Global Aviation Magazine - Issue 24: June / July 2014

I SSUE24-J UN/J UL2014

Av i at i ont r ai ni ngands af et yar oundt hewor l d

CONT QF4 -Phantom ’ s Last Stand A pi ecef r om t hear chi veofEr i kRoel of swho vi s i t ed t he 82nd Aer i alT ar get sS quadr on det achmentatHol l omanAF B,New Mex i co, t ol ear nal l aboutt heQF 4pr ogr am.

VX30 Bl oodhounds NBVC Poi nt M ugu Kevi nJ acks onr epor t sf r om Cal i f or ni aont he wor koft hi sf as ci nat i ngal l L ockheedUSNavy oper at or .

The RoyalSaudi Ai r Force M useum L ocat ed i nt he nor t her ns ubur bsofRi yadh, S aqrAl J az eer ai shome t o an i mpr es s i ve col l ect i on ofai r cr af tchar t i ng t he hi s t or yof t heRS AF .Paul Dunnr epor t s .

Frank Greal i sh: The Joy ofAi rtoAi r Kar l Dr aget al kst oF r ankGr eal i s haboutwhat i t i s t hat makes hi m chas e ai r t oai r oppor t uni t i esatt he ex pens e ofal mos tal l ot hert ypesofavi at i onphot ogr aphy.

TENTS

I ssue 24 JUN /JUL 2014

Paul Dunnt r avel st oAl t usAF B,Okl ahomat ol ear nal l aboutt hewor k oft he97t hAi rMobi l i t yWi ng,whi cht r ai nsC17andKC135cr ews .

Chani a AB:Hom e of HAF’ s 115 CW

Best ofGl obal Avi ati on M agazi ne

T om Gi bbonst r avel st oChani aAi rBas e, Cr et e,t ovi s i tt heHel l eni cAi rF or ce’ s115 CombatWi ngandi t sBl ock52+F 16s .

Kar lDr age,PaulDunn& RobEdgcumbe t ake a l ook back atGAM’ shi ghl i ght s f r om t hepr evi ous23i s s ues .

Mai n coveri mage-PaulDunn

I sbroughtto you by

I s s ue24Cont r i but or s

Edi t or :Kar lDr age

kRoel of smakesar et ur ni nI s s ue24 Eri

wi t hanot herpi ec ef r om hi sar c hi v e,t hi s t i met hepr oduc tofav i s i tt oHol l omanAFB wher ehel ear ntaboutt heQF4pr og r am.

Emai l :edi t or @gl obal av i at i onmagaz i ne. c om sGAM’ sedi t orandi nt hi sf i nali s s uet al kst o KarlDragei

Fr ankGr eal i s haboutwhati ti saboutt hewor l dofai r t oai r phot og r aphyt hatmakess omuc happeal .

Deput yedi t or :Gar et h St r i nger

nJ ac ks onr epor t sf r om NBVCPoi nt Kevi

Mug u,CA,homeoft heUSNav y ’ sVX30 “ Bl oodhounds ” and i t s s mal l but i nt er es t i ngf l eetofai r c r af t .

Emai l :gar et h@gl obal av i at i onmagaz i ne. c om oappear anc es PaulDunnmakestwosol i nt hi s ,t hef i nali s s ueofGAM.Fi r s t l yhe r epor t sf r om SaudiAr abi aon t heRSAF Mus eum andt henhet r av el st oAl t usAFB t of i ndoutaboutt he97t hAMW.

om Gi bbonst akesust ot hepi c t ur es que T

Gr eeki s l andofCr et eandt heF16soft he 115t hCombatWi ngbas edatChani aAi r Bas e.

Rob Edgcumbe j oi nsKar lDr ag e and

PaulDunn t ol ookbac katwhatwe t hi nkhav ebeenGAM’ sbes tbi t s-i t was n’ taneas ydec i s i ont omake.

Toadv er t i s ei nGl obalAvi at i onMagazi ne: Tel :+44( 0) 7912311379 Emai l :adv er t s @gl obal av i at i onmagaz i ne. c om

Tos ubs c r i bet oGl obalAvi at i onMagazi ne: www. gl obal av i at i onmagaz i ne. c om

© Gl obalAvi at i on Resour ce 2014.Al l r i ght s r es er v ed. Gl obal Avi at i on Resour ce' sphot ogr aphi candwr i t t enwor k i ss ubj ec tt oc opy r i ght and may not be r epr oduc ed i n any f or m wi t hout ex pr es s wr i t t enper mi s s i on.

I fy ouwoul dl i k et odi s c us sus i nganyofour i mager yorf eat ur ec ont entpl eas ec ont ac tus .

Mi dai rS quadr onCanber r aPR9XH134/GOMHDi ss eenont he

EDI TORI AL

l ayout s , and, l ooki ng back, t hats howed! It hi nk ast i me moved on,we ended up wi t h a goodl ooki ng publ i cat i on, wi t hs omeoft hebes ti mager y ar ound accompanyi ng i nt er es t i ng and i nf or mat i ve t ex t .

and i tdoesf eell i kes omet hi ng ofa‘ f ai l ’ .

Wher e di d we geti twr ong?

Wasi tt hos emor ebas i cl ayout s i nt he ear l y days ? Wi t hout ques t i on,s wi t chi ngt ot hepai d model wasahugemi s t ake,but t hi swi l lr epr es entt hes i x t hi s s ue However ,I ’ d be l yi ng i fIs ai d s i nce r et ur ni ng t o a I ’ m not l ooki ng f or war d t o “f r eet oai r ” publ i cat i on, and get t i ngbackar ound100hour s wej us tcan’ ts eem t odevel op ofmy l i f e ever yt wo mont hs , t her eader s hi ps uf f i ci ent l y.Ar e

eapr onatCot s wol dAi r por taheadofaNovember2013di s pl aypr act i ce ( Kar lDr age)

peopl ej us t not r eady f ora di gi t al avi at i on magaz i ne – yet ?

T hedeci s i ont oki l l GAM wi l l not meanwhatwoul d have been GAM cont entj us tvani s hes–i t j us tmeansi t ’ l lappearon t he gl obal avi at i onr es our ce. com/ v2

webs i t ei ns t ead.

manner ,youhavemyper s onal t hanks . Dunny–PaulDunn – des er vess peci al pr ai s e,havi ng cont r i but ed mor e ar t i cl est han anyoneel s eand bei ng al mos t everpr es ent . Rob Edgcumbe andGr egMar s h’ spr oof i ngs ki l l s have al s o pr oved i nval uabl e.

T hankyoual l .

I ’ l ll eave you wi t h one ofmy T o ever yone who’ ss uppor t ed f avour i t es hot scapt ur eddur i ng t he magaz i ne, i n what ever GAM’ sex i s t ence.

I fyou have anycomment sor t hought s ,pl eas ef eelf r ee t o dr opmeal i ne.

Agai n, t hank you f or your s uppor t .

Kar lDr age Edi t or

edi t or @gl obal avi at i onmagaz i ne. com

P hant om’ s

T hel egendar yF 4Phant om I Is t i l l s er vest heUni t edS t at esAi rF or c i ti snol ongera f r ont l i nef i ght er .Er i kRoel of svi s i t ed t he82ndA det achmentatHol l omanAi rF or ceBas et o wi t nes st he Phant o bes ts eati nt hehous e.I magesaut horunl es sot her wi s es t at ed.

T hi sar t i cl ewasor i gi nal l ypubl i s hedi nPaci f i cWi ngsMagaz i nei n

’ sL as tS t and

r cet oday,event hough Aer i alT ar get sSquadr on t om i nact i on,f r om t he .

i nJ anuar y2013.

T heQF 106A Del t aDar twast hepr edeces s o l as tact i ve‘ S i x es ’oft heNew J er s eyAi rNat i o oft hel as tQF 106Adr onest enyear sl at er .I tw

T heL egend I nt heear l ys i x t i es ,t hes ugges t i ont hatt heUni t ed S t at esAi rF or cewoul doper at eaNavyj etf i ght er woul d have been unt hi nkabl e.Buti n 1962t he Ai rF or ce wasdi r ect ed t o conductOper at i on Hi ghs peed,a f l yof fcompet i t i on wi t ht he US Navy.Bot hs er vi ceswer et opi tt hei rl at es tf i ght er ai r cr af tagai ns tone anot her . T he Ai rF or ce champi onedt heConvai rF 106ADel t aDar t ,t he f as t es ts i ngl eengi nej eti nt er cept oroft heCol d War . T he Navy had br ought al ong t hei r McDonnel lDougl asF 4H1( F 4B)Phant om I I ,i t s l at es tf l eetdef ence f i ght er .T he Ai rF or ce was ver yi mpr es s ed wi t ht he Phant om,not i ng t he F 4' smul t i r ol e capabi l i t i esand pot ent i alasa ni ghtcapabl er econnai s s ancepl at f or m.

When t he F 4C ent er ed s er vi ce i n 1963,i twas ar med s ol el y wi t hi nf r ar ed and r adargui ded mi s s i l es .Dogf i ght swer e cons i der ed a t hi ng of t hepas ts ot her ewoul dbenous ef oracannon.

T he RF 4C t act i cal r econnai s s ance ai r cr af t , whi ch ent er ed s er vi ce s hor t l y af t ert he F 4C, woul dnotcar r yanyweaponsatal landwoul d r el yon t he Phant om' ss peed whi l ef l yi ng over t hebat t l ef i el d.However ,i nt hes ki esoverNor t h Vi et nam t hePhant om pi l ot sdi s cover edt hatt he mi s s i l e t echnol ogy was s t i l li mmat ur e. T he i nf r ar ed AI M9 S i dewi nder was r eas onabl y ef f ect i ve,butt he r adargui ded AI M7S par r ow was ver y unr el i abl e. T he pr obl em was ex acer bat ed by meddl es ome pol i t i ci ans , r equi r i ng t he vi s uali dent i f i cat i on oft he Nor t h Vi et names e f i ght er s bef or e t hey coul d be engaged.T hi sal l owed t he Mi Gst o getwi t hi n cl os er ange,f or ci ng t he Phant om i nt o cl os e quar t erdogf i ght s .Al t hought he F 4C and F 4D coul dcar r yt heS UU16/ A ex t er nalgunpod,t he F 4E woul df i nal l yr ecei ve an i nt er nalM61A1 Vul can20mm cannon. T he l ong nos ed F 4Ei s r egar ded by many ast he ul t i mat e Phant om f i ght er ,f eat ur i ng many new avi oni cs and weapons ys t ems .T heF 4Eal s or ecei vedl eadi ng edge s l at st o gi ve i tbet t ermanoeuvr abi l i t y.

Des pi t e t he t echnol ogy s hor t comi ngs and ques t i onabl er ul esofengagement s ,Ai rF or ce Phant omswoul d achi eve 107.

5ki l l sdur i ng t he Vi et nam War .

Amagni f i centl ooki ngF 4C bel ongi ngt ot heM AF Bf oranEx er ci s eWi l l i am T el l mi s s i oni nOct o

T hel as tf r ont l i neus ef ort heF 4i nUS AFwasi n T F Wi ss eenher eatRAFMi l denhal l i n1992 ( Ro

oroft heQF 4dr one.T hi sai r cr af twasoneoft he i onal Guar dbef or ei t sr et i r ementi n1988andone wasphot ogr aphedi n1995atT yndal l AF B.

Mi chi ganAi rNat i onal Guar dt ax i esoutatT yndal l t ober1982 ( L i nds ayPeacock)

T he s peci al i s ed F 4G " Wi l d Weas el �Phant om ent er eds er vi cei n1978.T hes ewer econver t ed F 4Emodel st hathad been modi f i ed f ort he s uppr es s i on ofenemy ai rdef ences ( S EAD) mi s s i on. Equi pped wi t ht he APR47 r adar homi ngs ys t em andar medwi t hAGM88Hi gh S peed Ant i Radi at i on ( HARM) mi s s i l es ,t he F 4G l ocat ed enemy s ur f acet oai r( S AM) mi s s i l es i t esand engaged t hem.By1990t he Ai rF or cehadpl annedt or et i r et heF 4E,F 4G and RF 4C f r om act i ve dut y but S addam Hus s ei n' si nvas i on ofKuwai twoul ds ee t he Phant om goi ng t o waragai n.Al t hough al l t hr ee t ypesdepl oyed t ot he r egi on,onl yt he F 4G andRF 4C woul ds eecombat .T heF 4G woul df acef or mi dabl eI r aqiai rdef encesasi t f l ew aheadoft hes t r i kepackagest odr aw t he at t ent i on of t he I r aqi S AM bat t er i es . By t ar get i ngt heF 4G,t heWi l dWeas el coul dl ock ont ot he S AM' sgui dance r adarand f i r ei t s AGM88 mi s s i l esi nr et ur n. Af t erOper at i on Des er tS t or m,t heF 4Eand RF 4C r et i r ed f r om t he Ai rF or ce al mos ti mmedi at el y,wi t hs ome ai r cr af t cont i nui ng s er vi ce wi t h t he Ai r Nat i onalGuar d.T he hi ghl ys ucces s f ulF 4G r emai nedi ns er vi cef oranot herf i veyear s ,unt i l i tt oowaswi t hdr awnandpl acedi nt os t or age wi t ht he 309t hAer os pace Mai nt enance and Regener at i on Gr oup ( AMARG) .L ocat ed i n t he Ar i z ona des er t ,AMARG i st he huge Ai r F or ce s t or age f aci l i t y wher e r edundant mi l i t ar yai r cr af tar ekepti nr es er ve.

i nt heWi l dWeas el S EADr ol e.AnF 4G oft he52nd RobEdgcumbe)

Above -One ofs ever all i nesofwi t hdr awn US AF Phant oms s t i l lat r es t at t he 309t h AMARG i nJ anuar y2009 ( Kar lDr age)

Aer i alT ar get s UnderT i t l e10oft heCodeofL awsoft heUni t ed S t at es of Amer i ca, any new or i mpr oved weapons ys t em mus tbe s ubj ect ed t or eal i s t i c, f ul l s cal eweapont es t sbef or eacqui s i t i onbyt he US Ar med F or ces . I n accor dance wi t ht hi s l egi s l at i ve r equi r ement ,t he Ai rF or ce i ni t i at ed t he Pave Deuce pr ogr am i n 1974,conver t i ng r et i r ed F 102A Del t a Dagger f i ght er s i nt o PQM102A f ul ls cal e aer i alt ar get s( F S AT ) .T he weapon t es t si nvol vi ng t hes e dr onesar e not onl y us ed t o eval uat et he l et hal i t y ofaer i al mi s s i l es but ar e des i gned t o t es t al lt he pr ocedur esand condi t i onsas s oci at ed wi t ht he us ageoft hes eweapons .T hePQM102Awoul d ber epl acedwi t ht heQF 100S uperS abr ei nt he mi d’ 80sundert hePaveHunpr ogr am.I n1990 t he f i r s t QF 106A Del t a Dar t dr ones wer e del i ver edt ot heAi rF or ce.T hes l eeki nt er cept or s had been conver t ed under t he Pave S i x pr ogr am and t he f i r s tDel t a Dar t sar r i ved at

Hol l omanAF Bi n1991. Whi l e atHol l oman,t he QF 106f l ew 114unmanned s or t i es ,ofwhi ch28 r es ul t ed i n t he des t r uct i on of t he ai r cr af t .

Al t hought heAi rF or ces t i l lhadpl ent yofQF 106 dr ones avai l abl e, i t had al r eady t ur ned i t s at t ent i on t ot he F 4 Phant om asi tr equi r ed a newer and mor e power f ul dr one ai r cr af t .

T he F 4 wasan obvi ouschoi ce f ort he F S AT mi s s i on,of f er i ng t heAi rF or cea f as tdr onet hat coul dr epr es entt hi r dgener at i ont hr eat s ,car r ya gr eat er payl oad and had bet t er hi ghG capabi l i t i est hananyoft hepr evi ousdr ones .T he f amed r uggednes s oft he Phant om was an addi t i onalbenef i t ,al l owi ng t he new dr one t o abs or bmor ei mpactdamagef r om i ner tmi s s i l es and have gr eat ers ur vi vabi l i t ydur i ng r emot el y cont r ol l ed l andi ngswhi chcanbever yhar d on t he l andi ng gear ,a par t i cul arweaknes soft he QF 106.

I n1992T r acorF l i ghtS ys t ems ,l at eracqui r ed by BAES ys t ems ,wasawar dedt hei ni t i al cont r actt o conver t105Phant omsi nt oQF 4dr ones .Mos tof t hes e wer eF 4Eand F 4G model s ,wi t ha s mal l numberofRF 4C ai r cr af t ,ast hes e had been onl yr ecent l ybeen r et i r ed and wer et her ef or e eas i ert or et ur nt of l yabl econdi t i on.Anumberof F 4C and F 4D model swer e al s o del i ver ed t o T r acorF l i ghtS ys t ems as t es tand eval uat i on ai r f r ames but t hes e ear l i er Phant oms wer e ex cl udedf r om t heQF 4pr ogr am.

T he QF 4 conver s i on pr oces s begi ns at t he AMARG f aci l i t y atDavi s Mont han AF B,wher e t he mos ts ui t abl e ai r f r amesar es el ect ed and t aken f r om t he s t or age ar eas .T he pr ot ect i ve S pr ayl atcoat i ng i sr emoved f r om t he ai r cr af t f us el age and t he ai r cr af tunder goesex t ens i ve depotmai nt enance,i ncl udi ng a f ul lr ebui l d of t he Gener alEl ect r i cJ 79engi nes .T he bes tF 4 ai r f r ameswi l lbe r et ur ned asunr es t r i ct ed,f ul l y

oper at i onalai r cr af twi t h 300 f l yi ng hour sand f ouryear sofs er vi ce.Ot herPhant omsmaybe del i ver ed wi t h s peci f i c r es t r i ct i ons ,s uch as Gf or ce l i mi t at i ons ,and onl y 100 f l yi ng hour s .

Once t he ai r cr af t have been r es t or ed t o ai r wor t hy condi t i ons and pas s ed al lt he t es t f l i ght s ,t heyar ef l ownt oT r acorF l i ghtS ys t emsat Moj ave,Cal i f or ni a.

Mai n-F ol l owi ngt akeof f ,F ANT OM f l i ghtr ej oi ns wi t ht hephot os hi pandheadsoutt ot heWhi t e S andsMi s s i l eRange,wi t hHol l omanAF Bvi s i bl ei n t he backgr ound. T he l ead QF 4Ei spi l ot ed by Maj or( Ret . )J i m “Boomer ”S chr ei ner ,cl os el y f ol l owedbyL t .Col .( Ret . )J i m “WAM”Har ki nsi n t hef or merHer i t ageF l i ghtQF 4E.

AtMoj ave,t he Phant omsar e conver t ed i nt o QF 4dr ones ,wi t hmodi f i cat i onst ot he s t eer i ng, f l aps , cont r ols ur f aces ,l andi ng gear and t hr ot t l es . An aut omat i c f l i ght cont r ols ys t em and addi t i onalaut opi l oti s i ns t al l ed, al ong wi t h f l i ght t el emet r y equi pmentand a Vect orDoppl erS cor i ng S ys t em ( VDOPS )t or egi s t ert hos e mi s s i l es t hatmayhavemi s s edt heai r cr af tbutwer e wi t hi n l et hal r adi us . T hes e addi t i onal s ys t emsaccountf ort he t el lt al e ant ennas on t he QF 4' ss pi ne and f us el age.A f l i ght t er mi nat i ons ys t em i sal s oi ns t al l ed i nt ot he ai r cr af t , whi ch al l ows f or t he r emot e des t r uct i on oft he dr one.Al lunneeded equi pmenti sr emoved,s uchast he 20mm M61Vul can cannon on t he F 4Eand t he AN/ APR47 el ect r oni c war f ar e equi pment on t he F 4G,t o make r oom f ort he dr one cont r olequi pment . Addi t i onalbal l as ti s added wher er equi r ed t o accountf ort he wei ghtoft he r emoved equi pment .I nt he cockpi tt her adars copeandr adarwar ni ng r ecei ver s( RWR)ar er emovedbutt her adar i t s el fr emai nss ot hatt he QF 4r et ai nst he abi l i t y t o t r ans mi tr adar s i gnal s when r equi r ed. Addi t i onalf unct i ons ,equi pment and wi r i ng i smoved f r om t he r earcockpi t t ot hef r onts ot hatt heQF 4canbef l ownby as i ngl e pi l ot .Af t erappr ox i mat el ys even mont hs ,t he QF 4 dr ones ar er eady f or del i ver yt ot he Ai rF or ce,ata cos tof2.

4 mi l l i onUS Dperai r f r ame.

T hedi f f er encebet weent heai rs uper i or i t ygr ey wel li l l us t r at ed ast hef or mat i onbankss har pl yo f or merT yndal lAF BHer i t agePhant om,i nt hedi s oft her et r opai nt j ob,QF 4E711087r ecei vedt he wi t ht he3r dT act i cal F i ght erWi ngatCl ar kAi rBa

Det achmentOne T he82ndAer i al T ar get sS quadr oni st heonl y oper at oroff ul ls cal e aer i aldr onesand i s l ocat ed at T yndal l AF B, F l or i da. T he s quadr on bel ongs t ot he 53r d Weapons Eval uat i onGr oup oft he53r d Wi ngatEgl i n AF B,F l or i da,whi chi nt ur nr epor t si nt ot heAi r War f ar e Cent eratNel l i sAF B,Nevada.T he 82ndAT RSal s omai nt ai nsadet achmentat Hol l oman AF B,New Mex i co,i ns uppor tof oper at i onsovert he near

by Whi t eS ands Mi s s i l eRange.

Ri ght-L t .Col .Pat r i ck" I chi "Kar ggoest hr oughs om t he manoeuvr eswhi l e br i ef i ng ofourphot of l i gh Col .Kar ghasr ecent l yr et i r edf r om t heAi rF or cea now acommer ci al avi at i onpi l ot .

yofl at eryear sandt hecl as s i cS EA s chemei s overt heNew Mex i codes er t .Al t hought he i s t ance,hadi t ss har ksmout happl i edaspar t hes emar ki ngswheni twass t i l l i nact i ves er vi ce Bas ei nt hePhi l i ppi nes .

omeof ht .L t . andi s

Commanded by L t .Col .Pat r i ck " I chi "Kar g, Det achment1oft he 82nd AT RSi sa s mal luni t when compar ed t or egul arf i ght ers quadr ons .

T hedet achmentcount sj us tf ourpi l ot s ,ofwhi ch L t .Col .Kar gi st heonl ycur r entact i vedut ypi l ot .

Howevert he combi ned ex per i ence oft hes e f ourpi l ot swoul dnotonl yr i val buts ur pas st hatof mos tact i vedut yf i ght ers quadr ons .L t .Col .Kar g haswel lover2000 f l yi ng hour swi t h combat ex per i ence over I r aq dur i ng Oper at i ons S out her n and Nor t her n Wat ch.He i sal s o an ex per i enced i ns t r uct orpi l oton bot ht he F 15C Eagl eandF 4FPhant om I I .

J i m " WAM"Har ki ns ,at5142 f l yi ng hour s ,has f l ownt he A10,i naddi t i ont ot he F 16F i ght i ng F al conandt heJ aguarwi t ht heRoyal Ai rF or ce.

S cot t" Wheel s "Ki mbal l ,at3866hour s ,i sal s oa f or merWar t hog pi l otand a F 117A Ni ght hawk pi l ot ,buthasal s of l own many hour son t he UH1N T wi n Hueywher e he per f or med S ear ch and Res cue mi s s i ons and t r ans por t ed hi gh r anki ng gover nment of f i ci al s wi t h t he 1s t Hel i copt er S quadr on at Andr ews AF B, near Was hi ngt onDC. However ,ofal l t hePhant om pi l ot s ,J i m" Boomer " S chr ei neri sar guabl yt hemos tex per i encedpi l ot s t i l lf l yi ngt oday,wi t hnear l y5200f l yi nghour son t heA10T hunder bol tI I ,t heT 37T weetandbot h t heF 4EandF 4G var i ant soft hePhant om.He wasal s ot hel as tact i vedut ypi l otcheckedouti n t heQF 106bef or ei t sr et i r ement .Aspar toft he 561s tT act i cal F i ght er S quadr on, J i m f l ew combatmi s s i onsi nt heF 4G Wi l dWeas eldur i ng Oper at i onDes er tS t or m,pl ayi ngdeadl ycatand mous egameswi t ht hel et halI r aqiai rdef ences .

F l yi ngoutofS hei kI s aAi rBas e,Bahr ai n,t heF 4Gs woul df l yaheadoft hecoal i t i ons t r i kepackages and cuta pat ht hr ought hes ophi s t i cat ed I r aqi S ur f acet oAi rMi s s i l e( S AM)def ences .

QF 4E741627i soneoft wo andact ed asphot os hi p.

T hes e mi s s i onscer t ai nl ywer e notf ort he f ai nthear t ed,asJ i m ex pl ai ns ,“T her ewer eaf ew moment sdur i ngt heGul fWart hat wer ehai rr ai s i ng.As i def r om act ual l ybei ngs hotat ,oneni ghtwe wer er et ur ni ngf r om ami s s i onoverBaghdadandhadt oi nf l i ght r ef uelbef or e cont i nui ng on t o ourbas ei n Bahr ai n.Wel l ,we coul dn' tl ocat et he t ankerand s o had t o di ver tt o a bas ei n nor t her nS audi .Unf or t unat el yt heweat herwasver yf oggyand t her ewass omedoubti nmymi ndi fwecoul df i ndt hef i el d.T he pr evi ousni ght ,anot hercr ew had at t empt ed a l andi ng att he s ame f i el d and had t o ej ectwhen t heyr an outoff uelaf t er uns ucces s f ul l y maki ng f our at t empt st o br eak out of t he weat her .Wedi dmanaget obr eakoutandl andunevent f ul l y. " T hei nci dentJ i mr ef er st oi nvol vedF 4G 697571whi chwasl os tat AlKhar jAi r bas e,18 J anuar y 1991.Af t ert he Gul fWar ,J i m cont i nuedt of l yPhant omswi t ht he20t hF i ght erS quadr onasan i ns t r uct orpi l ot .J i m' s ex per i ences dur i ng t he Gul fWarar e capt ur ed i nhi sex cel l entbook" Magnum!T he Wi l d Weas el si n Des er tS t or m" .

Asoneoft hever yf ew pi l ot st hathavef l ownbot ht hePhant om and t he Del t a Dar t ,J i m can make a f i r s t hand compar i s on bet weent hes et wof or mercompet i t or s .“T heQF 106wasa bi t l i ght ert hant heF 4andevent houghi thadl es st ot al t hr us t ,i twas f as t erbecaus eoft hel owerwei ghtandi twasmuchcl eaner .I t wasdes i gned asan i nt er cept orand s o had t o be f as t .On a col d day,i twascapabl e ofs uper s oni cf l i ghtwi t houtus i ng af t er bur ner .Iknow t heF 22guysl i ket obr agabouts uper cr ui s e butt heF 106gott her e50year sago.T hes i xal s ohadbet t erl egs t han t he F 4.We r out i nel yf l ew QF 106st oT yndal land back wi t houts t oppi ng al ong t he way-s omet hi ng we cannotdo i n t heF 4.T hedowns i dewasi twas n' tnear l yasr obus tast heF 4.

T hel andi ng geari npar t i cul arwaspr et t yweakand t ended t o br eakof fonhar dl andi ngs . ” T he uni que accumul at i on of s uch ex per i enced pi l ot s at Det achment1,or" t he Det " ,i sno coi nci dence.A mi ni mum of 1000hour sonf i ght erai r cr af ti sr equi r ed f oranycandi dat et o evenbecons i der edf orapos i t i onasaQF 4pi l otasJ i m Har ki ns ex pl ai ns ."

Ex per i encei sanabs ol ut emus t ,becaus et her ear eno t r ai ni ng uni t s[ f ort he QF 4] ,we do nothave a s i mul at orand pi l ot swi t h act ualF 4 ex per i ence ar e becomi ng i ncr eas i ngl y r ar e.I hadneverf l ownt heF 4bef or e,I j us thadt of i gur ei toutas Iwental ong,whi chi swhyex per i encemat t er ss omuch.

"When as kedhow f l yi ngt heF 4compar est ot heF 16,J i mr epl i es" T he F 4i sahoot ,i tr eal l yi s .Butcompar edt ot heF 16,i ti shar dwor k.

T he t hi ng Imi s st he mos ti st he HUD [ Head Up Di s pl ay] .When f l yi ng t he F 16,Ineverhave t ol ookdown,ever yt hi ng i sr i ght t her ei nf r ontofmeal lt het i me.Wi t ht heF 4,Icons t ant l yhave myheadbur i edi nt hecockpi t . "

J i m “Boomer ”S chr ei nert ax t hePhant omsal waysbr i ng

o“HD”mar kedHer i t ageF l i ghtPhant oms .T hi spar t i cul arai r cr af twast heper s onal mountofL t .Col .Kar g .

ax i esbacki naf t ert hephot of l i ght ,t aki ngt hebr akechut eal l t hewaybackt ot her amp.Whenpos s i bl e, gbackt hei rchut esast heyar et heonl yai r cr af tatHol l omanAF Bt hatr equi r et heus eofabr akechut e.

QF 4E710237i sal s oaf or mer3r dT act i cal F i ght erWi ngai r cr af t .F i r s tf l ownon1

L t .Col .Kar g adds ," T he F 4 cer t ai nl yi sver y di f f er ent .You have t o cons t ant l yt hi nk about whatyouar e doi ng,oryouwi l lf l yi tout s i de i t s envel ope.I thasnocomput er i z ed i nputcont r ol l i ket heF 16wher eyouj us tpul lt hes t i ckandl et t hecomput erf i gur ei tout .Al s o,t heF 4hasno aut ot r i mf ori ns t ance,s oyoucont i nuous l yhave t o keep f l yi ng t he ai r cr af tand keep maki ng adj us t ment s .I tt akeshar dwor kt of l yt heF 4wel l , butt hatal s omakesi tver ygr at i f yi ngt of l y."

When t he Phant oms ar e us ed t o pr ovi de adver s ar y s uppor t f or t he r es i dent F 22 s quadr ons ,i tal l owst heRapt orpi l ot st opr act i ce i nt er cept sagai ns ta di s s i mi l ar ,t hi r d gener at i on f i ght er .T o enabl et he QF 4Et o mi mi c a mor e r eal i s t i c t hr eat ,i t can equi pped wi t h t he AN/ AL Q188" I nt i mi dat or "t hr eats i mul at i onpod, whi ch s i mul at es enemy el ect r oni c count er meas ur es ( ECM) s i gnal s .T he ver s at i l e Phant omsar eal s ous ed t ot ow banner sf orl i ve

Dr oneOper at i ons A common mi s concept i on i s t hat t he Det achmentatHol l omanonl yex i s t st opr ovi de r emot el y cont r ol l ed aer i alt ar get s ,whi ch ar e cons equent l ydes t r oyed i nl i ve weaponst es t s .

Whi l et hes et ypeofmi s s i onscer t ai nl ydooccur , t hemaj or i t yoft heDet achment ' smi s s i onscons i s t of t r ai ni ng and pr of i ci ency mi s s i ons ,F 22 adver s ar ys uppor tandt es tmi s s i onst hatdonot i nvol vet hedes t r uct i onoft heai r cr af t .F ort hes e manned mi s s i ons ,t he Det achment oper at es s even unr es t r i ct ed, f ul l y oper at i onal QF 4E Phant oms , of whi ch t wo ar e equi pped as t wos eat er s . Anot hers i x ai r cr af thave been pr epar ed t o actas unmanned t ar get s .T he r emai ni ng 19ai r cr af tar ekepti nopens t or age.

T hes eai r cr af tr ecei ver egul armai nt enancebut i twoul dt akes i gni f i cantef f or tt opr epar et hes e ai r cr af tf ormanned mi s s i ons .T he maj or i t y of t hes e s t or ed Phant oms wi l lbe end up as unmannedt ar get s .

gunner ypr act i ce.T hi si nvol vest owi nga60f oot banners ome1800f eetbehi nd t heQF 4Ewhi l e l ocal l ybas edF 22sf i r el i ve20mm r oundsatt he banner .T he Phant om r et ur ns t he bannert o Hol l oman AF B af t er war dss ot he Rapt orpi l ot s caneval uat et hei rper f or mance.

I n bet ween al l t hes e act i vi t i es , t he Det achment ' s pi l ot s mus t al s o r egul ar l y f l y t r ai ni ng s or t i est o mai nt ai nt hei rpr of i ci ency i n t he QF 4E. T hes e mi s s i ons ,f l own undert he " F ANT OM"cal ls i gn,can cons i s tofs t andar d i ns t r ument depar t ur es , advanced handl i ng, aer obat i cs ,i ns t r umentl andi ngsandemer gency pr ocedur es ,ar ef l ownatal t i t udesbet ween500 and30, 000f eetandt ypi cal l yl as toneandahal f hour s .Butt he pi l ot smus tnotonl yr et ai nt hei r pr of i ci encyi nf l yi ngt heQF 4Ef r om t hecockpi t , butal s ot hr ough t he Dr one F or mat i on Cont r ol S ys t em ( DF CS )att heWhi t eS andsMi s s i l eRange

18S ept ember1972,t hi sPhant om i snow i ni t sf our t hdecadeofs er vi cewi t ht heUni t edS t at esAi rF or ce.

andt hemobi l econt r ol uni tatt heDet achment .

F l yi ngt heQF 4r emot el ycanbechal l engi ngas t he cont r ol l ercan onl yr el yon a movi ng map and i ns t r ument s di s pl ay. Unl i ke t he MQ1 Pr edat ororRQ4BGl obal Hawkr emot el ypi l ot ed ai r cr af t( RPA) ,t heQF 4Ei snotequi ppedwi t ha r ealt i me vi deo l i nk.When f l own r emot el y,t he QF 4Et r ans mi t si t st el emet r ydat a acr os sa 915 MHzdat al i nkwhi chi spi ckedupbyni negr ound s t at i onsacr os st he Whi t eS andsMi s s i l e Range.

Ast hel ocat i onand headi ngoft hePhant om i s det er mi ned by t r i angul at i on oft hes es i gnal s r at hert hanGPS ,r emot e QF 4Eoper at i onsar e onl ypos s i bl eovert heWhi t eS andsMi s s i l eRange ort heweaponsr angeovert heGul fofMex i co.

can cont r olup t of ourdr ones .Known ast he “br ead van" ,t he MCS i s us ed t o f or QF 4 l andi ngsand asa backup f ort he DF CSatt he Whi t eS andsMi s s i l e Range.When t he QF 4i s f l own f r om t hi s mobi l e uni t ,i tr equi r es t wo per s onst ocont r olt hedr one.Whi l eoneper s on cont r ol st he ai r cr af t ' s pi t ch and t hr ot t l e,t he ot hercont r ol st her ol l andheadi ng. " T her emot el andi ngst akeget t i ngus edt o,t hey

cer t ai nl ycanf eel abi tr ough" ,s aysL t .Col .Kar g, “T he f i r s tt i me i tcer t ai nl yf el tl i ke a ver y har d l andi ng,It houghtwe had r i pped t he l andi ng gears t r ai ghtof f !Butt he F 4wasj us tf i ne.

"J i m " WAM"Har ki nsagr ees ," T he cont r ol l er sar e ver y good atwhatt hey do butl andi ng t he F 4 Al lr emot el y cont r ol l ed pr act i ce f l i ght soccur r emot el yi sver y di f f i cul t .When Is t ar tt of eel wi t honeoft heDet achment ' sPhant om pi l ot si n uncomf or t abl ewi t hourappr oach,Iwi l lr es ume t hecockpi t .L aunchi ngt heQF 4Easamanned cont r oloft he j et ,ex ecut e a mi s s ed appr oach f l i ghti sf armor es t r ai ghtf or war d af f ai rt han and l i ne i tup agai n on f i nalappr oach f or doi ng t hi sr emot el yand t he pi l otal s o act st o anot hert r y.T her e cer t ai nl y have been a f ew s af eguar dt hepl ane.However ,f ort hepi l ott he l andi ngst hatmademyt eet hr at t l e!Butdonot ex per i encecanber at herunner vi ng,es peci al l y f or gett hatt hes e guysdo nothave a cockpi t whenpr act i ci ng l andi ngs ."

I ti sa r at heruni que vi ew.T o keep a vi s ualon t he QF 4,t hey ar e ex per i encet ohaveyourhandsont hes t i ckand act ual l yl ooki ng overt hei rs houl deratt he j et t hr ot t l ewhi l es omeonef arawayi sact ual l yf l yi ng whi l el andi ng i t .I ti sj us tl i ke t hatki d outi nt he t he ai r cr af t " ,ex pl ai nsL t .Col .Kar g. T hi ngscan f i el d wi t h hi sl i t t l e r emot e cont r olai r pl ane, f eel even s t r anger dur i ng r emot e l andi ng ex ceptt hi sone i sgoi ng 150mph and cos t s2 pr act i ce.T hes ear ecar r i edoutf r om t heMobi l e mi l l i on dol l ar s .Nott o ment i on t hati thasme Cont r olS ys t em ( MCS ) ,a l ar ge yel l ow vant hat onboar daswel l ! "

T heF 4G “Wi l dWeas el ”Phant om 697220f i r s ts er vedwi t ht heRoyal NUL L O mi s s i onsbef or ef i nal l ybei n

NUL L O Ul t i mat el y,t her ewi l l comeat i mewhent heQF 4hasf ul f i l i t s pr i mar ypur pos e,t hatofa r emot el ycont r ol l ed t ar getf or weapons t es t .T hes ef l i ght s ar er ef er r ed t o as NUL L O mi s s i ons ,s hor tf orNotUnderL i ve L ocalOper at i on.T he Det achmentmai nt ai nss i xQF 4 ai r cr af tt hathave been pr epar edf orNUL L O mi s s i ons .T hes eai r cr af thavehadt hei r ej ect i on s eat sr emoved and al lot herequi pmentonl y r equi r ed f ormanned oper at i ons .T hi si s an i r r ever s i bl e pr oces sand once a QF 4 hasbeen demanned,i twi l l neveragai nf l ywi t hahumanpi l otonboar d.

Outofs af et yandpr act i cal i t yr eas ons ,t heNUL L O ai r cr af ti s t owedt oRunway22,t hedes i gnat edr unwayatHol l oman AF Bf orr emot el ycont r ol l eddr onet akeof f s .Oncet heQF 4 hasbeenmader eadyf ori t sr emot el ycont r ol l ed t akeof f , t hes el f des t r uctchar gei sar med.T hi scons i s t sofanAI M9 war head t hati spl acedbehi ndt hecockpi t ,i nt hecent r e oft heai r cr af t .Upondet onat i on,t hewar headens ur et he ai r cr af t ' s des t r uct i on by br eaki ng i t ss pi ne. Wi t ht he char gesar med,t he QF 4E wi l lgetai r bor ne and head t owar dst heWhi t eS andsMi s s i l eRangeundert he" DRONE" cal ls i gn. A manned QF 4E,f l yi ng undert he " AT I L L A"cal l s i gn,act sasachas eai r cr af tandkeepsacl os eeyeont he NUL L O dr onet hr oughoutt het es tf l i ght .

Notever yNUL L Of l i ghtendsbadl yf ort hePhant om asJ i m " Boomer "S chr ei nerex pl ai ns ."

A NUL L O mi s s i oni st her es ul t ofmont hsofpr epar at i onandmanymannedf l i ght sdur i ng whi chwet es tt hemi s s i onpr of i l e.Whet herornott heQF 4 wi l l bedes t r oyeddependsont hecus t omer ,buti ft heydo ki l li t ,t heywi l lhavet opayf ort heai r cr af t .T hati swhyal ot ofmi s s i l es hoot soccurwi t houta l i ve war head on t he mi s s i l e.T hemi s s i l ecans t i l lhi tt heai r cr af t ,buti fi tdoesnot ki l l i t ,wecans t i l l r ecovert heF 4,pat chi tupandf l yi ts ome mor e. " F ort heDet achmentatHol l omanAF B,t hes eNUL L Of l i ght s us ual l yi nvol ve weapon t es t sf ort he Ai rF or ce,Navy or Ar my.Overt hepas tf ew year s ,i t sPhant omshaveact edas t ar get sf orAI M120AMRAAM,AI M9XS i dewi nder ,MI M104 Pat r i otandF I M92S t i ngermi s s i l es .Butt heQF 4Ei snotj us t adef encel es st ar get ,i ts t i l l hast heabi l i t yt ol aunchmi s s i l es .

T he US Navy us ed t hi sf eat ur et ot es ti t s new r amj et power ed Hi gher S peed Ant i Radi at i on Demons t r at i on mi s s i l e( HS AD) .Duet ot her i s koft hemi s s i l e' sex per i ment al engi ne ex pl odi ng whenl aunched,a r emot el ycont r ol l ed Phant om pr ovi dedt hes af es tf i r i ngpl at f or m.

Each Phant om t hat has f l own r emember ed wi t h an i ndi vi dual “Hal l ofF ame” .

msf or medt hef i r s tbat chofai r cr af tt obeconver t edf ort heaer i al t ar getmi s s i on.T hi spar t i cul arai r cr af t , al Aus t r al i anAi rF or ce( RAAF )asaF 4Ebef or ebei ngconver t edt oF 4G.AsaQF 4G dr onei ts ur vi vedf our i ngdes t r oyedon3May2005.

wn i t sf i nalNUL L O mi s s i on i s alpl aque i nt he Det achment ’ s

741648wasa QF 4Eand i ss eencar r yi ng t he AL Q188‘ Dead Gecko’podont hepor twi ng.

T heQF 4Ewi l lus ual l ybeont her ecei vi ngendoft hes eweapont es t s ,al t hought hes ear e f r equent l ycar r i edoutwi t hi ner twar heads .I ft heQF 4i sundamaged,i tcanber ecover ed us i ngRunway04atHol l omanAF B.However ,i ft heQF 4hasbeendamaged,i ss uf f er i ng f r om mal f unct i onsorcont r ol l abi l i t yi s s ues ,t hedr onewi l ldi ver tt ot heWhi t eS andsS pace Har bour .L ocat edont heWhi t eS andsMi s s i l eRange,t hi ss i t ehast wo35, 000f eetl akebed r unways .On30Mar ch1982,S paceS hut t l eCol umbi al andedher ewhenbot hEdwar dsAF B andt heKennedyS paceCent erwer eunavai l abl e.Al t hought hel ongr unwayi si dealf or s uchr ecover i es ,t het echni ci answi l l bei nf ora40km t ow backt oHol l omanAF B.

Phant oms as s i gned t o Hol l oman AF B gener al l y enj oy a l ongerl i f es pan t han t hei r count er par t si nF l or i da.Wi t ht heDet achmentf ocus s i ngmor eonmannedt es ts uppor tand adver s ar ys uppor t ,i tonl yf l i esaver ys mal lnumberofNUL L O mi s s i ons .Overt hel as tt hr ee year s ,onl yei ghtNUL L Of l i ght swer eex ecut ed.Ast he82ndAT RSatT yndal l i smor eact i vel y i nvol vedi nl i veweaponf i r i ngt es t s ,t hes quadr oncons umesappr ox i mat el yonePhant om amont h.

T het woPhant omsar enotf l yi ngovers no

ow butt heWhi t eS andsNat i onal Monument ,l ocat edr i ghtnex tt ot heMi s s i l eRangeandHol l omanAF B.

Emodel Phant om 741627f l ew aspar toft heHer i t ageF F 86S abr eandaDavi s Mont hanAF Bbas edA10C ( Ch

Her i t ageF l i ght Al t hough t he t r ai ni ng and t es t i ng mi s s i onsar e us ual l yf l ownatHol l oman AF B,t he QF 4Escan be s een ar ound t hecount r yaspar toft heUni t edS t at es Ai rF or ceHer i t ageF l i ght .T heHer i t age F l i ghtwascr eat edi n1997t ocel ebr at e t he 50t h anni ver s ar y oft he Ai rF or ce and pr ovi desanuni que aer i aldi s pl ay ofpas tandpr es entf i ght erai r cr af t .T he Her i t age F l i ght pays homage t o Amer i can ai r men who f oughti nt he S econd Wor l d War ,Kor ea,Vi et nam andpr es entdayconf l i ct sandcont ai ns di f f er entai r cr af tt or epr es enteacher a.

T he f or mat i ons ar ea t r ul y amaz i ng col l abor at i onbet weenci vi l i anpi l ot si n t hei rP38L i ght ni ng,P40War hawk,P47 T hunder bol t , P51 Mus t ang, A1 S kyr ai derand F 86 S abr ef i ght er sand pr es entdayA10C T hunder bol tI I ,F 16C F i ght i ng F al con and F 22 Rapt or f i ght er s .

T he l egendar y Phant om was not i ncl udedi nt heHer i t ageF l i ghtpr ogr am as i t was no l ongercons i der ed an oper at i onalf i ght erai r cr af tby t he Ai r F or ce.I n 2004,t he L t .Col .J er r y" J i ve" Ker by, t he 82nd AT RS Commander , and L t .Col .Char l es" T una"Hai nl i ne,t he Det achment 1 Commander , s ucceeded i nt hei rdr i ve t o add t he QF 4 t o t he Her i t age F l i ght aer i al di s pl ay.A mi x t ur e ofs i x QF 4E and QF 4G model swer e pai nt ed i n col our s chemes of t he pas t ,i ncl udi ng t he f amousS out h Eas tAs i as cheme wi t h bot h whi t e under s i desand compl et e wr apar ound camouf l age col our s ,t he al lgr een " Eur opean One"s cheme of t he ear l y ei ght i es and t he al lgr ey " Egypt One"s cheme ofl at eryear s .

Al t hought he82ndAT RSatT yndal lAF B s t i l l oper at esQF 4Esi nal l t hes edi f f er ent hi s t or i c col our s ,t he Det achmentonl y f l i es t he " S out h Eas t As i a" col our ed ai r cr af t .

T heQF 4sar eal waysapopul arai rs how per f or mer .Her e Wat erS how of2012 ( RobEdgcumbe)

F l i ghtatNel l i sAF B’ sAvi at i onNat i oni n2011i ncompanywi t han hr i sWood)

r eaHol l omanj etmakesaver yf as tpas satt heChi cagoAi rand

L t .Col .Kar gi st hedes i gnat ed " Phant om Wes t " Her i t age F l i ghtpi l otand i scer t i f i ed t o t ake par t i n t he uni que f or mat i onsatai rs hows .Bef or e t he s t ar t of each ai rs how s eas on,al lmi l i t ar yandci vi l i an Her i t age F l i ght pi l ot s congr egat e at Davi s Mont han AF B,Ar i z ona, f ort he annualHer i t age F l i ght T r ai ni ng and Cer t i f i cat i on Cour s e. Dur i ng t hi st woday cour s e, t he pi l ot s not onl y pr act i ce t he aer i al di s pl ay r out i nebutal s ogai nf ami l i ar i t y i nf l yi ng f or mat i onswi t h ver y di s s i mi l ar ai r cr af t .

T he Det achment i s f unded t o at t ends i xai rs howspers eas on butwi l lf l yover40 mi s s i onsa year f or t he Her i t age F l i ght pr ogr am, i ncl udi ng many t r ai ni ng and cr os s count r y f l i ght s . " T he Her i t age pr ogr am i sa gr eatwayf orust opr oj ectAi r F or ceHi s t or y,t hePhant om i sa gr eatambas s adorf ort he Ai r F or ce and we al waysgett o meeta l otofpeopl e,f r om l ocall eader st o ai rcadet s . " , s aysL t .Col .Kar g."

T he F 4i s pr obabl yt he mos t popul ar Her i t age ai r cr af t ,al ong wi t h t heMus t ang.T her ear ej us ts o many peopl e t hat have a connect i on wi t h t he F 4, havi ngf l ownorwor kedont he ai r cr af t t hems el ves dur i ng Vi et nam or t hei rf at her or uncl es .Wher everwebr i ngout Phant oms ,t hepeopl eal l want t os eet heai r cr af tand t al kt o us .S ome peopl e even get t ear si nt hei reyeswhens eei ng t hei rF 4f l yi ngagai n."

At r ul yphant as t i cs i ght !741627s i t sundert hes uns hel t er satEl l i ngt onF i el d,T X,aheadofas econddayp

yper f or manceatt he2012Wi ngsOverHous t onAi r s how ( Chr i sWood)

Al t houghl ooki ngver ymuchl i keanAi rF or cePhant om,t hi si sact ual l yL uf t waf f eF L obos ” ,t heGer manPhant omswor et hei ror i gi nal F MSs er i al number s .T he20t hF i gh

T heGer manConnect i on Al t hought he Ai rF or ce of f i ci al l yr et i r ed t he Phant om on 1s t Oct ober1996,t he 20t hF i ght erS quadr on," S i l ver L obos " ,cont i nuedt of l yF 4satHol l omanAF B.T he20t hF S wasnotanor di nar ys quadr on,nordi di toper at eor di nar y Phant oms .T hes e Phant omswer ei nf actF 4F sf r om t he Ger manL uf t waf f e.Al t houghoper at i ngGer manai r cr af t , wi t h Ger man i ns t r uct orpi l ot sand s t udent s ,t he 20t hF S wasanUni t ed S t at esAi rF or ces quadr onand al lai r cr af t wer emar kedaccor di ngl y.

T heor i gi nalF 4Fwasas i mpl i f i edver s i onoft heF 4E,wi t h r educedr angeandnoabi l i t yt ous er adargui dedmi s s i l es l i ke t he AI M7S par r ow.Undert he I mpr oved Combat Ef f i ci ency ( I CE) pr ogr am, t he F 4F r ecei ved t he AN/ APG65r adarf r om t heF / A18A Hor net ,t heabi l i t yt o car r yAI M120AMRAAM mi s s i l es ,a new f i r econt r oland mi s s i oncomput er ,aHoneywel l L as erI NSandanupdat ed RadarWar ni ngRecei ver( RWR)s ui t e.Byt hemi d‘ 90s ,F 4F I CE upgr ade had gi ven t he Ger man Phant oms t he r equi r edcapabi l i t i est os ol di eron,i nt heabs enceoft he i ncr eas i ngl ydel ayedEur of i ght erT yphoon.

Bot hL t .Col .Kar gandJ i mS chr ei ners er vedwi t ht he20t h F Sasi ns t r uct orpi l ot s .J i m had j oi ned t he s quadr on i n J anuar y1992,whi l ei twass t i l latGeor geAF B,and had moved wi t ht hes quadr ont oHol l omanAF Bi nJ unet hat year .WhenL t .Col .Kar gj oi nedt he20t hF Si nApr i l 2001,i t washi sf i r s ti nt r oduct i ont ot hePhant om,havi ngf l ownt he F 15C Eagl ewi t ht he95t hF Sand67t hF Spr i or ."

WhenI f i r s t cl i mbed i nt ot he cockpi toft he F 4,i twasa huge s t ep backwar dsi nt er msoft echnol ogy.I twasabi tofacul t ur e s hock,Iwaswonder i ngwhatIhadgot t enmys el fi nt ot hi s t i me.Butt hatal l di s appear edwhenI f i r s tf l ew i t ,t hes heer powerwasj us ti ncr edi bl e! "

Ast heF 4Fwaspr ogr es s i vel ybei ng i nact i vat i onoft he20t hF Si nDecem ar es t i l lkepti ns t or aget oday.How ai r cr af twi l l everf l yagai n,evenas

" T heGer manF 4sar ef i t t edwi t had t hem i nt odr ones " ,s aysJ i mS chr ei n t ohavet hei rPhant omss hotat ! "

F 4F38+11.Whi l es er vi ngwi t ht he20t hF i ght erS quadr on,“S i l ver i ght erS quadr ondi s bandedon20December2004.

gr epl acedbyt heEur of i ght er ,t heneedf ornew L uf t waf f ePhant om cr ewsdwi ndl ed,r es ul t i ngi nt he ember2004.Amont hl at er ,t hel as toft he" S i l verL obos "Phant omshadar r i vedatAMARG wher et hey wever ,wi t ht hef i nalL uf t waf f ePhant omshavi ngr et i r edi nJ une2013,i ti sunl i kel yt hatt hes es t or ed sr emot el yoper at edaer i al t ar get s .

di f f er entI NS ,di f f er entej ect i ons eat sandot herdi f f er ents ys t ems ,s oi twoul dbet oocos t l yt oconver t i ner ."

Nott oment i ont hatt heyar e,mos tl i kel y,s t i l l Ger manpr oper t y,s ot heymaynotbet oohappy

Hol l omanDi ver s i t y Wher easmos tf i ght erbas esoper at e onl y one ort wo ki ndsofai r cr af t , Hol l oman AF Bi shome t o an ecl ect i c col l ect i on ofai r cr af t .T he newes t ai r cr af tar e ofcour s et he F 22 Rapt or soft he 7t hF i ght erS quadr on.

Unmat ched by any ot herai r cr af t ,wes t er n orot her wi s e,t he Rapt or unf or t unat el yr emai ned asel us i ve asi t ss t eal t hyr adarpr of i l e dur i ng our vi s i t .T he 7t hF i ght erS quadr on wass chedul ed t o move t oT yndal lAF B, F l or i da,butt hos epl anshavebeenputonhol dduet os eques t r at i on( T hi s hasnow happened-Ed) .T hepl annedar r i valoft woF 16F i ght i ngF al con t r ai ni ng s quadr ons ,f r om L uke AF B,Ar i z ona,hasal s o beenpos t poned as t hi swasdependentont heRapt or sl eavi ngt hebas e.

T heol des tai r cr af tatHol l omanAF Bi snott heF 4Phant om butact ual l yt he T 38A T al onadvancedj ett r ai ner ,whi chwasf i r s tf l owni n1959.T heT al ons ar e oper at ed byt he 7t hF i ght erS quadr on asan adver s ar yai r cr af tand r egul ar l yf i ghtt heul t r amoder nF 22.Atf i r s tgl ance,t heunar medf i f t yyear ol dai r cr af tmaynots eem l i kemuchofanadver s ar ybutt hes mal lT 38A i s i ncr edi bl y agi l e and ver y di f f i cul tt os potvi s ual l y dur i ng a dogf i ght .By pi t t i ngt hems el vesagai ns tt heni mbl eT al on,t hes t eal t hyRapt orpi l ot sr et ai n t hei rdi s s i mi l arai rcombatt r ai ni ng ( DACT )pr of i ci encyi na cos tef f ect i ve manner .T he T al onsus ed i nt he T 38Adver s ar yPr ogr am ar er ef ur bi s hed ai r cr af tt hatwer e pr evi ous l yoper at ed byt he S out hKor eanAi rF or ce or dr awnf r om s ur pl usi nvent or y.T heai r cr af tar emai nt ai nedandr ef ur bi s hed by t he T 38 Cons ol i dat ed Ai r cr af tMai nt enance ( CAM)pr ogr am t hati s l ocat edatHol l omanAF B.T heT 38CAM notonl ypr epar esT al onsf orot her F 22 Rapt ors quadr onsacr os st he Uni t ed S t at esbutal s o mai nt ai nst he T 38Asand T 38Cscompani on t r ai ner sf ort he B2A S pi r i tand t he U2 Dr agonL adys quadr ons .T heT al onhasbeena f ami l i ars i ghtatHol l oman AF Bs i nce 1977,whent he 479t hT act i calT r ai ni ng Wi ng pr ovi ded L eadI n F i ght erT r ai ni ng( L I F T )wi t ht heAT 38B.Af t ert het r ai ni ngwi ngdi s bandedi n 1991,t heT 38cont i nueds er vi cewi t ht he586t hF l i ghtT es tS quadr on,whi ch s t i l l oper at est hr eeT al onst oday.

Above -Bef or el AF B, t he r es i d s quadr on us ed t h T al on t r ai ner sasa T he F 22sand T 38 t he pr oces sofr el o AF Bi nF l or i da.

Ri ght-A Hol l oma s een on r ecover per f or mi ng a dem r aces ’f l yi ngdi s pl a

L ef t-T he 586t hF l i g us est hr ee T 38C l ooki ng i mmacul a s uper i or i t y gr ey, ol dert hanal l oft h atHol l omanAF B.

l eavi ng Hol l oman i dent F 22 Rapt or t hes e bl ack T 38A adver s ar y ai r cr af t .

38sar e cur r ent l yi n el ocat i ng t oT yndal l

anbas ed Rapt ori s er yt o Reno af t er emo dur i ng t he ai r l ay ( PaulDunn)

F l i ghtT es tS quadr on ai r cr af t .Al t hough ul at e i n t hei r ai r t hes e T al ons ar e t heQF 4EPhant oms .

T heUSAr mymai nt ai nsas mal l hel i copt erdet achm USAr myandawai t st hepai nt i ngofi t st ai l boom t o

Wi t h t he Whi t e S ands Mi s s i l e Range conveni ent l yl ocat ed nex tt ot he bas e, Hol l oman AF Bi sal s o home t oas mal l Ar myhel i copt erdet achment .T heAr my Ai r Di vi s i on s uppor t s t he t es t i ng oper at i onsatt he near byr ange wi t ha f l eetoft hr ee UH1H I r oquoi sand f our UH72AL akot a' s .Al t hought heUH1Hhas beenr et i r edf r om s er vi cewi t hmos tAr my uni t s ,t he det achmentwi l lcont i nue t o oper at et hevet er anwor khor s ef ors ome year st ocome.T hes eUH1Hs ,wi t ht hei r di s t i nct i ver edandwhi t ecol ours cheme, wi l ls oon be t he ver yl as toper at i onal Ar myHueys .

Agai ns tt he backdr op oft he j etnoi s e and r ot ors l ap,t he s of thummi ng oft he MQ1 Pr edat or and MQ9 Reaper i s al mos ti ndi s t i ngui s habl e. Known wi t hi n t heAi rF or ceasRemot el yPi l ot edAi r cr af t or RPAs ,t he Pr edat or and i t sl ar ger s i bl i ng,t heReaper ,ar eoper at edbyt he 6t h Reconnai s s ance S quadr on,t he 9t h At t ack S quadr on and t he 29t h At t ack S quadr on ( AT KS ) .T he MQ1 and MQ9 ar r i ved at Hol l oman AF Bi n Oct ober 2009,al t hought he9t hAt t ackS quadr on i sa ver yr ecentaddi t i on.T he 9t h AT KS i nher i t st he hi s t or y of t he 9t hF i ght er S quadr on,t heF l yi ngKni ght s ,whi chf l ew t he F 117A at Hol l oman AF B unt i li t s i nact i vat i on i n May2008.T he 9t h AT KS s har esai r cr af twi t ht he 29t h AT KS and pr ovi dest r ai ni ng f ort he gr owi ng RPA communi t ywi t hi nt heAi rF or ce.

T o concl ude t he uni que mi x t ur e of ai r cr af t ,t he Ger man Ai rF or ce F l yi ng T r ai ni ng Cent er ( GAF F T C) i ss t i l lver y act i ve at Hol l oman AF B, wher e i t cont i nuest of l yt he Panavi aT or nado.

Al t hought hes wi ngwi ng at t ackai r cr af t i s s l owl y bei ng phas ed out of t he L uf t waf f e,t he GAF F T Ci ss t i l ldel i ver i ng new T or nado cr ews . Accor di ng t oa r ecentannouncement ,t he L uf t waf f ei s al s opl anni ngt obr i ngt heEur of i ght ert o Hol l omanAF Bi nt henearf ut ur e.

AT or nado I DS oft he Ger man Ai rF or ce F l yi ng Hol l omanAF B.

hmentt os uppor tt heWhi t eS andsMi s s i l eRange.T hi sUH1Hi soneoft hel as toper at i onal Hueyswi t hi nt he t ocompl et et hehi ghvi s i bi l i t ycol ours cheme.

i ng T r ai ni ng Cent erat

Hol l omanAF Bi sal s ohomet oanot herki ndofr emot el ypi l ot edai r cr af t ; t heMQ1Pr edat orandMQ9Reaper .T hi sReaperi sar medwi t hGBU12 l as ergui dedbombsandHel l f i r emi s s i l es .

ANew Br eed Af t er50year sofs t el l ars er vi ce,t he Phant om' sf i nalcur t ai n cal li scomi ng evercl os er .RF 4C 680609wast he ver yl as t ai r cr af tt o be s el ect ed f orQF 4conver s i on.S chedul ed f or del i ver yt ot heAi rF or cei nJ anuar y2013,t hi sQRF 4C wi l lbe t he318t handf i nal Phant om dr onet oent ers er vi cewi t ht he 82nd AT RS .Once t hi sf or mer r econnai s s ance Phant om ent er ss er vi ce atT yndal lAF B,F l or i da,t he count down wi l l have begun.Wi t h no mor er epl acementai r cr af tbei ng conver t ed,ever yQF 4l os twi l l meanonel es sf l yi ngPhant om.

T heex i s t i ngs uppl yofQF 4ss houl dkeept hePhant om i nt he s er vi ce f oranot herf ew year s buti t sr epl acement ,t he QF 16C F i ght i ng F al con,i s not f araway f r om ent er i ng s er vi ce.T heQF 16C wi l l f i r s tent ers er vi ceatT yndal l AF B,wi t h mor e" T D"codedQF 4sbei ngr el ocat edt oHol l omanAF Bt o s uppl ementt heDet achment ' sai r f r amei nvent or y.

I n Mar ch 2010,Boei ng was awar ded a US $69.

7 mi l l i on cont r act t o devel op and pr oduce t he QF 16C, wi t h pr oduct i ont aki ng pl ace atCeci lF i el d,F l or i da. T wo year s l at er , on4t hMay2012, t hever yf i r s tQF 16C madei t smai den, manned f l i ghtand byt he end of2012,Boei ng ex pect st o have del i ver ed s i xai r cr af tt ot he Ai rF or ce wher et heywi l l under gof ur t hert es t i ngandeval uat i on.I n2014,Boei ngwi l l begi nt hedel i ver yof126QF 16s ,al t houghi ti sex pect edt hat t he Ai rF or ce wi l lpur chas eat ot alof220 ai r cr af ti nt he comi ngyear s .

T hi sf i r s tai r cr af t ,F 16C 851570,wasf or mer l yf l own byt he 174t hF i ght erWi ngoft heNew Yor kAi rNat i onalGuar d.T he Ai rNat i onalGuar d( ANG)wast he l ar ges toper at oroft he F 16 i nt he wor l d,wi t h mor et han 40 F i ght erS quadr ons havi ng f l ownt he F i ght i ng F al conats ome s t age.However , over t he l as t decade a s i gni f i cant number of ANG s quadr onshad t ot r ade i nt hei rF 16sf orot herai r cr af t , pr edomi nant l yMQ1andMQ9RPAs ,orwer edi s banded.I t i st her ef or el i kel yt hatt he maj or i t y oft he F al conswi l lbe f or merANG ai r cr af t .

I twi l l bes omeyear sbef or et heQF 16wi l l ar r i veatHol l oman AF B.Whent hef i nal QF 4hasf l owni t sl as tNUL L O mi s s i onori s s i mpl yr et i r ed f r om s er vi ce,t heHer i t ageF l i ghtwi l lt oohave t ogowi t houtt hi sl egendar yper f or mer .Butbyt hent heF 35 L i ght ni ngI I wi l l haves t ar t edt or epl acet heF i ght i ngF al conas af r ont l i ne f i ght erand per haps t he QF 16 wi l lt ake t he Phant om' spl acei nt heHer i t agef or mat i on.

Above-T hi sQF 4G,wi t hs er i al nu i twass hotdownon4t hAugus t S t or m andwascr edi t edwi t hS A

number697231,wasJ i mS chr ei ner ’ sper s onal j etunt i l s t2006.T hi sF 4G f l ew combatmi s s i onsdur i ngDes er t A3andS A8ki l l sar oundBaghdad.

Acknowl edgement s T he edi t orand aut horwoul dl i ke t ot hank S AF / PA,t he 53r d Wi ng and 82nd AT RS ,t he 49t hWi ngPubl i cAf f ai r sandL i f eS uppor tand T eam Egl i nPubl i cAf f ai r sf ort hei rt r emendous s uppor t .I npar t i cul ar ,wewoul dl i ket ogi ve ex t r aor di nar yt hankst oL t .Col .Pat r i ck" I chi " Kar g,Maj .( Ret . )J i m" Boomer "S chr ei ner ,L t .

Col .( Ret . )J i m" WAM"Har ki ns ,S cot t" Wheel s " Ki mbal landS amuelKi ngJ rf oryours uppor t , t he war m wel come and a phant as t i c Phant om phl i ght !

POI NTMUGU

T r i al s ,T es t s&

NavalBas eVent ur a Count y( NBVC)ont hecoas tofS out h Mugu,Por tHuenemeand S anNi col asI s l and.NavalBas e i ncl udi ngf ourUSNavyE2C HawkeyeS quadr onsandt heC

However ,ofal l t hes quadr onsr epr es ent edt her ecanben Squadr onT hr eeZer o( VX)30hast hemos tdi ver s emi s s i on I magesaut horunl es sot her wi s es t at ed.

t her nCal i f or ni a cons i s t soft hr eeoper at i ngf aci l i t i es–Poi nt eVent ur aCount yPoi ntMugui shomet oa var i et yofuni t s , Cal i f or ni aANG f l yi ngt heC130J .

nodoubtt hatt he“ Bl oodhounds ”ofAi rT es tandEval uat i on ns etandf l eetofai r cr af t .Kevi nJ acks onr epor t sf orGAM.

VX30BL OODHOUNDS

&T r ans i t i ons

Aspar toft he wi dert es tor gani s at i onsat Poi ntMuguand NAWSChi na L ake,VX30 f al l sunderNavalT es tWi ng Paci f i c.T he r emi tofNT WPi st obet heNavy' spr i nci pal Paci f i ct es tact i vi t y ofal lNavalAvi at i on S ys t emscont r ol l edai r cr af tengagedi n,or s uppor t i ng RDT &E ofAi r cr af t ,Weapons , and Weapons S ys t ems , as wel l as pr ovi di ng F l eetand DoD s uppor ton t he NAVAI R Ranges .VX30 hast he pr i mar y mi s s i onofmoni t or i ngandcl ear i ngt heS ea T es tRange,t he Depar t mentofDef ens e’ s l ar ges tover wat ermi s s i l et es tr ange wi t h 36, 000s quar emi l esofcont r ol l ed s ea and ai r s pace.

T r ans f or mat i on T o conductt hi smi s s i on,and a var i et yof ot her t es t and eval uat i on t as ks ,t he Bl oodhoundscur r ent l yf l yanal l L ockheed f l eetoft hr ee C130 Her cul es ' ,f ourP3 Or i onsandt hr eeS 3Vi ki ngs .S omeoft hes e ar eamongt heol des tai r cr af ti nt heNavy' s i nvent or y and changes ar e af oot t o compl et el y r evamp t he Bl oodhounds f l i ght l i ne.GAM t al ked t o CDR T homas “Odd J ob” S ant omaur o -Commandi ng Of f i cerAi rT es tand Eval uat i on S quadr on ( VX) 30,who ex pl ai ned t he upcomi ng f l eetchangesand s ome oft he mi s s i ons t hes quadr oni st as kedwi t h.

“T he s quadr on i sgoi ng t hr ough a pr et t y bi g t r ans f or mat i on as we s peak. Our younges tai r pl anes ,t heS 3s ,ar epr obabl y t hi r t yyear sol d,and I ’ vegotf i f t yyearol d ai r pl anes s i t t i ng out t her e. S o, we’ r e maki ng t hi st r ans f or mat i on t o di f f er ent ai r pl anes , wi t hi n a year or t wo t hi s s quadr onwi l l l ookdi f f er entt owhati tdoes now. S t i l lt he s ame mi s s i ons , pr ovi di ng r ange s uppor t , pr ovi di ng Cas t Gl ance s uppor t , and pr ovi di ng t es t mi s s i on s uppor t . ”

Or i ons ,Bi l l boar dT ai l sand Cas tGl ance “Cas tGl ance”i sone oft he uni que capabi l i t i es pr ovi dedbyVX30.I ns t al l edi noneofVX30’ sf our L ockheed NP3Ds ,Cas tGl ance i sa s ys t em of s t abi l i z ed hi ghpower opt i cs us ed i n r ange s ur vei l l anceand dat a col l ect i ng.“OJ ”ex pl ai ned: “Cas tGl ance i san i magi ng s ys t em t hatt akes pi ct ur esf r om t he vi s i bl es pect r um al lt he wayt o medi umwave i nf r ar ed.We s uppor t NAS A,t he Mi s s i l e Def ens eS ys t em ( MDA) ,as wel las t he T omahawkpr ogr amme.S paceXal s ocont r act sus t opr ovi dehi ghqual i t yi mager yoft hei rl aunches . ”

L ockheedNP3DOr i onBH340( BuNo150522)wi t hi t suni que' Bi l l boar d' t el emet r yt ai l .

T heot heruni quecapabi l i t ypr ovi dedbyt woof VX30’ sNP3Ds( Bl oodhound340and341)i st he Ex t ended Ar ea T es tS ys t em ( EAT S )r adar ,gi vi ng t he ai r cr af ti t s di s t i nct i ve ' T M'( T el emet r y) or ' Bi l l boar d' t ai l .I t s over t hehor i z on t el emet r y enabl esVX30t o cl eart he S ea T es tRange of any wander i ng ci vi l i an ves s el s pr i or t o any haz ar doust es t s .

CDRS ant omaur o:“OurNP3Dswi t ht heT Mt ai l s , t hos e ar e dyi ng.I ’ ve got247 hour sl ef ton Bl oodhound340andourot herai r pl anei ss i t t i ng i nWaco,T ex aswi t hnowi ngsoni tr i ghtnow as we t r yt o ex t end i t sl i f e.S o we have a f unded pr ogr amme now t o pur chas ea( Gul f s t r eam) G550 and i nt egr at eaT M s ys t em wi t hi nt he moul dl i neont hat .

“AsP8Ascome onl i ne,t he P3ss t ar tt o go awayf r om t hef l eets quadr ons ,ands odoest he s uppor t .Whatwear ef i ndi ng i st hathi s t or i cal l y t he Gul f s t r eam pr oduct sar es t i l lbei ng made and s uppor t ed.Bet ween Gul f s t r eam pl ant sat L ong Beach,F or tWor t h,and S avannah,we haveal otofr es our cest opul l f r om andt hecos t t o oper at e i ss o much cheaper .I n t he meant i me we have a f ew year soft r ans i t i on; t her ef or e,t he s quadr on wi l ll ooks t r ange f ora whi l e.Ast hef l eetdi ves t si t s el foft hei rP3swewi l l gett heoccas i onalOr i ont ous ef orawhi l e.We havej us tl ear nedt hatwear eget t i ngt hr eeC20 Gul f s t r eams t hat t he US Navy Res er ves ar e di ves t i ngt hems el vesof ,whi chi sgoodbecaus e i ti sacapabi l i t ywebadl yneed. ”

VX30acqui r edNP3D153442( Bl oodhound357) i nNovember2012f r om S ci ent i f i cDevel opment S quadr on ( VXS )One,bas ed atNASPat ux ent Ri ver ,Md.t o hel p VX30wi t hr ange cl ear ance mi s s i ons .I ti suni quei nt hati tcandet ectbot hai r and s ur f ace cont act st hankst oi t sHawkeye 2000Ai r bor ne Ear l yWar ni ng ( AEW)s ys t em and an Ai r bor ne Engagement Capabi l i t y( CEC) s ui t e.Bl oodhound NP3D pi l otL TJ oe “Pi r at e” Doher t y ex pl ai ned t he s l i ght l y di f f er entf l yi ng char act er i s t i cs t hanks t o t he l ar ge E2C Hawkeye r ot odome:“F l yi ng char act er i s t i csar e s i mi l art oas l i ckP3,di f f er encesi ncl udeal i ght er nos e uponf l ar i ng t ol and due t ot he cent r e of gr avi t ybei ngmovedbackduet ot her adome.

We cannotf l yi nt ur bul ence ori n any i ci ng condi t i onsdue t ot he r adome nothavi ng any ant i i ci ng meas ur es butapar tf r om t hat357 handl esver ymuch l i ke a s l i ckP3,you do not not i cet hedomei nf l i ght . ”

VX30ownsanecl ect i cmi xofL ockheedOr i ons .

Cl as s i f i edi nt es ts er vi ceas' NP3' ,ever yai r f r ame i suni que,f r om t he ' Cas tGl ance'conf i gur ed ' Bl oodhound300'( 158227-r i ght )t ot her ecent l y acqui r ed NP3D 153442 ( BH357 -mai n& t op mi ddl e) wi t hi t s di s t i nct i ve r ot at i ng ant enna ( r ot odome) .NP3D153443( Bl oodhound302-f ar r i ght ) ,s een her ei nt he pat t er n atNel l i sAF Bi n 2011,hass i ncebeenr et i r ed.

Chr i sWood

Vi ki ngs T he Bl oodhoundsr ecei ved t he f i r s tof t hr ee L ockheed S 3B Vi ki ngs i nl at e 2009.T heS 3“Hoover �i spr i mar i l yus ed i ns uppor tofS ea Range Cl ear ance oper at i ons . T he S 3B hos t s a t r emendous l y capabl e r adar ,t he APS 137, t hat can det ect and cat egor i z e ver ys mal lt ar get satl ong di s t ances . Addi t i onal l y, t he f as t er ai r s peedsoft he Hooverwi l lenabl e t hem t omor equi ckl ydet ect ,i dent i f y, and,i fneedbe,vect ors hi psoutoft he t hr eatar ea.

I n addi t i on t oi t sr ange cont r olmi s s i on,t he S 3Bss uppor tt es t pr oj ect sasr equi r ed and hasgr eatver s at i l i t yt obemodi f i ed wi t h t es tequi pmenti nt er nal l yorvi at heex t er nal wi ngpyl onspr evi ous l y us ed f orweapons del i ver y orai r t oai rr ef uel l i ng t as ks .T he ai r f r amess t i l lhave manyyear sofs af ef l yi ng ahead,t he l i mi t i ng f act or bei ng t he s uppor t net wor k ex per t i s e di s appear i ng as s peci al i s tengi neer sr et i r eort r ans f ert oot herpr oj ect s .VX30woul d dear l yl i ket ocont i nueoper at i onswi t ht het ypebeyond2015but t hati spr obabl ydependenton S out h Kor ea choos i ng t o buya s mal l f l eetofs t or edVi ki ngst of i l l i t sr equi r ementf oracoas t al pat r ol ai r cr af t .T hi scont r actwoul d enabl e VX30 t o ut i l i s et he s ys t ems s uppor tcont r actf ori t ss mal lf l eet ,keepi ngs uchat i nyamountof s peci al i s tai r cr af tf l yi ng wi l lot her wi s e become cos t pr ohi bi t i ve beyondt henex tf ul l depot l evel mai nt enancer equi r ed.

T he L ockheed S 3B Vi ki ng s peedandagi l i t yandapl e ai r f r amesands par epar t sm f i tf orpat r ol l i ngt hes ear ang

g' spower f ulAPS 127 r adar ,i t s l ent i f ul s uppl yofr ecent l yr et i r ed smaket he“Hoover ”t heper f ect ngesf orVX30.

S 3B160601( Bl oodhound701)r ecei vedar et r opai nts chemer epr es ent i ngaT BM Avengerdur i ngt heB Nor t hI s l and ( Mi keShr eeve)

Bat t l eofMi dwayci r caJ une1942,aspar toft heCent enar yofNaval Avi at i oni n2011.S eenher eatNAS

L ockheedKC130FHer cul es 148897( BH

Her cul es T he t hr ee L ockheed Her cul es ai r cr af t wi t h VX30 ar e cur r ent l y t he ol des t act i ve ai r f r ames i n t he US Navy i nvent or y, wi t h KC130F 148891 ( Bl oodhound403)bei ngt heol des tofal l , dat i ngf r om 1957.

BH403, al ong wi t h NC130F s 148897 ( BH400) and 148893 ( BH401) ar e ex t ens i vel yf l own asai r bor ne t anker si n s uppor tofuni t sconduct i ng t es t sover t he s ea t es tr ange. Ot her mi s s i ons i ncl ude s ur vei l l ance and cl ear ance of t he r ange and t act i calt r ans por ti n s uppor toft hevar i ousdet achment st hat VX30 under t akes . Bl oodhound pi l ot s may be dual t ype qual i f i ed on any combi nat i onofVX30sai r cr af tt ypes( i . e.

P3/ C130,P3/ S 3,C130/ S 3,et c) .

T he C130F swi l lbe r et i r ed s t ar t i ng t hi s year , r epl aced by newer C130T ai r f r ames bei ng di ves t ed by Naval Res er ve F l eet L ogi s t i cs S uppor t S quadr ons( VR) .

CDRS ant omaur os ummedupt hef ut ur e f l eetpi ct ur e as f ol l ows :Wher e we’ r e goi ngwi t ht hes quadr oni st oevent ual l y have a mi x ofnewerver s i onsoft he C130t hanwhatwecur r ent l yhave,t he C130T ,andGul f s t r eams .

BH400)i sover50year sol dandi sduef ori mmi nentr et i r ement ,t ober epl acedbynewerC130Tvar i ant s .

MQ8C F i r es coutBuNo168456i soneoft wot e f l i ghtoutt ot heS eaRangeasVX30movedt ow

MQ8C F i r eScout S i t uat ed acr os st hePoi ntMugur unwayf r om VX30’ s hangar 372 headquar t er si st he unmannedAer i alS ys t ems( UAS )depar t ment .

CDR S ant omaur o ex pl ai nshow t he l ar ges t depar t mentofVX30i satt hecut t i ngedgeof UAS hel i copt er devel opment : “Our UAS depar t menti sget t i ng bi ggerbyt he mi nut e.

T hebi gges tpr ogr ammewehaver i ghtnow i s MQ8C,t heF i r es couthel i copt er .We’ r edoi ng al otofr api ddevel opmentt es t i ngont hat . ” T he MQ8C i san unmanned adapt at i on of t he commer ci alBel l407 hel i copt erbui l tby Nor t hr op Gr ummanand Bel lHel i copt er .T he ai r cr af tus esmuchoft he s ame ar chi t ect ur e ast he MQ8BF i r eS cout ,butf eat ur esl ar ger endur ance ( 15 hour s ) ,payl oad,and car go car r yi ng capaci t y ( 2, 600 pounds ) . T he F i r es coutr equi r ement swer el ar gel ydr i venby US S peci alOper at i onsCommand and t he pr ot ot ype " F i r eX"ai r cr af tmade i t sf i r s tt es t f l i ghtonDecember10,2010.T hedepl oyabl e MQ8C ver s i onf i r s tf l ew i nOct ober2013.

S i nce f i r s tf l i ghton 31 Oct ober2013,t he MQ8C F i r eS couthasf l own mor et han 100 f l i ght s .T he i ni t i alf l i ghtt es t swi l lval i dat et hat t he aut onomous cont r ol s ys t ems of t he hel i copt erar ewor ki ngpr oper l ybef or ei t sf i r s t s hi pbas ed demons t r at i on i nt he S pr i ng of 2014.

T heNavywi l l bui l d30MQ8Cs( t wof ort es t i ng and 28oper at i onal )whi char e ex pect ed t o f i r s tdepl oyats eaby2015.

CDR S ant omaur o pr edi ct st hatunmanned hel i copt er swi l l bear egul ars i ghtar oundPoi nt Mugu:WhatIs eei st heMQ8C bei ngf i el ded t o r epl ace t he cur r ent ,s mal l er MQ8B. S peaki ng of whi ch, we wi l l have an oper at i onal s quadr on - Hel i copt er S ea Combat Wi ng,U. S .Paci f i cF l eet ( HS CWP) Cont r act orL ogi s t i csS uppor tDetPoi ntMugubas ed atNBVC Poi ntMugu oper at i ng t he MQ8B.S o we wi l lhave a l otofUASact i vi t y happeni ngher eont hi sbas e.

T he MQ8C’ spr edeces s or ,t he MQ8B,unde ( USNavyphot o)

t es tanddevel opmenthel i copt er sas s i gnedt ot heBl oodhounds .S eeni nMar ch2014conduct i ngat es t t owar dst hei ni t i al s hi pbas edt r i al s ,ex pect edt ot akepl acei nt hes ummer .

der t akesweaponst r i al s

T heMQ8C atr es tatNASPoi ntMugu ( USNavyphot o)

L ockeed NC130F148893/ BH401i ss eenf i t t ed wi t ht wo wi ngmount ed hos e and f aci l i t at el ongerendur ancet es tmi s s i onsbyt heF / A18C/ E/ F sofVX9andVX31f r o

d dr ogue aer i alr ef uel l i ng podst hat r om NASChi naL ake,CA.

PaulDunn

SaqrAl J az eer a

T heRoyalSaudiAi rF or ceMus eum

r a:

um

T hehi s t or yoft heRoyal Saudi Ai rF or cei scommemor at edi n ani mpr es s i vemus eum i nt henor t her ns ubur bsoft heS audi capi t al Ri yadh.PaulDunnvi s i t sSaqrAl J az eer af orGAM.

T

he RoyalS audiAi rF or ce Mus eum ( known as S aqrAl J az eer a)i sone oft he avi at i on wor l d' s l es s er known mus eum col l ect i ons . T hi s i s pr obabl ydueatl eas ti npar tt ot hef actt hatdes pi t e bei ng a count r y wi t ha r i ch and i nt er es t i ng hi s t or y, S audiAr abi ai snota nat i on whi ch appear shi gh on t he l i s t ofpopul art our i s t des t i nat i ons f orwes t er n vi s i t or s .S audi Ar abi ai snotaneas ycount r yt ovi s i t ,and i ndeedt hemus eum i t s el fi snoteas yt ogett o,butt he ef f or ti s wor t hwhi l e, as t he col l ect i on i sr at her i mpr es s i ve.

T he mus eum i sl ocat ed on t he per i met erofRi yadh Ki ngKhal edAi rBas e,homet ovar i oust r ai ni ngandVI P ai r cr af t .I ti si nt he nor t her ns ubur bsoft he s pr awl i ng capi t al ci t y,adj acentt ot hebus yEas tRi ngRoad,and ont her out ef r om t heci t yt ot hemai nci vi l i anai r por t .

T he eas i es tway t o gett ot he mus eum i sby t ax i , al t hough t he mus eum i sonl y acces s i bl ef r om t he s out hbound car r i ageway oft he r i ng r oad,and t he ent r ancei sact ual l ydownas i des t r eet ;t heent r ance on t he mai nr oad i sact ual l yan acces sr oad t ot he ai r bas e,s odon' tex pectt ogeti nt hatway!

I t ' swor t hchecki ng t heopeni ng t i mesbef or eyous et of f ;t hemus eum' ss chedul ei sbas edar oundt hedai l y I s l ami cpr ayers chedul e,s oi ti sopenf ora coupl eof hour si nt hemor ni ngand t hena f ur t herper i od i nt he l at eaf t er noon/ eveni ng.I t ' sal s owor t hbear i ngi nmi nd t hat S audiAr abi an l aw i s bas ed ar ound a s t r i ct i nt er pr et at i on ofI s l ami cl awsand cus t oms ;att i mes acces st ot hemus eum i sr es t r i ct edt of ami l ygr oupsor s i ngl e men.Pl eas e checkt he mus eum' swebs i t ef or mor ei nf or mat i on.

Domi nat i ng t he ent r ance t ot he mus eum,and al s o act i ngass omet hi ngofal ocal l andmar k,i soneoft he f ew ci vi l i an ai r cr af t on di s pl ay, a f or mer S audi a L ockheedL 1011200T r i S t ar( Mai n) .S audi aoper at eda s i z eabl ef l eetofT r i S t ar s ,al t hough t he ai r l i ne had a s omewhatt r oubl edr el at i ons hi pwi t ht het ype;oneof t he f l eetwasl os ti nt r agi c ci r cums t ancesatRi yadh Ai r por t( whi chi snow t headj acentKi ngKhal edAB)i n 1981,af t erani nf l i ghtf i r ebr okeout .T heai r cr af tl anded s af el y,butnodoor swer eopenedi mmedi at el yandal l 287pas s enger sand 14cr ew onboar d per i s hed.T he T r i S t arl ef tS audi as er vi ce i n1998,and t he ai r cr af ton di s pl aycar r i est hecol ours chemei twor ef ormos tofi t s car eerwi t ht heai r l i ne.

T he mus eum col l ect i on i s di vi ded bet ween s ever al out door compoundsandas mar tbui l di ng,whi chcont ai nsaver ywel l r es t or ed col l ect i on of ai r cr af t , al ong wi t h model s , uni f or ms and ot her memor abi l i a.S audi Ar abi ahasl ongbeenar egi onal al l yoft heUSand t he UK,and t hi si sr ef l ect ed i nt he or i gi n ofmos toft he ai r cr af ton di s pl ay.T he moder n and i mpr es s i ve di s pl aybui l di ng appear st o be par t l ys pons or edbyBAES ys t ems ,oneoft hemos ti mpor t ants uppl i er s ofai r cr af tandequi pmentt ot heS audi ar medf or ces .

Atoneendoft hemus eum i sadi s pl aydedi cat edt ot heear l i es tor i gi ns oft heRS AF .T hemoder ns t at eofS audiAr abi a wasf ounded i n1932, wi t ht heuni f i cat i onoft heki ngdomsofHej azandNej d.Amongs tt he ai r cr af ts uppl i ed t ot hes e ki ngdomspr i ort ot he f or mat i on oft he Ki ngdom ofS audi Ar abi awer eAi r coDH. 9sandWes t l andWapi t i s( l ef t ) ; t hemus eum commemor at est hater a wi t hf ul ls cal er epl i casofbot h t ypes .

Al s odi s pl ayedi nt hatpar toft hemus eum i sa ver ys i gni f i cantai r cr af ti nt hehi s t or yofS audi avi at i on;HZ AAX i s a C47B gi ven by US Pr es i dentEi s enhowert o Ki ng Abdul az i zI bn S aud i n 1945,whi ch l at erbecame t he f i r s t ai r cr af t oper at ed by t he nat i onalcar r i er S audi Ar abi an Ai r l i nes ,l at er t o become S audi a.Vi s i t or sar e per mi t t ed t o acces st hi s ai r cr af ti nt er i or .

T hecent r al ar eaoft hemus eum i sdedi cat ed t os ome oft he combatt ypesoper at ed by t heRS AFdur i ngt hej etage.Mos tar eofBr i t i s h or i gi n,butt he ear l i es tt ype i nt hi sar ea i s act ual l y an Amer i can des i gn. T he RS AF r ecei ved 16 F 86F S abr es f r om US s ur pl us s t ocksi nt he l at e 1950s ,al ong wi t hs ever al mor ef r om Nor wayi nt he 1960s .T he ai r cr af t s er vedwi t h7S qnatDhahr anunt i lt he1970s , al t houghi ti st houghtt hatt heys uf f er edf r om poors er vi ceabi l i t y.

Al s or ecei vedatar oundt hes amet i mewer e a handf uloff or merEgypt i an Ai rF or ce de Havi l l and Vampi r e F B52s . T hes e wer e del i ver ed i n1957and appar ent l ywi t hdr awn t he f ol l owi ng year .T he mus eum has t wo Vampi r esondi s pl ay,one i ns i de t he bui l di ng andanot herout s i de,wi t hbot hhavi ngs ome of t hei r wooden cons t r uct i on ex pos ed, s howi ng t he i nt r i cat et echni que i nvol ved i n cr af t i ngaj etf i ght eri nt hatf as hi on.

T heRS AF ' sf i r s tex per i enceofa t r ul ymoder n, hi gh per f or mance f i ght er came wi t ht he del i ver yoft he Engl i s hEl ect r i cL i ght ni ng.T he S audi s pl aced an or der34 L i ght ni ng F 53s ( mul t i r ol e,ex por tver s i onoft heF 6)ands i xT 55 t r ai ner si n December1965,however ,att he t i me t he count r ywasi nvol ved i nt he Nor t h YemenCi vi lWarand s uf f er i ngi ncur s i onsi nt o i t sai r s pacebyEgypt i anAi rF or ceai r cr af t , wi t h r ai dsbei ng conduct ed on bor dert ownsi n S audi Ar abi a.I nor dert ocount ert hi st hr eat ,a s mal lnumberofex RAFL i ght ni ng F 2swer e r ef ur bi s hedasF 52sanddel i ver edt ot heRS AF i n1966.T hes ei nt er i m ai r cr af thel pedt odet er Egypt i an at t acks ,and wer ej oi ned by t he mai nor derofF 53si n1968.

Above& abovel ef t-T hi sC47wasgi vent oKi ngAbdul az i zI bnS aud byUSPr es i dentEi s enhower ;i tl at erbecamet hef i r s tai r cr af toper at ed byS audi Ar abi anAi r l i nes .T hei nt er i or ,i ncl udi ngt hef l i ght decki sopen t ovi s i t or s .

Bel ow -T hi sEngl i s hEl ect r i cL i ght ni ngF 52waspar tofanear l ybat ch del i ver edt ot heRS AFaheadoft hemai ndel i ver yofnew F 53s .I twas r ef ur bi s hedf r om anex RAFF 2.

Bel ow l ef t-A f or merUS AFNor t hAmer i canF 86FS abr edel i ver ed t o t heRS AFi nt hel at e1950s .

L ef t-T he de Havi l l and Vampi r eF B52had a s hor tcar eeri nS audi hands .Not et heex pos edwoodens t r uct ur eont hepod.

T heL i ght ni nghadal ongcar eeri nRS AFs er vi ce,al t houghi twasr epl aced i nt he gr ound at t ack r ol e by t he F 5E T i geri nt he 1970s ,l eavi ng t he s ur vi vor saspur el yai rdef ence ai r cr af t .Del i ver i esofF 15Eagl esi nt he 1980sr epl aced s omeoft heL i ght ni ngf l eet ,wi t ht hef i nals ur vi vor sbei ng r et ur ned t ot heUKi n1986aspar tofa dealwi t hBAet os uppl yT or nado ADVst ot he RS AF .Asa r es ul toft hi st r adei n agr eement ,t her e ar e r el at i vel yf ew L i ght ni ngsl ef ti nS audiAr abi a,al t hough t he mus eum act ual l yhast woondi s pl ay.I ns i det hebui l di ngi soneoft hei nt er i mF 52s s uppl i ed i n1966,i t sr ounded f i nt i pi ndi cat i ngi t sor i gi nasanF 2.Out s i de t her ei st heonl yT 55t r ai nerr emai ni ng i nS audiAr abi a,and t hemus eum al s ohasacockpi ts i mul at orondi s pl ay.

Del i ver ed att hes amet i meast hei ni t i alL i ght ni ngF 52swasa handf ulof HawkerHunt erF 60s .T hes es aw mos tus e as' l eadi n't r ai ner sf orpi l ot s t r ans i t i oni ngf r om t heJ etPr ovos tt ot heL i ght ni ng.Appar ent l ymanyoft he ai r cr af tdel i ver ed t ot heRS AFwer el at ers uppl i ed t oJ or dan;t heai r cr af t on di s pl ay i sact ual l y an ex RAF F 6 pai nt ed t or epr es entt he ai r cr af t oper at edbyt heRS AF .

Anot herBr i t i s hbui l tmai ns t ayoft heRS AFwhi chwasdel i ver edi nt he1960s and 1970swast he BAC S t r i kemas t er .A t ot alof47 wer e del i ver ed bet ween1968and1977,andagoodnumberoft hes es ur vi ve,wi t hmany bei ngai r wor t hyi nt heUKand US A.T hemus eum atRi yadhhasa pai rof s ur vi vor sondi s pl ay;one i shangi ng f r om t he cei l i ng oft he bui l di ng,t he ot heri sdi s pl ayedout door s .

Above - T he on L i ght ni ng T 55 t r ai S audi Ar abi ai sdi s p mus eum.

Ri ght-T hi sf or merR F 6i spai nt edt or ep bat chofF 60sdel i v

L ef t-T he RS AFwa oper at oroft he B t hi sex ampl ei sd f r om t her oofoft he

nl y Engl i s h El ect r i c ai ner r emai ni ng i n i s pl ayedout s i det he

rRAFHawkerHunt er epr es entoneoft he l i ver edt ot heRS AF .

wasan ent hus i as t i c BAC S t r i kemas t er , di s pl ayed hangi ng hebui l di ng.

F r om t he 1970sonwar ds ,t he RS AF began t or ecei ve an i ncr eas i ng amountofhar dwar ef r om t he US .F r om t hi sper i od,t he mus eum hasa s i ngl eNor t hr opF 5ET i gerI I ;t heRS AFr ecei vedal ar genumberofF 5sand s omer emai ni ns er vi cet oday,al t houghnow r el egat edt oat r ai ni ngr ol e.

T he f i nals ect i on oft he mus eum cont ai nsmai nl yt r ai ni ng ai r cr af tand hel i copt er s .T het r ai ner si ncl udeex ampl esoft heChi pmunk,T 6T ex anand T 34Ment or .T he r ar es tai r cr af ton di s pl ayi sa T emco T 35A.Onl y26of t hes ewer epr oducedi nt heear l y1950s ,andS audiAr abi awast hemai n cus t omer ,r ecei vi ng a t ot aloft en.T he ai r cr af ton di s pl ay i st he onl y ex ampl es t i l l i nt heKi ngdom,al t houghas mal l numbers ur vi vei nt heUS .

Above-‘ 1504’ ,aN I I ,' f l i es 'overt he m mus eum, wi t h f u bel ow -L i ght ni ng Hunt er .

L ef t-T her ar es tai r t heT emcoT 35A‘ 3 26ex ampl esmanu

Meanwhi l e, t r ai n i ncl ude a T 34 l ef t ) andaT 6T ex a

Nor t hr opF 5ET i ger mai nat r i um oft he f ur t her j et f i ght er s g,F 86 S abr e and

ai r cr af tondi s pl ayi s ‘ 34470’-oneofj us t nuf act ur ed.

i ner s on di s pl ay 4 Ment or ( above an( r i ght )

Movi ng out s i de,t her e ar es ome oft he l ar ger ai r cr af ti nt he col l ect i on, i ncl udi ng a C130 Her cul es( above)andaDC4( r i ght ) ,bot hf or mer t r ans por tt ypesus edbyt heRS AF .T her ei sal s oa ver ys mar tBoei ng707( f arr i ght )whi choncef l ew wi t ht he RoyalF l i ght ,s o car r i est he col our sof S audi a;i twasi ns er vi ce i ns uppor toft he Royal F ami l yasl at eas2001,s ocar r i est hemos tr ecent col our soft henat i onal ai r l i ne.

Amongs tt heol des tai r cr af ti nt hemus eum i sa Dougl asA26BI nvader( l ef t ) ;t heRS AF r ecei vedni neI nvader si n195455,s omeof t he f i r s t' moder n'ai r cr af ts uppl i ed t ot he count r y, whi ch by 1950 had become r eas onabl y weal t hy t hanks t o t he di s cover y ofvas tr es er vesofoi lwi t hi ni t s t er r i t or y. T he I nvader s wer e bas ed at J eddah, but due t o l ack of s uppor t s uf f er edf r om poors er vi ceabi l i t yandwer e gr ounded byt heend oft hedecade.T he mus eum hast heonl ys ur vi voroft hi sbat ch ofai r cr af t .

Att he f r ontoft he mus eum,neart ot he mai nr oad,ar e a pai rofmor e moder n ai r cr af t .T he RS AFhasoper at ed t he F 15 s i ncet he1980s .I ni t i al del i ver i eswer eoft he F 15C/ Df i ght ervar i ant ,wi t hl at erbat ches bei ngoft heF 15Smul t i r ol ever s i onbas ed ont heF 15ES t r i keEagl e.T hemus eum has an ear l yF 15B on di s pl ay, pai nt ed t o r epr es enta S audiF 15D ( bel ow l ef t ) ;t he RS AFneveroper at ed t he F 15A/ B,s oi ti s as s umed t hatt hi sai r cr af tcame f r om US s t ocks .

T heot herai r cr af twhi chcur r ent l yf or mst he backbone oft hes e RS AFf r ont l i ne f l eeti s t he Panavi a T or nado. T he RS AF has oper at edbot ht heI DSandADVver s i onof t he T or nado,al t hough t he ADV f l eeti s bei ng r et i r ed and r epl aced wi t h Eur of i ght erT yphoons .T hemus eum hast wo ADVsondi s pl ay;onei smount ed cl os et o t heF 15,neart hemai nr oad ( f arl ef t ) .T he ot heri s cur r ent l yl acki ng under car r i age andvar i ousot herpar t sands t or edcl os et o t hemus eum bui l di ng,l ooki ng ast houghi t maybebei ngpr epar edf orhangi ngi nt he mai nbui l di ng.

Des pi t e t he di f f i cul t i es i n vi s i t i ng t he mus eum, i ti s cer t ai nl y an i mpr es s i ve col l ect i on,and wel lwor t h a coupl e of hour sofl ooki ng ar ound,es peci al l yi nt he cooloft heeveni ng.I fyoudoi nt endt ovi s i t t hough,pl eas ef i r s tcons ul tt hewebs i t e,t he Engl i s h ver s i on ofwhi ch can be f ound at ht t p: / / s aqr al j az eer a. gov. s a/ en/

Above-Af u agai nwi t ht

Above-As

Above-As e t he canopy di f f er entt yp

f ur t herVampi r ei sdi s pl ayedout s i de,once t henos es t r uct ur eex pos ed.

Above -T hi sT or nado ADV appear st o be i nt he pr oces sofbei ngpr epar edf ordi s pl ay.

s mar tex RS AFCes s na172t r ai ner .

Above-T hi sBel lOH58Ki owapr evi ous l ys er vedwi t h t heRoyal S audi L andF or ces .

s econdF 86i sdi s pl ayedout s i de,al t hough py f i t t ed appear st o be r obbed f r om a ype.

Above-Oneoft woL ockheedT 33S hoot i ngS t ar st o bef oundout s i det hemus eum .

TheMI GHTY

97t h

Al t usAF Bi nr ur alOkl ahoma i st he l ocat i onf ort he F or malT r ai ni ng Uni t sf ort wo oft he US AF ' smos t s i gni f i cantt ypes .PaulDunn f l ew wi t ht he 97t h Ai r Mobi l i t yWi ngt os eehow s t udent sar et aughtt of l y t heC17andKC135.

I magesPaulDunnunl es ss t at ed.

T heBeechcr af tT 6A T ex anI Ii st hepr i mar yt r ai n f r om t he434t hF T S ,47t hF T W atL aughl i nAF B,T X.

T

he vas topen pl ai nsoft he s out her n cent r al Uni t edS t at esar et her ur al hear t of t he count r y. Wi t h a pr i mar i l y agr i cul t ur al economy, s t at es s uch as Okl ahoma ar ef ai r l ys par s el ypopul at ed but enj oygood weat hercondi t i onsf ormos tof t heyear .T hecombi nat i onofcl earweat her andopens pace,wi t hl i t t l ei nt hewayofhi gh t er r ai n, has t r adi t i onal l y made t he ar ea hi ghl ys ui t ed t of l yi ng t r ai ni ng.T he ar ea i s l i t t er ed wi t hdi s us ed ai r f i el dsdat i ng backt o WWI I ,when young men i nt hei rt hous ands l ear ned t of l yi nt he r el at i ve s af et y oft he Uni t ed S t at es ,bef or e bei ng pos t ed t of i ght over s eas .

T oday, t he s wat he of l and t aki ng i n Okl ahoma,T ex as ,Ar kans asand Mi s s i s s i ppi coul dper hapss t i l lbeaccur at el yr ef er r edt o ast hecr adl eoft heUS AF ,asi ti shomet ot he maj or i t yofas s et sbel ongi ngt oAi rEducat i on and T r ai ni ng Command,and wher e mos t US AFpi l ot st ake t he f i r s ts t epsi nt hei rf l yi ng car eer s .

Headquar t er ed atRandol ph AF B,T X,AET C camei nt obei ngi n1993,wi t ht hemer gerof Ai rT r ai ni ngCommandandt heAi rUni ver s i t y.

T hecommand' ss t at ed mi s s i oni s" T or ecr ui t , t r ai n and educat e Ai r men t o del i verai r powerf orAmer i ca" ,and t hi sencompas s es ever yt hi ng f r om r ecr ui t ment and bas i c mi l i t ar yt r ai ni ngt oadvancedf l yi ngt r ai ni ng.

One oft he pr i mar ydut i esofAET Ci sf l i ght t r ai ni ng f orpi l ot sand cr ew member s .Mos t pi l ot s at t end t he J oi nt S peci al i z ed Under gr aduat ePi l otT r ai ni ng( J S UPT )cour s e, whi ch begi ns wi t hl ear ni ng bas i c mi l i t ar y f l yi ng s ki l l sont heT 6A T ex anI IatCol umbus AF B,MS ,L aughl i nAF B,T XorVanceAF B,OK. Emphas i s i ngt hej oi ntnat ur eoft hepr ogr am, addi t i onalUS AFs t udent st r ai n wi t ht he US Navyont heT 6BatNASWhi t i ngF i el d,F L .At t he concl us i on of t he T 6 cour s e, f or advanced f l yi ng t r ai ni ng,s t udentpi l ot sar e s t r eamed on t o one oft hr ee mai n car eer t r acks : bomber / f i ght er , ai r l i f t / t anker or hel i copt er .

S t udent sdes t i ned f orai r l i f t / t ankeras s i gnment s as s i gnedt ot he32ndF T S ,71s tF T W atVanceAF B

i ni ng ai r cr af tf ort heUS AF ' sJ S UPTcour s e.T hi sex ampl ei s X.

t sgo on t of l yt he Rayt heon T 1A J ayhawk.T hi sT 1A i s F B,OK.

S t udent sdes t i nedf orbomber / f i ght er as s i gnment s go on t of l yt he T 38 T al on, wher eas pr os pect i ve hel i copt erpi l ot shead t oF or tRucker andt heUH1N ( s eeGAM I s s ue23f or mor ei nf or mat i on on t he hel i copt er cour s e) .T he maj or i t y of s t udent s des t i ned f orai r l i f t / t ankeruni t sgo on t of l yt he Rayt heon T 1A J ayhawk, al t houghs omepi l ot sdes t i nedf ort he C130f l eeti ni t svar i ousgui s est r ai n on t he T 44 orT C12B wi t ht he US Navy.

T he T 1A i s bas ed on t he Beechj et / Hawker400A bus i nes sj et , wi t h modi f i cat i ons f or i t s mi l i t ar y t r ai ni ng r ol e, i ncl udi ng s t r uct ur al enhancement st o al l ow t he ai r cr af t t odeal wi t ht hei ncr eas ednumberof l andi ngsperf l i ghthourr equi r edofa t r ai ni ng ai r cr af t . Dur i ng t hi s advanced t r ai ni ng phas e,s t udent s r ecei ve appr ox i mat el y 105 hour sof i ns t r uct i on i nt he T 1,cons i s t i ng of i ns t r ument f l yi ng and navi gat i on, i ncl udi ng l ow l eveland f or mat i on s or t i es . T hey al s o r ecei ve an i nt r oduct i on t o s ome of t he t echni quest hatwi l lbe r equi r ed f or t hei revent ualr ol easf r ontl i nepi l ot s , i ncl udi ngai rr ef uel l i ngandai r dr op.

Havi ngf i ni s hedt hecour s e,s ucces s f ul s t udent s t hen r ecei ve t hei r as s i gnment s . Gr aduat es of t he pr ogr ammepr edomi nat el ygoont o f l y ai r cr af ts uch as t he C5,C17, KC10, KC135 and C130, wi t h s mal l ernumber sofs t udent sgoi ngon t of l ymor es peci al i s edt ypess uchas t he E3,RC135,E8and MC12.T he nex ts t op f or t r ai nee pi l ot si st he F or malT r ai ni ng Uni t( F T U) f ort hei r as s i gned t ype;f orpi l ot sas s i gned t o t heC17and KC135,t hatuni ti st he 97t hAMW atAl t usAF B,OK.

Al t usAF Bi sl ocat edi ns out hwes tOkl ahoma,j us t t ot he eas toft he t ownwhi chbear st he s ame name.L i kemanybas esi nt hear ea,i thasal ong as s oci at i on wi t h pi l ot t r ai ni ng, havi ng been es t abl i s hedi n1943asAl t usAr myAi rF i el d.Pi l ot s wer et aughtonmul t i engi neai r cr af ts uchast he Ces s na AT 17 Bobcat ,Cur t i s sAT 9J eep and BeechC45Ex pedi t or ,wi t ht hous andsofyoung pi l ot sgoi ng ont of i ghti nt hes ki esoverEur ope andt hePaci f i cdur i ngWWI I .T heendoft hewar br oughthuge r educt i onsi nt he s i z e oft he US mi l i t ar yf or ces ,and Al t usAAFwasoneofmany bas espl aced i n an i nact i ve s t at us .Unl i ke t he maj or i t yofdi s us edai r f i el dss cat t er edacr os st he ar ea t hough,Al t uswoul d notbe l ef tt of ade awayi nt odus t yobs cur i t y.

I nf act ,t heper i odofqui etwoul donl yl as tf ora f ew year s ;t heKor eanWarbr oughtani ncr eas e i nt he numberofpi l ot sneeded by t he newl y i ndependentUni t ed S t at esAi rF or ce,and Al t us AF Bwasr eact i vat edi nAugus t1953,onceagai n asa mul t i engi ne t r ai ni ng bas e.Byt he end of t he year , however ,t he ai r f i el d had been r eas s i gned t oS t r at egi c Ai rCommand ( S AC) andanew t enantuni thadar r i vedi nt hef or m of t he 96t hBombar dmentWi ng ( Medi um) ,whi ch s oon r eequi pped wi t ht he new Boei ng B47 S t r at oj et and t he KC97 S t r at of r ei ght er ,t he pr i mar y dut y of whi ch was r ef uel l i ng t he bomber s .

T he 96t h BW' st enur e atAl t uswasr eas onabl y br i efandt heuni tdepar t edf orDyes sAF Bi nl at e 1957,t o be r epl aced by t he 11t h BW,whi ch ar r i ved f r om Car s wel l AF B. T he 11t h had pr evi ous l yoper at ed t he B36Peacemaker ,but on ar r i valatAl t usbegan conver s i on ont ot he B52S t r at of or t r es s .T heB52swer es uppor t edby t he Ai rF or ce' snewl ydel i ver ed j ett anker ,t he KC135A, begi nni ng an as s oci at i on whi ch cont i nuest ot hi sday.

Byt hebegi nni ngoft he1990s ,Al t uswashos tt o S AC' s340t hAi rRef uel i ngWi ng( ARW)andMAC' s 443t hMAW;t hepos t Col dWarr eor gani s at i onof t he US AF l ed t o bot h uni t sf al l i ng undert he command oft he new Ai rMobi l i t y Command ( AMC) .Accor di ngl y,t he bas e' s as s et s wer e mer ged t of or mt he f i r s tAi rMobi l i t yWi ng,t he 97t hAMW.T hi swi ngwast hent r ans f er r edt ot he newl yf or med AET C and t as ked wi t ht r ai ni ng cr ews f or t he C141, C5 and KC135.

Addi t i onal l y,t r ai ni ng cour s esf ort he new C17 Gl obemas t erI I Ibegani n1996.

I n2001,C141t r ai ni ng waspas s ed t o Ai rF or ce Res er ve Command,and t he S t ar l i f t er sl ef tt he bas e.T heC5t r ai ni ng r ol epas s ed t ot he433r d AW ( AF RC)atL ackl andAF B,T X,i n2007,l eavi ng t he97t hAMW t of ocusont r ai ni ng KC135and C17 cr ews .T he 97t h cur r ent l y cons i s t soft wo f l yi ngs quadr ons ;t he54t hARS( KC135)and58t h AS( C17) .

T he C17 can pr obabl y be cons i der ed t he backboneofAMC' sai r l i f tf l eet .Abl et oper f or m a var i et yofdi f f er entmi s s i onsi ncl udi ng ai r dr op and aer omedi calevacuat i on aswel lasbot h T he B52sl ef tAl t usi nt he l at e 1960s ,and t he s t r at egi c and t act i cal ai r l i f t ,t he C17 i s bas epas s edt oMi l i t ar yAi r l i f tCommand( MAC) , uni ver s al l ypopul arwi t hi t scr ewsand gener al l y al t hough S AC KC135scont i nued t o be bas ed t houghtofast he mos tcapabl e ai r cr af ti ni t s t her e.MAC act i vat ed t he 443r d Mi l i t ar y Ai r l i f t cl as s .T he US AFr ecent l yr ecei ved i t sf i nalC17, Wi ng ( MAW) i n 1967, wi t ht he uni t havi ng t aki ngi t st ot alf l eett o223;f ormor ei nf or mat i on r es pons i bi l i t yf orconduct i ngt r ai ni ngont henew abouti t shi s t or y and cur r entoper at i ons ,s ee C141S t ar l i f t erandC5Gal ax yt r ans por tai r cr af t . GAM I s s ue19.

T heC17T r ai ni ngS ys t em i sAMC' sl ar ges tt r ai ni ng pr ogr amme and encompas s esf aci l i t i esat12 US AF i ns t al l at i ons , wi t ht he l ar ges t of t hes e f aci l i t i esbei ng t he C17F or malT r ai ni ng Uni tat Al t usAF B.T heacademi cands i mul at orphas eof t he t r ai ni ng cour s esf ormos tUS AFai r cr af tar e cont r act ed outt o ci vi l i an or gani s at i ons ;i nt he cas eoft heC17T S ,t hepr i mar ycont r act ori sL 3 L i nk S i mul at i on and T r ai ni ng, par t of L 3 Communi cat i ons .

Managi ngt heC17t r ai ni ngf aci l i t yatAl t usAF Bi s Mr .T onyS enci .He hasbeen i nt he r ol es i nce

2013,buti snos t r angert oAl t usAF B,ashewas anex per i enced C141and C5pi l otdur i ng hi s US AFcar eer .Mr .S encii sr es pons i bl ef orat eam ofpi l ot and l oadmas t eri ns t r uct or s ,mos t of whom ar eex per i encedf or merUS AFper s onnel . " T hey have many,many year s of I ns t r uct or Ex per i ence,onal lt ypesofheavyai r cr af t( C9, C130, C141, C5, C17, KC135, KC10) .

Bas i cal l y,t heyhave mor et i me i ns t r uct i ng t han mos toft hei rs t udent shave t i me on t hi sear t h!

T hi sbr oad s pect r um ofex per i ence pr ovi desa ver yf i r m knowl edgebas ef ort hes t udent s . " Mr .S enci andhi st eam over s eeat r ai ni ngs ys t em whi chr ancour s esf orover2000s t udent si nF Y14.

L eavi ng as i de t he Quar t er l yPhas eT r ai ni ng f or Al t us bas ed cr ews ,t he maj or i t y ofs t udent s pas s i ngt hr ought heC17T Sar et her et or ecei ve I ni t i al Qual i f i cat i onont heC17.

Above-Al t usAF Bher i t age.F r om t opt obot t om, t heBeechC45,Boei ngB47ES t r at oj et ,KC135A S t r at ot ankerand C141B S t ar l i f t er .T he B47 i s di s pl ayedi nt het ownofAl t us ,t her emai nderar e l ocat edwi t hi nt heboundar i esoft hebas e.

F orpi l ot s ,t he Pi l otI ni t i alQual i f i cat i on ( PI Q) cour s e cons i s t sof68t r ai ni ngdays .I ti sani nt ens ecour s e,whi ch cons i s t s of many hour s of academi c s t udy, i n conj unct i onwi t hs es s i onsi nt hepr ocedur alt r ai nerand f ul lf l i ghts i mul at or .L i ke ai r l i ne t r ai ni ng,t he maj or i t yof t he C17cour s ei st aughti nt he s i mul at or( 43mi s s i ons , 116hour s )bef or es t udent sheadovert ot he58t hASf or af ai r l ybr i efi nt r oduct i ont ot her ealai r cr af t .T hequal i t y oft hes i mul at or smeanst hatt het r ans i t i ont ot heai r cr af t i sf ai r l ys t r ai ght f or war d.L tDami an F r anzi sa C17PI Q s t udent ;att het i meofouri nt er vi ew,hehadj us tf i ni s hed t he s i mul at orphas e ofhi scour s e and wasaboutt o movet ot he58t hASt ocont i nuehi st r ai ni ngont her eal ai r cr af t .Hecamet ot heC17f ol l owi ng a s hor ts t i ntof f l yi ngt heC130HHer cul es . " If eel ver y pr epar ed r i ght now. F r om my pr i or ex per i ence i nt he Her c,whi ch f ol l owed t he s ame s i mul at ort r ai ni ng r egi men,a l otofs i msf ol l owed bya s mal l amountoff l yi ng( act ual l yal i t t l emor ef l yi ng, aswe gotai r dr opqual i f i ed) ,I f el tver ypr epar edf r om dayone.

F ort hemos tpar t ,t hes i mul at ordoesar eal l ygoodj ob, and l et syou s ee t hi ngst hatyou ar e notgoi ng t o be abl et os eeonar egul arbas i sont heai r cr af t . " T het r ai ni ngcour s ei sver ymuchani nt egr at ed cour s e, wi t hacademi cs t udyofs ys t emsandpr ocedur esbei ng backed up s t r ai ghtawaybys i mul at ors es s i ons ,r at her t hanamor et r adi t i onal cour s ewher eweeksofi nt ens e, s ol el yt heor et i call ear ni ngwoul dbef ol l owedbybl ocks of s i mul at or s es s i ons .T hi s appr oach i s cer t ai nl y benef i ci alf ort he s t udent s ,butdoes n' tmeant hati ti s any l es schal l engi ng t ot ake al lt he i nf or mat i on on boar d! " I t ' sl i ke dr i nki ng f r om a huge f i r e hos e!Youar et aki ng l i t t l es i psata t i me,butt he s chedul ei sbui l ti n a ver y l ogi calway.F orex ampl e,one dayyou' l ll ear n about t he ox ygen s ys t em and t he nex tday you' l lhave an ox ygen s ys t em emer gency pr ogr ammed i nt o your s i mul at ors es s i on. " One t hi ng Il i ked aboutt hi spr ogr am i si t scomput er bas ed t r ai ni ng.On t he f i r s tdayyou can f eell i ke you don' tknow anyt hi ng,butyoucango backi nand do t he pr ogr amsagai n once you' ve had yours i m and t hat ' soneoft hegr eatt hi ngsaboutt hi spr ogr am.Bei ng abl et ogobacki nt ot hel es s onaf t ert hes i m hel psmake s ens eofi t . "

Gr ound s choolf ort he C17 cons i s s es s i onsi nt hepr ocedur al s i mul at or t r ai ni ngpackagesatt hes et er mi nal s i ns t r umentpanel s .T hegr ounds choo

s i s t sofcomput erbas ed t r ai ni ng packagesand randf ul l f l i ghts i mul at or .S t udent saccompl i s ht he al s ,whi chi ncl udedi agr amsoft heai r cr af t ' svar i ous ool i scl os el yi nt egr at edwi t ht hes i mul at ors es s i ons .

L oadmas t er sal s or ecei vet hei rI ni t i al Qual i f i cat i onal ongs i det hepi l ot s ,wi t hs ever al s peci al i s edpi eces as s i s ti nt hei rt r ai ni ng.T hes ei ncl udea1/ 10s cal emodel ofaC17car gohol d,compl et ewi t hr epr es ent a s ames cal e.T hi shel pst hes t udent svi s ual i s ewhatt hes el oadswi l l l ookl i kewheni ns i det hehol d.T her e s cal emockupsoft heC17car gohol d,agai nwi t hf ul ls i z epr ops( i ncl udi ng r et i r ed AH1and OH58 f ur t heras s i s ti nt r ai ni ng.

L i ket hepi l ot s ,l oadmas t er sr ecei vemucht r ai ni ngi na s i mul at or .T hel oadmas t ers t at i ont r ai nercons r epl i caoft hel oadmas t er ' spanel i nt heC17,wi t havi s ual r epr es ent at i onoft hecar gohol d.T hes i mul at t ot hef l i ghts i mul at or s ,s ot hatpi l ot sandl oadmas t er scant r ai nt oget heri nr ealt i measacr ew.T hi si s bui l di nggoodt eamwor kandCRM,andhel psgi vepi l ot sanappr eci at i onoft hepr ocedur est hatt he t owor kt hr ough,es peci al l yi nanemer gencys i t uat i on,andt het i met hatt hatt akes .T hi si sanes peci a f orPI Qs t udent s ,l i keL tF r anz .

" I tcanbeeas yf ort hes i mi ns t r uct or st oqui ckl ycomebackwi t h' checkl i s tcompl et e' ,butt hes econne youngercopi l ot si npar t i cul art or eal i s et hatt hel oadmas t eri sact ual l ybackt her edoi ngs omet hi ngan t hei rownpr ocedur es . "

sofequi pmentt o t at i vel oadsi nt he r ear eal s ot wof ul l 58hel i copt er s )t o

ns i s t sofa wor ki ng at orcanbel i nked i sver yval uabl ei n el oadmas t erhas ci al l yus ef ull es s on

nect i onsal l ow t he ndgoi ngt hr ough

Above-T heC17t r ai ni ngs chool al s ohast wof ul l s i z er epl i casoft hecar go hol d,al ongwi t hl oadsandl oadi ngequi pment .

Bel ow - T he i mpos i ng s i ght of t he r ealt hi ng,s een hi gh over t he mul t i col our edf ar ml andsofT ex as .

L ef t-T hi s1/ 10t hs cal emodel oft heC17car gohol di sus edt ohel pt r ai nee l oadmas t er sgetani deaofhow cer t ai ni t emswi l ll ookwhenl oadedi nt o t heai r cr af t .

Ont hes hel vesbehi ndar eacol l ect i onofr epr es ent at i vel oads , al l i nt hes ames cal e.

Whens t udent shavef i ni s hedt heacademi cands i mul at orphas eof t hei rt r ai ni ng,t heymoveacr os st ot he58t hAS ,wher et heygett hei r f i r s tt as t eoff l yi ngt heC17f orr eal .CaptJ er emyMar yi sanI ns t r uct or Pi l ot( I P)wi t ht he58t h.Hehasaweal t hofex per i enceoff l yi ngt he C17wi t hbot hEas tandWes tCoas tuni t sandwasr ecent l ypos t ed t oAl t usAF B;l i keever yonei nt heC17communi t y,Al t usi sal ocat i on hei sf ai r l yf ami l i arwi t h. " T hr eeyear sagoIwentt hr ought heI ns t r uct orPi l otpr ogr am her e,i n bet weenpos t i ngsatChar l es t onandT r avi s .Now t hatI am overher e wi t ht he58t h,Is t i l lhavet ogot hr oughanupgr adebecaus ef l yi ng wi t hbr andnew s t udent sher ei sal otdi f f er entt of l yi ngbackont he coas t s .T her e' sawhol et womont hpr oces st ogetmebacks punup, and Ihaven' tf l owna pat t er nher ei novert hr ee year ss o,I ' mj us t get t i ngbacki nt ot hei nsandout sofhow t of l yher e. "

He agr ees t hatt he t r ai ni ng r ecei ved i nt he s i mul at ori si nval uabl ei n pr epar i ng s t udent st o s t ar tt he f l yi ng phas e oft hei rcour s e,whi chon t he Pi l ot I ni t i al Qual i f i cat i on ( I Q) cour s e i s r el at i vel ybr i ef . " T hes i msar epr et t yamaz i ng.Event hought hey can' tqui t er epl i cat et het her mal sandgus t syou geti nt hi sar ea,i t ' ss t i l la r eal l ygood t r ans i t i on goi ng f r om t he s i m t ot he f l i ght l i ne.When t he s t udent shi tt he f l i ght l i ne i t ' st wo dayr i desand oneni ghtr i deandt henacheckr i de. "

T heai m oft heI Q cour s ei st ot ur nouts t udent swhohaveenough knowl edgeands ki l l st ooper at et heai r cr af ts af el y.Gr aduat esar e t henpos t edt oC17uni t swher et heycont i nuet hei rt r ai ni ng,whi l s t s t i l lpar t i ci pat i ngi nf l yi ngoper at i onswor l dwi de.I ti satt hes euni t s t hatt heyar ei nt r oducedt os omeoft hemor eadvanceds ki l l st hat t heywi l l comet ous edur i ngt hei rcar eer s . " When t heycome t o us ,t hey' r e notdoi ng ai rr ef uel l i ng,as s aul t l andi ngsoranyt hi ng l i ke t hat .T heyar e ex pect ed t o handl et he ai r cr af ts af el yandbeabl et odoat ouchandgo;I ' m nots ayi ng t hati t ' seas y,butt her e' snotawhol el ott hatwer equi r eoft hem at t hi ss t age.T heyl eave her e and t hey' r ef ul l yqual i f i ed t o go f l y anywher ear oundt hewor l d. "

T r ai ni ng br and new pi l ot si s ,ofcour s e, j us tone oft he dut i esoft he 58t h AS .

Dur i ng t hei r car eer s , C17 pi l ot s can ex pectt omakes ever al vi s i t st oAl t usAF B t or ecei veupgr adet r ai ni ng,wi t hcour s es i ncl udi ngai r cr af tcommander ,i ns t r uct or pi l otand ai r dr op.T hel at t eri ses peci al l y chal l engi ng,par t i cul ar l yf r om apl anni ng per s pect i ve. " I t ' sal mos tl i keacompl et es econdhal foft hej ett hatyou' r el ear ni ng andt her e' sal otofgener alknowl edget hatyouneedt oknow t hat goesi nt oi t .Ai r cr af tCommanderAi r dr ops chool ,f ormos tpeopl e,i s t hemos tchal l engi ngcour s eouther e.I t ' sf or mat i onf l yi ng,s oyou' r e noti nonej etf l yi nganai r dr opl i ne;t hat ' snotdi f f i cul tpers e,t her e' sa l otofchal l engesi nvol ved,buti twoul d nott ake a l ott ot r ai n s omeonet o do s i ngl es hi p ai r dr op.Whenyoucombi net hatwi t ha f or mat i onoft woort hr ee,t hatcompl i cat esever yt hi ng.

" T her ear et i meswhen we go up and t ake t hr ee C17sup t o do ai rr ef uel l i ng wi t ht wo KC135s ,andt her e' sa whol e l i t any of pr ocedur es becaus e you need t o know wher e ever yone i sat al lt i mes ,al t i t udesand pos i t i onset c,s oi tget s t obeex haus t i ng! " Havi ngt heKC135F T U col ocat ed at t he s amebas ei scer t ai nl y advant ageous when i tcomest oor gani s i ng a t anker f or aer i al r ef uel l i ngt r ai ni ng,and f oradvanced mi s s i on pl anni ng s uch as mul t i ai r cr af t ai r dr op.

Ai rr ef uel l i ngi st hekey t o pr ovi di ng USf or ces wi t h gl obal mobi l i t y and al s ot he abi l i t yt o at t ack t ar get s t hr oughoutt he wor l d.

F ornow,AMC r el i eson t wo t anker st of ul f i li t s ai rr ef uel l i ng needs , t he KC10 Ex t ender and KC135 S t r at ot anker .

T he KC10 i s a l ar ger ai r cr af t t han t he KC135, and i s ar guabl y mor e capabl e,butt hef l eet i sver ys mal l ,cons i s t i ng ofonl y 59 ai r cr af t .I n cont r as t ,t he KC135 f l eet i s made up of over400ai r cr af t ,wi t h ai r cr af t depl oyed wor l dwi de t os uppor t oper at i ons .

T eam Al t us . CADDO71, a C17A f r om t he 58t h AS r ecei vesf uelf r om NI T RO43, aKC135Rf r om t he54t hARS over T ex as . Beneat h t he ai r cr af tcan be s een Pyot e AAF , one of t he many di s us ed WWI I t r ai ni ng ai r f i el dsl i t t er i ngt hear ea.

T he f i r s tKC135Aswer e del i ver ed t oS AC i n 1957;att hatt i me t he t ankerf l eethad a s i ngl e, ver y s peci f i c mi s s i on. Mos tS AC KC135swer e col ocat ed wi t h B52s .I ft he or derwas r ecei ved t ol aunch a nucl ear s t r i ke,t heKC135swer et ogetai r bor newi t h t heB52s ,pas st hemaj or i t yoft hei rf uel t ot he bomber s and t hen ( i fpos s i bl e) r et ur nt o bas e,orl and atanyavai l abl e ai r f i el d.T hi s oneway,dooms daymi s s i onwast her ai s on d' ĂŞt r ef ort he KC135 and B52 f l eet ,and i ndeed t he KC135' si dealpar amet er sf or pas s i ngf uel( i nt er msofs peedandal t i t ude) ex act l ymat cht her equi r ement soft heB52.

T he Vi et nam Warl ed t o a wi deni ng oft he ai r cr af t ' sr ol e,wi t hKC135sact i ngasa' f or ce mul t i pl i er 'f or t act i calai r cr af t as wel las bomber s . Aer i al r ef uel l i ng al l owed s t r i ke ai r cr af tt o at t ackmor e di s t antt ar get s ,and al s oi ncr eas ed t he t i me t hatf i ght erai r cr af t wer e abl et o pat r ol ,s ot he t ankermi s s i on began t o i ncl ude t he r ol e of t heat r e r ef uel l i ng aswel last he s uppor tofS AC' s bomberf l eet .

T he US AF ' s cur r ent f l eet cons i s t s of r eengi ned and upgr aded KC135R/ T ver s i ons ,whi chhave beenf i t t ed wi t hmor e ef f i ci ent CF M56 t ur bof an engi nes t o r epl ace t he or i gi nalPr at tand Whi t neyJ 57 t ur boj et s .T he ai r cr af tar e pr i mar i l yt as ked wi t ht heat r er ef uel l i ng oft act i calai r cr af t , wher east he KC10 f l eett endst o handl e l ong r angedepl oyment soft act i calai r cr af t ands uppor tofs t r at egi cai r l i f tmi s s i ons .

T he KC135 T Si sal s o cont r act ed outt oa ci vi l i an company, i nt hi s cas e CAE I nc.

T r ai ni ng f ol l ows s i mi l ar l i nes t o t he C17 s yl l abus ,wi t hpi l ot scompl et i ngmos toft hei r t r ai ni ngi nt hes i mul at orbef or emovi ngt ot he 54t h ARS f or t he f l yi ng phas e of t hei r conver s i on.Oneoft hebi gdi f f er encesi st hat wher et he C17 has an addi t i onalcr ew memberi nt he f or m ofa l oadmas t er ,t he KC135 has a boom oper at or , who i s pr i mar i l y r es pons i bl e f or oper at i ng t he ai r cr af t ' sr ef uel l i ngs ys t em.

Above -NI T RO43t ax i esont or unway17Rat Al t usAF B,wi t hMaj S tJ ohni nt hel ef thands et andMaj Reedi nt her i ght ;bot har ei ns t r uct or pi l ot swi t ht he54t hARS .

L ef t-T he cr ew ofNI T RO43,i ncl udi ng t wo boom oper at or sr at hert han t he us ualone.

T he addi t i onal cr ew member was under goi ngupgr adet r ai ni ngt obecomean I ns t r uct orBoom Oper at or .

Abov t r adi t i ande

I n ad t r ai ni n Oper a s i mul a comp pr act di f f er e i ns t r uc ex per KC13 1977!

Ai rF o i ns t r uc Ai rCo t he j o s er vi c cr ew Mr .C T he aut hort r i eshi shand atr ef uel l i ng a B52H, wi t hi nt hes af econf i nesoft heBoom Oper at or WeaponsS ys t em T r ai ner( BOWS T ) .

" Wed asa pr act

ve -Aswel lasoper at i ng t he r ef uel l i ng s ys t em oft he KC135,t he boom oper at orhast he mor e i t i onalr es pons i bi l i t i esofal oadmas t er ,s uchaspr epar i ngt hel oadandbal ancedat af ort heai r cr af t ens ur i nganycar goi sl oadedcor r ect l yands af el y.

ddi t i on t ot he f l i ghts i mul at or s ,t he KC135 i ng f aci l i t y al s o has us e ofs ever alBoom r at orWeaponS ys t em T r ai ner s( BOWS T ) .T hes e l at or scl os el yr epl i cat et he boom oper at or ’ s par t mentoft heKC135andal l ow t r ai neest o ct i ce r ef uel l i ng pr ocedur esf ora var i et y of r entt ypes .Aswi t ht he C17 T S ,t he ci vi l i an uct or s atCAE t end t o have a weal t h of er i ence;f orex ampl e,Eddi e Col ei sa f or mer 135boom oper at orwhobeganhi st r ai ni ng i n 7!Af t ers pendi ng20year si nt her ol e,hel ef tt he F or ce and began a car eer as a ci vi l i an uct oratAl t us ,s t i l lpr oudl ywear i ngaS t r at egi c ommandpat chonhi sf l yi ngj acket .Al t hough j ob oft he KC135haschanged l i t t l e overi t s i cel i f e,t het r ai ni ngf aci l i t i esavai l abl et onew w member shave dr amat i cal l yi mpr oved,as Col er el at es .

di dn' thaveas i mul at orwhenIcamet hr ough a' boom' ,s o when If i r s tgott he chance t o ct i ce,Iwasat30, 000f twi t haB52behi ndme.

I t ' smadei taneas i ert r ans i t i ont ohavet hem doi t i nt he s i m pr i ort o goi ng f l yi ng.Now atl eas tt hey haveani deaofwhatt oex pect . " I nt hedaysbef or et heBOWS Twasi nt r oduced,t he KC135par tt as kt r ai ni ng devi ce r el i ed on s cal e model sofr ecei verai r cr af tt ogi ves t udent ss ome i deaofwhatar ef uel l i ngcont actl ookedl i ke. " We have kepts ome oft he model s ,s o we can s how t henew guyst hi si swhatwes t ar t edwi t hand now youcans eewher ewear eat . " T heBOWS Ti scer t ai nl yani mpr es s i vedevi ce,wi t h good vi s ual st or epr es entvar i ousr ecei verai r cr af t and envi r onment alcondi t i ons .Bymaki ng us e of t he s i mul at or ,s t udent s can gai n val uabl e ex per i encebef or et heybegi nt hef l yi ngphas eof t hei rt r ai ni ng. When t he s i mul at or cour s e i s compl et e,s t udent smove on t ot he 54t h ARS , wher et hei rt r ai ni ng i s cont i nued by I ns t r uct or Boom Oper at or s l i ke S S gt L ucas T r eat .

Accor di ng t o hi m,t he s i mul at ort r ai ni ng i si nval uabl e and makest he i ns t r uct or s 'j ob much eas i e whent hes t udent sbegi nf l yi ng.

" Ri ghtnow,ours t udent sar eget t i ng16hour s ’wor t hoft r ai ni ngi nt hes i mul at or ,s obyt het i met heyge overt ot hef l i ght l i neandgeti nt ot her eal ai r cr af t ,t hey' vehad16hour st ol ear nhow t hes ys t em wor k and how t o wor kt hr oughvar i ousmal f unct i onst hatt heycoul ds ee i nt he ai r cr af t ,f r om el ect r i ca poweri s s uest ohydr aul i cf aul t s .

" One oft he gr eat es tt hi ngsi st hatwhent he boom oper at ors t udent scome over ,Idon' thave t was t et i met r ai ni ngt hem onwhats wi t chdoeswhat ,whatpos i t i oni si ts uppos edt obei nandwhat t hecheckl i s tact ual l yt el l i ngt hem t odot opr epar ef orai rr ef uel i ng.S o,whenwedogoupi nt hea Icans pendmyt i megi vi ngoutmor eper t i nenti nf or mat i on,s uchaswhatyoucans eet her ecei ve doi ng,t he r adi o cal l st hatt he r ecei verwi l lmake and s ome oft he pr act i ce manoeuvr est hatt h r ecei vermaywi s ht ot r ai n.I cant al kmor eaboutt her ul esofengagementofai rr ef uel i ng,asoppos e t ot hebas i cf oundat i ons ,ast hef oundat i onhasal r eadybeenl ai d. "

s i er

get r ks i cal

t o ti s ai r , i ver t he s ed

Okl ahoma orKuwai t ?!Pr ol onged s t r ong wi ndsatAl t usAF Bl ed t oa l otofdus tbei ng chur ned up i nt ot he at mos pher e,gi vi ng t he bas e anappear ance mor e aki nt ot he Per s i anGul f .

Havi ngt heC17F T Uatt hes ameai r f i el dmeanst hatt he54t hARS get spl ent yof' t r ade' uponwhi cht opr act i cei t sr ef uel l i ngmi s s i on, al bei tdomi nat edbyas i ngl et ypeofr ecei ver ! " Asf arasdi f f er entt ypesofr ecei ver sgo,t hatcomesmor ewhen t heygett ot hei runi t s .Her e we s t aymai nl ywi t ht he C17,j us t becaus ewear ecol ocat edwi t ht hei rF T Uaswel l .Onoccas i on, we do getot herr ecei ver scomi ng i n,and t hatcoul dr ange anywher ef r om aC130t oaB1t oF 16s ,butt hati sf ew andf ar bet ween. " T heKC135i soneoft heol des tai r cr af ti nUS AFs er vi cewi t heven t he ' newes t 'ai r cr af ti nt he f l eetbei ng cl os et o 50 year sol d.

Des pi t ei t sage,i ti sex pect ed t hatt heKC135cancont i nuei n s er vi ceunt i l ar ound2040.Ar epl acementi sont hehor i z oni nt he f or m oft heKC46Pegas us ,butt her epl acementpr ogr ammewi l l beas l ow andgr adual one,s owi t hf ur t herupgr adepackagesi n t hepi pel i ne,t heS t r at ot ankerf l eetwi l ls ol di eronf ormanyyear s t ocome.

T he f ut ur ef orAl t us AF B al s ol ooks br i ght ,wi t ht he r ecent announcementt hatt heKC46F T U wi l lbes i t uat ed t her ewhen t he new t ankerent er ss er vi ce.T hi si sa wel come boos tf oran ar eawher et hebas ehasas t r ongeconomi cands oci al i mpact t ot hel ocal communi t y.

I nF Y13,t hateconomi ci mpactonJ acks onCount yamount edt o over$308m,butt hel i nksbet weent hebas eper s onnelandt he l ocal r es i dent sgof arbeyondf i gur esl i ket hes e,l ar geast heyar e.

T hepeopl eofAl t usar ecl ear l ypr oudt ohaves uchani mpor t ant i ns t al l at i oncl os et ot hei rt own,wi t ht hi sbei ngevi dentf r om s mal l t ouches ,l i ket heC17s i l houet t eont hegass t at i onneart hemai n gat e,and i ndeed t he r et i r ed B47 S t r at oj et ( appr opr i at el y named' Ci t yofAl t us ' )di s pl ayedal ongs i det hemai nr oadi nt he t owncent r e.T her ear eal s omor ef or mall i nks ,asCapt ai nKat i e Cous i ns ,Al t usAF B' sChi efofPubl i cAf f ai r sex pl ai ns . " Al t usAF Bhasaver ycl os er el at i ons hi pwi t ht hemember soft he l ocalcommuni t y.We have a r obus tHonor ar y Commander pr ogr am wher e wi ng,gr oup and s quadr on l eader s hi p ar e pai r edwi t hi ndi vi dual si nt hecommuni t yt ol ever ageknowl edge of bas e and communi t y oper at i ons and ef f or t s . Honor ar y Commander sgett os eef i r s t handhow Al t usAF Bf or gescombat mobi l i t yf or ces and depl oys Ai r man war r i or st hr ough t our s , br i ef i ngsand ot heract i vi t i es ,and bas el eader s hi p get st os ee how t hei rHonor ar yCommander si nf l uence t he communi t yi n t hei r r es pect i ve pr of es s i ons . T hey s har e i deas , cr eat e par t ner s hi ps and l as t i ng f r i ends hi ps -i t ' st r ul y an i nval uabl e r el at i ons hi p. "

KC135R591482l i nesupont h

t heRAFF ai r f or dr unwayt odepar tatt heconcl us i onofRI AT2010.

ShaunSchof i el d

T he‘ Ci t yofA

Wi t ht henat ur eoft het r ai ni nguni t satt hebas e, make Ai r men f eelathome when t hey ar r i ve, t her ei s a cons t ant f l ow ofnew per s onnel ; maki ng t hei r ex per i ence i nt he ar ea mor e communi t yl eader sdo t hei rbes tt o wel come enj oyabl ef ors er vi cemember sandf ami l i es . " t henew ar r i val s .

T hi sr el at i ons hi pwor ksbot hways ,ofcour s e.Al t us " Each i ndi vi dualnew t ot he bas e,and t hos e AF Br egul ar l y opensi t sgat est o hos ta f r ee who r et ur n home f r om depl oyment , ar e ai r s how;t heWi ngsofF r eedom OpenHous ewi l l uni quel y wel comed t o t he ar ea wi t h t ake pl ace on 13t hS ept ember ,f eat ur i ng t he ex cept i onalS out hwes tOkl ahomahos pi t al i t yby T hunder bi r ds ,al ong wi t h ot heraer i aldi s pl ays . t he' Commi t t eeof100'atquar t er l ydi nner s .T he T her ei sanot hernot abl e annualeventhel di n Al t us Commi t t ee of100 i s a gr oup ofAl t us t hes ummer ,al bei tal es sconvent i onal one,and ChamberofCommer ce member sand l ocal one wi t h a uni que r ur alf l avour ,t he annual bus i nes s est hey go outoft hei rway t o hel p Cat t l eDr i ve!( f arr i ght )

fAl t us ’bat hesi nt heear l ymor ni ngs uni nt hes t at i cpar katNel l i sAF B’ sAvi at i onNat i on2006 ( Kar lDr age)

“As i de f r om es t abl i s hed pr ogr ams and engagement ,t he i ndi vi dual st hats ur r ound t hi s bas ef os t eracommuni t ys pi r i tunl i keanyot her .

Nowher eel s ei nt heAi rF or cewi l lyous eebas e and communi t y l eader s on hor s eback, col l ect i vel yher di ngl onghor ncat t l et hr ought he f r ontgat eofami l i t ar yi ns t al l at i on!F ol l owi ngt he cat t l edr i ve,t hegr oupt r ans i t i onsovert oal ocal ar ena f orMi l i t ar y Appr eci at i on Ni ghtatt he AnnualGr eatPl ai nsS t ampede Rodeo.T hi si s r eal l ya s i gnat ur e eventt hatal wayscomesup whenpeopl et al kaboutAl t usAF B. " Ai rF or cePhot o

Above-S hor tf i nal t oaver ydus t yAl t usAF Bf orKC135RNI T RO 43.Youcanj us tmakeoutt heC17sont Bel ow -As pect acul art ops i depas satRI AT2010 ( Gor donJ ones )

Bel ow -Ar t i s t ’ si mpr es s i onoft heKC

t her amp.

KC46Pegas usatwor k( Boei ng)

T hes pi r i tofAl t usAF Bwasr ecogni s edof f i ci al l year l i ert hi s year .ColBi l lS pangent hali st he97t hAMW commander , and t o have hi st eam commended i nt hi swaywasa s our ceofgr eats at i s f act i ont ohi m. " T he Mi ght y 97t h r ecent l y ear ned t he 2014 Commander i nChi ef ' sI ns t al l at i onEx cel l enceAwar d.T o wi n t he awar d, an i ns t al l at i on mus t demons t r at e ex empl ar ys uppor tf or t he Depar t ment of Def ens e mi s s i onands how mar kedi mpr ovementandi nnovat i ve pr ogr es si nvar i ouspr oces s est hatar ef undament al t oan i ns t al l at i on' ss ucces s f uloper at i ons .OurAi r men,bot h mi l i t ar y and ci vi l i an, do an out s t andi ng j ob of r ecogni z i ng wher e we can l ever age ourr es our ces , t aki ng t he i ni t i at i ve i nf ami l ys uppor tpr ogr ams ,and t r ai ni ngt hebes tC17andKC135ai r cr ewsi ns uppor tof combat antcommander sar ound t he wor l d.I ti sbot h i mpr es s i veandhumbl i ngt os eet het r emendouswor kt hi s t eam doesever yday,I l ookf or war dt owhat ' si ns t or ef or t hef ut ur e. " T hepr i z ebr oughtwi t hi tas um of$700, 000t obes penton qual i t yofl i f ei mpr ovement st ot heai r bas ei nf r as t r uct ur e, wi t hal lper s onnelabl et os ugges tand vot ef orpr oj ect s t or ecei vef undi ng.

T he f ut ur e wi l li nvol ve t he cont i nued pr es ence oft he C17andKC135F T Us ,whi char es chedul edt obej oi ned byt heKC46F T Ui n2016. " T he KC46A Pegas usF T U wi l lbe an addi t i onalt r ai ni ng mi s s i on her e pr ovi di ng mor ej obsand oppor t uni t i esf or t he bas e.Ihave f ul lt r us tt hatt hi swi ng wi l lt ake ont hi s mi s s i onwi t hex cel l ence.T heMi ght y97t ht eam pr ovi des f i r s t cl as st r ai ni ng and Ihave been pr i vi l eged t o be a cus t omerofwhatAl t uspr oducest hr oughoutmycar eer .

Wel ookf or war dt out i l i z i ngt heAi rF or ce’ snewes tt anker t ocont i nuef or gi ngcombatmobi l i t yf or cesandas s i s t i ng t heAi rF or cei nmeet i ngf ut ur ewar f i ght erneeds . " T he ' l i t t l e bas ei ns out hwes tOkl ahoma'l ooks s ett o cont i nuet ot ur noutout s t andi ngUS AFAi r menf ormany year st ocome.

T heaut horwoul dl i ket ot hankt hef ol l owi ng i ndi vi dual s f ort hei rt i me and s uppor ti n pr epar i ng t hi sar t i cl e:Maj J er emyMar yand1s tL tDami anF r anz( 58t hAS) ;t hecr ew ofNI T RO43and SSgtL ucasT r eat( 54t hARS) ;T onySenci ( L 3L i nk) ;Eddi eCol e( CAE) ;CaptKat i eCous i nsand2nd L tMegumiVoi ght( 97t hAMW PAO) .

THEJ OYOF

AI R2AI R

I mage -A RNL AFCH47D Chi nooki s s eenathi ghal t i t udeoverBel gi um on i t swayt ot heF l or ennesAi rS how,J une 2012.

F ormany avi at i on phot ogr apher s , t he i dea oft aki ng pi ct ur esofone ai r cr af ti nf l i ghtf r om anot heri st he pi nnacl e of t hei r dr eams and as pi r at i ons .Kar lDr aget al kst oF r ank Gr eal i s habouthi smos tmemor abl e A2A s hoot s and what i ti st hat makest hedi s ci pl i nes os peci al .

F r ank’ sf i r s tt as t eofai r t oai rcameway backi nJ anuar y2004. I t ’ ss omet hi ng her emember swel l : “I twaswi t ht heI r i s hAi rCor ps .Iwasi n oneofapai rofS I AI Mar chet t i S F 260WE War r i ort r ai ner s( i twass uppos ed t obe at hr ee s hi p but one ai r cr af t went t ech) ,and we f l ew t he phot os hoot overt heDubl i nMount ai ns .

“I twasani cewi nt er ’ sday,t her ewer e s ome wi s py cl ouds but mos t l y bl ue s ki es ,t her e waseven s now on t op of t he mount ai ns .I fonl yal lphot os hoot s wer el i ket hi s . ” S i ncet hen,F r ankr eal l yhast r i edt oget asmanyai r t oai rs or t i esi nt hebag as hecan: “Att he l as tcounti twas77 di f f er ent t ypes , not i ncl udi ng var i ant s .T ypes phot ogr aphedi ncl udeai r cr af tr angi ng i ns i z ef r om t he T i ps yNi pperup t ot he Ai r busA380.Ot hernot abl et ypesar e t heBBMFL ancas t er ,VT T SAvr o Vul can XH558 and Ukr ai ne Ai rF or ce S ukhoi S u27F l anker . ” S o whati si tt hatmakest he whol e ai r t oai rex per i ences os peci al ?

“I t ’ shar dt o des cr i be,i t ’ sj us ts peci al , andaddi ct i ve!T aki ngpi ct ur esai r t oai r al l ow you t o get di f f er ent angl es , di f f er ent pos i t i ons , and di f f er ent manoeuvr es . Phot os t aken ai r t oai r add a whol e di f f er entdi mens i on t o pi ct ur est akenf r om t hegr ound. ”

Ri ght-One ofBr i t i s h Ai r ways ’br and new Ai r bus A380s f l i es down t he Ri verL i f f ey, Dubl i n,dur i ngF l i ght F es ti nS ept ember2013.

F r anks ays ,“Ihad beenhover i ngi na T wi n S qui r r el f orovert hr eehour sbyt het i met hi s bi r ds howedup! ”

Above-I r i s hAi rCor psGaz el l e( near es t )andAl ouet t eI I I hel i copt er sf l yi ngi n whatwasoneoft hel as tf or mat i onsi nwhi cht heGaz el l ef l ew bef or ebei ng r et i r ed.T akeni nDecember2005.

Bel ow -How t hemagi chappens ;A Gr ummanT BFAvengerf l i esbehi nd a S hor tS C. 7S kyvant hati sl oaded wi t h11phot ogr apher s ,al lt r yi ngf ora f ul l pr opel l erdi s c.T hi spi ct ur e wast akenf r om t he openbacks eatofa Nor t h Amer i canT 6T ex an.

Above-As t r i ki ngc ast he Ukr ai ne Ai r S ukhoi S u27UB al ongs i de a C phot os hi p on i t sw I nt er nat i onal Ai r Kr ál ovéi nS ept emb

Bel ow - Red Bu Vought F 4U Cor s Gouj on t ucks phot os hi p( S hor tS C 2012 edi t i on o Academy.

cont r as tofcol our s i rF or ce s ol o demo B F l anker f l i es Ces s na Ci t at i on wayt ot he Cz ech rF es t at Hr adec ber2013.

Bul l ’ s" F l yi ng Bul l s " r s ai rf l own by Er i c i n behi nd t he S C. 7S kyvan)att he of t he Ai r t oAi r

PA474,t heRoyal Ai rF or ceBat t l eofBr i t ai nMemor i al F l i ghtL ancas t er ,i scapt ur edovert heNet her l andso

soni t swayt oDenmar kf ort he2012Bi l l undAi rS how.

Above - 1303, S l ovaki an Ai rF or c Mi G29UB F ul cr um company wi t ha Aer o L 39 Al bat memor y ofS quad S mi k,aS l ovaki anp 127S qnoft heRAF i magewascapt ur Cz ech I nt er nat i o Hr adecKr ál ovéi n

L ef t - An I r Agus t aWes t l and A f i r i ngr angei nt he f i r s thel i copt ert ype I AC f i t t ed wi t h we 7.

62mm GPMGso cabi n.

,t he ver y s mar t r ce t i ger s chemed m, i s pi ct ur ed i n as peci al l y mar ked at r os , pai nt ed i n adr on L eaderOt t o pi l otwhof l ew wi t h AFdur i ngWWI I .T he ur edenr out et ot he i onal Ai rF es t at i nS ept ember2013.

I r i s h Ai r Cor ps AW139 over t he eGl enofI maal ;t he peoper at edbyt he eapons-a pai rof oneachs i deoft he

Above-A l ovel ybar emet alNor t hAmer i canT 6T ex anpai nt edwi t hDDay i nvas i ons t r i pesi ss eenoverL ake M채l ar en,nearV채s t er 책s ,S weden.Pi ct ur e t akenf r om t hebackofanAnt onovAn28.

Bel ow -F ul ldi s cs !A pai rofex ampl esoft heunus uall ooki ngS peedCanar d f or mat e behi nd t he camer as hi p att he 2011 edi t i on oft he Ai r t oAi r Academy.

ADut chCoas t guar dDor ni erDo228f l i ess out hal ongt heDut chcoas t .F r anks ays ,“T hi swasaver y i nt er es t i ngf l i ght ,t aki ngusoverAms t er dam ci t yandS chi phol Ai r por t . ”

Above -A moody conver s i onofas ho l ' ai r( F r ench Ai r Raf al e t aken af di s pl ay at t he 2 S how;capt ur ed f S kyvan.

L ef t-S ol o T 端r k, Ahbab,i spi ct ur ed af t er t he L ucht macht dagen Vol kel Ai r Bas e backgr ound) .

dybl ackand whi t e hotofanAr méede i rF or ce) Das s aul t af t er i t s pr act i ce 2013 S ani col e Ai r f r om a S hor tS C. 7

k,Capt ai n S Yal i n donhi swayhome 2013 RNL AF en ai r s how at e ( vi s i bl e i n t he

Above - A pai r of Ger man Ai rF or ce Panavi a T or nado ECRs of AG51` ” I mmel mann” ( now T L G51) , bas ed at S chl es wi gJ agel , ar e pi ct ur edovert heNor t hS ea.T heai r cr af tf ur t hes tf r om t hecamer acar r i es t he2013Ar ct i cT i gercol ours cheme.

Bel ow -“Oneofmyt op10f avour i t es hot s ” ,s aysF r ank.S i kor s kyS 38" Os a' s Ar k"ats uns etoverBel gi um.

Paul BonhommeandS t eveJ onest ucki ncl os eonourwayt odoaphot os hootpr omot i ngt heBr ayAi rD

Vul canXH558f l i esovert her unwayGeor geBes tBel f as tCi t yAi r por tass hedepar t sNor t her nI r el andaf appear anceatt he2013Newcas t l eF es t i val ofF l i ght .

i rDi s pl ay.

af t eran

Bl i nk and he' sgone!A Gol den Kni ght sj umperdepar t st he t eam' sF okkerC31AT r oops hi pat10, 000f toverDayt onai r por tat t he2011Vect r enDayt onAi rS how.

Mai n-Apai rofPi l at usPC7s ,wi t ht hel eada

Above -OOEOT ,a ni ce l i t t l eT i ps yT r ai ner ,was capt ur edoverBel gi um.

Above -An AerL i ngusA330 f l i esdown t he Ri ver L i f f ey, Dubl i n dur i ng F l i ght F es t ; vi s i bl e i n t he backgr oundi st heAvi vaS t adi um.

dai r cr af t ,3HF G,pai nt edi nas nakecol ours chemet omar k20year s ’s er vi cewi t ht heAus t r i anAi rF or ce.

Above-Ani cel ycamouf l agedCz echAi rF or ceAer o L 39Al bat r osheadsf ort he Cz echI nt er nat i onalAi r F es tatHr adecKr ál ovéi nS ept ember2013.

Above-Oneoft hef i r s tt woAgus t aWes t l andAW139 hel i copt er s del i ver ed t ot he I r i s h Ai r Cor ps f l i es al ongs i dea Eur ocopt erEC135,i t s el fbei ng newl yi n s er vi ce.T hes et wo hel i copt ert ypesr epl aced t he Gaz el l e,Dauphi n& Al ouet t eI I Ii nI r i s hs er vi ce.

Above -T he Dut chHawkerHunt erF oundat i on’ si mmacul at e Hunt erT 8C hi gh overBel gi um,anot herai r cr af ton i t swayt ot he 2012F l or ennesAi r S how.

Bel ow -AMcDonnel l Dougl asF 15C Eagl ef r om t he1s tF i ght erWi ngbas ed atL angl eyAF B,VA,US A,br eaksawayf r om t he t ankerhi gh above t he Moj aveDes er tdur i ngEx er ci s eRedF l ag112.

Above - Newl y pr i s t i ne condi t i o Amer i can OV10 bei ng f l own byT o t he Cot s wol ds Cot s wol d Ai r por Abi ngdonf ort he2 & Count r yS how.

Ri ght-F r anks ays , j etai r t oai rmi s s i o pai rofDougl asApai r of McDonn Phant oms ,bot hba Ger many,nota b t hes cor ecar d! ”

r es t or ed and i n t i on, t hi s Nor t h 0 Br onco i ss een T onyDe Br uyn over en r out e f r om or t ( Kembl e) t o 2014Abi ngdonAi r

s ,“Myf i r s teverf as t s i on cons i s t ed ofa 4S kyhawksanda nnel l Dougl as F 4 bas edatWi t t mund, bad wayt o open

Mi dai rS quadr on’ sCanber r a PR9XH134/GOMHD over f l i esCos t wol d Ai r por t( Kembl e)on i t sr et ur nf r om a pr act i ce di s pl ay att he 2014 Abi ngdonAi r& Count r yS how

Above - A Nor t h Mus t ang & Cur t i s s i nf or mat i on ats 2012Ai r t oAi rAca

L ef t - RNL AF " O t es t bed F 16BM J wayf r om L eeuwar f ort he2010L ucht m oper at edbyt heT e T es t vl i egen� .

r t h Amer i can P51 i s sP40War hawkf l y s uns etdur i ng t he ademy.

" Or ange J umper " J 066 i ss een on i t s ar dent oGi l z eRi j en t macht dagen.I ti s T es t gr oup“Kant oor

Above-Anot herunus ual l ooki ngmachi ne,t hi si sanAvi at i kaMAI 89andi s oneoft hever yf ew camouf l agepai nt edai r cr af tbas edi nI r el and.S hei s ownedbyGer r yHumphr eysandi spi ct ur edf l yi ngats uns et .

Bel ow -Eddi eGoggi nsget si ncl os ewi t hhi sEx t r a 300L .Eddi ei sa dent i s t andi ts hows-youcoul ds eehi ss mi l ef r om mi l esaway!

Asi squi t eobvi ousf r om F r ank’ spor t f ol i o,a numberofdi f f er entcamer a pl at f or mshave beenus ed,butdoeshehaveaf avour i t e?

“Idon’ tr eal l yhave a f avour i t e camer a pl at f or m,aswhatget sus ed dependsont he s peedoft hephot os ubj ectandt hephot osyouwantt ot ake.I deal l yi t ’ sbes tt ot r yand f l ywi t hnot hi ngbet weenyouandyours ubj ect ,i edoor ,wi ndow,canopyorr ampopen, and f ort hi st he l i kesoft he S hor t sS kyvan,Ces s na Car avan orT 6T ex an ar ei deal pl at f or ms . ” I fyouneedmor es peedandcan’ topenadoor ,r amporwi ndow,t henanai r cr af twi t h cl ean,uns cr at ched wi ndowsi ses s ent i al .Even bet t eri fyou can get ,f orex ampl e,a L ear j et35,ast hi sai r cr af tdoesnothave doubl e gl az ed wi ndows .S hoot i ng t hr ough a s i ngl epaneofpl as t i chel psr educedi s t or t i onandel i mi nat esi nt er nal r ef l ect i onsbet ween t hepanes .

“Asment i onedaf ew pagesear l i er ,myf i r s teverf as tj etai r t oai rmi s s i oncons i s t edofa pai rofDougl asA4S kyhawksandapai rofMcDonnel l Dougl asF 4Phant oms ,andher e ar et heS kyhawks . oper at edbyBAES ys t emsandbas edatWi t t mund, t heypr ovi deaer i al t ar gets er vi cesf ort heL uf t waf f e. ”

“Ot heropt i onsi ncl ude a hel i copt erwi t ht he doorof f ,and f orpur ef un whi l et aki ng pi ct ur es ,aVansRV7.T heRV7hasacanopywi t has i ngl el ayerofgl as s ,andyoucan bar r el r ol l ar oundyours ubj ectf orcompl et el ydi f f er entangl es . ” Evenaf t ers hoot i ng77t ypes ,t hedes i r ei ss t i l l asgr eataseverf orF r ank,s owhat ’ scur r ent l y t opofhi swi s hl i s t ?

“My f avour i t e ai r cr af tt ypes ar e mi l i t ar y ai r cr af t , Rus s i anbui l tonesi npar t i cul ar ,s oIgues st ypess uch ast heMi G31orS u24woul d bet owar dst het op of t he l i s t .Mi nd you,s ome J apanes eF 4Phant omsor t he S wedi s h Ai rF or ce Hi s t or i cF l i ghtVi ggen and Dr akenwoul dbeni cet ocat chal s o. ”

Wi t ht hankst oF r ankf ors har i ng hi sar chi ve wi t hus .L ot smor eofhi swor kcanbef ound i npr evi ousi s s uesofGAM.

Chani aAi rBas e

Homeof115CombatWi ng

L yi ngappr ox i mat el y100mi l ess out hoft heGr eekmai nl an cont i nent sofEur ope,As i aandAf r i ca,Cr et ei st hel ar ge Mahi s-CombatWi ng)oft he Hel l eni c Ai rF or ce oper a T om Gi bbonsvi s i t edChani aAi rBas ef orGAM.I magesa

e,Cr et e,Gr eece

ng

l andi nt hes out her nAegeanS eaatt hecr os s r oadsoft he ges toft heGr eeki s l andsandi shomet o115PM ( Pt er i x r at i ng t he pot entL ockheed Mar t i nF 16C/ D Bl ock52+. saut horunl es sot her wi s es t at ed.

115 PM compr i s es t wo Mi r a ( s quadr ons ) ,340Mi r a “Al eppou”( F ox ) and 343Mi r a “As t er i ”( S t ar )al ong wi t h t he 115 PM S MET ( Oper at i onal Conver s i onUni t ) ,“As s os ”( Ace) ,115PM oper at es f r om Chani a Ai r Bas e, a s pr awl i ngai r f i el ds har edwi t habus t l i ng Uni t ed S t at es Navy f aci l i t y and devel opi ng i nt er nat i onalai r por tbot h s i t uat edacr os st her unwayf r om t woof t heHel l eni cAi rF or ce’ spr emi ercombat s quadr ons .

340Mi r a“ Al eppou” 340Mi r a,wases t abl i s hed on t he 18t h Apr i l1953wi t hi n112PM atEl ef s i snear At hens ,i ni t i al l y equi pped wi t h t he Republ i c F 84G T hunder j et and i n S ept ember of t he s ame year t he s quadr ont r ans f er r edt o111PM atNea Anghi al os .F ol l owi ng 5year sofs er vi ce t he F 84G wasr epl aced byt he F 84F T hunder s t r eak,at ypet hatwoul ds er ve t he Hel l eni c Ai rF or ce wel lunt i lt he i nt r oduct i onoft heA7Cor s ai rI I i n1975.

I n F ebr uar y 1960 anot her move f ol l owed f ort he s quadr on when t he uni tmoved t ot he t hen 115 Combat Gr oupi nS oudaf r om wher ei toper at es t o t hi s day. T he ar r i val of t he L i ngT emco Vought A7H & T A7H Cor s ai rI Ii n Augus t1975 her al ded a l ong as s oci at i onwi t ht he r obus t‘ S L UF ’ whi chgr ew t o be l oved byt hos et hat f l ew and mai nt ai ned i t .T he s quadr on made i t sl at es tand ar guabl yi t smos t t echnol ogi cal advancei nMar ch2003, near l y 50 year saf t eri t sf or mat i on at El ef s i s ,when i tex changed t he t r us t y A7f ort he L ockheed Mar t i nF 16C/ D Bl ock52+ F i ght i ng F al con s uppl i ed t o Gr eece under t he Peace Xeni a I I I pr ogr amme.Wi t ht hi s var i antoft he F 16t heHel l eni cAi rF or ceent er ed t he wor l d of l ong r ange mi s s i ons and pr eci s i ondayandni ghts t r i ke.

340 Mi r al i neage i l l us t r at ed by t he F 84FT hunder s t r e andA7HCor s ai rI I( bel ow -Kevi nJ acks on)

t r eak( above)

343Mi r a“ As t er i ” S i s t er s quadr on 343 Mi r a was f or med i n S ept ember1955oper at i ngt heNor t hAmer i can F 86ES abr ef r om El ef s i naAi rBas ewi t hi n111PM, wher et he s quadr on was gi ven t he r ol e of dayt i mei nt er cept i on.S i xyear sl at eri n1961t he F 86D r epl acedt he‘ E’ver s i onwi t ht her es ul t ant ex pans i onoft hes quadr on’ sr ol et oencompas s ni ght i nt er cept i on. T he ‘ S abr e Dog’ was empl oyed by343Mi r af ora r el at i vel ys hor tf i ve year sand i n1966t he s quadr ont r ans i t i oned t o t he Nor t hr op F 5A/ BF r eedom F i ght erwi t ha pr i mar y r ol e of day i nt er cept i on and a s econdar yr ol e ofai rt o gr ound s t r i ke.Wi t ha move t o 113 PM at Macedoni a Ai r por t under t aken i n 1974t he F 5cont i nued t os er ve 343Mi r awel l f oraper i odoft hi r t yf i veyear sunt i l Mar ch2001whenoper at i onswer et empor ar i l y s us pended.

T hes quadr ons t oodupagai ni nJ ul y2003aspar t of 115 PM at S ouda Bay,Cr et ef l yi ng t he F 16C/ D Bl ock52+i napr i mar yi nt er cept i onr ol e wi t has econdar yS uppr es s i on ofEnemy Ai r Def ences ( S EAD) r ol e.T he uni ti s ex t r emel y pr oud ofi t sher i t age and s t at usand cons i der s i t s el fhonour edt obeent r us t edwi t har oundt he cl ock pr ot ect i on of t he S out her ns ect or of Hel l eni c Ai r s pace wher e i t mai nt ai ns a cont i nuouspr es encei nt hewi derr egi onoft he Eas t er nMedi t er r anean.

T he ‘ As t er i ’have been r es i dentatChani af or overt en year sf l yi ng t he F 16C/ D Bl ock52+;L t ColT s i kal aki sand pi l ot spos ef ort hecamer ai n f r ontofapr es er vedex ampl eoft hes quadr on’ s pr evi ousmount ,t heF 5AF r eedom F i ght er .

Packi ngapunch!F 16C 504i nS EADr ol ef i tp

i tpaus esbr i ef l yf ort hecamer a,t ot i ngpai r sofAGM88HARM,AI M9L i andAI M120C7AMRAAM mi s s i l es .

Squadr onRol es GAM s poke t o bot h cur r ent s quadr on commander sr egar di ng t he r ol es of t hei r r es pect i ve uni t s ,t hei rdayt o dayoper at i ons and t hei rex per i encesf l yi ng t he F 16 Bl ock 52+.Maj orAt hanas i osAnt onakaki s ,anexF 5 F r eedom F i ght er pi l ot , i s t he cur r ent Commandi ng Of f i cerof340 Mi r a wi t h over 1, 000hour sont heF 16C/ DBl ock52+whi l s tL t .

Col Mi chai l T s i kal aki s i s t he cur r ent Commandi ng Of f i cerof343 Mi r a wi t h over 1, 000hour sont heF 16C/ DBl ock52+andal s o oneofmanyexA7Cor s ai rI Ipi l ot snow f l yi ng t heBl ock52+atS ouda.

“T he t r ai ni ng cour s ef ora new F 16 pi l ot cons i s t soff ami l i ar i s at i on,Ai rt oAi randAi rt o Gr ound s or t i es wi t h advanced mi s s i on s cenar i os and l as t s appr ox i mat el y ei ght mont hsand 60 s or t i es .Once t he new pi l ot j oi ns t he s quadr on f r om t he oper at i onal conver s i onuni t( 115PM/ S MET )i tt hent akesa f ur t herei ghtmont hsf ort hepi l ott obecome Combat Ready. T he OCU al s o conduct s r ef r es hert r ai ni ng f orpi l ot sr et ur ni ng t of l yi ng dut i esf ol l owi ng a gr ound pos t i ng wi t ht he dur at i on of t hi sr ef r es her t r ai ni ng bei ng dependanton t he f l yi ng ex per i ence oft he i ndi vi dual r et ur ni ngt of l yi ngdut i es ” “Bot ht he 115 PM s quadr ons ,340 and 343, have s peci f i c,s peci al i s ed r ol est hatar e not i nt er changeabl e.T hecur r entr ol eof340Mi r a i spr eci s i ondayandni ghtwi t ht as ki ngf ort he s quadr on bei ng dependenton i ns t r uct i ons r ecei vedf r om t het act i cal headquar t er swi t h an appr ox i mat es pl i toff l i ghts chedul i ng of 60% day oper at i ons and 40% ni ght oper at i ons . 343 Mi r a hasa pr i mar yr ol e of i nt er cept i on and f or ce pr ot ect i on wi t ha s econdar yS EAD r ol e.Bot h340and 343Mi r a mai nt ai n cur r ency i n ai r t oai rr ef uel l i ng oper at i onsut i l i s i ng t ankers uppor tf r om bot h I s r aeland t he US Ai n Gr eek ai r s pace and bot h have t he addi t i onalcommi t mentt o under t ake r eadi nes s dut i es t o def end nat i onal ai r s pace”

Maj or At hanas i os Ant onakaki s , Commandi ng Of f i cer340Mi r a( l ef t )and L t .ColMi chai lT s i kal aki s , Commandi ng Of f i cer 343 Mi r a ( r i ght ) cur r ent l y command t wo oft he Hel l eni c Ai rF or ce’ s mos t pot entandver s at i l ecombatai r cr af ts quadr ons .

Above -Vapour ! f i t t ed wi t h conf o ( CF T s )pul l i nghar d

T op l ef t& r i ght f our s hi p s or t i e c pr ocedur al det oper at i on, weat h bef or e t he f or m i ncl udi ng t act i cal outbyt hef or mat i o

r !A 340 Mi r aF 16C f or mal f uel t anks r d.

t - Br i ef i ng f or a commences wi t h et ai l , ar ea of t her and NOT AMS mat i on br i ef ( l ef t ) aldet ai li s car r i ed t i onl ead.

Ri ght-T hecockpi toft heF 16i sacompactwor ki ngenvi r onmentf ort heVi per pi l ot ;F arr i ght-Pi l ot sof343Mi r aconduct i ngt hemor ni ngbr i ef ;F arbot t om r i ghtF l yi nghel met s ,ox ygenmas ksandl i f es uppor tequi pmentr eadyt ogo.

Mai n-343Mi r aF 16C 503f i t t edwi t hCF T sl ow overt heAegeanS eanor t hofCr et e.

T he F 16C/ D Bl ock 52+ i sa hugel y capabl e weapon s ys t em and ut i l i s esa wi de s pr ead of pr eci s i ons t r i keweaponswhi l s tal s oboas t i ngt he capabi l i t yt o be f i t t ed wi t h t he di s t i nct i ve Conf or mal F uel T anks( CF T s ) : Maj orAnt onakaki s-“We cur r ent l yus e a wi de r ange ofweaponson ourai r cr af t ;AI M120C7 AMRAAM andAI M2000( I RI S T )ai rt oai rmi s s i l es wi t h PavewayI& I I IL as erGui ded Bombsand

AGM65 Maver i ckmi s s i l esut i l i s ed f orpr ec s t r i ke.T heus eoft heConf or mal F uel T ankso gr eat er f l ex i bi l i t y[ f or us ] wi t hout havi ng ef f ectonai r cr af tper f or mance.F ur t her mor e t heai rt oai rs cenar i oswhenus edi nconj unc wi t ht hehi t echf i r econt r ol s ys t em,s ophi s t i ca r adarand hel metmount ed s i ght( J oi ntHel Mount ed Cuei ng S ys t em)t he CF T sgi ve us advant agei nanycondi t i onsofai rbat t l e�

S ur r oundedbybeaut i f ul count r ys i des t eepedi nhi s t or yandwi t ht heWhi t eMount ai nst ot hes out h

ci s i on of f er s g an or e,i n nct i on cat ed el met ust he

L t .

ColT s i kal aki s– “343 us esAI M9L i ,AI M2000 ( I RI S T )and t he AI M120C7 AMRAAM i nt he ai r t oai rar ena whi l s tt he AGM88HARM i st he weaponofchoi cei nt heant i RADARS EAD r ol e.

T he CF T s cont r i but e t o an i ncr eas e i nt he capabi l i t i esoft he ai r cr af twhi l s tatt he s ame t i me al l owi ng t he ai r cr af t t o r et ai n i t s phenomenal manoeuvr abi l i t y”

t h,Chani aABpl aysakeyr ol ei nt hepr ot ect i onofGr eekai r s pace.

I nt er oper abi l i t yi san i ncr eas i ngl yi mpor t antas pectofmoder n mi l i t ar y oper at i onsand t hes quadr onsof115PM ar eno di f f er enti nt hi sr es pect .

Des pi t e havi ng s peci f i cr ol esand t r ai ni ng s chedul est he t wo s quadr ons dedi cat et i me t o advanced t r ai ni ng as pect si ncl udi ng t he conductof combi nedoper at i ons( COMAO)onaweekl ybas i sandpar t i ci pat i oni na numberofi nt er nat i onall ar ge s cal e ex er ci s esasand when t as ked.340 Mi r ahadr ecent l yt akenpar ti nEx er ci s eBl ueF l agatOvdaAi rBas e,I s r ael al ongs i de uni t sf r om t he I s r ael iAi r& S pace F or ce,I t al i an Ai rF or ce and Uni t ed S t at esAi rF or ceand had al s ohos t ed a s ucces s f uldepl oymentat S ouda ofF 15ES t r i keEagl esf r om t heUS AF E’ s494F i ght erS quadr onf r om RAFL akenheat h,Engl and.343Mi r a par t i ci pat ed i nRed F l agi n2008and hadal s opl ayedapar ti nt heS EAD s peci f i cEL I T Es er i esofex er ci s es ,NAT O Ai rMeet( NAM)andt heT act i cal L eader s hi pPr ogr amme( T L P)cour s esnow hel d atAl bacet e,S pai n.Att he t i me ofGAM’ svi s i tt he s quadr on was pr epar i ng f ora depl oymentt oS chl es wi g,Ger manyf ort heJ AWT EX2014 ex er ci s e.

Cut t i ng edge i l l us t r at ed by t he wear i ng t he J oi nt Cuei ngS ys t em ( J H t ot he ex ecut i ono PM.

Addi nt hes ki l l soft whor out i nel ycond demandi ng ni ght ( above & l ef t )u Goggl es ( NVG) a f l ex i bl e, ef f ect i ve combatuni tr eady moment ’ snot i ce

t echnol ogy, as he 340 Mi r a pi l ot ntHemetMount ed J HMCS-r i ght )i skey oft he r ol esof115

ft hes quadr onpi l ot s nducts or t i esdur i ng ht t i me condi t i ons us i ng Ni ght Vi s i on and you have a e and adapt abl e dyf oranyt hi ngata

Ant icl ockwi s ef r om bot t om l ef t-S ur vi valequi pmentr eady and wai t i ng; Cr ewswal ki ng;T he al l i mpor t antpi l ot ’ swal kr ound checks ;Cr ewi ng I n; Gr oundcr ew car r youtt hes t ar t upchecksandpr ocedur es ;F ours hi pt ax i f or t akeof f ;A t ypi calweaponsl oad ofa pai rofAI M120C7and AI M9L iand PavewayI I IL GBscoupl ed wi t h cent r el i ne f uelt ank,CF T sand a L ANT I RN t ar get i ngpodmaket hi sF 16Daf or mi dabl eweaponss ys t em

No f l yi ng s quadr on achi eves much wi t hout a dedi cat ed t eam of engi neer i ngands uppor ts t af fbehi ndt hem andt hes quadr onsof115PM ar enoex cept i on.Al lF 16Bl ock52+gr oundcr ew t r ai ni ngi scar r i edoutat S oudaundert heaus pi cesof115PM/ S METwi t hi tt ypi cal l yt aki ngbet ween s i xt oei ghtmont hsf orgr oundcr ew t oqual i f yont het ype.Onceas s i gned t o a par t i cul ars quadr ont he engi neer i ng s t af f sar er es pons i bl ef oral l1s t and 2nd l evel sofmai nt enance ont he uni t s ’F 16s ;dur i ng GAM’ svi s i ta numberofai r cr af twer enot edr ecei vi ngdi f f er entl evel sofat t ent i oni nt he mai nt enancehangar s ,pur pos ebui l tf ort heF 16satS ouda,wi t hact i vi t y r angi ng f r om r el at i vel ys i mpl es chedul ed act i vi t i est hr ough t o compl ex s t r uct ur alr epai r s ,l engt hy dept h mai nt enance and maj orcomponent r epl acement .

Above - I nd under way on 3 CF T s and engi n wi t hnumer ousc be t oo l ong bef beenputbackt avai l abl et ot he

L ef t-A 340Mi r a manyuns ung he s uppor toft heba

dept h mai nt enance 343 Mi r aF 16C 513. i ne r emoved al ong component s ,i twon’ t ef or et hi sai r cr af thas kt oget herand made es quadr on.

a Cr ew Chi ef ,oneof her oescr i t i calt ot he bas edF 16s .

Addi t i onal l y,t hr oughoutGAM’ svi s i tt o 115PM,t he s uppor ts t af fofbot h s quadr onswer ehi ghl yvi s i bl es uppor t i ngabus yf l yi ngs chedul et hr oughout t heday.At ypi cal daywi t nes s edbyGAM s aw f our s hi ps or t i esl aunchedi n bot h mor ni ng and af t er noon waveswi t ha s mat t er i ng ofs i ngl e ai r cr af t s or t i est aki ngpl acei nbet ween,s omef l ownbyt hes quadr onst hems el ves ands omecar r yi ngoutt r ai ni ngs or t i escr ewedbys t udent sandi ns t r uct or s f r om t heS MET( OCU) .T hemor ni ngwavewasqui ckl yt ur nedar oundbyt he gr ound cr ew,wor ki ng ef f i ci ent l yt o ens ur et hatt he max i mum us e was gai nedf r om eachs er vi ceabl eai r cr af tavai l abl et ot heai r cr ew.Ai r cr af ti n awi devar i et yofconf i gur at i onswer enot edr angi ngf r om t hecl as s i ct wo under wi ng f uelt ankst hr ough t o cl eanwi nged ai r cr af tf i t t ed wi t ht he di s t i nct i veCF T sandas i ngl eAI M9orAI M2000mi s s i l e.T het wi ns eatF 16D Bl ock52+ ai r cr af tar e eas i l y di s cer ni bl e by t he ‘ humped’dor s als pi ne whi chaccommodat est heavi oni csequi pmentf r om t hes i ngl es eatF 16C i naddi t i ont os omes peci almi s s i onequi pmentandaddi t i onalchaf f / f l ar e di s pens er s .I ncr eas i ngt hef l ex i bi l i t yoft het wi ns eatF 16D i st heabi l i t yf or t her earcockpi tt obeconf i gur ed f orei t hera WeaponS ys t em Oper at or ( WS O)oranI ns t r uct orPi l ot( I P)andcanbeconver t edt oei t herr ol ewi t ha s i ngl es wi t chi nt hecockpi t .

Ni ghtoper at i onsar er out i nel ycar r i ed outand GAM wi t nes s edel ement sofami s s i onbr i efand s ubs equentl aunch oft he s or t i ef r om t he 340 Mi r a Har dened Ai r cr af tS hel t er( HAS )compl ex by a mi x ed f our s hi p ofF 16C and D ai r cr af t .

F r om s t r appi ng i nt hr ough t o engi ne s t ar tand s ubs equentt ax i t ot her unwayanddepar t ur et o t hewes ti twasevi dentt hatt heoper at i oni swel l pr act i cedbybot hai randgr oundcr ewsandi s ex t r emel y pr of es s i onal l y ex ecut ed. T he s i ght ands oundoft hef ourF 16s ,af t er bur ner sabl az e, depar t i ng i nt ot he i nky dar knes swashugel y i mpr es s i veandl ef tal as t i ngi mpr es s i onofawi ng t hatwasr eadyf oract i on24hour saday,s even daysaweek.

T eam Zeus Gr eecei soneofmanyF 16oper at or st os howcas et he capabi l i t i es of t he F 16 al ongs i de t he s ki l l and pr of es s i onal i s m ofi t sai rand gr ound cr ews .Wor kt o es t abl i s h an F 16demons t r at i on t eam s t ar t ed i n 2009 wi t ha s mal lt eam f r om 115PM under goi ngt r ai ni ngat Hi l lAi rF or ce Bas e,Ut ah,US A wi t ht he US AF shi ghl y ex per i enced " Vi perWes tF 16DemoT eam" .T hei ni t i al pi l ot ss el ect edf orT eam Z euswer eCapt ai nEmmanuel Kar ahal i os f r om 340 Mi r a and Capt ai n Di mi t r i os Kont oul i sf r om 343Mi r a al ong wi t ha s mal lnumberof gr ound cr ew s uppor tmember s .T he whol et r ai ni ng pr ogr ammewascompl et edont he1s tF ebr uar y2010at S ouda Ai rBas e wi t ht he f i r s tof f i ci alai r s how t aki ng pl aceat114PM,T anagr aAi rBas e.

T he cur r ent t eam i s l ed by Capt ai n Geor gi os Andr oul aki sof343Mi r awi t hCapt ai nS t r al i sS ot i r i sof340 Mi r a wor ki ng up f orhi sf i r s tdi s pl ays eas on wi t hT eam Z eus .GAM as kedCapt ai nAndr oul aki sf oranover vi ew oft het eam: “T het eam di s pl aypi l ot scar r youtt her ol ef ort woyear s , s omet i mest hr eei ncer t ai nci r cums t ances .T hewor kup per i od f oreachpi l otvar i es ;dur i ng t he wi nt ermont hs t hepi l ot sar ef l yi ngt omai nt ai ncur r encyandf l yar ound t wo t of our[ di s pl ay]s or t i espermont h dependi ng on t hei rex per i ence.Dur i ngt hes eas ont heyf l yabouts i xt o ei ght[ di s pl ay]s or t i espermont hi nor dert obef i tf ort he f or t hcomi ng s hows .T he t eam i s s uppor t ed by dedi cat ed gr ound s uppor ts t af fwho al s o per f or m a uni quewor l dwi degr ounddemo” Gi ven t he t eam’ s geogr aphi call ocat i on t he t eam pr edomi nant l yappear satAi r s howsi nGr eecewi t ht wo t o t hr ee i nt er nat i onal and t en nat i onal event s appear i ngont het eam cal endarl as tyear .T eam Z eus i snot abl e bydi s pl ayi ng t he F 16 wi t ht he Conf or mal F uel T anks( CF T s )f i t t edf ort hedemons t r at i on.

“Wepr ef ert odemons t r at ewi t hCF T s ;wear et heonl y t eam ar ound Eur ope t o demons t r at e wi t ht hem and t hatmakesours how di f f er entamong t he ot herVi per demos .Ofcour s e CF T sgi vesust he oppor t uni t yt o demons t r at ef araway f r om ourmot her bas e wi t hout havi ng t ol and s omewher e el s ef orr ef uel .Ourf i r s t di s pl ayf or2014wasatRhodesI s l and whi chi s210nm f r om S oudaBay! ”

Acknowl edgement s :

T hanksar eex t endedt ot heHel l eni c At hanas i osAnt onakaki s ,Commandi Andr oul aki s ,t hemenandwomenof

i cAi rF or ceChi ef ’ sS t af fOf f i ce/ Pr es s& I nf or mat i onDi r ect or at e,Commandi ngOf f i cer340Mi r a,Maj or di ng Of f i cer343Mi r a,L t .ColMi chai lT s i kal aki s ,T eam Z eusL eaderand DemoPi l otCapt ai nGeor gi os f115CW,andMr sCar ol i neMakr opoul os ,Br i t i s hEmbas s yAt hens .

F r ankGr eal i s h

T HEBESTO

AsGl obal Avi at i onMagaz i newi nds t ot akeal ookbackatwhatwecon

Kar lDr age,PaulDunnand Rob Edg ar t i cl escont ai nedwi t hi nt hepr evi o

TOF

sdown,wet houghti twoul dbeni ce ons i dert obes omeofi t sbes tbi t s .

dgcumbepi ckoutt hei rf avour i t e20 i ous23i s s uesofGAM.

GAM t ookt he oppor t uni t yoft he RAF ’ s 90t h anni ver s ar y t o put t oget heras peci al edi t i on.Gar et h i nt er vi ewed Dave Gl edhi l l ,an F 4 navi gat or ,who r ecal l ed hi st i me on Phant omsf r om t he mi d 1970s onwar ds as t he f l eet was t r ans i t i oni ngf r om gr oundat t ackt o t he ai rdef ens er ol e. Gi ven how pr eval entt hePhant om wasi nt he RAF ,t hei rwi t hdr awalf r om s er vi ce happened ver y qui ckl y and t o havet heoppor t uni t yt ol ookback att he Phant om i ni t spr i me and bef or ei twast oned down i n ai r def encecol our si sat r eat .

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / navi gat or s s t or y

PaulF i l meri swel lknown f ort r avel i ng t os ome f arf l ung and chal l engi ng pl aces .T heydon’ tcome much f ur t herf l ung normor e chal l engi ng t han Nor t hKor ea.I nt hi spi ece,Paul t ookal ookatacount r yt hatf ew gett os ee and t hathasa mi x t ur e ofai r cr af tt hatwi l lbe s eeni nf ew ot herl ocat i ons t hes edays .However ,Pauldi d notj us tl i mi thi ms el ft ot heai r cr af t .Heal s o pr ovi dedani ns i ghti nt ot heex per i enceofvi s i t i ngt henat i on–onet hatmi ght notbet ot al l yopent ovi s i t or sbutatl eas tgaveagl i mps eoft hel i vesofs ome oft her es i dent s .

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / dpr k

T he undoubt ed hi ghl i ghtofmyi nvol vementwi t h GAM hasbeen t he s er i esofar t i cl eswe pr oduced on t he s ubj ectofT r avi sAF Bandt he60t hAMW.Overt hecour s e oft hi ss er i es ,we cover ed each ai r cr af tt ype bas ed at T r avi s ,and al s oex ami ned i ns omedet ai lt her ol eoft he 349t hAMW,t heAi rF or ceRes er veCommanduni twhi ch s har esai r cr af twi t ht he60t hAMW asi t sas s oci at euni t .

Pr oduci ngar t i cl esont he21s tAi r l i f tS quadr on( C17)and t he 79t hAi rRef uel i ng S quadr onAF RC,KC10)wasver y s at i s f yi ng,es peci al l yasRob Edgcumbe and Ihad t he oppor t uni t yt of l y on a t r ai ni ng s or t i e on t he C17, i nvol vi ngaer i alr ef uel l i ngands omel ow f l yi ng.However ,

t hehi ghl i ghtoft hes er i esf ormewast h cover edt he22ndASandt hemi ght yC

F l yi ng i n a KC10 and s hoot i ng a C pr obabl yt hegr eat es tex per i enceI hav t hat Ihave been phot ogr aphi ng a s t ar t edwi t habonus ;wedepar t edast a pai rofKC10s ,wi t ht he s econd ai r c s omer ef uel l i ngcont act s ,bef or ewec t he cr ew ofourai r cr af tpr act i ced r e ot herKC10.Pr evi ous l yIhad onl ypho ai r cr af tf r om a t anker ,s ot he ex per i e muchl ar gerai r cr af tont he boom,an r ecei ver ' sper s pect i vet oo,wasex t r em

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / 60t hamw

t hef i r s tpar t ,whi ch C5Gal ax y.

C5r ef uel l i ng was avehadi nt heyear s ai r cr af t .T he f l i ght st hel eadai r cr af ti n i r cr af tj oi ni ng usf or changedr ol esand r ef uel l i ng f r om t he ot ogr aphed f i ght er r i ence ofs eei ng a nd t hent o gett he mel yi mpr es s i ve.

L ar ge ast he KC10 i st hough,t he C5 wass i mpl yi ncr edi bl e.As F RED05 ( I ' l ll eave you t of i nd outt he der i vat i on oft he C5' s ni cknameF RED your s el f ,asi t ' snotpr i nt abl e,eveni nt hef i nali s s ue oft hi spubl i cat i on! )camei nt ovi ew behi ndt het ankerandcl os ed t ot he pr econt actpos i t i on,If ound i ts i mpl yawei ns pi r i ng t os ee s uchamas s i veai r cr af ti ncl os ef or mat i onbehi ndus .Weconduct ed pr act i cecont act sf orar ound anhour ,wi t ht hebl uewat er soft he Paci f i c Ocean,and t he gr eener y oft he Cal i f or ni a pr ovi di ng a wonder f ul backgr oundf orphot os .I twasanex per i encet hatwi l l l i ve l ongi nt hememor y.

Put t i ngt hear t i cl et oget herwasal s over yenj oyabl e.I wasf or t unat e t obeabl et oi nt er vi ew pl ent yofpeopl eas s oci at ed wi t ht heC5, andIt hi nki tmadef orabal ancedpi ece,whi chcover eds omeof t hechal l engesoff l yi ngt heGal ax y,andal s opr ovi deds omei ns i ght s i nt ot hechangi ngr ol esoft heUSmi l i t ar yi nt hepos t Oper at i onI r aqi F r eedom er a,wi t ht he s t r at egi cs hi f tt owar dsoper at i onsi nt he Paci f i cr egi on,al t houghs ubs equentevent si nUkr ai nehavecaus ed s omet hi ng ofa s wi ng backt owar dscons i der i ng oper at i onsi nt he Eur opeanr egi on.

T he ar t i cl e came aboutt hankst o a ver ypr oact i ve publ i c af f ai r s t eam atT r avi sAF B,andgr eatcooper at i onf r om bot ht he22ndAS and9t hARS .Overt hecour s et hi sands ubs equentvi s i t s ,If oundt he publ i caf f ai r st eam t obes econdt onone( I s houl dal s oment i ont hat t heex cel l entt eam atAl t usAF Bi sl edbyaf or mermemberofT eam r avi s ! )and Iam gr at ef ulf ort hes uppor tt hatever yone gavet oGAM t hr oughouti t sex i s t ence.

Wi t h cur r ent i nt er es ti n t he Canadi an War bi r d Her i t age L ancas t ervi s i t i ng t he UK andt hepr os pectoft woL ancas t er sf l yi ngi n f or mat i on t hi s s ummer , i t i s wor t h r emember i ngt hatt her ei st hepot ent i alf or anot herL ancas t ert ot aket ot heai ri nt he UK. El l i ot t Mar s h i nt er vi ewed Andr ew Pant on,par toft hePant onf ami l yt hatown J us tJ ane,att hei rai r f i el di n Eas tKi r kbyt o l ear n mor e aboutt he r es t or at i on oft he ai r cr af tand t he f ut ur e pr os pect sf orher f l yi ng.

T he pi ece f eat ur es s ome at mos pher i c i mager y combi ni ng per i od equi pmentandr eenact or si nappr opr i at e uni f or ms .

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / j us t j ane

Rob Edgcumbe hasbr oughta numberofhel i copt er r el at edpi ecest oGAM andt hemai deni s s uef eat ur eda pi eceonhel i copt erl i f t i ngoper at i ons .T hecombi nat i on ofs ome i nt er es t i ng hel i copt ert ypes and t he ur ban envi r onmenti sone t hati snots een i n many pl aces ar oundt hewor l d.T hi scombi nedwi t hani ns i ghti nt ot he wor kt hecr ewsunder t akei npl anni ngandex ecut i ngt he l i f t s–avi ew behi ndt hes cenest hatGAM hasai medf or t hr oughoutmanyofi t sf eat ur es .

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / hel i l i f t

Att het i meGAM r anaf eat ur e ont heUkr ai ni anAi rF or ce,no one woul d have pr edi ct ed t hatl es st hant woyear sl at er , t he bas e f eat ur ed i n t he ar t i cl e woul d have been t he s ceneofconf r ont at i onaspar t of t he annex at i on of t he Cr i mea. However ,ever yone appr eci at ed t he beaut i f ul i mager y of s ome s t unni ng ai r cr af tand acces st hatwi l l s adl y neverbe r epeat ed as t hear eai snow underRus s i an cont r ol .T he ar t i cl ef ocus ed on a Ukr ai ni an Ai rF or ce l i ve f i r i ng ex er ci s e and i ncl uded an i mpr es s i ve s el ect i on of t ool ed up F l anker s and F ul cr ums .I r oni cal l y,t he t ex t di s cus s ed t he pot ent i al f or cl os eri nt egr at i onwi t hNAT O.

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / ex er ci s eper s pect i ve

L i nds ayPeacockhasbeenar egul arcont r i but ort oGAM t hr oughoutt hes er i es .Hi s ar chi veofavi at i oni mager yi ss econdt ononeandhaspr ovi dedmanygr eatpi ct ur es t ocovert hehi s t or yofmi l i t ar yavi at i on.T her ear es omanypi ecest hatcoul dhave beenchos ent oi l l us t r at et hequal i t yofL i nds ay’ swor kbutt heWi l l i am T el l f eat ur ewas a per f ectex ampl e oft he var i et yoft ar get she hass hotand t he s heernos t al gi a evokedbyhi swor k.

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / wi l l i amt el l ex er ci s es

T he “Dr ag’ EmOot ” pi ece or i gi nal l y ar os e f r om an oppor t uni t yt o phot ogr aph t he ai r cr af tai r t oai rasi t t r ans i t ed t o Daedal us Aer odr ome, L eeont heS ol ent , ahead oft he pus hi nt oF r ance f ort he 2012 DDay commemor at i ons .

Whi l s tt he weat herwasf arf r om i deal ,i tpr ovi ded J on But t s ,Chai r manofL eel yi ngAs s oci at i on,andI wi t ht hef i r s t oppor t uni t yt of l yt oget hers i nce 2008,when J on had or gani s edaf or mat i oncour s ecul mi nat i ngi nt heas s embl y ofadi amondni neofCi r r usS R20and22ai r cr af t .

Asi tt r ans pi r ed,t he phot oswer ej us ta cameawaywi t h,andt odat eIdon’ tt bet t eri nt er vi ew t han Idi d wi t ht he ai Gr een. Ofcour s e,ani nt er vi ew i sonl y i nt er vi ewee,and Paddy’ s knowl edge char gewer ej us ts oengagi ng t hati tw puti tdownonpaper .

F ur t hercont r i but i onsf r om Geof fPel lM Di s pat cherandL oadmas t er ,Huber tAc Round Canopy Par achut i ng T ea phot ogr aphy f r om L yl eJ ans ma / A made,i nmyhumbl eopi ni on,f ort hem putt oget heratt hats t age;i tl ookedgr

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / deo

ta s mal lpar tofwhatI tt hi nkI ’ veconduct eda ai r cr af t ’ sowner ,Paddy l yeverasgood ast he ge and pas s i on i n hi s twasa r ealpl eas ur et o

MBE-” Dr ag’ EmOot ’ s ” Acht en-Pr es i dentoft he eam, and addi onal Aer oCapt ur eI mages , mos tr oundedpi eceI ’ d gr eatandwas ,It hi nk,a

r eal l yi nt er es t i ngr ead.

F eedbackr ecei vedf r om bot hPaddyandGeof fal s os ugges t ed t hatt heyt houghti twasqui t es peci al ,wi t hPaddydes cr i bi ngi tas t hemos taccur at ear t i cl ecompi l edont heai r cr af tatt hats t age.

Il ove i twhenyoucanr eal l ys i nkyourt eet hi nt oa s ubj ect ,and “Dr ag’ EmOot ”cer t ai nl yf i t t edt hatbi l l .

T hr oughout t he l i f e of GAM, we have r un a number of pi eces t hat cover ed t he hi s t or yofan i ndi vi dual t ype. T hes e made us e of t he gr eat i mager y avai l abl e f r om acr os st he whol e GAR t eam al ong wi t h t he r es ear chr equi r ed i nt ot he det ai l of t he t ypes i n ques t i on.

A r egul ar el ement of t hes e s t or i es has been t he per s onal per s pect i ve ofi ndi vi dual s wi t hex t ens i ve ex per i ence on t ype and t he Mer l i n pi ece epi t omi s es t he det ai l t hat GAM has pr ovi ded.

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / agus t awes t l andmer l i n

GAM’ scont r i but or shaveal wayss t r i vent opr ovi deacces st ot hes i desofavi at i ont hatar enot nor mal l y avai l abl e. T hi sf eat ur e on BA’ soper at i on atT er mi nal5 i ncl uded t he per s onal ex per i ence ofBA pi l otDheer ajBhas i n and ex cl us i ve af t er hour sphot ogr aphybyGAM’ s Edi t or ,Kar l Dr age,t os how how t hi ngsf unct i onbehi ndt hes cenesatani nt er nat i onal ai r l i ne.

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / br i t i s hai r ways t er mi nal 5

Ever yone l oves t he L i ght ni ng.A f eat ur eon t he epi t omy of Br i t i s h Col d Warf i ght er s wi l l al ways get at t ent i on ands o,youhavet odo i tr i ghtt o avoi d bei ng cr i t i ci s ed f arand wi de.

F or t unat el y, Gar et h S t r i nger s t epped up wi t h hi s pi ece t hat combi ned s ome vi nt age i mages wi t h t he l as t days at Bi nbr ook and t he T hunder Ci t y f l yi ng.

Add i ns ome per s onal per s pect i ves on oper at i onsand di s pl ay f l yi ng and you have a pi ece t hat t ypi f i es GAM’ sappr oach.

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / wi wol

T he C141i san ai r cr af t t hat ,whi l el ong outof s er vi ce, s t i l l i ns pi r es gr eat af f ect i on wi t h t hos e t hat f l ew t hem and t hos et hat l oved wat chi ng t hem. T hi s was anot her GAM hi s t or y pi ece whi ch f eat ur ed pl ent y of ar chi ve i mager yf r om L i nds ay Peacock and wases peci al l y not abl e f or t he col our f ul r ecol l ect i ons off or mer S t ar l i f t erpi l otChar l esP. “Pat ” Gi l mour . Paul Dunn’ spi ecei sa f i t t i ng t r i but e t o a much mi s s edt ype.

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / c141s t ar l i f t er

Weas s embl edat bef or e 0700,be dr agged XH134 phot ogr aphi ng Agus t aWes t l and everi mager yf r om

Notonl yt hat ,Mi k t hr oughhi st houg Char l i eKyl eand f orover s eei ng t h Avi at i on,aboutp andt hes t epst ha Avi at i onAut hor i t y

Anot herpi ece t hatIabs ol ut el yl oved wor ki ng onwast hatconcer ni ng Mi dai rS quadr on’ sCanber r aPR9,XH134/GOMHD. L i ke“Dr ag’ EmOot ” ,t hechancet opr oduces uchanex t ens i vear t i cl eon XH134i ni t i al l yar os ef r om aphot ogr aphi coppor t uni t y,whenIwasas ked t ot ake s ome PR s hot soft he Canber r ai n hernew col our sf ort he or gani s at i on.

Ii mmedi at el yhadavi s i oni nmyheadofas hotI ’ dl i ket opr oduce,and, t hankf ul l y,Mi ke Davi s -t he ai r cr af t ’ s owner-and I nt er Rel at i ons & Company-t hePRf i r m -bot hbackedt hatvi s i ont ot hehi l t .

att heai r cr af t ’ shomeatCot s wol dAi r por t bef or ei t became act i ve f or t he day, 4 outon t ot he r unway and t hen,af t er i t f r om t he gr ound, us ed an dAW109t ocapt ur es omeofmyf avour i t e om t heai r .

T her ewass t i l ls omet hi ngmi s s i ng,however ,and t hatwas r ect i f i ed wi t h t el ephone cal l st o t he t wo peopl e r es pons i bl ef ordoi ng al loft heear l ypos t r es t or at i ont es t f l yi ng,Chi efPi l otMi ke L eckeyand l ongt i me Canber r a di s pl aypi l otDavePi per .

T heyof f er edaf as ci nat i ngi ns i ghti nt ot hewayt heai r cr af t i soper at ed di f f er ent l ynow compar ed t o wheni nRoyal Ai rF or ces er vi ce-s omes ys t emshavi ng beenupgr aded ands omes i mpl yr emovedal t oget her .

i keDavi shi ms el fwasonhandt ot al kme ughtpr oces s esdur i ngt her es t or at i on,and dChr i sVaughan,t het womenr es pons i bl e t he r es t or at i onpr oj ectunder t akenbyC2 tpr eci s el yhow t heywentaboutdoi ngs o, I t ’ sa l ong pi ece,f ors ur e,butIr emai nconvi nced t hati t atneededt obet akent oens ur et heCi vi l and“Dr ag’ EmOot ”ar ecomf or t abl ymyt wobes tpi eces r i t ywaskepthappy. ofwr i t i ngt odat e-andt heybot hl ookedgr eat ,t oo.

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / canber r ax h134

T he combi nat i onof beaut i f ul s cener y, gor geousl i ghtand i nt er es t i ngai r cr af ti s har dt obeat .GAM has pr oduced a number of ar t i cl es cover i ng oper at or s bot h l ar ge and s mal l and i n t hi s pi ece,Huw Hopki ns gotan i ns i de vi ew of a hel i copt er oper at or deal i ng wi t ht hes peci al i s ed f l yi ng r equi r ed i n t he Al pi ne envi r onment . T he i mager y i n t hi s pi ece i s har d t o beat .

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / ai r z er mat t

Ex er ci s es ar ound t he wor l d have pr ovi ded pl ent yof mat er i alf orGAM. Cr uz exi sa s peci al even among ex er ci s eswi t ht he di f f er ent t ypes i n L at i n Amer i can s er vi ce pr ovi di ng s ome unus ual col our s chemes r ar el y s een el s ewher e. S t eve Comber t r avel l ed t o Br az i lt o cover t he ex er ci s e and came back wi t h s ome memor abl e s hot s i n s uper b condi t i ons .

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / cr uz ex

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / doppos newbal l oon

Al lt ypesofavi at i onar e f odder f or GAM and t hat i ncl udes bal l ooni ng –s omet hi ng t hati sr ar el ycover edby ot her avi at i on magaz i nes .

GAM’ s r es i dent bal l oon pi l ot , Paul Dops on, has cont r i but ed a number off eat ur esandt hi sone deal twi t ht he pr oces s of or der i ng, des i gni ng and pr oduci ng a cus t om bal l oonf orPaul andhi spar t nerHeaven.

Hi s pi eces have i ncl uded s t unni ngl y phot ogeni c s cenes of mas s l aunches i n beaut i f ul s cener y.

T he l aunch of GAM cameatat i mewhen t he US MC wasi nt he pr oces s of r unni ng down t he f l eet of CH46 S ea Kni ght s .

Meanwhi l et he f or ce t hat r emai ned was bus y r et r ai ni ng af t er year ss peci al i s i ng i n l i mi t ed r ol es f or over s eas oper at i ons .

Paul Dunn vi s i t ed Camp Pendl et on,t he l as t bas t i on of t he Phr og, as t hey pr epar ed f ort he f i r s t depl oymentt os ea i n adecade.

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / hmm268

My vi s i tt ot he Chi na Avi at i on Mus eum i n 2011 was act ual l yt he s econd t i me Ihad been t os ee t hi s r emar kabl ecol l ect i onofai r cr af t .T hef i r s toccas i onwas i ns ummer2008,and wasnot abl ef oran enor mous t hunder s t or mi nt heaf t er noon,whi chmeantmyj our ney backt oBei j i ngwasmar r edbyaf l as hf l oodi nt het own of Changpi ng - knee deep wat er ,f l oat i ng car s , over f l owi ng s ewer s ,t he whol e s car y ni ne yar ds !

F or t unat el y on t hi soccas i on,t he weat herbehaved i t s el fqui t es pect acul ar l y,and t her e wer e no s car y moment s ,al t houghIs t i l ls hudderatt hememor yoft he cucumberf l avour ed cr i s psIboughtata ki os katt he mus eum.

I ' d ar r i ved i nBei j i ngt hedaybef or eona and s moggyday,and di dn' thol d outm ni ceweat herf ormyvi s i tt ot hemus eum s unr i s ebr oughtacr ys t al cl earbl ues kyan wi nt erl i ght ,whi chr eal l ymadef oras upe

T hemus eum i t s el fi snow pr et t ywel lkno butt he l as tcoupl e ofyear shave s ee i ncr edi bl ei mpr ovement si nt hequal i t yo r ecent l y as2008,many oft he ex hi bi t ar ound t he s i t e and notal waysi nt h condi t i on.T her e hascl ear l y been s i gn s pentoni mpr ovi ngt hel ookoft hes i t e,w

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / dat angs han

na t ypi cal l ygr ey utmuchhope f or um.However ,t he yandt r emendous uper bvi s i t .

nowni nt hewes t , s een s ome qui t e yofi t sdi s pl ays .As i bi t swer es t r ewn t he gr eat es tof s i gni f i cantmoney ,whi chhasmade

a bi g di f f er ence,al t hough t her e ar es t i l la f ew pi l esofi nt er es t i ng wr ecksandr el i csdot t edar oundt heper i met er !

I ' vepr oducedmanymus eum pi ecesf orGAM,butt hi ss t andsoutas myf avour i t e.T hecondi t i onsf ort hevi s i twer es uper b,andt hes ubj ect mat t erf as ci nat i ng.I al s or eal l yenj oyedwr i t i ngt hear t i cl eaf t er war ds , asi tf or cedmet odor es ear chons omeoft hemor eobs cur et ypes , and If el tl i ke Il ear ned a l otaboutt he Chi nes e aer os pace i ndus t r y andi t shi s t or yasar es ul t .T hi smadei taver ys at i s f yi ngar t i cl et owr i t e, muchmor es ot hanmos tmus eum pi ecesI ' vebeeni nvol vedi n.

Al es scommon t opi cf or GAM hasbeenpr of i l esof i ndi vi dual s t hat have made t hei r mar k i n avi at i on.

One s uch i ndi vi dual was Paul Bonhomme,t he s ubj ect ofanex t endedi nt er vi ew

by El l i ot t Mar s h. T hi s cover edal l as pect sofhi s avi at i oncar eeri ncl udi ng war bi r df l yi ng,aer obat i c di s pl aysandcompet i t i on ai rr aci ng. Paul ’ ss t or yi s f ul l of i nt er es t i ng t al es and El l i ot tbr oughtt hes e t ol i f e.

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / paul bonhomme

Roundi ng out our r evi ew oft he bes t of GAM, we come t o Gl enn Beas l ey’ s cel ebr at i onoft heF 15’ s 40t h anni ver s ar y whi ch agai n combi ned a hi s t or i cal vi ew of t he ai r cr af t , s ome l ovel y phot ogr aphyands ome t f as ci nat i ng per s onal per s pect i ves of s omeone who has ex per i ence f l yi ng t he j et .Ever yt hi ngt hatyou have come t o ex pect f r om GAM.

ht t p: / / i s s uu. com/ kar l adr age/ docs / f 15eagl e

The GLOBA L A VI A TI ON RESOURCE

PRI NT &GI FT STORE

Hi ghqu al i t yav i at i oni mager yav ai l abl ef or pu r c h as ei nav ar i et yof f or mat s f r omr egu l ar pr i n t st h r ou ght ocan v aspr i n t s , T s h i r t s , mou s emat s , paper wei gh t san dmu c h , mu c hmor e.

P l eas ev i s i t t h ewebs i t ebel owt os eet h ei mager yal r eadyav ai l abl e.I f y ou ar eu n abl et of i n dwh at y ouar el ook i n gf or , pl eas edr opu sal i n ean dwewi l l doou r bes t t os at i s f yy ou r r equ i r emen t .

Si ncet her ewon’ tact ual l ybea nextt i me,I want ed t o gi ve GAM’ s mos t pr ol i f i c cont r i but or ,Paul Dunn,t heoppor t uni t yt os ay af ew wor ds-Ed:

pi ckedt heS 3Vi ki ng,F 16F i ght i ngF al conor C130 pi ece as each had f eat ur ed f as ci nat i ng cont r i but i ons f r om s ome ver y i nt er es t i ngchar act er s !

I ' vebeenpr i vi l eged t ohavebeeni nvol ved i nt he GAM pr oj ectf r om t he s t ar t ,and I ' m t ol d by Kar lt hatIhave cont r i but ed mor e ar t i cl est hananyone el s e,s o Is houl ds aya f ew wor dsoni t sdemi s e.I ' m gr at ef ulf ort he oppor t uni t y,asI ' vebeengr at ef ulf oral lt he oppor t uni t i est hatIhave been pr es ent ed wi t hasa r es ul tofmyi nvol vementwi t ht he magaz i neovert hel as tcoupl eofyear s .

T he ot heras pectoft he anni ver s ar ypi eces I ' ve enj oyed i st he col l abor at i ve nat ur e of t hef i nalpr oduct s .T hei magest hatmyGAR col l eagueshavei nt hear chi veneverf ai lt o i mpr es s me,and I ' ve es peci al l y enj oyed r ecei vi ng and us i ng i mages f r om L i nds ay Peacock' si ncr edi bl ecol l ect i on.

I nt he l as tcoupl e ofweeks ,Kar l ,Rob and I havebeengoi ngt hr oughbacki s s uesoft he magaz i ne and choos i ng ourf avour i t e 20 ar t i cl est hatGAM haspubl i s hed s i nce i t s i ncept i on.Idon' tt hi nki ti sar r ogantofust o s ayt hati twasnotaneas yt as k,buti twasan enj oyabl eone;t her e' sevenacoupl eofmy pi ecesi nt her e!I twass at i s f yi ng t os eehow f arwe' dcomeandhow muchpr ogr es swe' d made,al t hought hi swasal s ot i nged wi t ha l i t t l es adnes s ,gi vent heci r cums t ances .

F r om a per s onalpoi ntofvi ew,t her e ar e s ever alhi ghl i ght st hats pr i ng t o mi nd.I ' ve beenl uckyenought of l ywi t ht he US AFon s ever aloccas i ons ,and al s os pentt i mewi t h var i ous mi l i t ar y and ci vi l i an or gani s at i ons wor l dwi de.I ' ve mets ome gr eatpeopl e on t he way, and I ' ve l ear ned a l ot f r om i nt er act i ng wi t h many of t hem; i n pr of es s i onalavi at i on,i ti sal waysr ewar di ng t os pend t i me wi t h di f f er entoper at or sas t her ei sof t enmucht ot ake awayf r om t he wayt heydot hi ngs .

I ' veal s oenj oyedpr oduci nghi s t or ypi eces ,i n par t i cul ar t he C141 S t ar l i f t er anni ver s ar y ar t i cl ei nI s s ue 21. Put t i ng ar t i cl esl i ke t hat t oget hert endst oi nvol ve l ot sofr es ear ch and s omet i mes oppor t uni t i es t o t al kt o i nt er es t i ng f ol kal ong t he way.I ' ve enj oyed t hi sas pecti mmens el y;al t houghI ' vechos en t he C141pi ece,Icoul d have j us taseas i l y

Once an ar t i cl e has been wr i t t en and s ubmi t t ed t ot he bos sf oredi t i ng,Ial ways enj oyl ooki ngatt hel ayout st hatKar lcomes up wi t h.L ooki ng backatt he ear l yedi t i ons , I ' ms ur et hathe won' tmi nd me s ayi ng t hat he' scomea l ongwayf r om t hef i r s tl ayout s !

Kar lhaspr oduced vi r t ual l yever ypaget hat you' ve r ead s i ngl e handedl y, and t hat r epr es ent sa t r emendousamountofwor k andt i mei nves t ed.

I ' m al waysgr at ef ult ohi mf ormaki ngs ucha gr eatj ob ofput t i ng t he ar t i cl est oget her , and f or t he f l ex i bi l i t y t hat he s hows , es peci al l y when pr es ent ed wi t h ar t i cl e r unni ngt oover8000wor ds ,al lofwhi char e F AR t oo i mpor t antt o cutout( s or r y agai n aboutt hats uper s i z edF 16pi ecebos s ! ) .Kar l hasal waysgi venal l hi scont r i but or sf r eedom t opr oducet heki nd ofwor kt hatt heywant t o do.If orone am ver y gr at ef ulf ort hat f r eedom andIhopet hatIhavedevel oped asawr i t erbecaus eofi t .

F i nal l y,I ' dl i ket ot hankt hepeopl et hathave r eadt hemagaz i neands uppor t edusal ong t he way.T he f eedback hasal waysbeen gr eatt o hear ,and Ihope t hatyou have enj oyed r eadi ng GAM asmuch asIhave enj oyedmyi nvol vementi npr oduci ngi t .

S o. . .ENDEX?

Kar lDr age

Capt ur ed dur i ng t he Daedal usDDay 70t h event satL eeonS ol ent ,t hi sunus ual f or mat i oncompr i s ed Beech17S t agger wi ng,Beech18Ex pedi t orandDougl asDakot a.

Ands ot hi si si t , t heendof Gl obal Av i at i onMagaz i ne.I nt er msof whathappensnex t , t hel as ts i x i s s ues , i nc l udi ngt hi s , andt hepr ev i ewsf orear l i eri s s ues , wi l l r emai nac c es s i bl eonI SSUUunt i l l at eDec ember , af t erwhi c hpoi ntwewi l l mak et hem av ai l abl eass t r ai ghtPDFdownl oadsf r om t heGARwebs i t e.TheI SSUUac c ountwi l lt henbec l os ed.Ihopey ou’ v eenj oy edwhatwe’ v e br oughty ous i nc eNov ember2011.Thank sf orr eadi ngKar l Dr age, Edi t or Thewhol eGl obalAvi at i on Resour cet eam woul dl i ket ot hankeach and ever yoneofyou f oryoursuppor t !

I fyou haveanycomment sorquest i ons,pl easedi r ectt hem t o edi t or @gl obal avi at i onr esour ce. com