-130P but was renamed in 2012 to Commando II. Previous special operations Hercules variants ...
The MD-80 That Hit Trees And Kept Trucking, Saving All Aboard
WEBThe MD-80 Hit Trees But Everyone Survived. Miraculously, all aboard Flight 1572 survived. One passenger sustained a minor injury, while all other 72 passengers and the five crewmembers egressed without harm. The aircraft sustained $9-million in damage and unbelievably was repairable and returned to service a few years later.
The Skyray: This Manta-Winged Fighter was the Last For Douglas
WEBThe Skyray was armed with four Colt M12 20 millimeter cannons, but these were often removed and the gun ports covered. The jet was equipped with the AN/APQ-50A search/single-track radar tied to an Aero 13F fire control system. Under the jet were three pylons on each wing and a centerline pylon. Total …
Col Stapp Endured The Highest G-Forces Ever To Advance Safety
WEBJanuary 1, 2024. Mike Killian. Col Stapp was a real human crash test dummy who advanced aerospace safety. He then went on to advocate for seatbelts. Oh, and he coined the term “Murphy’s Law”! Over the decades, a lot of research has been conducted by the USAF to understand the affects and limits of G-forces on aircrews.
War Hoover: The Fabulously Flexible Lockheed S-3 Viking
WEBGoing to The Boat. Production of S-3A Viking aircraft began at Lockheed’s Burbank production facility in 1974 and fleet S-3As entered service with Air Antisubmarine Warfare Squadron FOUR ONE (VS-41) Shamrocks on 20 February 1974. VS-41 was the S-3 Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) or RAG until East Coast squadron VS-27 Pelicans/Sea Wolves was tasked with East Coast RAG duty during the 1980s.
The Lockheed L-1011 Tristar Was an Over-Engineered Masterpiece
WEBThe L-1011 ended Lockheed’s love affair with commercial offerings. The L-1011 was a mix of advanced design and disappointing initial performance. Lockheed couldn’t overcome their delayed entry to market, combined with weak performance from the first versions of the aircraft. The jet sold a total of 249 aircraft to commercial and military ...
The KC-97: Boeing’s Big Tanker Set the Standard - Avgeekery.com
WEBFeb 8, 2020 · The KC-97G was the definitive dual-role tanker/cargo variant. When acting as a transport, the KC-97G and other dual-role KC-97 variants could carry up to 68,500 pounds of cargo or up to 96 fully-equipped troops. KC-97s in most configurations were capable of off-loading 15,000 gallons of fuel when not burdened with cargo.
Meet America’s Newest Airline, Alaska-Based Northern Pacific …
WEBMike Killian. America has a new airline, and a new means of travel to / from Alaska, East Asia and the USA’s lower 48. In January, Northern Pacific Airways unveiled the first plane in their fleet, a Boeing 757-200. They hope to launch their first flight with paying passengers by end of this year, aiming to serve several major cities and ...
Meet the Helen Richey: The First Woman Commercial Pilot
WEBFeb 22, 2024 · Many ladies helped pioneer women in aviation, including Amelia Earhart who became a household name, but Helen Richey was the first woman to become a commercial pilot. Her story is one of a courageous underdog, passion and pursuit of dreams, but also tragic darkness. She was born in 1909 in Pennsylvania and drawn to the sky at an early age.