General Discussion

Apparently China has been conducting military drills and exercises on their northeast border with Russia. China and Russia have always been “frenemies” ever since the Soviet-Sino split which peaked with Zhenbao Island incident that resulted in a brief armed conflict between the two countries in 1969. Nixon adroitly exploited this rift with his visit to China in 1972. https://www.theklaxon.com.au/home/china-russian-border-drills

Apparently there was a crash of a Cessna Citation into the Baltic due to what looks like a loss of pressurization. Fighters were scrambled when there was no response to ATC as it flew on autopilot until it ran out of fuel: https://youtu.be/ZDFHOW6DxdA

https://defenseopinion.com/in-a-dangerous-world-new-pentagon-mitigation-plan-would-hobble-u-s-forces/183/ One excerpt. Interesting from the perspective that major combat would probably be hampered if you apply the same expectations as HVI hunts with Hellfires, which he argues we are doing.

Apparently Rotax engines are a target of organized crime (at least in Europe for now). They are showing up in Iranian drones purchased by Russia and being used in Ukraine. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/bizarre-theft-wave-targets-same-rotax-engines-used-in-iranian-drones?fbclid=IwAR2BeFr1ribbpa62UkTrl4klDu-wzhr_O867JfQmLCzbN3EcM0OeTQ7D9mk

It looks like a possible loss of pressurization of a Cessna Citation V that was flown single pilot with his family. Two F-16’s intercepted and reportedly used flares to to attempt to contact the pilot.

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/03/23/air-force-honors-fallen-jber-service-member-with-flyover/ R.I.P. SSgt Charles Crumlett.

Hi All; For a museum project, I am looking for USAF Pilot Training Class patches from Moody AFB from Fiscal Year 2003 to Fiscal Year 2007. I can trade for or buy. Please help if you can Jim Flaviani, USAF (Ret) USAF UPT Historian www.usafupt.com

Hi All; For a museum project, I am looking for USAF Pilot Training Class patches from Moody AFB from Fiscal Year 2003 to Fiscal Year 2007. I can trade for or buy. Please help if you can Jim Flaviani, USAF (Ret) USAF UPT Historian www.usafupt.com

If Congress doesn't fix the U-2 divestment really soon, this will likely be the last Beale Airshow with a U-2 flying. Lineup is coming along well, to include TBirds, F-18 TACDEMO, USMC Osprey Demo, C-17/KC-135 Demo, Aarron Deliu, T-33 Demo, Vicky Benzing If interested in bringing a static to the party, drop me a note. It should be a large time.

The movers showed up without wardrobe boxes that I requested weeks, if not a month in advance of my move date. JPPSO was like they didn't bring wardrobe boxes, that's a pretty standard thing! After calling JPPSO, they made them deliver wardrobe boxes to my house. The young lady overseeing the movers tried to tell me that they were going to stand up my Tempurpedic Breeze mattress in the crate. I let everyone know well in advance that I have a HIGH VALUE Tempurpedic Breeze mattress. It must ALWAYS be shipped flat (laying down). In fact, I've never had to explain this to any moving company contracted by the military. After I tell them I have a Tempurpedic Breeze, they …

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMvkYxBymK1/?img_index=4&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/snowball-express Lt Dan is the Man!

"After extensive internal review, Air Force officials released Sept. 17 their basing criteria that will be used to determine the future basing of joint strike fighters. The basing criteria were approved by the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force. The basing criteria are airspace, flight training ranges, weather, support facilities, runways, taxi ramps, environmental concerns and cost factors." https://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123168380 I am glad it took an "exhaustive internal review" for the Air Force to figure out the criteria for basing the JSF. I am waiting to see where this ground breaking discovery ranks in the history of air power...jet engi…

How are the US investigations into BAe Systems going? And are there any similar investigations ongoing into US defence companies? Source: BBC

This is a little old, but I thought it was cool that out there was an actual tracker available to the general public by NASA. Check it out.

Virtual Wall

Greets all, Standard disclaimer--long time listener, first time caller... For anyone who is familiar with the rescue of Marcus Luttrell in July 2005 as part of Operation Redwings, there is a foundation that he is helping to launch next weekend that will provide a rehabilitation, rest, recovery, and reintegration facility in Texas for wounded and returning warriors-- Lone Survivor Foundation and the Lone Survivor Ranch. My involvement with that mission 5 years ago started by flying Hogs as one of two Sandy Ones that we had deployed with the 74th EFS. There's stories aplenty in that vein, but that's not the point of this post. In looking for more info about the miss…

I am the operations manager for Montrose Regional Airport Colorado (MTJ); I last posted seeking static display aircraft for our annual open house in September and appreciate the help I recieved from the Baseops forum. One of the requirements needed for AETC aircraft participation was an AETC Non-Towered Operating Agreement and contract fuel. In an effort to increase military training activity and to prepare for next years open house I am seeking guidance as to how to obtain an operating agreement? Having had an operating agreement at a prior airport I know Montrose Regional meets the requirements for the agreement and I feel our airport would be a great new cross-count…

Anyone?

Wall Street Journal December 6, 2010 Pg. 1 China Clones, Sells Russian Fighter Jets By Jeremy Page ZHUHAI, China—A year after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a cash-strapped Kremlin began selling China a chunk of its vast military arsenal, including the pride of the Russian air force, the Sukhoi-27 fighter jet. For the next 15 years, Russia was China's biggest arms supplier, providing $20 billion to $30 billion of fighters, destroyers, submarines, tanks and missiles. It even sold Beijing a license to make the Su-27 fighter jet—with imported Russian parts. Today, Russia's military bonanza is over, and China's is just beginning. After decades of import…

Trying to find the call sign of LtCol. Robert L. Wright (ret) who was the Operations Officer for the F-15 test squadron at Edwards in the late 80's, early 90's. He also flew F-4's before going to TPS. Any help anyone can give would garner you many internet beers! Edit: More information

Looking for the AFI (or the like) containing the definition of AF tail number formats. Any help would be appreciated! Something along the lines of this, Globemaster link or Globalsecurity.org link, but official.

Just an invite for all Rotorheads to enjoy the launch issue of our new mil helo mag. Digital edition is online for everyone to read. Cleared HOT - Issue 1

Interesting story on Fox... https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/15/general-reportedly-said-was-pressured-to-change-testimony-on-white-house-backed/ I don't know much about General Shelton but I have been following the lightsquared issue for a while now and it sure seems that have been able to fast track through the FCC despite the frequency proximity to GPS and power of their network vs. the GPS signal.

Morning All, Making this easy for everyone. We have just launched the new VIP area for our new website Kia Kaha Media where we have downloadable PDF files for HeliOps (Civil helo ops) and Cleared HOT (Military helo ops), as well as our other magazines such as P1 (Motor Racing). Anyone here who would like access to the VIP area just do the following: Click on https://www.kiakahamedia.com At the very top right there is a button titled VIP Login, click on that. Then on the right hand side it takes about 30 seconds to fill in the form. We then approve you and you can log in to the VIP area and download all the mags. Once you have access to the VIP area there its g…

https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/arrested-alleged-plot-smuggle-us-military-tech-china/story?id=16210937#.T5jtmu0Rvzk