First International Operator Of The Osprey

The United States government has delivered the first Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey to Camp Kisarazu on July 10. The Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) is the first operator of the V-22 outside of the U.S. military. “Congratulations to Japan on becoming the first international operator of the Osprey,” said Kurt Fuller, Bell Boeing Program Director.

Pilot Escapes With Minor Injuries

An F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to the 49th Wing crashed during landing at Holloman Air Force Base at approximately 6 p.m. MDT July 13. The pilot on board the single seat jet successfully ejected, and is currently being treated for minor injuries. The Air Force is having a really tough run of luck... some of it deadly. The crash is the fifth Air Force fighter jet since mid-May. Two of the previous crashes saw the tragic losses of Air Force pilots. It is also the Air Force’s second F-16 crash in just two weeks.

Multi-Mission Capabilities Shown Off During Recent Exercises

The Northrop Grumman Firebird has recently completed a series of mission focused engagements, including integration and testing of Overwatch Imaging’s TK-9 Earthwatch sensor on its Firebird system. A provider of automated airborne imaging systems for piloted and unmanned aircraft, Overwatch Imaging's TK-9 Earthwatch sensor is equipped with a flexible onboard AI-enabled automatic image processing engine that allows the system to quickly adapt to new roles in new environments such as natural disaster emergency management, border security patrol, or large-scale infrastructure inspection.

Nearly $1.2 Billion Contract For Its First Lot Of Eight F-15EX Fighter

The Department of the Air Force has awarded a nearly $1.2 billion contract for its first lot of eight F-15EX fighter aircraft. The contract, awarded to Boeing, provides for the design, development, integration, manufacturing, test, verification, certification, delivery, sustainment and modification of F-15EX aircraft, including spares, support equipment, training materials, technical data and technical support. The F-15EX will replace the oldest F-15C/Ds in the service’s inventory. Eight F-15EX aircraft were approved in the fiscal year 2020 budget and 12 were requested in the FY21 budget. The Air Force plans to purchase a total of 76 F-15EX aircraft over the five-year Future Years Defense Program.

Helo Rescue Takes Place 100 Miles Off Coos Bay, Oregon

Anyone with any experience in the helicopter industry has a healthy respect for the folks who crew USCG rescue helicopters... some of the most difficult flying in the known universe. Day after day, night after night, these folks pull off rescues in some incredibly insane conditions. Most recently; a Coast Guard aircrew medically evacuated a 26-year-old man Saturday morning off the fishing vessel McKenzie Rose 100 miles west of Coos Bay. The fishing vessel’s captain used a marine radio to hail watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Bend at approximately 5:30 a.m. to report a member of the crew sustained a head injury and was in need of medical attention.

VFA-31 and VFA-87 Departed NAS Oceana in July 2019

Two F/A-18E “Super Hornet” squadrons with a total of 20 aviators returned to their home base at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana in Virginia Beach, Va., July 7, following their six-month deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operation aboard the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The two F/A-18E squadrons, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 31 and VFA-87 embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt.

From 2010: An Extraordinary Gathering That May Truly Be The Last Of Its Kind

What a concept... An historic event, billed as “The Last Time”, was organized to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the DC-3 type aircraft. Designed as an airliner in 1935, the DC-3 was pressed into military service in WWII as the C-47 and served in every theater of the war. Formerly; the largest gathering of them, in any one place, was at the English airfields in preparation for the D-day invasion of Normandy. Some of these same crew members once again flew in these magnificent birds gathering at Whiteside Airport (KSQI) in Rock Falls, IL, just a few weeks ago. The Last Time’s four-day reunion activities were free and open to the public, and general aviation aircraft parking and camping were available as well.

Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, USN (Ret.) Named To Lead

The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation announced the retirement of Lt. Gen. Duane Thiessen, USMC (Ret.) and named Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, USN (Ret.) as his successor. Thiessen has served as the president and CEO for the past seven years supporting the National Naval Aviation Museum and the National Flight Academy, after retiring from the U.S. Marine Corps. Thiessen will continue his role as CEO until later this fall when Cozad will take over as CEO. The date is still to be determined.