Phony Air Force Ad Spoofs E-Trade Commercials

You'll just have to watch it. It's classic. UAV pilots may not think its funny though.

[The DEW Line]

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C-17 Makes First Antarctic Night Landing Using NVG

A C-17 from McChord AFB made the first known after-dark landing in Antarctica using night vision goggles on September 11th. The Globemaster III landed at night on the Pegusus Ice Runway near McMurdo Station in a mission that was flown as part of Operation Deep Freeze. This long standing mission airlifts critical supplies to the National Science Foundation and U.S. Antarctic Program that operates at McMurdo. Typically these supplies can only be delivered during the Antarctic Summer months due to long night hours in the Winter and limited airfield lighting. With this successful test operation, the Air Force now has the ability to airlift supplies or medevac personnel out of McMurdo year round. The new procedure uses reflective cones to outline the edges of the ice runway. When the C-17's lights reflect off the cones, it is easily picked up in the night vision goggles used by the flight crew. Commander of the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Lt. Col. Jim McGann said, "We found the cones to be very good at illuminating the runway and providing critical situational awareness." The real beauty of this system is that the markers require no electrical power at all.

Here is one of the reflective cones used at the Pegasus Ice Runway.

A C-17 Globemaster III sits on the Pegasus Ice Runway after a successful night landing.

[Photos: U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Chris Vadnais]
[AF Link]

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Struggling Air Force One To Begin Selling Passenger Tickets

WASHINGTON—With oil prices hitting record levels, the United States Air Force announced today that it has begun selling passenger tickets on all flights operated by its Air Force One fleet in order to maintain the service as a "feasible enterprise."

It no longer makes sense financially to let one passenger dictate when and where we travel," acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley said in a press conference at the Pentagon, the Air Force's corporate headquarters in Arlington, VA. "We've got a big plane here, and there's no reason we shouldn't be filling it."

Air Force One has been in operation since 1943. Like other "legacy carriers," it had trouble remaining solvent following industry deregulation in 1978, but the service was able to stay afloat thanks to increased summit travel to the Middle East through the early 1980s. Now, however, as costs continue to skyrocket, Air Force One has been forced to make changes to survive in the current economic climate.

"We've made some major changes to Air Force One in order to reflect our new emphasis on customer service," said Air Force chief of staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. "On each aircraft, the conference room, office, workout room, bedroom, and war room have been gutted and replaced with narrow rows and plush seats to accommodate additional passengers. Our former private chef service has been replaced by carts of drinks and economically priced prepackaged snacks. Even the escape hatch, originally designed for sneaking away from Kazakh hijackers but never used, has been converted into luggage storage."

One Washington resident and Air Force One frequent flyer, however, was unhappy. The 62-year-old government employee, who neglected to give his name, said he has used the airline for all his business trips since 2001 and "never had a problem before," but was surprised by the changes made under the new system. After 14 stops, he said, the Boeing 747 finally arrived at his destination city, where friends had been waiting seven hours to pick him up for the treaty signing they were attending.

"I've flown with [Air Force One] for a long time, but next time I may have to go on the Internet and see what else is out there," he said. "The government really needs to step in and do something about the fuel crisis in this country before it really gets out of hand."

If you're completely perplexed and haven't figured it out yet, this story is bogus. Bogus but funny. It's an exerpt from a bogus article you can read on The Onion. And yes, that's a bad photoshop in the phony ad above. Looks like they tried to add 2 more engines to an A320. They did go to the trouble of registering the domain flyairforceoneair.com, though.

[The Onion]

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DoD Cancels Refueling Competition, Tankergate Lives On

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates put the kabosh on the Air Force's tanker replacement competition today marking yet another end to yet another chapter in what has got to be one of the biggest black eyes in military procurement history. The program termination is being based on the fact that the DoD won't be able to complete the competition process before the end of the current presidential administration. Now either Obama or McCain will have the pleasure of adopting the red-headed step child that is the KC-X tanker replacement program. Aimed at replacing the venerable KC-135 Stratotanker, the program has been an embarrassment for the current administration for all eight years in office and has even led to the sacking of a few high ranking Air Force officials.

Ironically, McCain is one of the responsible parties from the early days of Tankergate. Since then the Air Force had rehashed the bid process and stunned the nation by awarding a contract to Northrop Grumman/EADS for their KC-45A based on the Airbus A330 airframe back in February. Not going down without a nasty catfight, Boeing filed a formal protest with the GAO citing inconsistencies in the Air Force's decision to select the KC-45A. The GAO accepted the protest and helped push the stop button on the KC-45A program in June. The very next month, the Defense Department said to hell with the Air Force and reopened the competition all over again this time running it straight from that 5-sided building on the Potomac. Things got nastier with some other Air Force SNAFUs and people up high on the chain lost their jobs as a part of this mess. So now it is only appropriate in considering the entire nightmare that has been KC-X for the whole thing to be called off.

"Over the past seven years the process has become enormously complex and emotional - in no small part because of mistakes and missteps along the way by the Department of Defense," says Gates. "It is my judgment that in the time remaining to us, we can no longer complete a competition that would be viewed as fair and objective in this highly charged environment." Now we are forced to sit through a "cooling off" period before the next administration starts their own chapter in what was supposed to be an already late retirement for the KC-135. Anyone really surprised? And yes, I realize that is not the current SecDef. It just really captured the theme of this post.

[Flight Global]

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ABL Fires High Energy Laser For First Time

The future of warfare is very very near. We're already seeing in Iraq and Afganistan autonomous drones that can loiter over combat for 24 hours and Humvee mounted microwave beams that can heat up the surface of the human skin. The Air Force also wants to develop laser gunships to replace AC-130s for precision ground...um...lasering. And now the Air Force's Airborne Laser program has reached a historic milestone in its quest to bring warfare into the 21st century when it achieved "first light" and fired its high-energy chemical laser during a ground test September 7th at Edwards AFB. The Air Force and the Missile Defense Agency are very optimistic about the future of the YAL-1 program and what it will mean for future combat. The prototype has been in testing for quite some time now and has had success in firing its beam control/fire control system, developed by Lockheed Martin. This has all lead up to the big ray gun (aka chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL)) developed by Northrop Grumman which is mounted on the modified 747-400F produced by Boeing. The multi-contractor team and the Air Force are moving one step closer with the recent test towards its first missile shoot-down demonstration scheduled for 2009. After that, perhaps the Defense Department should look into an Imperial Death Star for it's next futuristic weapon.

[Boeing]

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First Air-To-Air Synthetic Fuel Transfer

The US Air Force is wasting no time in testing their new synthetic jet fuel. Just yesterday they marked another milestone when the 50/50 blend of JP-8 and fuel derived from the Fisher-Tropsch method was transferred via aerial refueling from a KC-135 to an F-22 Raptor. This also marks the first flight of a Raptor using the new fuel. Neither the KC-135 from March ARB or the F-22 from Edwards AFB were modified to perform the test. "Our goal was to complete the test plan and to support the certification," said Maj. Drew Allen, 411 FLTS chief of standardization and evaluation and also the test pilot. "We wanted to prove that there was no negative effect in performing the aerial refueling using the synthetic fuel." This test moves the USAF another step closer to certifying the synthetic fuel for the entire Air Force fleet as well as moving them another step away from dependence on foreign oil.

[Lockheed Martin photo]
[AF Link]

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Laser JDAM Gets First Kill

The two main types of precision guided bombs in the US arsenal today are guided by either GPS or lasers. But what if there was a way to combine the two on one bomb? That's exactly what the USAF did when it developed the GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition. The GBU-54 is essentially a 500-lb dummy bomb with a strap-on GPS guided tail and a laser guidance sight mounted to the tip. On August 12th this new munition scored its first kill when an F-16 from the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Balad Air Base destroyed a "moving enemy vehicle in the Diyala province to support a combined Iraqi army and U.S. Marine operation." An urgent operational need for this type of munition was identified in 2007 and took only 17 months of testing and development before it was in theater for deployment. Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, the U.S. Air Forces Central commander and U.S. Central Commands Combined Force Air Component commander said, "The first combat employment of this weapon is the validation of the exacting hard work of an entire team of professionals who developed, tested and fielded this weapon on an extremely short timeline, based on an urgent needs request we established in the combat zone." While a regular GPS JDAM is perfect for hitting stationary targets, the new Laser JDAM allows the Air Force to strike mobile ground targets as well. This is especially crucial in the fight against VBIEDs. The footage from this engagement is allegedly depicted below.

[AF Link]

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F-15 Goes Mach 2 On Synthetic Fuel

The US Air Force successfully completed a flight test of its experimental synthetic fuel with a fighter for the first time this week by using an F-15 Eagle. The F-15 seemed to take to the new fuel pretty well as it screamed up to Mach 2.2 during a 55 minute test flight. The Air Force has been testing the fuel on larger aircraft in their fleet including a C-17, a B-52 and even a B-1 that was the first to break the sound barrier using the 50-50 blend of synthetic fuel and JP-8. This new test was the first on a light and maneuverable fighter jet, though. The fuel is created by using the proven Fischer-Tropsch method of deriving fuel from coal which is a process the Germans used during WWII to satisfy their insatiable need for war-time fuel. While the synthetic fuel mix is marginally better on the environment than traditional fuel, the main reason the Air Force is conducting this research is to see if it can reduce their need for oil and save Uncle Sam a little money. The US Air Force is, after all, the world's largest consumer of jet fuel which is why they'd like to certify all of their aircraft on the new mix. Next up for testing is the Air Force's newest (and baddest) fighter, the F-22 Raptor, which could start as early as next week.

[Danger Room] [Photo: Op-For]

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Political Conventions: NORAD Says, "Don't Make Us Shoot You Down"

If you routinely fly out of an airport within 100 miles of either Denver or Minneapolis, you might see the poster above tacked to the wall at your FBO this week. These are being distributed to remind pilots of the upcoming Democratic and Republican Conventions and the more important Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) that will be associated with them in an attempt to keep the little bug smashers from violating airspace. CONR (Continental NORAD Region), the FAA and the US Secret Service are teaming up to make pilots aware of the TFRs which go into effect from August 25th to September 4th. And for those reckless pilots who don't check NOTAMs, NORAD will have some F-16s out there to "kindly remind you" of where you don't belong.

[AF Link]

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First H-Series BUFF gets retired

After more than 45 years of service, the US Air Force has retired its first B-52H on July 24 seen here departing for Tinker AFB on its final flight. Built in 1961, this BUFF, tail number LA1023, served with the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB but was temporarily residing at Minot AFB due to parking limitations at Barksdale. This is the first of 18 retirements set to take place every two weeks and alternating between wings at Barksdale and Minot, the only remaining B-52 bases. The move will reduce the Air Force's fleet of Stratofortesses from 94 to 76 in an attempt to shave off maintenance and operational expenses. "It is easier and cheaper to modify and maintain 76 planes, than to keep all 94 up and running," said Master Sgt. Curtis Jensen, 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron production superintendent. The 18 chosen to head for the retirement home are considered the "least airworthy" of the fleet. Instead of heading for the boneyard at AMARC, adjacent to Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona, the retired B-52s will be preserved in an airworthy status within an empty hangar at Tinker. I sure hope they have a hangar big enough for 18 B-52s. The H-series were the last B-52s to roll off the production line and the only series remaining in service today. NGB, anyone?

(U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Cassandra Jones)
(Air Force Link)

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Reaper Debuts In Iraqi Combat Patrols

The US Air Force's newest hunter-killer drone made it's Iraqi combat debut on July 18 as it slides into the routine patrol duty typically assigned to F-16s. The MQ-9 Reaper (formerly known as the Predator B) saw its first combat in Afghanistan last fall and quickly garnered respect for its capabilities. The British in Afghanistan even call the 5-ton Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) a "mini A-10." Defense Secretary Robert Gates' mandate to get "more surveillance systems into the fight" was a driving force in the Reaper's Iraqi deployment. By May of this year the Air Force had drones in 24 round-the-clock orbits to support the "War On Terror" and they anticipate meeting a goal of 50 orbits by year's end. There are only about a dozen Reapers in service now, so I'm not sure how they'll reach that number unless they deploy more Predators or other UAVs.


Essentially a Predator on steroids, the Reaper exceeds its predecessor in every way. Instead of a piston engine, the Reaper has a 600 shp turboprop pushing this killer to 200 kts, up a 130 kts from the Predator's top speed, giving it the ability to take out more time sensitive targets. The beefier engine also allows for a nastier payload of weaponry. Where as the Predator could only carry two Hellfire missiles, the Reaper can carry four...plus two laser-guided Paveway II bombs or two GPS guided JDAMs making this one mean robot warrior. And if the enemy is not out to play, no problem. The Reaper can loiter for quite some time up there at 50,000 feet. It has a range of 3,200 nautical miles. Each Reaper costs the Air Force $53 million a pop and it can be remotely operated by a pilot and sensor operator far from the actual fighting.



(Danger Room)

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Air Force Officers Fall Asleep With Nuke Codes

Fortunately, Wynne and Moseley can't be blamed for this one; but their replacements and many others connected to another Air Force nuclear faux pas have some serious explaining to do. CNN is reporting that US Air Force officers responsible for a component that contained deactivated launch codes for ICBMs fell asleep on the job in clear violation of protocol. Col. Dewey Ford, a spokesman for the Air Force Space Command in Colorado, told CNN that the incident took place on July 12 during a component swap that's used to "facilitate secure communications between an underground missile-control facility and missile silos near Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota." The electronic nuclear code component is considered classified by the Air Force unless you can slip past the sleeping guards. The four officers involved, who were responsible for keeping the component secure until it is returned to the base, placed it in a lockbox for temporary storage. Then Mr. Sandman paid them a visit and three of the four officers fell asleep for two to three hours according to Ford. Protocol requires at least 2 officers to be awake while they have the component in their custody. The electronic code component was later returned to Minot where an investigation was started by Missile Command, Space Command, the 20th Air Force and the National Security Agency. The Air Force claims neither the codes nor national security were compromised as the codes and the component remained in a secured facility; but that won't help these four guys or Air Force leadership as they get grilled for another embarrassing boo-boo. This follows a B-52 last year from Minot (of all places) that took a nice little cross-country flight with the crew unaware that six nuclear warheads were on board and the accidental shipping of ICBM parts to Taiwan in March. Many analysts contribute those incidents to the sacking of the former Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff, so this blunder can't look good either.

(CNN)

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Cold War Redux?

The next US Air Force Chief of Staff has indicated that Russia would be crossing "a red line" if it were to place nuclear capable bombers in Cuba as hinted by a recent Russian report. "If they did I think we should stand strong and indicate that is something that crosses a threshold, crosses a red line for the United States of America," said General Norton Schwartz in a conformation hearing yesterday. The Russian newspaper Iszvestia cited an unamed senior Russian military official on Monday saying Russia may start regular flights by long-range bombers to Cuba. This rattling of the sabre is in response to the United States' plan to install ballistic missile defense systems in Eastern European countries. The US has repeatedly told Russia that an early warning radar in the Czech Republic and 10 missile interceptors in Poland is not an offensive threat but a defensive measure to protect the US and its allies (Russia included) against rogue nations (insert Iran here) securing ballistic nuclear capabilities. No word as to whether the Russian bombers would be based in Cuba or just make flights in and out for fuel but either way Schwartz comments "I would certainly offer the best military advice that we engage the Russians not to pursue that approach." The whole thing smacks of early 1960's Cold War tactics. I was hoping we were done with all that stuff. I don't have a fallout shelter anymore.

(Breibart.com)

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BUFF goes down off Guam

Most of you have already heard about this as it is a big story, but I'm a little late to get it up here. An Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed about 30 miles off the coast of Guam this morning enroute to conduct a flyover at a parade ceremony. The AP is reporting that two crewmembers have been found, however their condition has not yet been released. No word as to whether or not they were the only crewmembers on board as the BUFF typically carries a crew of six. There is also no word on what caused the crash of this Barksdale AFB-based B-52 although the Air Force has already begun an investigation. This is the first loss of a B-52 since 1994 at Fairchild AFB, which coincidentally took place during a non-combat flight at an air show. Of course, this comes in the same year as another high profile bomber crash at Guam when a B-2 went down in February. We'll try to keep you posted as things develop with this.

UPDATE: 05:24Z 7.24.08

Unfortunately, the Air Force announced that none of the 6 crewmembers on board survived the crash. They have now shifted from a rescue to a recovery operation.

(Danger Room)

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Launch Complex 40 comes crashing down...sorta

The last exciting thing to happen at Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral, Florida was the final launch of the Titan IV rocket in 2005. That was until April 28th, when a group of rocket scientists NASA and the Air Force orchestrated an "interesting" implosion of the mobile service gantry. As you can see in the video, instead of collapsing straight down, the gantry kind of leans over and falls to ground before sort of bouncing a little. Good job, NASA, now you still have a giant structure to get rid of.

The actual launch tower of LC-40 was disassembled earlier this year. The site is probably most famous for it's launches of Titan rockets carrying the Mars Viking lander and the somewhat more recent Cassini spacecraft. Twon't we launching anything else anytime soon.

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GAO Throws Out Motions to Dismiss Boeing's Protest Claim

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has decided to review Boeing's protest against the well-known KC-X contract award, while all other parties involved KC-X program continue to bicker over the details of the US Air Force selection process.

One month after the USAF awarded the long term contract for the KC-X program to Northrop Grumman/EADS North America's KC-45A, the GAO rejected separate motions by the Air Force and NG/EADS to throw out Boeing's protest claim. The GAO has until mid-June to adjudge Boeing's case for overturning the contract award. Currently, the GAO is awaiting the USAF's response to Boeing's claims, due on April 16.

Meanwhile, Boeing and NG have teams of lawyers stationed at the GAO's offices reviewing thousands of pages of official USAF documents, seeking to dig up new details to support their respective cases.

Those discoveries have prompted Boeing to submit three updates to its original protest document, submitted in mid-March, which are naturally not being disclosed. Boeing's original protest focused on two points - that the USAF selection team "unfairly" rejected some of Boeing's cost estimates, and that "last-minute" changes to a software-based evaluation model biased the outcome of the competition in favor of NG/EADS offering.

Surely there is more to come in the following days, stay tuned to PointNiner.

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