tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62848787017532232472024-02-25T13:13:46.613-08:00Aerospace PerceptionsManned spaceflight is at a crossroads, and fascinating technical innovations characterize the realms of modern flight. Not a dry technical compilation, AEROSPACE PERCEPTIONS is the place to learn about and focus on the excitement and wonder of rising into the skies and beyond.Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-48296674862669288942024-02-07T11:25:00.000-08:002024-02-07T11:42:20.158-08:00Long Time Coming<p><span style="font-family: arial;">With </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Aerospace Perceptions</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> delving into the realms of both
aviation and spaceflight, Sierra Space have hit the sweet spot in interest with
their Dream Chaser program – a lifting-body spaceplane. But it’s been a long
time coming.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">How long? It reminds me of when I was writing a book about early
aerodynamic programs in motorsports. I went to interview several
aerodynamicists at Chrysler’s headquarters who had previously worked at the company’s
missile division in Alabama. When I arrived, I had to cool my heels because the
wind tunnel was hosting several models that needed to be hidden – vehicles planned
for five to ten years in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HHXCT08Y5lrGj3WBGgPucZTVCH662u8bWDLjl2bgz2J5BtkGdh-LP0eqpM4f_SLyDMQ5HEuZE5Ssz6OJ5o7zjL4MEi0iNWfAyPe9VRAGwFEZBbAlbwY71fwmUcwiCpwLPNEyJkLtaN4JK4qoLFE6xciuxAaUgkhpvMyIlVsH7o24-xUhXkJwl0KkSg6g/s1280/Space%20Shuttle%20Orbiter%20Dream%20Chaser.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="1280" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HHXCT08Y5lrGj3WBGgPucZTVCH662u8bWDLjl2bgz2J5BtkGdh-LP0eqpM4f_SLyDMQ5HEuZE5Ssz6OJ5o7zjL4MEi0iNWfAyPe9VRAGwFEZBbAlbwY71fwmUcwiCpwLPNEyJkLtaN4JK4qoLFE6xciuxAaUgkhpvMyIlVsH7o24-xUhXkJwl0KkSg6g/w534-h257/Space%20Shuttle%20Orbiter%20Dream%20Chaser.jpg" width="534" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>The initial Dream Chaser concept, with a certain other well-known spaceplane
in the background. Image: Sierra Space</i></b></p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">When I covered STS-135 in 2011 – the final flight of the Space
Shuttle orbiter Atlantis and the conclusion of that entire program – Sierra Nevada
Corporation had a presence at Kennedy Space Center’s media operations with an
early concept design of their Dream Chaser spaceplane. The spin-off Sierra
Space Corporation was formed in 2021, and here we are now, just over a dozen years from the
STS-135 mission. Dream Chaser is finally on the horizon of an actual mission.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Dm5K9bFJoEOV6zk2aFT2vmNCSZtAZ62QJhCJOneYL2Xn1nz8Tcysb830VlXyH-GimTmyNKLSRaXFFv7qcV8uopY_JyeKV8y_JH-tt6Bb32xCrRAoRSp2z3oDtNgPDFUI3cObIsIlDlgmVXVptSXqIOSP8hYrOGp_BEcsjLP_rJwcPlNXxcq7WCB37PXm/s1600/Tenacity%20Depiction.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Dm5K9bFJoEOV6zk2aFT2vmNCSZtAZ62QJhCJOneYL2Xn1nz8Tcysb830VlXyH-GimTmyNKLSRaXFFv7qcV8uopY_JyeKV8y_JH-tt6Bb32xCrRAoRSp2z3oDtNgPDFUI3cObIsIlDlgmVXVptSXqIOSP8hYrOGp_BEcsjLP_rJwcPlNXxcq7WCB37PXm/w522-h294/Tenacity%20Depiction.jpg" width="522" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>An operation conception of Tenacity in orbital action. Image: Sierra Space</i></b></p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">To get to this point it took tenacity, and that’s exactly
the name Sierra Space chose for its first operational spaceplane, following up
on engineering test vehicles. <i>Tenacity</i> - officially designated <i>DC-101
Tenacity</i> – was completed in November 2023. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKAmZLKxEW-ExmCmq9mctHIGr_zjy2yT0k3xZi4ragQJysrI3h2NYlGQ_IS4DUre3uQDbCh94E-FOBvF2w9cuNjA54x3sOVqFEZ4zS1akibGBA9ho_10jQ333nf5KOBhcQ6XAtiOJAciFygZ4rkB5dVuDxV09SLkQ1Zrz3nxIINf2fpRkxZLomYBwjvuX/s2048/Tenacity%20Construction.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKAmZLKxEW-ExmCmq9mctHIGr_zjy2yT0k3xZi4ragQJysrI3h2NYlGQ_IS4DUre3uQDbCh94E-FOBvF2w9cuNjA54x3sOVqFEZ4zS1akibGBA9ho_10jQ333nf5KOBhcQ6XAtiOJAciFygZ4rkB5dVuDxV09SLkQ1Zrz3nxIINf2fpRkxZLomYBwjvuX/w499-h332/Tenacity%20Construction.jpg" width="499" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Tenacity nearing completion of the vehicle construction
phase. Photo: Sierra Space</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tenacity’s first voyage will be one that is earthbound, from
Sierra Space’s Colorado headquarters to Ohio’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility.
There the vehicle will undergo a series of environmental tests to prove its space-worthiness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">If all goes well, <i>Tenacity</i> will then initiate Dream Chaser
space operations later this year as a cargo vehicle, supplying the International
Space Station. Launched into orbit via a Vulcan Centaur rocket developed by
United Launch Alliance, Tenacity will then return to earth upon completion of
the ISS resupply, making use of its unique design to land on a conventional
runway.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH96Qu8xW_yMx2FlUzImGdHc3oGEJdfAG5sl_W-bOKArlKtfjFdnzE5ZRYc1-JZNmCSxKqjvS2pMB7R72CaroaOPFkYT4nkpix2bJ3jFHu-3K16idH5algvyrFFCvx6D2rntSffUPD2rJdp5fzBJYgIsc1JUpbYPxtGlPHNss9Zlz88dvybF-4B0IRpTxJ/s861/Crewed%20Concept.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="861" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH96Qu8xW_yMx2FlUzImGdHc3oGEJdfAG5sl_W-bOKArlKtfjFdnzE5ZRYc1-JZNmCSxKqjvS2pMB7R72CaroaOPFkYT4nkpix2bJ3jFHu-3K16idH5algvyrFFCvx6D2rntSffUPD2rJdp5fzBJYgIsc1JUpbYPxtGlPHNss9Zlz88dvybF-4B0IRpTxJ/w411-h358/Crewed%20Concept.jpg" width="411" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>The planned crew configuration of a Dream Chaser Space
System vehicle. The latest designs depict this DC-200 series spacecraft without the front windows seem in earlier conceptions. Image: Sierra Space</i></b></p></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The planned near-future flight to the ISS will be the first outing of Sierra
Space’s Dream Chaser Cargo System; crewed vehicles are planned to follow under
the Dream Chaser Space System program, beginning in 2025.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">For more on Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser efforts, please
visit:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="https://www.sierraspace.com/dream-chaser-spaceplane/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.sierraspace.com/dream-chaser-spaceplane/</span></a><br />Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-55350011296062029592023-10-28T10:52:00.008-07:002023-10-28T11:04:29.926-07:00N1SP<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Delaware State Police helicopters N1SP and N2SP are a
frequent presence in the vicinity of <i>Aerospace Perceptions</i> headquarters in New
Castle, Delaware. Within the last week they’ve been seen here completing a
medical evacuation two blocks away from <i>AP</i> HQ and providing security and
surveillance for the arrival of President Joe Biden at New Castle’s airport
last night.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8aScKPiZG5PbdxUjcjt9HKIhkJ8oxeULTZ8mk2tVxpsouCcNrWR_ek1_WCTg0K9BJmy3jMby_Lu_9JwAvGo7ZqvDVNSlSaEjmlvgVxRcOgim-7qmyoQvDnGztAu1v6mHbb1n9rnG2ao9aPPAo5OGLAUrIm4_DSLLnv05LahdIX-alpBfbvEpbnWuS0YX/s2500/10282023%20N1SP%20DSC00999%202500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1239" data-original-width="2500" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8aScKPiZG5PbdxUjcjt9HKIhkJ8oxeULTZ8mk2tVxpsouCcNrWR_ek1_WCTg0K9BJmy3jMby_Lu_9JwAvGo7ZqvDVNSlSaEjmlvgVxRcOgim-7qmyoQvDnGztAu1v6mHbb1n9rnG2ao9aPPAo5OGLAUrIm4_DSLLnv05LahdIX-alpBfbvEpbnWuS0YX/w547-h272/10282023%20N1SP%20DSC00999%202500.jpg" width="547" /></a></div><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>N1SP in the late autumn skies above New Castle, Delaware. Photo: Frank Moriarty / Aerospace Perceptions</i></b></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">This morning, N1SP was the star of the show at the Good Will
Fire Company’s annual open house in New Castle, arriving in a cloud of autumn
leaves launched back into the sky by the rotors of the descending aircraft. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks to these aviators and all the others across the
nation who provide critical services to the population of our diverse country.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-53690376755507551352023-09-29T09:25:00.007-07:002023-09-29T09:32:43.602-07:00Tiger by the Tail<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Country music legend Buck Owens had a smash hit in 1964 with
the song “I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail.” That track always sprung to mind when
I would see one of the United States Air Force’s most striking aircraft, the
KC-135R Stratotanker designated 60-0366, clad in its bright tiger livery.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyiyk_xOD81Jw3ZbPeAEOnEnLmgzgt3D1ymzcnfqC9OcH4_FI2XTbohheyf97-94TGnNhPRTjxsG5cM4XJpUxYz7Ru3xtT8qo_sKBQXBznrL5qIPV7Obxn9Jgoo0Ve8lTeSarOBeUz72oXylyU88er5DRL4_XN2LBjiMrVZjvKjgM8vQnVKlEF8TI__HB/s1200/01%20135%20Tiger%20Tail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="615" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyiyk_xOD81Jw3ZbPeAEOnEnLmgzgt3D1ymzcnfqC9OcH4_FI2XTbohheyf97-94TGnNhPRTjxsG5cM4XJpUxYz7Ru3xtT8qo_sKBQXBznrL5qIPV7Obxn9Jgoo0Ve8lTeSarOBeUz72oXylyU88er5DRL4_XN2LBjiMrVZjvKjgM8vQnVKlEF8TI__HB/w461-h615/01%20135%20Tiger%20Tail.jpg" width="461" /></a></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>One of the most distinctive sights in the United States Air
Force inventory.</i></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was just four years before Owens topped the music charts
when this Stratotanker first flew, freshly constructed by Boeing Military
Airplanes in 1960<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Nearly<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>three decades
ago, 60-0366 was assigned to aerial refueling duty with the 108<sup>th</sup>
Wing at McGuire Air Force base, now a key component of Joint Base
McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Over the years since, one thing remained consistent:
home base for this 135 was always New Jersey. Until last week.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">A strategic decision has been made which sees the remaining
KC-135 workhorse tankers that had been based at McGuire now reassigned to other
facilities. But seeing these aircraft go is far more than just a reallocation
of military resources. Air crews and maintainers have bonded with these
legendary planes, and their departure demanded a ceremony in recognition of
their service.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">That gathering took place last week in a hangar at McGuire.
And just outside, the final KC-135R stood ready to depart for a new home in
Maine.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7Nqb7V4Wr7iDi9OqsR-uB2RdnubzzpAOfoX0japuBxoTNMcM2_Rf89i-KeXaX7iw9FhBTgxGMarePEySz0nfcgOP6-FVsnehpncxrFQAeNTPDSpBxEia_upbT3_wHu55Xf__ACdS_5oD8Y1M8KB-rVlFI_s1rlzVB-ujMsXxOUSd3XckYL2spdNfFroE/s1200/02%20135%20Tiger%20Body.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7Nqb7V4Wr7iDi9OqsR-uB2RdnubzzpAOfoX0japuBxoTNMcM2_Rf89i-KeXaX7iw9FhBTgxGMarePEySz0nfcgOP6-FVsnehpncxrFQAeNTPDSpBxEia_upbT3_wHu55Xf__ACdS_5oD8Y1M8KB-rVlFI_s1rlzVB-ujMsXxOUSd3XckYL2spdNfFroE/w502-h377/02%20135%20Tiger%20Body.jpg" width="502" /></a></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>The 108<sup>th</sup> Wing’s Fabrication Section rose to the
occasion when it came to giving 60-0366 a bold new look.</i></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">This particular 135 – tail number 00366 – is one of the most
distinctive of USAF aircraft, with its bright orange-and-black tiger livery
honoring early aviator Captain Hobey Baker’s Princeton University heritage.
Baker, a test pilot in the years immediately following his distinguished
service in the first world war, was killed in a crash in 1918. Princeton’s
association with tiger graphics carried over onto this KC-135 in Baker’s
memory.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXtGaa1SSkKQvN9C-uS-gz1nqndlmiSZ9yTI-SqBjT_UytluGWnMjqLUqW3dQBHZpmSSWxdCQnczJY-LOYrGAi0xnRtDM76RW563CKwuhR6LnJnvZXVM3saja9wzjRynrMDHGJ4PriTg6pV6VIBASwYOdOprqm1TkAYY35WFLTpge0bKIGtuOs0jlTCKJ/s1054/03%20135%20Tiger%20Credits.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="1054" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXtGaa1SSkKQvN9C-uS-gz1nqndlmiSZ9yTI-SqBjT_UytluGWnMjqLUqW3dQBHZpmSSWxdCQnczJY-LOYrGAi0xnRtDM76RW563CKwuhR6LnJnvZXVM3saja9wzjRynrMDHGJ4PriTg6pV6VIBASwYOdOprqm1TkAYY35WFLTpge0bKIGtuOs0jlTCKJ/w502-h425/03%20135%20Tiger%20Credits.jpg" width="502" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Credit where credit is due...</i></b></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The guests assembled for the ceremony ranged from those on
hand to welcome 00366 when it first arrived at McGuire to those who have most
recently flown and maintained this aircraft. The walls of the hangar were
adorned with memorabilia and artefacts heralding the 108<sup>th</sup> Wing and
its colorful association with the mascot of Hobey Baker's alma mater.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_S7RQoZwZdjpchZUKIc_SfE1Lvtjk2sM3LuzjbF8t6kTgisLhRKEQQOgS1IoG3AOIGDF1C3p5Czad4Ia-t4xfXfP8ANN5f8xzqHU27FQjwoCYdMMurOJtAgYFrSNIIaLs1moBPLSGWzon69HJZbk04sMKVUoDQ7te0fYXn_fZ1iJ4wLBxyOTYAowF2iac/s2000/04%20_DSC0882%20Edit%202000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1324" data-original-width="2000" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_S7RQoZwZdjpchZUKIc_SfE1Lvtjk2sM3LuzjbF8t6kTgisLhRKEQQOgS1IoG3AOIGDF1C3p5Czad4Ia-t4xfXfP8ANN5f8xzqHU27FQjwoCYdMMurOJtAgYFrSNIIaLs1moBPLSGWzon69HJZbk04sMKVUoDQ7te0fYXn_fZ1iJ4wLBxyOTYAowF2iac/w502-h332/04%20_DSC0882%20Edit%202000.jpg" width="502" /></a></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Flight crews, maintainers, and all associated with 60-0366
were happy to add their names to the roster of those saying farewell.</i></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Following the traditional Presentation of Colors, National
Anthem, and invocation, Senior Master Sergeant Donald Woods touched on many of
the facts that make up tail 60-0366’s incredible history. This KC-135 was the
408<sup>th</sup> Stratotanker to be built, and had flown in service to the USAF
for more than four decades before it arrived at McGuire and was placed into the
care of the 108<sup>th</sup> Wing in October 2007. Involved in numerous global
operations since that time, this aircraft has logged over 4500 flight hours. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Woods offered a fitting summary of the KC-135’s career: “To
this aircraft I say, job well done!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Brigadier General Patrick Kenndey – who served as commander
of the New Jersey Air National Guard – then took the stage to introduce the
final flight crew and maintainers for this auspicious occasion, followed by an
additional appreciation for this aircraft and those who have served and do
serve in the 108<sup>th</sup> Wing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFtBDTNJ4iEk48xhxLt9xD7hqkZH9oMrdm2p3PwVaj6_LAGFMazWZJ8w1UvaZruAEkBPkFL2-ek4qd-JVZzoy-p4h6Ks0pHn45f_IPotTtINfUKglSrB09SGZFOCCY9dlDyAZ2Hlm7e-6wpk17eoqWXfP_N3BjLvj6DHmFkcXfJmCXCVNgPS6TgFfiNsM/s2000/05%20_DSC0907%20Edit%202000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="2000" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFtBDTNJ4iEk48xhxLt9xD7hqkZH9oMrdm2p3PwVaj6_LAGFMazWZJ8w1UvaZruAEkBPkFL2-ek4qd-JVZzoy-p4h6Ks0pHn45f_IPotTtINfUKglSrB09SGZFOCCY9dlDyAZ2Hlm7e-6wpk17eoqWXfP_N3BjLvj6DHmFkcXfJmCXCVNgPS6TgFfiNsM/w505-h306/05%20_DSC0907%20Edit%202000.jpg" width="505" /></a></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>The final flight team of crew members and maintainers proudly
stand ready to power up 60-0366 for the aircraft’s final takeoff from McGuire.</i></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Major General (Ret.) James McIntosh was then introduced as keynote
speaker, reflecting on his time as commander at McGuire Air Force Base – a
position that only came after more than 100 combat missions as KC-135 navigator
during the Vietnam conflict and more than 6,400 flying hours total. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“I was privileged to be a crew member of the crew that
brought the first KC-135 into McGuire,” McIntosh noted of the Stratotanker’s debut
New Jersey arrival 32 years ago. “It’s my honor to be here today as we say
goodbye to this airplane.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTKRUf4oVTtMbf3Pd4d45ovUpj_2dHZrgAVZkuD_mjXKwAPIC8WZ-K5LJfDn-3fr1Kt4KqZh6M_sJ81sSzDv7OrcVVgM39j0WOoiZUNgyyNSZj-_xqTv3mt1DAE6tv5cUuW8HcyaIX3Iql1_owRzTUz13ER_zb1J-qtudM_pAwAj5mJMcqILfSL2EapoL/s2000/06%20DSC00829%20Edit%202000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1486" data-original-width="2000" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTKRUf4oVTtMbf3Pd4d45ovUpj_2dHZrgAVZkuD_mjXKwAPIC8WZ-K5LJfDn-3fr1Kt4KqZh6M_sJ81sSzDv7OrcVVgM39j0WOoiZUNgyyNSZj-_xqTv3mt1DAE6tv5cUuW8HcyaIX3Iql1_owRzTUz13ER_zb1J-qtudM_pAwAj5mJMcqILfSL2EapoL/w500-h372/06%20DSC00829%20Edit%202000.jpg" width="500" /></a></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Major General (Ret.) James McIntosh – former commander at
McGuire Air Force Base - reflects on the KC-135’s long record of service flying
from this facility.</i></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Following a video commemorating the 108<sup>th</sup> Wing
and the KC-135, members of the 108<sup>th</sup> Fabrication Section unveiled a
stunning replica of KC-135R 60-0366 that will ensure memories are permanently
reflected through this work of art.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQvUT6SSTAifQcCEY09GIPj2NmfphbuCRpEWL4E9_bbUy67T4WauqzCJieMMoEsD5qB4tFEP2OWWn-wYop_icuEcFJp5EmEO6o7UW8IgV2HP_3b5MMnKrdFXNU4GArKKeWE3GVWmeQjjZzAeSnhOTsiTg18t60lOyLKBCOMYbZkaFjgEOwNKc_Or44Nbb/s2500/07%20DSC00882%20Edit%202500%20Crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="2500" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQvUT6SSTAifQcCEY09GIPj2NmfphbuCRpEWL4E9_bbUy67T4WauqzCJieMMoEsD5qB4tFEP2OWWn-wYop_icuEcFJp5EmEO6o7UW8IgV2HP_3b5MMnKrdFXNU4GArKKeWE3GVWmeQjjZzAeSnhOTsiTg18t60lOyLKBCOMYbZkaFjgEOwNKc_Or44Nbb/w505-h205/07%20DSC00882%20Edit%202500%20Crop.jpg" width="505" /></a></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>The 108<sup>th</sup> Wing Fabrication Section said farewell
to 60-0366 in their own way, ensuring this aircraft will never be forgotten.</i></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">With the indoor ceremony complete, the hundreds of people on
hand emerged into bright sunshine and the sound of 00366, fired up and ready to
begin its final flight from McGuire. Forming a long, orderly line to the right
of the KC-135, the witnesses to this occasion offered final salutes as the huge
aircraft began to taxi toward its takeoff. Once airborne, the majestic
Stratotanker circled the base and made a final pass at low altitude in
farewell.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The 108<sup>th</sup> Wing will now begin a transition to the
newer Boeing KC-46 Pegasus tanker, even as talk heats up in the aerospace realm
over concepts like autonomous aerial refueling. But those are visions for the
future; for now, it’s entirely appropriate to focus on all those years of a job
well done thanks to the enduring KC-135.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsB9q88mxaQ9JdOEtIrb-DuqX4RxUlO1U-Siycycmwcuq5kZuHGjLMBL1MXHxRUbyWbrLWiV35v24jAwDCe8FZgeRrrxYbJeujLP-3NGbllJYEFIy4-xpvwL_ZMzDTYHjP1oiMBi6kgrHgHyVwC53xKr78xv7ZFfGp5klX1VxL1SoGyHXHaBu1-4SkK_1/s2000/08%20_DSC0943%20Edit%202000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="2000" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsB9q88mxaQ9JdOEtIrb-DuqX4RxUlO1U-Siycycmwcuq5kZuHGjLMBL1MXHxRUbyWbrLWiV35v24jAwDCe8FZgeRrrxYbJeujLP-3NGbllJYEFIy4-xpvwL_ZMzDTYHjP1oiMBi6kgrHgHyVwC53xKr78xv7ZFfGp5klX1VxL1SoGyHXHaBu1-4SkK_1/w508-h224/08%20_DSC0943%20Edit%202000.jpg" width="508" /></a></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>The KC-135R passes by hundreds of personnel offering up their
final salutes to the aircraft.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuab7PUR5-PjjawXRPXeX7Dd0jLrJx0cyOMVnVi4EoXUJ0QeWQhm6BPiySTbpKjr7HZQTJSeKkQlTkZ1pBtTb88FSh603vyilhn47Sj_kCsu_IONGm0HekTHZNKZM8ParcF9aK2MTdTIh-gQ3d5204KhQhXuT738hGkpzlcWsQFkyjnqzQvBEXdhzpEhZ/s2000/09%20DSC00850%20Edit%202000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="2000" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuab7PUR5-PjjawXRPXeX7Dd0jLrJx0cyOMVnVi4EoXUJ0QeWQhm6BPiySTbpKjr7HZQTJSeKkQlTkZ1pBtTb88FSh603vyilhn47Sj_kCsu_IONGm0HekTHZNKZM8ParcF9aK2MTdTIh-gQ3d5204KhQhXuT738hGkpzlcWsQFkyjnqzQvBEXdhzpEhZ/w510-h233/09%20DSC00850%20Edit%202000.jpg" width="510" /></a></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>On a last pass down the runways at McGuire, 60-0366 prepares
for takeoff.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthA6u67kMKFepznp_PPjJJZKrOpKVRHmEaU0JKtLJZ8yeM2f4xVX5l9gu6UIKR1mnaHjzhJM7NG45srqyZ7vGL5hurzM8g-2dRP2ic8tkv0WdHfX0twoE9ET1bncRyyqOWlSo9GDAq_Ribd2c23hPXhXqjUtGPk35tbmOrhfb8gFIWWuQxnYMt2mXR0-a/s2000/10%20DSC00861%20Edit%202000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="2000" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthA6u67kMKFepznp_PPjJJZKrOpKVRHmEaU0JKtLJZ8yeM2f4xVX5l9gu6UIKR1mnaHjzhJM7NG45srqyZ7vGL5hurzM8g-2dRP2ic8tkv0WdHfX0twoE9ET1bncRyyqOWlSo9GDAq_Ribd2c23hPXhXqjUtGPk35tbmOrhfb8gFIWWuQxnYMt2mXR0-a/w508-h254/10%20DSC00861%20Edit%202000.jpg" width="508" /></a></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Wheels up as KC-135R 60-0366 powers into the skies above
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst for a final time.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>All photos: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions</b></span></i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></i><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Click on photos to see larger images.</b></span></i></div></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-69626039656748271462023-09-22T08:41:00.005-07:002023-09-22T08:45:12.542-07:00Taking Out the Trash<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Where man goes, waste follows. Call it garbage, trash,
refuse, litter, rubbish – or even space junk.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Space junk usually becomes a hot topic only when there is
some large object that finally must yield to gravity with its final landing
spot largely unknown. Although the likelihood of a water impact is greatest,
anxious eyes turn to the skies just in case. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20vw0aPe-bwBmQBvqwVk_aeCx0Jp5VCkq3kioTP3u5b8xZQ7fOnLwpwg8vjpgtCldE4MJ9CuO0Yju-v3RIAKBaRYgzkE4lViTncnYE7jG9jLqZWnKu5nSJHoKPq9imba5VS4eP0tV2D7fpDy-cFzJZihCojVOIKSftN1ME9uLBQF896Yyl_lTj_nvxa4o/s2482/01%20ESA%20Illustration-2_00x.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1756" data-original-width="2482" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20vw0aPe-bwBmQBvqwVk_aeCx0Jp5VCkq3kioTP3u5b8xZQ7fOnLwpwg8vjpgtCldE4MJ9CuO0Yju-v3RIAKBaRYgzkE4lViTncnYE7jG9jLqZWnKu5nSJHoKPq9imba5VS4eP0tV2D7fpDy-cFzJZihCojVOIKSftN1ME9uLBQF896Yyl_lTj_nvxa4o/w499-h352/01%20ESA%20Illustration-2_00x.jpg" width="499" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>National Geographic<i> illustrated the clear and present danger
of space debris with this ESA image in a feature article published in 2019.
Image: European Space Agency</i></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In reality, though, such high-profile encounters between
worn-out satellites and our home planet are merely the tip of the proverbial
iceberg. According to NASA’s Orbital Debris Program Office, located at Johnson
Space Center in Houston, Texas, there are upwards of 500,000 marble-sized
objects circulating in orbit, joined by millions of objects 1mm or smaller.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In early July <i>The Washington Post</i> wrote about the US Space
Force’s quest to establish a military identity and identify what concrete
responsibilities this newest branch of the Armed Forces of the United States
will have. The article referred to low earth orbit tests of satellite
destruction that have already been conducted by Russia and China, as well as
speculation that any Chinese action against Taiwan will be predicated on the
destruction of numerous satellites to hamper the defense of Taiwan by its own
forces and allies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Of course, any destruction of satellites is an act of
creation: the generation of more space junk in low earth orbit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCrs4n2mdPQUrCvDN9-12AOgSa7i9Gl9mjhN_q5va9I1qBF_AbjlOYHXyjA8WOUExd8Vt4GNREARb1hPXmKN2xQUiH5yoikVI_vpOh4L1WJVwZZAHUQWPUyWfKZ9rst0xxjUgyoBdD_T5SyVSNmfJIg_zJSsa0bNfV4M_Ed3qJ_9DptxAvGtgZYE3aDoE/s1280/02%20NASA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCrs4n2mdPQUrCvDN9-12AOgSa7i9Gl9mjhN_q5va9I1qBF_AbjlOYHXyjA8WOUExd8Vt4GNREARb1hPXmKN2xQUiH5yoikVI_vpOh4L1WJVwZZAHUQWPUyWfKZ9rst0xxjUgyoBdD_T5SyVSNmfJIg_zJSsa0bNfV4M_Ed3qJ_9DptxAvGtgZYE3aDoE/w501-h282/02%20NASA.jpg" width="501" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>A Canadian-built robotic manipulation arm on the International Space
Station was pierced by an small errant object in 2021. It is not difficult to imagine
a more severe outcome from a collision with a larger object. Photo: NASA/Canadian Space Agency</i></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Putting aside the topic of satellite warfare, what to do
about the problem that already exists? As might be expected with such a complex
issue, opinions vary widely. There have been many proposals and ideas, some translated
into proof-of-concept missions like Surrey Space Centre’s RemoveDEBRIS and
Japanese company Astroscale’s ELSA-d. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">At the moment, one of the most promising efforts taking
concrete steps to mitigate the danger of debris in orbit is the ESA (European
Space Agency) alliance with the Swiss company ClearSpace SA. They intend to
target a VESPA payload adapter, a refrigerator-sized object that has remained
in orbit since playing a role in a 2013 ESA Vega mission. Scheduled for 2026, the
ClearSpace-1 mission will attempt to rendezvous with VESPA, capture the object,
and guide it to a harmless destruction upon reentry to our atmosphere.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2xijkQpyLTU2v_YtE5P6Jaby-UYfrjkFBclJ7UJq8slLWH1Qroeu6PQza0luS4KCze8aT0-IRlM9ziaqf579ZtlkzHT59yw-3mPbkxh9MhmEGtNo2fMIjjPOaGb_q5UPElazv8jK1_ScO9x9Xv6XvhrnJw86utXlVMToacCU_ZCqaOAN7G-dqN8KY1pL/s2268/03%20ClearSpace.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="2268" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2xijkQpyLTU2v_YtE5P6Jaby-UYfrjkFBclJ7UJq8slLWH1Qroeu6PQza0luS4KCze8aT0-IRlM9ziaqf579ZtlkzHT59yw-3mPbkxh9MhmEGtNo2fMIjjPOaGb_q5UPElazv8jK1_ScO9x9Xv6XvhrnJw86utXlVMToacCU_ZCqaOAN7G-dqN8KY1pL/w504-h299/03%20ClearSpace.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>The ClearSpace unmanned vehicle is depicted capturing a
dormant space object, a small step in the Herculean task of cleaning up Earth
orbit. Image: ClearSpace</i></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ironically – and fully indicative of the urgency of
ClearSpace’s mission - just a month ago the VESPA target was itself hit by a small piece space junk, the resulting debris from the collision adding to the amount of trackable objects
already in orbit. ClearSpace is analyzing what impact the collision may have on
its planned mission to capture and safely deorbit VESPA.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Although ClearSpace remains for now an imposing distance
away from being able to reduce the threat of the hundreds of thousands of small
objects crowding space, the start of ClearSpace-1 is far better than no action
at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">For more information, please visit:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">ClearSpace: <a href="https://clearspace.today/" target="_blank">https://clearspace.today/</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">NASA Orbital Debris Program Office: <a href="https://www.orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/" target="_blank">https://www.orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-18148746284380430162023-08-17T09:05:00.005-07:002023-08-17T09:51:56.618-07:00Scientific Barnstorming<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> In 1952, the Douglas Aircraft Company began work on a
project that, six years later, had morphed into the DC-8, a four-engine
jetliner that helped revolutionize air travel. Taking to the skies for the
first time on May 30, 1958, the DC-8 would go on to remain in production for nearly
15 years, with more than 500 of the aircraft constructed.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">One specific DC-8-72 was purchased and put into service in
1969 by Alitalia, before Braniff purchased this plane and implemented it as a
member of its fleet from 1979 to 1986. At that point, this aircraft was
repurposed from passengers to science when NASA took possession of it. The aerospace
and sciences agency began outfitting it with entirely new capabilities, turning
it into what has been described as “the world’s largest flying laboratory.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRmuxb4M516c8_HtoKbb7g3WhYK8WvfBVkOsAja-D4Av2-kJzAktBpH--mps9qzUBIo4IE9dLLM-UtfhiYKIA-NQ4vvd4zb3dOeiH1c1m39xeKnFi0xfo6WRITdXKAr92JifvAKsCWF7Msq25HQ8vsuTVMcqw3Zyr8xe98GL9jV6UvIVern6AmYMgE5OQ/s2000/08172023%20DC8%201%20V2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="2000" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRmuxb4M516c8_HtoKbb7g3WhYK8WvfBVkOsAja-D4Av2-kJzAktBpH--mps9qzUBIo4IE9dLLM-UtfhiYKIA-NQ4vvd4zb3dOeiH1c1m39xeKnFi0xfo6WRITdXKAr92JifvAKsCWF7Msq25HQ8vsuTVMcqw3Zyr8xe98GL9jV6UvIVern6AmYMgE5OQ/w565-h316/08172023%20DC8%201%20V2.jpg" width="565" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></o:p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">NASA’s DC-8-72 flies low over Trenton Mercer Airport on
August 16, 2023, initiating a data collection effort over the Northeast. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Photo: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions </span></i></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">NASA’s DC-8 is based at the Armstrong Flight Research Center
in Edwards, California, and is rarely seen on the East Coast. But in recent weeks
N817NA has been temporarily based at Ohio’s Wright Patterson Air Force Base, making a
number of research flights over eastern cities, scientifically barnstorming at
very low altitudes of just over 1000 feet.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwNHxPw6z4CKVDrF046UySWscxORdahP_rCf1Jf1zrhAbbBGraAsJHCxXfqoEuXvdTKJfd7SlNBegqXN1FT3QUbg5abFmMhAd_mVGofMHfizL8EqzWciYiCC-5EqGkfNbZK9zYFyfjq801XmuSb1tueCwhUp4F800qaCIerrKtH5QHPdm_8z2L9TLcXk4/s4906/aeromma_logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3814" data-original-width="4906" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwNHxPw6z4CKVDrF046UySWscxORdahP_rCf1Jf1zrhAbbBGraAsJHCxXfqoEuXvdTKJfd7SlNBegqXN1FT3QUbg5abFmMhAd_mVGofMHfizL8EqzWciYiCC-5EqGkfNbZK9zYFyfjq801XmuSb1tueCwhUp4F800qaCIerrKtH5QHPdm_8z2L9TLcXk4/w536-h417/aeromma_logo.png" width="536" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The project insignia of AEROMMA, featuring the NASA DC-8
winging its way over an urban environment. Image: NOAA</b></span></i></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">It’s all part of a months-long, national project under the
auspices of NOAA (<span style="background: white; color: #212126; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration</span>)<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span>called AEROMMA, the acronym far more
easily said than the study’s official title<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">: “<span style="background: white; color: #212126;">Atmospheric Emissions and Reactions Observed from Megacities
to Marine Areas</span></span>.” In conjunction with several smaller
aircraft in NASA’s fleet, the DC-8 is helping to gather data on pollution sources
and levels in the vicinity of major metropolitan areas, including New York
City, Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOeLHMzDg-wDgTN-oK-fThrFlQ8xnbw5Q-ufznZLIhRO20MqPjf45VawgeVANcnB63fNM1uZKdiEhDCkUbnERnpMzQ6Siqh2zw49TdxeZAe7bJ6ppqi28GkCkxn4cNapZbHkZmp5iYFMWA2CjGI_vnYjLRIT0rCvhdvWdfwf_rifCJW6npirt-yyD_Utn/s1041/DC8%20Interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="1041" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOeLHMzDg-wDgTN-oK-fThrFlQ8xnbw5Q-ufznZLIhRO20MqPjf45VawgeVANcnB63fNM1uZKdiEhDCkUbnERnpMzQ6Siqh2zw49TdxeZAe7bJ6ppqi28GkCkxn4cNapZbHkZmp5iYFMWA2CjGI_vnYjLRIT0rCvhdvWdfwf_rifCJW6npirt-yyD_Utn/w542-h361/DC8%20Interior.jpg" width="542" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>The interior of N817NA showing the instrumentation installations. Business class redefined! Photo: NASA</i></b></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">One
typical AEROMMA flight took place on August 16, when the DC-8 took off in Ohio
with a flight plan filed for a Trenton, NJ destination. But rather than landing
at Trenton Mercer Airport, NASA used that location as an aerial inception point.
Typically, NASA uses the plane for high-altitude research, but on this day its
DC-8 descended to a low altitude before embarking on a precise course north
from Trenton over the New York area, meticulously repeating past project flights
for accurate comparison. When collecting data over water, the DC-8 dropped as low
as 500 feet.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hpyZgKzNmHW-NmmUVQ-vlp7URJCXaBmD2dl4xOC09yPYTBxA8vsnM76irogVSDjIfz5H3a2Ve1IHSKfq15XOi7rIYLhtSG239iwQBRhJ63hiBV0hUdDxPdedr0P9o7VhHRDceh70_nBEq5zej0a1ur0iVeYv4XWAkKUbJWY9EkNjl8LncPRLIoOhX5AZ/s2000/08172023%20DC8%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1379" data-original-width="2000" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hpyZgKzNmHW-NmmUVQ-vlp7URJCXaBmD2dl4xOC09yPYTBxA8vsnM76irogVSDjIfz5H3a2Ve1IHSKfq15XOi7rIYLhtSG239iwQBRhJ63hiBV0hUdDxPdedr0P9o7VhHRDceh70_nBEq5zej0a1ur0iVeYv4XWAkKUbJWY9EkNjl8LncPRLIoOhX5AZ/w547-h378/08172023%20DC8%202.jpg" width="547" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>N817NA’s days of flying into dramatic skies will be
coming to an end in the months to come, the plane having flown for well over five
decades. <o:p></o:p></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>Photo: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions </i></span></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Seeing any DC-8 in the skies of 2023 is an extremely rare
sight – only five remain airworthy in the world. And that number will decrease
in a matter of months, as NASA plans to retire its DC-8 in favor of a newer
Boeing 777 obtained from Japan Airlines in 2020. Work to install laboratory
instrumentation into this newer aircraft is ongoing at NASA Langley Research
Center in VA. For now, though, N817NA’s research flights continue, and its
graceful beauty in the skies calls to mind an earlier era of aviation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">For more on NASA’s flagship DC-8 research plane and the
agency’s entire fleet visit:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/aircraft" target="_blank">https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/aircraft</a><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/tracker/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/tracker/</span></a><br /></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-20245855231558084982023-06-30T09:07:00.017-07:002023-08-17T09:26:25.565-07:00Farewell to the Armadillo Express<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKPde6QYUODVyGNq0elON2XJXtj6x9EIzFt5ihnxeM-JjAfXMW47nBq-QDo-0fb5kUCB4SpcaelEANF4cVpvxkvD_TxzY4G3lr5dzvlfkVXwymLGRMu19vn5aktdWQGmmG9SKUWEoFylmpLzCBNR_f0UhOZVEHQFHM3OKa7DUuzIr2RwyQFHcP52AwsHj/s5397/06212023%20DSC00347%20Final%20Prep.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2676" data-original-width="5397" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKPde6QYUODVyGNq0elON2XJXtj6x9EIzFt5ihnxeM-JjAfXMW47nBq-QDo-0fb5kUCB4SpcaelEANF4cVpvxkvD_TxzY4G3lr5dzvlfkVXwymLGRMu19vn5aktdWQGmmG9SKUWEoFylmpLzCBNR_f0UhOZVEHQFHM3OKa7DUuzIr2RwyQFHcP52AwsHj/w526-h261/06212023%20DSC00347%20Final%20Prep.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>Its attractive design unmistakable, aircraft 84-0188 is
prepared by McGuire team members for the refueling jet’s flight into retirement
at </b></i><i><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><b>Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona – the
last of the New Jersey base’s fleet of McDonnell-Douglas KC-10 Extender
refueling planes.</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">“</span>Anybody you talk to about
the KC-10 – pilot, flight engineer, boom operator, maintainer – there’s
definitely a pride about this airplane, that it was very special. Most of us
feel that the KC-10 has several more years, even decades, left in her. That
she’s being retired before her time is what I think hurts most in the crew
force<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lt. Col. Adam Waite was speaking
about the imminent retirement of the unique three-engine McDonnell-Douglas KC-10
Extender refueling/cargo aircraft, a plane with a curvaceous profile that
generated the humorous descriptor “Big Sexy.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Waite’s words came with a
definite hint of sadness. It was June 21, 2023, and the very next day the last
KC-10 assigned to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey would take to
the skies a final time, bound for what will essentially be interment at the “Boneyard”
– Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwS0ECNYVHHakLu3XVOiqe_eFJGbnnO_MwuVOH9UBYf-ZG5TFBwfzG9ysiD-z1A6TMAmEmLfLkGzJnLv9SdYzzncodoaDyWbkWvZ38LV05y2gYvknqELmSNJd1Qd5HKpCZOjSAmXs63N--pfY3LR4iBGNGCfwpsvP9ctdvmV6f_m-rN5x9qrrUhuULfJt0/s3672/05212023%20DSC_4771%20Flyby-gigapixel-standard-scale-1_50x.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2403" data-original-width="3672" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwS0ECNYVHHakLu3XVOiqe_eFJGbnnO_MwuVOH9UBYf-ZG5TFBwfzG9ysiD-z1A6TMAmEmLfLkGzJnLv9SdYzzncodoaDyWbkWvZ38LV05y2gYvknqELmSNJd1Qd5HKpCZOjSAmXs63N--pfY3LR4iBGNGCfwpsvP9ctdvmV6f_m-rN5x9qrrUhuULfJt0/w524-h342/05212023%20DSC_4771%20Flyby-gigapixel-standard-scale-1_50x.jpg" width="524" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>In a final moment of public glory, the KC-10 nicknamed
“Armadillo Express” roars over tens of thousands of people gathered for 2023’s
“Power in the Pines” airshow at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.</b></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Waite – on the verge of retiring
as a military pilot - knew well of what he spoke, for he himself had recently
flown the next-to-the-last of McGuire’s KC-10s (an aircraft nicknamed “The
Gambler”) to its final resting place, a last journey for the pilot after 15
years at the controls of KC-10s.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“I flew 79-1711 to the Boneyard at the end of May, and that
was significant for me because it was my final flight,” Waite explained. “It
was bittersweet, because for me, on one side it was a great flight, with
beautiful weather. I could not have asked for a better final flight, or a fini-flight
as we call them in the Air Force. But at the same time, it was sad to know that
it was the last flight for that aircraft, and it was just going to be parked
with the other KC-10s you could see sitting in the AZ desert.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“15 years in my career…” He paused thoughtfully. “I consider
it, out of all the planes I flew, my favorite aircraft of everything.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJhTk94iCEYNq63ktDa0oc1IKgeR0pCodFcVUAGKppuXd73nexNPlIgPDRnA0ZdmA1YGhucTsUy-4JHDTSQTbyz1N3wapfl_MGLLYWyT5rhmLUtX7UC_En_68q2QmL8XO6BapAobUi3X6qdsabgGUEI-b5Gu9fW7WcbRzKwbyToZrTPHbUoLWOUI_GlE9/s3542/10282022%20DSC_2417%20Ethereal-gigapixel-standard-scale-2_00x.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2224" data-original-width="3542" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJhTk94iCEYNq63ktDa0oc1IKgeR0pCodFcVUAGKppuXd73nexNPlIgPDRnA0ZdmA1YGhucTsUy-4JHDTSQTbyz1N3wapfl_MGLLYWyT5rhmLUtX7UC_En_68q2QmL8XO6BapAobUi3X6qdsabgGUEI-b5Gu9fW7WcbRzKwbyToZrTPHbUoLWOUI_GlE9/w530-h333/10282022%20DSC_2417%20Ethereal-gigapixel-standard-scale-2_00x.jpg" width="530" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>“Big Sexy” languidly sails through ethereal late
afternoon skies in October 2022.</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Waite spoke of the experience in
a conference room at McGuire as hundreds of people – many of whom had flown in
KC-10s or supported their missions from this USAF base – gathered in a hanger
nearby for what was billed as the “KC-10 Farewell & Final Salute.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QHEYDm5z0184-TNye-2mnIwKBTOafmwzhC4SE0rgSDDftNQC8Pf9PdtbLJZeg0UVgrmQeW3aAm9kuf8DAWewbG753_tW1qUqo_lFpNgN1TMW1vLEHB4eiWH8RqJszOxpVmxG--bqHe3JG-8I9J6bBi92BfHFNYrYdBeYt9A29DpJ4sfRYRLaw6d4l3qd/s5041/06212023%20DSC00345%20Guest%20of%20Honor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2627" data-original-width="5041" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QHEYDm5z0184-TNye-2mnIwKBTOafmwzhC4SE0rgSDDftNQC8Pf9PdtbLJZeg0UVgrmQeW3aAm9kuf8DAWewbG753_tW1qUqo_lFpNgN1TMW1vLEHB4eiWH8RqJszOxpVmxG--bqHe3JG-8I9J6bBi92BfHFNYrYdBeYt9A29DpJ4sfRYRLaw6d4l3qd/w525-h274/06212023%20DSC00345%20Guest%20of%20Honor.jpg" width="525" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><i style="font-family: arial;"><b>The crowds gather to applaud the guest of honor at the </b></i><i style="font-family: arial;"><b>“KC-10 Farewell & Final Salute.”</b></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">While Lt. Col. Waite knows the
KC-10 about as well as you can know an aircraft, TSgt. Tiffany Irby also knows
the KC-10 extremely well. But her experience came from the other end of the
aircraft, logging years as a boom operator.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“This is where a big part of my career is,” Irby said of the
KC-10. “There is a lot of sadness. Seeing something that I’ve spent close to a
decade on, and then closing that chapter. And I know people who’ve spent their
entire career on it, and are definitely sad to see it go.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWf32Y-zvvUrDar1EU1YlQRjMd3jxMiZuy2NAff4N8HU6ipruIVSgUXSItWdWs4N6BJ13nmWCTcbqC5ImwSeoS-CSYegS3dWzhS9pJyXyNxJmh0YYGHJHk9WoXi180TD2-y0Dipi39ALqHDsJAOmM74oxBRwocG3DvvnjStNTLppUJ8RpgnJsHyFpkioL/s4363/09092022%20DSC08804%20Museum.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1904" data-original-width="4363" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWf32Y-zvvUrDar1EU1YlQRjMd3jxMiZuy2NAff4N8HU6ipruIVSgUXSItWdWs4N6BJ13nmWCTcbqC5ImwSeoS-CSYegS3dWzhS9pJyXyNxJmh0YYGHJHk9WoXi180TD2-y0Dipi39ALqHDsJAOmM74oxBRwocG3DvvnjStNTLppUJ8RpgnJsHyFpkioL/w531-h232/09092022%20DSC08804%20Museum.jpg" width="531" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>McGuire’s KC-10 0433 retired from active service on March
26, 2022 and was incorporated into the USAF Air Mobility Command Museum at
Delaware’s Dover Air Force Base.</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The increasing USAF dependence on the newer KC-46 Pegasus
generates a big change in refueling parameters for boom operators. The control
stations for the KC-46 operators are located directly behind the aircraft
flight deck, refueling accomplished via monitors and data input. Gone are the
boom controls at the rear of the aircraft found in the KC-135s and KC-10s,
where the operators had windows providing a direct view of the plane being
fueled in a tanker’s wake.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Of course, having a window is always going to be the
perfect thing,” Irby believes. “I had the opportunity to fly on the 46, and its
system is not where it needs to be just yet. But the next system that will be
coming online is definitely going to be a good one. The program managers said
it was close to having your eyes looking out that window and when I got to test
it out, it was actually pretty nice.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Beyond refueling, Irby brought up a significant aspect of
the KC10s’ contributions to military operations: its range and cargo
capabilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“We were a little more restricted dimensionally than the
C-17 or C-5,” she admitted, “but on joint efforts with the Marines or Army we
can take their guys and their crews and their cargo. For example, if they have
an exercise in Utah, we can take everything they need out there. A lot of the
time we were working with all of the active-duty Guards across the Northeast,
but we could go anywhere we needed to, with a 4400 mile radius.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“We could carry up to 170,000 pounds in a purely cargo
configuration, which is almost on par with the C-17, in a weight-for-weight
comparison,” noted Lt. Col. Waite of the KC-10’s capabilities. “The limitations
would just be for volume or dimensions. Pound for pound, though, we were right
up there with the C-17. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“If we were doing a fighter drag, then we can do 2000 to
2500 miles to take a group of, say, four fighters across the ocean,” he
continued. “We could go from the East Coast over to Europe, or the West Coast
over the Pacific to Hawaii. That would be a typical range for us. A lot of
operations over water. The KC-10s bread and butter was the over-water fighter
drags where we have the significant amount of fuel so we can do that with just
a single airplane. Our fuel capacity was almost double that of the KC-135, and
roughly 50% more than the 46.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatMCFbiP2lIKB1IwdHk83MlY_kH2ErY0ISK1uUkgmW3dbEmeot3LSdNcodApuPtg2Sm6wz-AHXzQhtZeWBmHVfIBOvuFuN6kFUCb3-GUVOoeEhAuCzQAKtnWJXS5Bwlbmglgox-rMTIVFxASFelsQ0-2TwGL98NumMrTgsqfJKi7xRK_y6Ugtp-_7e-ai/s2994/08262022%20DSC_1658%20F15%20Fuel-gigapixel-standard-scale-2_00x.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2062" data-original-width="2994" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatMCFbiP2lIKB1IwdHk83MlY_kH2ErY0ISK1uUkgmW3dbEmeot3LSdNcodApuPtg2Sm6wz-AHXzQhtZeWBmHVfIBOvuFuN6kFUCb3-GUVOoeEhAuCzQAKtnWJXS5Bwlbmglgox-rMTIVFxASFelsQ0-2TwGL98NumMrTgsqfJKi7xRK_y6Ugtp-_7e-ai/w535-h368/08262022%20DSC_1658%20F15%20Fuel-gigapixel-standard-scale-2_00x.jpg" width="535" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>26,000 feet over Aerospace Perceptions headquarters in
New Castle DE, a KC-10 from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst drags an F-15
fighter during refueling operations in August 2022.</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Though Waite had flown his final KC-10 flight, TSgt. Irby
had one mission remaining: to accompany KC-10 84-0188 – a plane nicknamed
“Armadillo Express” – as the last Extender flight out of McGuire, the day after
the farewell ceremony. Among a select group of passengers would be Lt Gen James
Jacobson, Deputy Commander, Pacific Air Forces – a man with over 4000 flying
hours, including time spent at the controls of the KC-10.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">But for the final flight, Armadillo Express would be piloted
by <span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Maj. Joshua Gorring – a pilot relatively new
to flying the KC-10.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5czdy5OAe_aWNYssron9nHmADMzVeSzoZSLdovA5ND12mK8cqRZxvfU9HWkUiH_HXcJsD7YPT1ocMyGuHVRcTAGHOZwMDIkLPLTgguJdAp73G4jVaVe-Ad04PNImNbWTHvpwMeqhNAawXN_H_jg1H40OPeUf5Lsk0cwaWZYjGKneqpiHW1cgwHVRWr0i/s4627/06212023%20DSC00415%20Gorring.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3429" data-original-width="4627" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5czdy5OAe_aWNYssron9nHmADMzVeSzoZSLdovA5ND12mK8cqRZxvfU9HWkUiH_HXcJsD7YPT1ocMyGuHVRcTAGHOZwMDIkLPLTgguJdAp73G4jVaVe-Ad04PNImNbWTHvpwMeqhNAawXN_H_jg1H40OPeUf5Lsk0cwaWZYjGKneqpiHW1cgwHVRWr0i/w547-h405/06212023%20DSC00415%20Gorring.jpg" width="547" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Maj. Joshua Gorring stands with the Armadillo Express on
the day before the KC-10s final flight, one to be piloted by Gorring.</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“I haven’t been a pilot on the KC-10 for very long,” Gorring
reveals. “I came here in August 2021, and I immediately went off to training.
So really, I’ve been qualified for about a year and a half as a pilot on the
KC-10.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the grand scheme of things, Gorring flying KC-10s at
McGuire was remarkably appropriate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“I started my career as a KC-10 boom operator back in 2005 –
same squadron, same base. So, it’s really a full circle for me,” he smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Assigned to the 32<sup>nd</sup> Air Refueling Squadron - <span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, with
origins dating 1917 – Gorring </span>had extensive flight duty between his
KC-10 bookends. After transitioning from the boom operator duties into flight
training, he piloted C-17 Globemasters for several years. Eventually, he took
on advanced training responsibilities of new tanker and airlift pilots as a
flight instructor piloting the T-1A Jayhawk for three years at Vance AFB, Oklahoma,
before his return to the realm of the KC-10.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Gorring spoke of the need to be ready for anything while
providing critical refueling capabilities in the KC-10.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“It comes down to looking at that other aircraft coming into
refuel,” he explains. “Are they bouncing around? Are we bouncing around? What
does it look like? I’ve been in situations where we’re in bad weather, but it’s
as smooth as can be and you make contact. Yet it can be a clear day, and the
plane is bouncing around all over the place. Or maybe someone’s having a bad
day, or maybe they’re new and it’s their first time behind a KC-10. Scenarios,
or even malfunctions - when you’re behind another aircraft, there are so many
things that can happen.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Gorring notes that the KC-10 played well with some, presented
challenges to others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Like you’d expect from a heavy aircraft, the wake comes
down and away from the aircraft,” he said of the big plane in flight. “But
what’s nice for the receivers, as they’re coming up from behind us, with our
two engines on the side it almost acts like a barrier, to keep them in between
and let them almost bounce off the exhaust. It helps keep them in place. Where
there’s a struggle typically is with the number two engine (mounted above the
fuselage), where the exhaust is vectored basically right toward their aircraft.
C-17s, for example, will have difficulty with that exhaust and it forces them
into different positions. As you would expect, two aircraft that close together
disrupt a lot of air.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39xm5nNHJYJQ7W9uNxxI-WQfg-_X8OIg7Cpzg5iXXHS09skxjiIYXWjqEvhME_2ghnHGg05BsPYsHP0Gmh2To1EEdOGzsEdY4JnSMKA96wOKCGz4XIyc3wTMQy8Kf1cxApTxqlzemWRf6t6sw0rT4iqFQFPHGBSg4xVoFI7HsOWcvqprgNH8j3NTyqbxL/s5686/05212023%20DSC_4791%20F16%20Taxi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2821" data-original-width="5686" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39xm5nNHJYJQ7W9uNxxI-WQfg-_X8OIg7Cpzg5iXXHS09skxjiIYXWjqEvhME_2ghnHGg05BsPYsHP0Gmh2To1EEdOGzsEdY4JnSMKA96wOKCGz4XIyc3wTMQy8Kf1cxApTxqlzemWRf6t6sw0rT4iqFQFPHGBSg4xVoFI7HsOWcvqprgNH8j3NTyqbxL/w535-h266/05212023%20DSC_4791%20F16%20Taxi.jpg" width="535" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>KC-10 0188 on the McGuire runway in the distance between
two F-16s of the USAF Viper Demo Team.</b></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Though he had moved to the flight deck of the KC-10 as a
pilot, Gorring’s time as a boom operator has flavored his thoughts about the
rapidly changing parameters of aerial refueling, from the KC-46’s boom operator
being fully dependent on technology to the idea of autonomous refueling, a
topic covered in a recent <i>Aerospace Perceptions</i> article.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“As a boom operator previously in my career, I’m the person
who’s sitting back there watching and physically controlling things. Then to go to
computer screens and to then potentially go completely autonomous – it’s
interesting,” he admits. “But personally, I preferred sitting in the back
looking out my window, because I could see the planes and everything that was
happening in real time, live, right in front of me. But we’ve made so many
different advancements in our technology that it almost seems autonomy is an
inevitable course of advancement. But I don’t know if you can take the person
out of the aircraft and get the results you’re looking for. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“I really think there has to be someone actually there
monitoring the systems, and someone who can intervene in real time if something
goes wrong,” he cautions. “Who would initiate breakaways, if we have to
separate the two aircraft quickly? Is it a system decision, or is someone
monitoring operations and they make the determination there’s an unsafe
situation? How is that called, how is it initiated?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ubofy7GfKgVyvvhrV7fPHMeZ_0e77UzdhE_I08RSfs6QVLWMwC1a-QEy2pNCQRZvEMpDEIL8UFbGsHWdNCKdywWKqz-RWluTPMt4tJ2bskH4UYf5dyPmGXaNvGV8xERwLMTXsVjbQUCs7JPEZsuK0XisClwFmVNosI8jmDzSkqYXDLu2_tnPOWh-xS2S/s5764/06222023%207875904%20Salute.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3835" data-original-width="5764" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ubofy7GfKgVyvvhrV7fPHMeZ_0e77UzdhE_I08RSfs6QVLWMwC1a-QEy2pNCQRZvEMpDEIL8UFbGsHWdNCKdywWKqz-RWluTPMt4tJ2bskH4UYf5dyPmGXaNvGV8xERwLMTXsVjbQUCs7JPEZsuK0XisClwFmVNosI8jmDzSkqYXDLu2_tnPOWh-xS2S/w524-h349/06222023%207875904%20Salute.jpg" width="524" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>A last salute from personnel at
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst sends the final KC-10 to its concluding
takeoff. <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>(Photo by Senior Airman Sergio Avalos, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs)</i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">By the time those questions for the future are answered, the
KC-10 Extender will have long been retired. And, after flying Armadillo Express
to its final landing in Arizona, Gorring himself plans to leave the world of
refueling and return to training future aviators.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“I started my Air Force career right here in this location
and in the same squadron, and now I’m part of the crew flying that aircraft
away,” Gorring says quietly. “Maybe being part of that experience will bring
about a little closure for me, but it’s a bittersweet moment. This plane has
been with us for so long. It’s been a workhorse. It’s done so many things, so
many missions and operations… To see it go? Yes, it’s bittersweet.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeb48ADEqJ2TDioPJG6ZMQREyLmsvbFlIMgb7ayGBAHaufAfWQ7F74mUryYe2kcl1Nh2S07-AGgte0xeYX_vIHD49FA41tF8zi1inrfmQRXI0kanpR7sSRSxvhQZ9H6uvyJRVdnIDkRPP50D6MaoZu6BRmddrCToGXWKWDGQFR60LVie1BzWIvdGRY5oS/s5316/06222023%207875903%20Takeoff.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3537" data-original-width="5316" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeb48ADEqJ2TDioPJG6ZMQREyLmsvbFlIMgb7ayGBAHaufAfWQ7F74mUryYe2kcl1Nh2S07-AGgte0xeYX_vIHD49FA41tF8zi1inrfmQRXI0kanpR7sSRSxvhQZ9H6uvyJRVdnIDkRPP50D6MaoZu6BRmddrCToGXWKWDGQFR60LVie1BzWIvdGRY5oS/w532-h354/06222023%207875903%20Takeoff.jpg" width="532" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Rising into the skies over New Jersey with all three
engines roaring, the Armadillo Express makes one final glorious ascension. <o:p></o:p></b></span></i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>(Photo by Senior Airman Sergio Avalos, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs)</i></b></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ironically, just five days after the last KC-10 departed
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the USAF celebrated 100 years of aerial
refueling with Operation Centennial Contact. The skies of America were filled
with dozens upon dozens of refueling tankers and the aircraft that benefit from
their services. Of course, McGuire contributed an impressive array of KC-46,
C-17, and KC-135 aircraft to the celebration. But the reliable and capable KC-10
Extender? Sadly, it was well on its way to becoming just a memory.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ12XMuULEpWBFqSTDgYoRqD5kuCoW_-PPXK-uwn4NcbTChMR4xEaUc9NU-nCoUI_69MwSvyjv-Y1AlZSXoFOR_fTZ6235Zy6Cagum6IeZaQth9bgArCgzg7aqQ1dN1v-yBN4894_YpTM6cAF9Hk74ME6B7620gyho9wOjVp6hOpor2zJFO7dVYjAEb2oX/s3101/06272023%20DSC_6126%20TANKR40%20BEEF82%20Edit%20Banking.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1982" data-original-width="3101" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ12XMuULEpWBFqSTDgYoRqD5kuCoW_-PPXK-uwn4NcbTChMR4xEaUc9NU-nCoUI_69MwSvyjv-Y1AlZSXoFOR_fTZ6235Zy6Cagum6IeZaQth9bgArCgzg7aqQ1dN1v-yBN4894_YpTM6cAF9Hk74ME6B7620gyho9wOjVp6hOpor2zJFO7dVYjAEb2oX/w541-h347/06272023%20DSC_6126%20TANKR40%20BEEF82%20Edit%20Banking.jpg" width="541" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGoS69j64ncky_BJyKTXACx8WKuELu9xEYYGiC1g-uOW3IaTMkXnElNrTS4MA-OsaY1NUgaJy3VnpDEULTnFW01k6WB7b6wdUDNfYAYgFqsTszMCtCl1qQaWzQxXxbaBrfmEi6ieJxu0ARhMkHl6eLPco3YqPbBZ4miico7EDajKOe7rmxFLxdtsDmZoFc/s3926/06272023%20DSC_6140%20TANKR40%20BEEF82%20Edit%20Profile.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2310" data-original-width="3926" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGoS69j64ncky_BJyKTXACx8WKuELu9xEYYGiC1g-uOW3IaTMkXnElNrTS4MA-OsaY1NUgaJy3VnpDEULTnFW01k6WB7b6wdUDNfYAYgFqsTszMCtCl1qQaWzQxXxbaBrfmEi6ieJxu0ARhMkHl6eLPco3YqPbBZ4miico7EDajKOe7rmxFLxdtsDmZoFc/w531-h312/06272023%20DSC_6140%20TANKR40%20BEEF82%20Edit%20Profile.jpg" width="531" /></a></span></i></div><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i><p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HeZwBhtRkFwaSLuEyEV79sqEq6rxU2AseMaoCKCRL6wf0AqxX2sbOGltM6KFqFY_kZx9fqb586glk_ynA0tnvjNO_kQHre7zpHABjk6jMtfN2OlWQ2YEqGQDeDy7n5Xop2D8JJ2MTFwPVBfv31sKyyGNuP2SqEsgjEOkowBSVzThgphq_b3muz0xYqvp/s2346/06272023%20DSC_6100%20Edit.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="2346" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HeZwBhtRkFwaSLuEyEV79sqEq6rxU2AseMaoCKCRL6wf0AqxX2sbOGltM6KFqFY_kZx9fqb586glk_ynA0tnvjNO_kQHre7zpHABjk6jMtfN2OlWQ2YEqGQDeDy7n5Xop2D8JJ2MTFwPVBfv31sKyyGNuP2SqEsgjEOkowBSVzThgphq_b3muz0xYqvp/w529-h317/06272023%20DSC_6100%20Edit.jpg" width="529" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></i><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>In the top two of these three images from Operation
Centennial Contact, the two-engine KC-46 Pegasus – the refueling aircraft that
is essentially replacing the KC-10 - leads the workhorse C-17 Globemaster in a
simulated refueling formation. In the third image, a KC-135 Stratotanker heads
south over Aerospace Perceptions headquarters in New Castle, Delaware. The
KC-135 first flew in 1956 – a full 25 years before the now-retiring KC-10
Extender entered into service.</b></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>All photos except where otherwise credited: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions</b></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Click on photos to see larger images.</b></span></i></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-73644844544312198512023-06-19T08:30:00.000-07:002023-06-19T08:30:13.586-07:00Flying Hammer<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGgRHPZSm0DQ35Egu7BCUlJ2UFZsE6XqU4eWcd5OvA7fMkkOFdAg6TBp-HhYtcpNNgQyfaxgI3tbqVfrlt9U8QddrMQwTJ_Y5-lrNViNT0N_vW90DU07BVrhSvJikoCFD1_LYxkK_GHd8asSayrg6zVJkjeyD-X0IVdl3mCVzrg6VNeEejkxCh9p21CIm/s2525/01%20DSC00168%20Edit3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="2525" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGgRHPZSm0DQ35Egu7BCUlJ2UFZsE6XqU4eWcd5OvA7fMkkOFdAg6TBp-HhYtcpNNgQyfaxgI3tbqVfrlt9U8QddrMQwTJ_Y5-lrNViNT0N_vW90DU07BVrhSvJikoCFD1_LYxkK_GHd8asSayrg6zVJkjeyD-X0IVdl3mCVzrg6VNeEejkxCh9p21CIm/w522-h234/01%20DSC00168%20Edit3.jpg" width="522" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Fans of the USAF Thunderbirds can always visit the team’s
official website to find the names and read about the careers of the incredibly
talented aviators who take to the skies in the famous red, white, and blue F-16
C and D aircraft. But on June 9, 2023, there was a new name added to the
roster: Jenifer Rayne, aka “Hammer.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the many public outreaches the Thunderbirds
accomplish each year is their Hometown Hero program, one that honors people who have made contributions to better their local community. At each of
the team’s airshow stops, the Hometown Hero selected for recognition
experiences the unforgettable thrill of flying with one of the Thunderbirds
aviators in an F-16D two-seater fighter aircraft.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">For Maryland’s Ocean City Air Show of June 10 and 11, 2023,
Jenifer Rayne, principal of Pocomoke High School in southern coastal Maryland,
was selected for this honor. Aside from the responsibilities expected of a
principal, Rayne thoughtfully looked for ways to make the school experience and
lives of her students more rewarding. That led to the creation of a student
club called Speak Up, a group that not only provides students with a creative
appreciation for the culture of marginalized populations, but also gives
students a collective voice that is heard for the betterment of everyone at the
school. Rayne’s efforts were recognized by the Maryland State Education
Association, which recently presented her with the MSEA Human and Civil Rights
Award – an award for which she was nominated by her own students.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">As fulfilling as the award presentation in Baltimore may
have been, there was an emphasis on excitement when Rayne and a small group of
friends and supporters arrived early the morning of June 9 at the main gate of
NASA Wallops Flight Facility. This NASA installation acted as home base for the
Thunderbirds in the days leading up to and during the Ocean City Air Show.
Entering D-1 Hanger, Rayne met with medical staff and team members who
outfitted her with a flight suit. Then, it was on to the critical flight
briefing, conducted by the pilot who would convey Jenifer on the fastest ride
of her life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvU0MFTY31N_g9GemoXk8XicWGRYxjrdsIIUKvoZ00lYs4iLchdIfN9cw0I1_twCPIP6rqaujH8Cvj0aD4rUWU0RRuAGNxdRZuylIedHW5D-2781BwWWvBreOvwCL9KTCu1eNtaRQrEIp4YS7l0eUFIddiOmxcGQL2jv5SuMmUN3FIBQeICl3JirW71E_/s2952/02%20DSC00143%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2218" data-original-width="2952" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvU0MFTY31N_g9GemoXk8XicWGRYxjrdsIIUKvoZ00lYs4iLchdIfN9cw0I1_twCPIP6rqaujH8Cvj0aD4rUWU0RRuAGNxdRZuylIedHW5D-2781BwWWvBreOvwCL9KTCu1eNtaRQrEIp4YS7l0eUFIddiOmxcGQL2jv5SuMmUN3FIBQeICl3JirW71E_/w518-h389/02%20DSC00143%20Edit.jpg" width="518" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lt. Col. Ryan Yingling is Thunderbird #7. Since being
selected for pilot training at Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training after earning
his navigator rating in 2008, Yingling has amassed over 3500 flight hours,
including time spent piloting A-10C aircraft in operational assignments over
the Republic of Korea.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Like all Thunderbirds team members, Yingling is calm and
professional, intensely focused. Seated at a desk and armed with a laptop
computer and a scale model of an F-16, the pilot conveyed to Rayne what she
would see, hear, and feel during the flight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“So, what are we going to do today?” Yingling asked
rhetorically. “Fly an airplane. Fly a very fast airplane. And do things in an
airplane that you’ll never do in an airplane again.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yingling began a detailed description of the cockpit
environment. Despite the fast flow of the information, Rayne appeared nearly
serene, taking it all in as topics were ticked off ranging from restraint
systems to cockpit ventilation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The inertial reel of the cockpit harness can be locked into
place or, with the control in the aft position, it’s released and allows
freedom of movement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“We’re going to keep it in the aft position all day today,”
Yingling explained. “It’s not going to help us with aerobatics, or going upside
down, or anything like that – unless we have an issue with stopping distance.
If we feel like we’re concerned about the stopping distance of the aircraft,
then we have a hook on the back of the aircraft that can grab a cable. If we
have to take the cable, which is here at Wallops, then we will lock our harnesses.
That way, when it slows us down real quick like we’re landing on an aircraft
carrier, our face doesn’t go into the console. We don’t want to damage the
pretty helmets,” he concluded with a smile. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rayne would be able to adjust a cooling airflow bezel during
the flight – but that action comes with a slight caution.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“When you reach down to move that,” Yingling said, “just be
cognizant that the ejection handle is right there in front of it. Any time you
are moving about in the cockpit, we want to move very deliberately. We don’t
want to catch anything on our flight suit cuffs, or any other equipment that
might break. Same thing around the ejection handle – we don’t want to
accidentally grab onto it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Adding some reassuring news, Yingling noted that the ejection
handle has to be armed, and then requires 40-50 pounds of upward pressure to
actually initiate ejection.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“So, if you bump it, don’t worry about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Of course, a central component of the briefing was to
prepare “Hammer” for the g-forces she would soon encounter. Yingling elaborated
on a simple mantra: squeeze, breath, here come the g’s…He stressed the proper
way to brace the lower body, encased in g-suit protection, and the importance
of a metronome-like approach to breathing. The target is roughly 70-80% lung
capacity, to avoid blacking out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“The reason we don’t want to take a real deep breath? When
the g’s push on our chest…” Yingling forcefully exhales. “All out – and now,
nap time. And we don’t want to do that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">After a final review of the maneuvers planned, the long walk
from the hanger facility to the flightline began. All eight of the Thunderbirds
aircraft were precisely aligned on the tarmac, but as Rayne and Yingling neared
#7, Thunderbirds 1 through 4 pulled away to noisily initiate an airshow
familiarization flight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Minutes later Rayne joined them in the skies, Yingling
initiating a steep, powerful climb in the F-16 just seconds off the runway.
What followed were all of the acrobatics and resulting sensations that Rayne
had been prepared for that morning – but actually experiencing them was likely
something else entirely. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Surely a highlights of the flight came when Yingling guided
Thunderbird #7 over Pocomoke High School, where Rayne’s students were gathered
to cheer her on as she flashed by, the F-16 banking with a trail of smoke in
its wake.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In less than an hour it was over, “Hammer” standing next to
the F-16 with an elated look on her face. Yingling proudly noted that she had
experienced 9.3 g’s at one point in the flight – an imposing force.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“<span style="color: #2b2b2b; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I was awake the whole time - they gave me the
breathing techniques and the crew prepared me for everything we were doing
today,” Rayne enthused to a local WMDT-ABC reporter covering her flight. “The
turns, the rolls, and going upside down… It was really one of the best days of
my entire life.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Hometown Hero was now off-duty. But Lt. Col. Yingling
had myriad other tasks to oversee.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">When he’s not at the controls of Thunderbird #7, Lt. Col.
Yingling has a tremendous responsibility as the leader of the team Operations
Section. Under his domain are team communications, computer systems analysts,
training, standardization and evaluation, aircrew flight equipment, and airlift
support.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“It’s a 370 day a year operation, 25 hours a day, eight days a
week,” Yingling emphasized. “I have people that work multiple jobs just to make
this happen. We take 70 people on every trip that we do, and we can only fit
nine in our own jets. So, we have to reply on Air Force airlift. We take about
40 to 50,000 pounds of equipment to every show. And then we rely on the airshow
team, the show hosts, the directors to secure a lot of our ground equipment.
But each and every day we are demonstrating the Air Force’s combat
capabilities.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Over the weekend the USAF Thunderbirds went on to fly out of
their temporary base at NASA Wallops Flight Facility while headlining two days
at the Ocean City Air Show, an event that played out in near perfect weather.
The tens of thousands of spectators crowding the beach and boardwalk were
thrilled by the show – but understandably, no one was more thrilled during this
particular visit by the Thunderbirds than Jenifer Rayne.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Click on photos for larger images. All photos: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions</span></i></b> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75zmrWmAgtJ0xDNVRlp1oQ6Xi2YfTjMpHGpRYwPP4nn7n_B9sDdOL7y98pysT5XygujTerZI9AYl5Gjq0cjvzSbvM965ygqgICTodrxnmUjdRRVX0HUeVAfXcgFJJqTDImHTMWyLIO56BUInf5ezMcWl7_mOULVkznZCct3XRRua7eBdawzTiqMygZFY4/s4167/03%20DSC00139%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3241" data-original-width="4167" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75zmrWmAgtJ0xDNVRlp1oQ6Xi2YfTjMpHGpRYwPP4nn7n_B9sDdOL7y98pysT5XygujTerZI9AYl5Gjq0cjvzSbvM965ygqgICTodrxnmUjdRRVX0HUeVAfXcgFJJqTDImHTMWyLIO56BUInf5ezMcWl7_mOULVkznZCct3XRRua7eBdawzTiqMygZFY4/w518-h403/03%20DSC00139%20Edit.jpg" width="518" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Using an F-16 scale model, Lt. Col. Yingling provides
Jenifer Rayne with a preview of the flight to come – including this upside down
maneuver.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojqTrszFv-ur1gTKUpLIPDGTpd2ex59sP35kYUSOa_54RmzLFIyQ2VRF3FRBDDZrEYT_0L8x7JCUTDkMwGxkrqMQeuy1-5SSx2Uh2jcGPDxQUjVFqv4z9ztXyOChh9o0XNfcK3F7jugxWEYmSnX3rQP7YbukK-YYm8HmJX2r-macbMALDwoKsQCcKFr9k/s4237/04%20DSC00154%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2435" data-original-width="4237" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojqTrszFv-ur1gTKUpLIPDGTpd2ex59sP35kYUSOa_54RmzLFIyQ2VRF3FRBDDZrEYT_0L8x7JCUTDkMwGxkrqMQeuy1-5SSx2Uh2jcGPDxQUjVFqv4z9ztXyOChh9o0XNfcK3F7jugxWEYmSnX3rQP7YbukK-YYm8HmJX2r-macbMALDwoKsQCcKFr9k/w521-h299/04%20DSC00154%20Edit.jpg" width="521" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Lt. Col. Yingling and Jenifer “Hammer” Rayne cross the
tarmac as Thunderbird #1 leads 2, 3, and 4 into takeoff position.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnueOQAsdq9_KkBUdD1V5Pmo9ySITCKkZuDlkRDXctuX7I5661idjzu5NR84Ovph0QrwFLHJKEJ_j6t5Pdfaw4t1GvIq_2Xj-vi1t4iplzKZjttCB3_TeZ0Y4ybEJ8djTNp-C1hNf1SLl4oVGrDs1QthQfgO_t09SCcTX_61yldN31y_zEn1G7RxucA1u/s5183/05%20DSC_5989%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3210" data-original-width="5183" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnueOQAsdq9_KkBUdD1V5Pmo9ySITCKkZuDlkRDXctuX7I5661idjzu5NR84Ovph0QrwFLHJKEJ_j6t5Pdfaw4t1GvIq_2Xj-vi1t4iplzKZjttCB3_TeZ0Y4ybEJ8djTNp-C1hNf1SLl4oVGrDs1QthQfgO_t09SCcTX_61yldN31y_zEn1G7RxucA1u/w519-h321/05%20DSC_5989%20Edit.jpg" width="519" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Fully encased in flightware and g-suit, Rayne ascends toward
her seat in the rear cockpit.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlK4jpqCDM3KaUvMinMOvo4PjjstUHknlncQKMU-b0jrRmhE__u9csHC9gI1AfXDbsorYwtqj9manYjTfVk4U988YLtgRXCiTio8hcKEUWVkajSQ86r-z6Ze-r6zXFT8SV6bPq-mltvaapdntlIL61tQ-NYAQrbh5Q4SXkN0oXz2v5BPiGRChtzvKnGZF/s5258/06%20DSC_6012%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2770" data-original-width="5258" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlK4jpqCDM3KaUvMinMOvo4PjjstUHknlncQKMU-b0jrRmhE__u9csHC9gI1AfXDbsorYwtqj9manYjTfVk4U988YLtgRXCiTio8hcKEUWVkajSQ86r-z6Ze-r6zXFT8SV6bPq-mltvaapdntlIL61tQ-NYAQrbh5Q4SXkN0oXz2v5BPiGRChtzvKnGZF/w518-h274/06%20DSC_6012%20Edit.jpg" width="518" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Strapped in and ready to go, Rayne strikes a classic
confident aviator pose.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx72ZVySwmMrxsfcSfMswL3wsmH7aihYP8psh7xPymWee-LD7IYI2TSPwuEmJaQN6Ra6w_NFYiVInMXOVgbhnPvsG9Y-4ZUWS-1MPlwowfUjx-24DP5PbuEOzWgs5Qy8OTH__O1QlmDEvGV_vb4pgWl_7ot42m3GSC2uoQTRIu6Vl0dFYgA6GNP3e3des/s5878/07%20DSC_6017%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3743" data-original-width="5878" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZx72ZVySwmMrxsfcSfMswL3wsmH7aihYP8psh7xPymWee-LD7IYI2TSPwuEmJaQN6Ra6w_NFYiVInMXOVgbhnPvsG9Y-4ZUWS-1MPlwowfUjx-24DP5PbuEOzWgs5Qy8OTH__O1QlmDEvGV_vb4pgWl_7ot42m3GSC2uoQTRIu6Vl0dFYgA6GNP3e3des/w519-h331/07%20DSC_6017%20Edit.jpg" width="519" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Lt. Col. Yingling runs through his final pre-flight checks
as Rayne prepares to go airborne, her name added just below Thunderbird #7’s
canopy.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiNzRVDJixbOZ4qwTljiKo8d8O3oP5rbmYNKWtQTShEp_HPvHJHb0E7F4Gxz8tz079uwkhWpCzqki8LT1L1BRNytGnxZFvriSA8FMRoK7xk4sYJfCZXjI0rfBOv0boDyE5CuwQJXvOY2LFI7Aaom9s82wUXJ3GlQdjOdOrV4_96Atb7JryhJszAC_iEQt/s4351/08%20DSC00193%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2249" data-original-width="4351" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiNzRVDJixbOZ4qwTljiKo8d8O3oP5rbmYNKWtQTShEp_HPvHJHb0E7F4Gxz8tz079uwkhWpCzqki8LT1L1BRNytGnxZFvriSA8FMRoK7xk4sYJfCZXjI0rfBOv0boDyE5CuwQJXvOY2LFI7Aaom9s82wUXJ3GlQdjOdOrV4_96Atb7JryhJszAC_iEQt/w520-h268/08%20DSC00193%20Edit.jpg" width="520" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Flights checks complete, Lt. Col. Yingling sets Thunderbird
#7 into motion, Jenifer Rayne watching with excitement from the rear seat.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzS3gXSdNa-wU20xj23DsTzLtHADHhqkiDn-ARKyDHLEEo3lf6pxYNw76Q1wyYnZ4O-QLCoCvw0zIQEbIzJIfWIgzStEXcfqciFBqNojz4Rv4gKcvy7OMeOKGUck1T_hq7lL0X4Xur1etM0__6d9HjMmmDwmTqVNAKh7Mqp6oSPH4718SHiQtXqw9lnF2/s4097/09%20DSC_6037%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2149" data-original-width="4097" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzS3gXSdNa-wU20xj23DsTzLtHADHhqkiDn-ARKyDHLEEo3lf6pxYNw76Q1wyYnZ4O-QLCoCvw0zIQEbIzJIfWIgzStEXcfqciFBqNojz4Rv4gKcvy7OMeOKGUck1T_hq7lL0X4Xur1etM0__6d9HjMmmDwmTqVNAKh7Mqp6oSPH4718SHiQtXqw9lnF2/w519-h272/09%20DSC_6037%20Edit.jpg" width="519" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Thunderbird #7 leaps toward the skies over the runway at
NASA Wallops Flight Facility.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBuqXaMhiCUeZTjve6hODLDT9GupYM0aq-0NI0X1DKr5PwqH7kL9GSIKNzREOBIaA6W7U56Vs_4i7-XPupWEK2odW_J0mu0Txcgl33BGHzXyJGT21kZ0T_x8X9zkLPKdejRcg8Kw5wSpX_b2zBM0TOtv09IkUHIE2HvlzNWQE-OIcOCVboUT7yOcipogu/s3418/10%20DSC_6039%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1774" data-original-width="3418" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBuqXaMhiCUeZTjve6hODLDT9GupYM0aq-0NI0X1DKr5PwqH7kL9GSIKNzREOBIaA6W7U56Vs_4i7-XPupWEK2odW_J0mu0Txcgl33BGHzXyJGT21kZ0T_x8X9zkLPKdejRcg8Kw5wSpX_b2zBM0TOtv09IkUHIE2HvlzNWQE-OIcOCVboUT7yOcipogu/w521-h270/10%20DSC_6039%20Edit.jpg" width="521" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Rayne feels her first g forces as Yingling applies the power
to initiate a steep ascent.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rrB2s_wqhwtWP0WhMEHeHV2iofHhKCa8jd5hBQECntDom1FfBmfwHrsXE-1yLRXvXpyv4PB2MuAN-vVu9AeZI93Tp-Xt_gyIR0Vjbl-vnQHVBjH2YaqE-cq8q0p4AShB4lXJTc2_MrZCH66r638zo_gLzIjrVxbKjZXC03mtSyLUreA0kGqWlo3h1j8T/s4964/11%20DSC00198%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2980" data-original-width="4964" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rrB2s_wqhwtWP0WhMEHeHV2iofHhKCa8jd5hBQECntDom1FfBmfwHrsXE-1yLRXvXpyv4PB2MuAN-vVu9AeZI93Tp-Xt_gyIR0Vjbl-vnQHVBjH2YaqE-cq8q0p4AShB4lXJTc2_MrZCH66r638zo_gLzIjrVxbKjZXC03mtSyLUreA0kGqWlo3h1j8T/w519-h311/11%20DSC00198%20Edit.jpg" width="519" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Mission accomplished: Thunderbird #7 returns to the
flightline after following a path that included a high-speed pass over Pocomoke
High School.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunwUSmxyWBmZ4APHI7RcVgK5IWvAhwnbLjnvxNC7LpQ52CvdmVKeUvNu4b7QUP9Uwe8ceIbhQbHqGNcgXctQ5LTIU9K9db81e9bjqWCI1gutRCPD3C2LEq9SHJjiFX-nUEqLY1KjTH3XiqIVJIKc0-9ERbEWwrFpyIXxkOmk-ozAzIQDJ18epoxUB_DLG/s4221/12%20DSC00302%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3048" data-original-width="4221" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunwUSmxyWBmZ4APHI7RcVgK5IWvAhwnbLjnvxNC7LpQ52CvdmVKeUvNu4b7QUP9Uwe8ceIbhQbHqGNcgXctQ5LTIU9K9db81e9bjqWCI1gutRCPD3C2LEq9SHJjiFX-nUEqLY1KjTH3XiqIVJIKc0-9ERbEWwrFpyIXxkOmk-ozAzIQDJ18epoxUB_DLG/w518-h374/12%20DSC00302%20Edit.jpg" width="518" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>The Thunderbirds team presents Jenifer Rayne with exclusive
artwork commemorating her aerial adventure.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7y2I82xqwpq4jrlUPfDGsfCFZcaytGNVUkf15WyaMSpQcwYCl-Fcml6zRw6xaPLjUnlN_tv0gtajTYqgaOQf0TFkuNDld33rG40Cg9Hqnluw1uw6r7QOg9xq1HPq59ZLLpIu851rKsWKJ0xfkHOvsXki27YMSuEA0jbMgG6gvIYt4_495dry5H8S5h1Fj/s4605/13%20DSC00321%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2461" data-original-width="4605" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7y2I82xqwpq4jrlUPfDGsfCFZcaytGNVUkf15WyaMSpQcwYCl-Fcml6zRw6xaPLjUnlN_tv0gtajTYqgaOQf0TFkuNDld33rG40Cg9Hqnluw1uw6r7QOg9xq1HPq59ZLLpIu851rKsWKJ0xfkHOvsXki27YMSuEA0jbMgG6gvIYt4_495dry5H8S5h1Fj/w519-h277/13%20DSC00321%20Edit.jpg" width="519" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Jenifer Rayne speaks with WMDT-ABC about the day’s events.
“We’re a very small community, we’re about 75% poverty,” she noted. “I’m always
trying to look for ways to get some attention and exposure, because I think our
students are the very best students that there are, with the very best staff.
So I’m honored to represent them.”</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-48389724350248029482023-06-05T06:50:00.003-07:002023-06-05T06:50:20.364-07:00Look to the Past<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Granted, Aerospace Perceptions has been a little short on
the “space” aspect of late. But with the East Coast yielding a punishing
schedule of airshows in striking distance from AP headquarters, it’s a case of
enjoying the feast before the annual famine sets in after the summer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sometimes, though, heading to what seems like it might be nothing
more than a specialized airshow turns out to be a lot more – something much
bigger than a simple rendezvous of aircraft. That was the case with the Mid-Atlantic
Air Museum's World War II Weekend, held the last several days at Reading
Pennsylvania’s regional airport, also frequently referred to as General Carl A.
Spaatz Field.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">This year is the 32<sup>nd</sup> such event, and it is far
from just an airshow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The facility hosted dozens upon dozens of rare or unusual
1940s military vehicles representing all combatants of “The Great War.” They
traveled through and around sprawling installations and encampments which
supported combat reenactments, with hundreds of people in the garb and uniforms
of eight decades ago. It was all here. And attendance in the neighborhood of
100,000 people reflects the excitement of crowds anxious to actually see elements
history instead of just reading about them or viewing depictions in films and
video.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This overwhelming event’s official title may put an emphasis
on aviation but, in reality, about the only things that were missing were
battleships and submarines. For anyone with an appreciation of this hugely
important era of history, the annual World War II Weekend is a “must see.” </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Click on photos for larger images. All photos: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions</span></i></b></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYIiPUOiVDgIDLEnj-gMgwHRJh1K8kqDcRoU5mrI63kqEysQBOAoMOh8bjRWdNjuccfhXgHUW32nbGIbw61EARERxnBiyskNdj1-QCDgqN-W0hUiiZR2Gw3NHsNO6yjJC41IpFLLzvsOuYOhYjmhwrIy8y2DFGHL6GBPY4uy8nBlEu-BXf6n7Bl6JJw/s6032/DSC_5773%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3226" data-original-width="6032" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYIiPUOiVDgIDLEnj-gMgwHRJh1K8kqDcRoU5mrI63kqEysQBOAoMOh8bjRWdNjuccfhXgHUW32nbGIbw61EARERxnBiyskNdj1-QCDgqN-W0hUiiZR2Gw3NHsNO6yjJC41IpFLLzvsOuYOhYjmhwrIy8y2DFGHL6GBPY4uy8nBlEu-BXf6n7Bl6JJw/w506-h270/DSC_5773%20Edit.jpg" width="506" /></a></div><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><p><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Rising above the Reading runway, the B-29 christened FIFI
claws her way into the skies.</span></i></b></p><p><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></p></span></i></b><p></p><p><b><i></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEt6rOPwot6aUhwmJjhtQO6-D8mi1mgD-f57VbaB9CY6epMWMKW-aGjhUm287-4FsRcL0iJqVgSEgwsofKqsaDJ2v4B3YTK4kB3KSFIe2aj0ni30oD4X0-c10eDMvOf_xBye3vfSysQ60fnMjzVN_Rp0OVqjOv5Rq9w0Gjys6OcoTybGF5mL4pwe88A/s5830/DSC_5786%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3152" data-original-width="5830" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEt6rOPwot6aUhwmJjhtQO6-D8mi1mgD-f57VbaB9CY6epMWMKW-aGjhUm287-4FsRcL0iJqVgSEgwsofKqsaDJ2v4B3YTK4kB3KSFIe2aj0ni30oD4X0-c10eDMvOf_xBye3vfSysQ60fnMjzVN_Rp0OVqjOv5Rq9w0Gjys6OcoTybGF5mL4pwe88A/w522-h282/DSC_5786%20Edit.jpg" width="522" /></a></i></b></div><p></p><p></p><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">The C-47 Skytrain was an essential aerial workhorse in World
War II and for dozens of years beyond.</span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUzHbX-MSl9gaEtNlDV9jX5rkY166QQnkzpN6wqdYoAsAg61xbfwZl1lAZCSCvTQnuNrsUSvjnyJ8ghGbxk3Av6xy1GZAZqeryDYitr0kK3SGe2KcAQrDSaWE2BgqHEhreddwx-K1xU2Go3ZjPi-8TGcEYZg06LwoMY7TgIz4j6fvU-Sex7NseQx6-A/s5005/DSC_5880%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2828" data-original-width="5005" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUzHbX-MSl9gaEtNlDV9jX5rkY166QQnkzpN6wqdYoAsAg61xbfwZl1lAZCSCvTQnuNrsUSvjnyJ8ghGbxk3Av6xy1GZAZqeryDYitr0kK3SGe2KcAQrDSaWE2BgqHEhreddwx-K1xU2Go3ZjPi-8TGcEYZg06LwoMY7TgIz4j6fvU-Sex7NseQx6-A/w510-h288/DSC_5880%20Edit.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><br /></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">More than eight decades after its introduction, the
legendary North American Aviation P-51 Mustang fighter is always one of the
most popular planes at any airshow.</span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfMRLz_2ucXE2CRPdd3BrimyuBPPwMI_CplU7NJByBf6x-AZStue6qsI1N71SDjhVLA630QP4iF3eZdIraEAQi20wrI_bfGZ8-8kJmkQe0vXK897eqCVmcgRtdOp0Oz1IVsRQYNk_VTFbmAIy2pFTnHLP9GQf9GZTnm6QCq23VFuI1SMIP8gn0F2sNg/s3988/DSC_5804%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1985" data-original-width="3988" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfMRLz_2ucXE2CRPdd3BrimyuBPPwMI_CplU7NJByBf6x-AZStue6qsI1N71SDjhVLA630QP4iF3eZdIraEAQi20wrI_bfGZ8-8kJmkQe0vXK897eqCVmcgRtdOp0Oz1IVsRQYNk_VTFbmAIy2pFTnHLP9GQf9GZTnm6QCq23VFuI1SMIP8gn0F2sNg/w515-h256/DSC_5804%20Edit.jpg" width="515" /></a></div></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div>A majestic pass by the B-29 Superfortress high over the
General Carl A. Spaatz Field.</span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzA5rh4HxlKEswqvC1NSi65oNOa92qBZ8iO22IRpZaVI4p2Agno5SqhndpvvWKeJe10VAo48X6L-8x-4EBwjLiOYt6pXHfHE7Rq02qTVSj4ErWvkK7f_tz4sNALQRfAdQNC8Y3I9lkb9MvlyaLKnjYyKFyFnMV1E2k9YvcIVb4h0rvl3tvZo9Sa1lbg/s4185/DSC_5870%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2034" data-original-width="4185" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzA5rh4HxlKEswqvC1NSi65oNOa92qBZ8iO22IRpZaVI4p2Agno5SqhndpvvWKeJe10VAo48X6L-8x-4EBwjLiOYt6pXHfHE7Rq02qTVSj4ErWvkK7f_tz4sNALQRfAdQNC8Y3I9lkb9MvlyaLKnjYyKFyFnMV1E2k9YvcIVb4h0rvl3tvZo9Sa1lbg/w515-h251/DSC_5870%20Edit.jpg" width="515" /></a></div><br /></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">The Douglas SBD Dauntless was primarily used as a naval dive
bomber – at trajectory angles of as much as 80 degrees.</span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9baS51qYY8EndEruSWelVtJYOtDuwf8DwNx1IEn_OR-BOypEG3l7hFo8Q17LSQja3Zx-3jeFgQqa6TbX6eoa3zWxgMekhXOhiaPXIyV5rssad9E9MlthxOQPyvH1YlqoAiDqlZZS2MkS9D68WHFc067hDST8FabiVktVy9Y1qjzTVVhasoJL6KNHwA/s5171/DSC_5890%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1902" data-original-width="5171" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9baS51qYY8EndEruSWelVtJYOtDuwf8DwNx1IEn_OR-BOypEG3l7hFo8Q17LSQja3Zx-3jeFgQqa6TbX6eoa3zWxgMekhXOhiaPXIyV5rssad9E9MlthxOQPyvH1YlqoAiDqlZZS2MkS9D68WHFc067hDST8FabiVktVy9Y1qjzTVVhasoJL6KNHwA/w526-h194/DSC_5890%20Edit.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><br /></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">The B-25 entered service in 1941, a crucial medium bomber
that served in every theater of World War II.</span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDN_fveQMMaEUobpXfcvkPJz9NomAsWc4-Kq9B3HZzD8zx9gYYGVbW86rZBaNqHC8j4xuru2MMDCmwUTgpko4PYnPb0qiK47MVRngU3yfW1OtXulAE7vOdnPZ4NpRORjfIPLMboIdz7yq7eew0zIWcizzdzOaljkT4PZW9E7_f7-oF-pTL59jXFWrL9w/s4999/DSC00075%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3315" data-original-width="4999" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDN_fveQMMaEUobpXfcvkPJz9NomAsWc4-Kq9B3HZzD8zx9gYYGVbW86rZBaNqHC8j4xuru2MMDCmwUTgpko4PYnPb0qiK47MVRngU3yfW1OtXulAE7vOdnPZ4NpRORjfIPLMboIdz7yq7eew0zIWcizzdzOaljkT4PZW9E7_f7-oF-pTL59jXFWrL9w/w511-h338/DSC00075%20Edit.jpg" width="511" /></a></div><br /></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">A major current project of the event host Mid-Atlantic Air
Museum is the restoration of this extremely rare Black Widow, the first
American fighter designed specifically for night operations.</span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydSvyJoL18hDstvLOyDRWq9P_43FaiNPUPJBfU6RotmM6Vq68GWpR-uqh4Nxk315gM-gtp4gTZJ-gYXRfR28IRVPgBsyzPOINhZFcH7jA7rY7HzRFgRaulEOsf8FN75RAbYcyqr7bthji5U-UuGUXqc7GM9WeaHZy6pCSomx0NJV8qdSlQbjGrD79gw/s5427/DSC_5819%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2789" data-original-width="5427" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydSvyJoL18hDstvLOyDRWq9P_43FaiNPUPJBfU6RotmM6Vq68GWpR-uqh4Nxk315gM-gtp4gTZJ-gYXRfR28IRVPgBsyzPOINhZFcH7jA7rY7HzRFgRaulEOsf8FN75RAbYcyqr7bthji5U-UuGUXqc7GM9WeaHZy6pCSomx0NJV8qdSlQbjGrD79gw/w523-h268/DSC_5819%20Edit.jpg" width="523" /></a></div><br /></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This Navy SBD (nickname: Slow, But Deadly) and the B-25 bomber Panchito
await takeoff clearance as the B-29 FIFI comes in for its landing. FIFI is one
of only two massive B-29s still flying.</span></span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhR5Oi_EogKnZ5lldo73o4dfHmN5dsTB1itMl25K6feE26S3Z5OUMzddvSoEc68_3iR9L0foNse8FZkkjBayshunj0cGd5BzwzRiJ8BZDfSu8Op5HfD6Bo0i7cNt04e24nObPWaXFBFWOuHkeDSz7guiuKeq5UFfmrKED9MVKzqWJeqNz-4B0BwEn0w/s4136/DSC00068%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2464" data-original-width="4136" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhR5Oi_EogKnZ5lldo73o4dfHmN5dsTB1itMl25K6feE26S3Z5OUMzddvSoEc68_3iR9L0foNse8FZkkjBayshunj0cGd5BzwzRiJ8BZDfSu8Op5HfD6Bo0i7cNt04e24nObPWaXFBFWOuHkeDSz7guiuKeq5UFfmrKED9MVKzqWJeqNz-4B0BwEn0w/w515-h307/DSC00068%20Edit.jpg" width="515" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Beyond the historic aircraft on hand in Reading, this is
just one tiny glimpse of the total immersion in the 1940s global conflict so
accurately reflected at the World War II Weekend. From Jeeps to combat vehicles
to military construction equipment – it’s all here, and much, much more.</span></i></b></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><p></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-31390436423775376632023-06-02T09:48:00.002-07:002023-06-02T09:48:18.977-07:00A Great Idea<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Somebody had a great idea. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pocono Raceway – home to legendary motorsports events for
more than five decades – boasts an immaculate grandstand and support facilities
that run the length of the track’s 3740-foot front straightaway. The triangular
speedway has no grandstand structures in the first and third turns – so a
visionary realized that the front straightaway essentially mimics a flightline.
And wouldn’t this be a fantastic venue for an airshow?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">It is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">First held in 2019, The Great Pocono Raceway Airshow drew
tens of thousands of people to the track this Memorial Day weekend. They were
greeted by near-perfect weather and an array of aviators headlined by the USAF
F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The packed schedule also included one of the most
fascinating aircraft flying, a de Havilland Vampire flown by Jerry Conley. With
development test flights taking place 80 years ago - in 1943 – the Vampire
became the first Royal Air Force plane powered by a single jet engine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Talented aerial acrobats were on hand as well. The skills
and airplanes of Rick Volker and Rob Holland resulted in dizzying displays boasting
seemingly impossible performances. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">And the U.S. Coast Guard ably demonstrated the rescue
capabilities of its agile Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The show proceeded as planned almost like clockwork, a
characteristic common to airshows produced by David Schultz Airshows. The
organization is on the verge of celebrating three decades in this unique
business and their efforts make events like The Great Pocono Raceway Airshow a
success for performers and attendees alike.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Click on photos for larger images. All photos: Frank
Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i></i></b></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4_fBAYbPqmDP0ZNXqIGvhC-Py44kJYPu97FNfm4HVJ2cPDWgLuqLcVSp-axxzOzVXXXni6HUnb1uZZLT2rH0JOGFcwvtHGT5u5jL3f9xAgeUr4rOrVNS6-0c39Scs0mQcl9a1IYmyF9SRV-5Hw2ixkMyrYVOBzkuYWtrQwHJe0d-riRNi8IQVpcHWg/s5566/DSC_5498%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3820" data-original-width="5566" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4_fBAYbPqmDP0ZNXqIGvhC-Py44kJYPu97FNfm4HVJ2cPDWgLuqLcVSp-axxzOzVXXXni6HUnb1uZZLT2rH0JOGFcwvtHGT5u5jL3f9xAgeUr4rOrVNS6-0c39Scs0mQcl9a1IYmyF9SRV-5Hw2ixkMyrYVOBzkuYWtrQwHJe0d-riRNi8IQVpcHWg/w502-h345/DSC_5498%20Edit.jpg" width="502" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /> </i></b></span><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Pocono’s show kicked off with a heritage flight pairing a
historic P-51 Mustang flown by Jim Beasley Jr. with the fully modern F-22
Raptor flown by Captain Samuel Larson.</i></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSkm1DLPzrDFhIKqM2UwN_n2XOoIrw0IUVBrdMKYzxyAshp-VWNtz7IdClAMrcfuLNAKJtkldF1UBoxt20saTyFfK_lt1vQspXHVnwkf4IKShYFQLGFpf2_v3I398HbFzrucj-OYztCQeUV9ya-o4Ubv1CWcLJYkHfuI7xh2wFMb6IXppHqwPil_vLw/s2185/DSC_5306%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1510" data-original-width="2185" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSkm1DLPzrDFhIKqM2UwN_n2XOoIrw0IUVBrdMKYzxyAshp-VWNtz7IdClAMrcfuLNAKJtkldF1UBoxt20saTyFfK_lt1vQspXHVnwkf4IKShYFQLGFpf2_v3I398HbFzrucj-OYztCQeUV9ya-o4Ubv1CWcLJYkHfuI7xh2wFMb6IXppHqwPil_vLw/w502-h347/DSC_5306%20Edit.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5hGtoQyOqDEp-wSqL5wDJtPdpZ5pzuWc3a51PG8rKpQUGHN8A5LRj0vPUS2e9Mk3rBaJYpAK3Z4sI9gFFMzJ6aRM9dqaR_SQf_lYqgN6ygqke1w0pBDYGq4KiYCOCTrhvFOzWpYuh9_y-ZFvWJOPuOohW26T3PjLDMHET3JbxWErC15t95ZTVqJJyg/s3611/DSC_5275%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2529" data-original-width="3611" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5hGtoQyOqDEp-wSqL5wDJtPdpZ5pzuWc3a51PG8rKpQUGHN8A5LRj0vPUS2e9Mk3rBaJYpAK3Z4sI9gFFMzJ6aRM9dqaR_SQf_lYqgN6ygqke1w0pBDYGq4KiYCOCTrhvFOzWpYuh9_y-ZFvWJOPuOohW26T3PjLDMHET3JbxWErC15t95ZTVqJJyg/w503-h352/DSC_5275%20Edit.jpg" width="503" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkx7yOo2FGVbI9NoXUdJcO9hp3DLCptiWR0Vb94V4t2Dqe0mfG6NjAdZ9SctE66udUeE8nTDQ5MSSHvogVAMdTkOH1ExAhDepJNp_U-q054ohDePW4Sf_ZGrfSW95p8PKYNJMx-vETIhJQAuDU4mwmCy94k37VGqA1mkVidUqXDGUs0brd4hTsvOz5Q/s2500/DSC_5528%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2253" data-original-width="2500" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkx7yOo2FGVbI9NoXUdJcO9hp3DLCptiWR0Vb94V4t2Dqe0mfG6NjAdZ9SctE66udUeE8nTDQ5MSSHvogVAMdTkOH1ExAhDepJNp_U-q054ohDePW4Sf_ZGrfSW95p8PKYNJMx-vETIhJQAuDU4mwmCy94k37VGqA1mkVidUqXDGUs0brd4hTsvOz5Q/w502-h452/DSC_5528%20Edit.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWzVkM07eQKhf8_Y_Rs5weRlgjW6WrWd1RSer5I2y28dn-RRXnbRLNoAYwD5d9xLo7pAn36PKbMX00hWklqBda1IJNUr3ASKbm8sYcxGc_8aXkPXn-7OX192uAjooN0ageBnIuV7j91UMzce_F25WZRt9N3AY0YiCVEFkjt790XkU9_3Yn29YWnKsOw/s6032/DSC_5545%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3294" data-original-width="6032" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWzVkM07eQKhf8_Y_Rs5weRlgjW6WrWd1RSer5I2y28dn-RRXnbRLNoAYwD5d9xLo7pAn36PKbMX00hWklqBda1IJNUr3ASKbm8sYcxGc_8aXkPXn-7OX192uAjooN0ageBnIuV7j91UMzce_F25WZRt9N3AY0YiCVEFkjt790XkU9_3Yn29YWnKsOw/w506-h277/DSC_5545%20Edit.jpg" width="506" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeITpmrwpeLNf2kDyC1GKcLtkg7NeL0LA12YYJhg7g9DJ1kCAdQb4Djtd-rJ4oXtBj14yaAOFRgOZShXU6tk30sqMsVjG_fA8nEnowfCUjx-RI39s3HjMJIKQOGPXsfVH19ASgTB52Lx4VPx97qW1TZISP8uf6Za5iugma7axRatbZEl7-c7te6biTeQ/s3914/DSC_5314%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2308" data-original-width="3914" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeITpmrwpeLNf2kDyC1GKcLtkg7NeL0LA12YYJhg7g9DJ1kCAdQb4Djtd-rJ4oXtBj14yaAOFRgOZShXU6tk30sqMsVjG_fA8nEnowfCUjx-RI39s3HjMJIKQOGPXsfVH19ASgTB52Lx4VPx97qW1TZISP8uf6Za5iugma7axRatbZEl7-c7te6biTeQ/w503-h297/DSC_5314%20Edit.jpg" width="503" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>The F-22 Raptor Demo Team presents stunning examples of this
aircraft’s capabilities. The dual Pratt & Whitney jet engines are capable
of making immense power, and the incredibly nimble flight control surfaces
allow this jet to maneuver through the skies in ways that seem impossible. </i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i></i></b></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgEPfZ-SMAd9zYzkd3_yQU8Vi0tKnr1uhJyOkWoV5Gv2pPLvUAC4bNr-3bPCSGqbCnt2AR3Txmtc5BSGK3JN3uXbT9UgCzeQaO-Tc2OXjirhYf3Yl8szlkkSnkxtLv-UpBjZ3g_hwhlb_vGFU1u5eSU4jV6kqBJ7J-E7W15tRkQHeP6Z_M7sUAykjsg/s4784/DSC_5574%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2758" data-original-width="4784" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgEPfZ-SMAd9zYzkd3_yQU8Vi0tKnr1uhJyOkWoV5Gv2pPLvUAC4bNr-3bPCSGqbCnt2AR3Txmtc5BSGK3JN3uXbT9UgCzeQaO-Tc2OXjirhYf3Yl8szlkkSnkxtLv-UpBjZ3g_hwhlb_vGFU1u5eSU4jV6kqBJ7J-E7W15tRkQHeP6Z_M7sUAykjsg/w503-h289/DSC_5574%20Edit.jpg" width="503" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwrh4RNr3d2JjJBhh_7moZS_sf3nEBRlTJagzxIyL3usXCzfAJj01rzq6KJxIMMl4LdB_0RpbRp9leEqrtUhZn59pNs7N8HdqCZDelrg8J71Z91jEFvctty27FwLIBGY-M9DNYJHWY_QQFqr2Ui66CyhoN8MNT6uYqUt50guTnUFnzbd0SSNr96fAWQ/s5126/DSC_5347%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2868" data-original-width="5126" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwrh4RNr3d2JjJBhh_7moZS_sf3nEBRlTJagzxIyL3usXCzfAJj01rzq6KJxIMMl4LdB_0RpbRp9leEqrtUhZn59pNs7N8HdqCZDelrg8J71Z91jEFvctty27FwLIBGY-M9DNYJHWY_QQFqr2Ui66CyhoN8MNT6uYqUt50guTnUFnzbd0SSNr96fAWQ/w501-h280/DSC_5347%20Edit.jpg" width="501" /></a></div><br /></i></b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Rick Volker’s Sukhoi SU-26M is a remarkable plane that has a
titanium and composite airframe that can withstand the forces of the pilot’s exciting
show programs.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i></i></b></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3LofzIZvlxWAb60VTiFoVConRXAaWCoBDm7wmxO9m5gSLcXTUH0YJDj0dR1ntlptk7dRhyI7H1uadJT-L_HI7lax6HDQN6DbexMCqBG9J-oyM8-ETXm2Odq0JdPXPYMJdyB-LXvHG6jjLg_hdEUXm14um9km1pYc4OcvLumcjlgnM5Z5XrgoYTmeog/s4346/DSC_5591%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2168" data-original-width="4346" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3LofzIZvlxWAb60VTiFoVConRXAaWCoBDm7wmxO9m5gSLcXTUH0YJDj0dR1ntlptk7dRhyI7H1uadJT-L_HI7lax6HDQN6DbexMCqBG9J-oyM8-ETXm2Odq0JdPXPYMJdyB-LXvHG6jjLg_hdEUXm14um9km1pYc4OcvLumcjlgnM5Z5XrgoYTmeog/w504-h252/DSC_5591%20Edit.jpg" width="504" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>The U.S. Coast Guard’s Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin is a
helicopter that first went into service in 1985, now providing critical search
and rescue capabilities.</i></b></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></b></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i></i></b></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyUaVyi1pRsSP7NnWuZ_Yaze5PuVVuXrvlFQ66_RAEpKjjgVa7V1TaLygJNFFBDGkYtTgJDTR-8vO0xTonWBE1VF-YiHjxSHZ9ar0A8sCO17ejH7mqb8bfRD9qfyvziX5AmoZ2qzvFJBnWed-wUur4pppbuzt6B8I2AppkoyWVmnqao3fv-XhXtRlKg/s5402/DSC_5605%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2390" data-original-width="5402" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyUaVyi1pRsSP7NnWuZ_Yaze5PuVVuXrvlFQ66_RAEpKjjgVa7V1TaLygJNFFBDGkYtTgJDTR-8vO0xTonWBE1VF-YiHjxSHZ9ar0A8sCO17ejH7mqb8bfRD9qfyvziX5AmoZ2qzvFJBnWed-wUur4pppbuzt6B8I2AppkoyWVmnqao3fv-XhXtRlKg/w504-h224/DSC_5605%20Edit.jpg" width="504" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskUgGhk5Wli-TkIeq9NFKyitLKU9k6Ru-yDyx7_NK2rjDICqcU_vWY9JelEcxZeRlox5Qo-YN7ohkvrpNLOEefm6b555hmNFjhYQCxxjrLOMMps3PPgEGp2Z9hceoa7MMSmFnTKfklKADudTRfOqfdmBpbeY6bdWur9dYSHhtGcgTd9asvo4aD3QIOw/s1791/DSC_5606%20Edit%20Close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1791" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskUgGhk5Wli-TkIeq9NFKyitLKU9k6Ru-yDyx7_NK2rjDICqcU_vWY9JelEcxZeRlox5Qo-YN7ohkvrpNLOEefm6b555hmNFjhYQCxxjrLOMMps3PPgEGp2Z9hceoa7MMSmFnTKfklKADudTRfOqfdmBpbeY6bdWur9dYSHhtGcgTd9asvo4aD3QIOw/w503-h316/DSC_5606%20Edit%20Close.jpg" width="503" /></a></div><br /></i></b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Jerry Conley’s Vampire show makes it clear that even though
this de Havilland has been in existence for eight decades, its speed is nearly
shocking – especially during tree-top level (and below!) show passes.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CTdcWVX6N0_ANPpK9hXdkOZE51em1IfkiATMEcl9PByvYYxgP3ihjesfd10uDdXgXnGZWqlXozF1JpR8hxV51qdEmGyrm0NUCuI49rdIyB_ke8uWE3aRZR3pBpkTTNj3tXeaEPhmnUbU2jXTBK7M7dDQhGtUPVfpMBf2rxEJXZA4y4_sq0-dLEU-QQ/s3486/DSC09977%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3311" data-original-width="3486" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CTdcWVX6N0_ANPpK9hXdkOZE51em1IfkiATMEcl9PByvYYxgP3ihjesfd10uDdXgXnGZWqlXozF1JpR8hxV51qdEmGyrm0NUCuI49rdIyB_ke8uWE3aRZR3pBpkTTNj3tXeaEPhmnUbU2jXTBK7M7dDQhGtUPVfpMBf2rxEJXZA4y4_sq0-dLEU-QQ/w500-h475/DSC09977%20Edit.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSJ39MuEcYHpot2V249Orms0v0tE50VNaBAyXgD1yb63j-LQHQp7cq3hgOcXn2DJtSzb-y-2TZ8mcH0v1IXLKIW_n0exJqQWNRVU90AzHV9u6giZxIodcmUDBV0ltcjhezZxK09EjB1kvrrF-qp3nOsc2oqf8nI7n-Hzge0o3lkseT9cbWOhV2fBrlQ/s6016/DSC_5627.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSJ39MuEcYHpot2V249Orms0v0tE50VNaBAyXgD1yb63j-LQHQp7cq3hgOcXn2DJtSzb-y-2TZ8mcH0v1IXLKIW_n0exJqQWNRVU90AzHV9u6giZxIodcmUDBV0ltcjhezZxK09EjB1kvrrF-qp3nOsc2oqf8nI7n-Hzge0o3lkseT9cbWOhV2fBrlQ/w505-h338/DSC_5627.NEF" width="505" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Rob Holland began flying as a teenager, soon moving into the
realm of aerobatics. His shows at the controls of his carbon-fiber MXS-RH are
innovative and designed to, as Holland has said, “push the limits of what can
be done.”</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLZ3yYTvbAw4CGe4CiH59UHAV74qexulLsUx-hUNgwZHxsoW8ErAaNCiQwA4L8UFpIfBmvN09Gcf5QWEelT8YBh59YCv9GfMcoigcD6JZ3SZB8DB3BLGq8yRbhucRPWIHwa-c4V9-IohKLUOn4_T84t1-EtEyo3S-E01m7M1mN7yQ0WHsy1PTQozPeg/s3380/DSC_5349%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3380" data-original-width="2902" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLZ3yYTvbAw4CGe4CiH59UHAV74qexulLsUx-hUNgwZHxsoW8ErAaNCiQwA4L8UFpIfBmvN09Gcf5QWEelT8YBh59YCv9GfMcoigcD6JZ3SZB8DB3BLGq8yRbhucRPWIHwa-c4V9-IohKLUOn4_T84t1-EtEyo3S-E01m7M1mN7yQ0WHsy1PTQozPeg/w483-h562/DSC_5349%20Edit.jpg" width="483" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPmq5UgvcV9KJ0GOBIJmTesyIRNtNmEUpUqrvWgKoFdk0n9u0pph_lXe5lPkZUVDyOySZfwccuhUO-t8hrFTpLAZA1E1hTMM4mFnW24q1WlzkGGU4yiC8mLMsNZVRXYea6VBab5XVIw3LciyZb4q5K3i7Q26Dsw-mFZIqyhvKOJ9YGU7ph52jXOOmnw/s5464/DSC_5377%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5464" data-original-width="3723" height="665" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPmq5UgvcV9KJ0GOBIJmTesyIRNtNmEUpUqrvWgKoFdk0n9u0pph_lXe5lPkZUVDyOySZfwccuhUO-t8hrFTpLAZA1E1hTMM4mFnW24q1WlzkGGU4yiC8mLMsNZVRXYea6VBab5XVIw3LciyZb4q5K3i7Q26Dsw-mFZIqyhvKOJ9YGU7ph52jXOOmnw/w453-h665/DSC_5377%20Edit.jpg" width="453" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwP3MMZIh111zKzCRLoplnwEllDXFdceR0_rC6wpJSBevaXF-AMMn8a1FYzgd5hZpEFUfdTMuxCElQJ3HdULr6WCP9K32f7mFbvibhGI_fTGQEXKvsTyIeq_2Sor__ThKNCci0g07vhX6LUmPca7b9OwTJPCYhRixfwQRprnx0bgpCI53sZsC8z5YgMg/s5136/DSC_5655%20Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5136" data-original-width="3176" height="727" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwP3MMZIh111zKzCRLoplnwEllDXFdceR0_rC6wpJSBevaXF-AMMn8a1FYzgd5hZpEFUfdTMuxCElQJ3HdULr6WCP9K32f7mFbvibhGI_fTGQEXKvsTyIeq_2Sor__ThKNCci0g07vhX6LUmPca7b9OwTJPCYhRixfwQRprnx0bgpCI53sZsC8z5YgMg/w450-h727/DSC_5655%20Edit.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFljO8jXV00-Uzm1YZxTv2I32zZQIR-IjgjHF_otY66XiSEBKKeVYuSxrguFP7IZm9Ooo56HITxgM4xkwwmLDeKCN-uZ6UoCdy3pfVnu4wllLgCOjhA0dPiibY5ifUONNEQmuX6Ba5ZKpJeR_oe1reabQ78mrYSnCTOrjGdmSHv0PMvgJOxp4wmKeKg/s1930/DSC_5429%20Edit%20Close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="1930" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFljO8jXV00-Uzm1YZxTv2I32zZQIR-IjgjHF_otY66XiSEBKKeVYuSxrguFP7IZm9Ooo56HITxgM4xkwwmLDeKCN-uZ6UoCdy3pfVnu4wllLgCOjhA0dPiibY5ifUONNEQmuX6Ba5ZKpJeR_oe1reabQ78mrYSnCTOrjGdmSHv0PMvgJOxp4wmKeKg/w505-h317/DSC_5429%20Edit%20Close.jpg" width="505" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMr8xuu1RLsuE7EPAAUolIIjx9TOw6E6faGpQe9Dx-knlr_vjq_pBaIrMO_uhbYf47mKlY8AHTEGQyUNchLe7P2Wql4NNjwJrfNmfXJut01I4wlfFq8xZOtEzxLrT6M-sVb-cRZeacmK8dPdnS-z-fT6ZJ6pVMkOALLTOM5kpSjiYwiYLoqkerpz4GlA/s3784/DSC_5461%20Edit%20Close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1706" data-original-width="3784" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMr8xuu1RLsuE7EPAAUolIIjx9TOw6E6faGpQe9Dx-knlr_vjq_pBaIrMO_uhbYf47mKlY8AHTEGQyUNchLe7P2Wql4NNjwJrfNmfXJut01I4wlfFq8xZOtEzxLrT6M-sVb-cRZeacmK8dPdnS-z-fT6ZJ6pVMkOALLTOM5kpSjiYwiYLoqkerpz4GlA/w505-h227/DSC_5461%20Edit%20Close.jpg" width="505" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySLnSX9U3inKhX8XN6UvY7oVHfRQBAmVzQwAPi7zhcsGPSFjeZdmSvKRYDB---2sMLAedaJBrYemtXVXe-9k21r3B1qPg-_HqJJ0iPnYm-cuWdyGMDYLgBVzFuJRlD_y1aZr0Xgbd_YN_FI7B0Jhk9W_u3paZiVykr-SE_538J1a5UtOmYlgA3DrXkQ/s4203/DSC09987%20Edit%20Close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1748" data-original-width="4203" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySLnSX9U3inKhX8XN6UvY7oVHfRQBAmVzQwAPi7zhcsGPSFjeZdmSvKRYDB---2sMLAedaJBrYemtXVXe-9k21r3B1qPg-_HqJJ0iPnYm-cuWdyGMDYLgBVzFuJRlD_y1aZr0Xgbd_YN_FI7B0Jhk9W_u3paZiVykr-SE_538J1a5UtOmYlgA3DrXkQ/w508-h211/DSC09987%20Edit%20Close.jpg" width="508" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>The U.S. Navy Blue Angels have become legendary. The team
now flies Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets, providing the pilots with the precision
needed to amaze audiences with their intricate, fast-paced shows. </i></b></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-2841150345425942712023-05-24T06:13:00.007-07:002023-05-25T09:40:16.140-07:00Power in the Pines<p><span style="font-family: arial;">The New Jersey pine trees in the vicinity of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
shook off the persistent airshow rain of a soggy Saturday May 20 – one that saw
no aircraft venture skyward – and rebounded in spectacular fashion on a sunny
Sunday. Day two of the Power in the Pines Air & Space Open House featured sun,
clouds, and breezes, but most importantly, dry conditions. And attendees turned
out in masses, eager to take in the first airshow at McGuire in five years.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The fact that neither of the marquee US air teams – the USAF
Thunderbirds or USN Blue Angels – were on hand seemed to be of no concern to
the thousands who filled the flight line to capacity, eager to see everything
from static displays and educational installations to headlining flights by
F-15, C-17, and F-16 Venom aircraft.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The lines were long but the rewards exciting: opportunities
to explore various aircraft that operate from McGuire, including the venerable
tri-engine KC-10 refueling aircraft. Now reaching the end of their service
life, the KC-10s on display were attended by crews with an understandable,
slight air of melancholy - particularly in light of the KC-135s being chosen to
soldier on despite being much older aircraft. The new generation KC-46s were also
open to the public, fueling boom operators explaining to visitors how they
control fuel transfer operations remotely and essentially virtually from
stations facing rearward from just behind the flight deck. And speaking of
flight decks, one of the longest lines – and slowest moving – was the one to
climb up narrow steps from the cargo bay of a C-17 to visit the cockpit.
Everyone seemed to find the wait well worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">By the time Capt. Aimee Fiedler wrapped up her thrilling F-16
Viper demonstration flight - her aircraft appearing even more imposing thanks
to its unique paint scheme - aviation fans were already looking toward the next
public gathering at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, coming in 2025.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">For now, though, enjoy these images from the 2023 Power in
the Pines Air & Space Open House.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Click on photos for larger images. All photos: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions</i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslKMJFmUanA7-PQI_LlpIbZbFm8YSTbKox8VVFkuqP8PTjZfgG1rl3TRjdXVqswAH6aHrzVxo-CdDjHRW_GmJ7MTCLA75j4FlQGAOlGGr8yK2eeY9NEm7P5lpBK_CkNldRqmPO_-RQ4IXbhFrG_QUetL7VZoLuYQP-e0Q6hcgC6rkj0ws8pyu_DITLA/s6016/AP%20Blog%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslKMJFmUanA7-PQI_LlpIbZbFm8YSTbKox8VVFkuqP8PTjZfgG1rl3TRjdXVqswAH6aHrzVxo-CdDjHRW_GmJ7MTCLA75j4FlQGAOlGGr8yK2eeY9NEm7P5lpBK_CkNldRqmPO_-RQ4IXbhFrG_QUetL7VZoLuYQP-e0Q6hcgC6rkj0ws8pyu_DITLA/w494-h330/AP%20Blog%201.JPG" width="494" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">The lineup of the Power in the Pines Air & Space Open
House fully entertained this vast crowd, estimated at eighty-five thousand people.</span></i></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhh4s9kpC-Ug1fbah_4hl5i29ZxFAno96djZx9FO9aAIeOTa06XRgumRt3wlnX7HQoN-LzkPrjGmYH9rckASLr-aF6OuL2D2mH6rPyZcmfxmhtQzmbOQdwkLpibkOj-nCZRXw2t3-wYCKjO1SiNF93Uo3zIhkxEKPGeVJf4u7F0P9F0X7pSXIZY55tgQ/s5517/AP%20Blog%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3728" data-original-width="5517" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhh4s9kpC-Ug1fbah_4hl5i29ZxFAno96djZx9FO9aAIeOTa06XRgumRt3wlnX7HQoN-LzkPrjGmYH9rckASLr-aF6OuL2D2mH6rPyZcmfxmhtQzmbOQdwkLpibkOj-nCZRXw2t3-wYCKjO1SiNF93Uo3zIhkxEKPGeVJf4u7F0P9F0X7pSXIZY55tgQ/w495-h334/AP%20Blog%202.JPG" width="495" /></a></div><br /></span></o:p></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">An hour wait was a small price to pay for the rare
opportunity to climb up to the cockpit of a C-17 Globemaster.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppwocS7QsCzcaGtAFliMlDN6Pw_JeHBvkoscAYHvVNbXy2_2grnoi-LmjwyeNIY3E7AHwndkG29GvVv2rBhYP9m2k3J6U4g047KhyuUCOKXQKo8yMCgStaq8l8k6LziM8jr78MBr3-AMPulM4RytkAFTN0eiaZ2ZBLW1uFqX8CHhW4nOaMnPqIKGvgw/s2357/AP%20Blog%203-SharpenAI-Standard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1760" data-original-width="2357" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppwocS7QsCzcaGtAFliMlDN6Pw_JeHBvkoscAYHvVNbXy2_2grnoi-LmjwyeNIY3E7AHwndkG29GvVv2rBhYP9m2k3J6U4g047KhyuUCOKXQKo8yMCgStaq8l8k6LziM8jr78MBr3-AMPulM4RytkAFTN0eiaZ2ZBLW1uFqX8CHhW4nOaMnPqIKGvgw/w490-h366/AP%20Blog%203-SharpenAI-Standard.jpg" width="490" /></a></div><br /></o:p><span style="font-family: arial;">The aviation action got underway with passes by four large
refueling and cargo planes, including the soon-to-be-retired KC-10 Extender
tanker (upper) and C-17 Globemaster strategic transport aircraft.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0b4b3DUHVwWmbHSAZjjkk0pauo9-HRkdk1-vgTkhWLPluNgkwSX1U5aqG9yqGcpeX8-X6JkrZ8xpeyX6n4viqEWHlp5T3-lzjPlKF2lBFxewX3reVjALJSmuh-q7GYVDg31twDEBFjsbT9FmWLvdqe8IO-AipQtJ4SWkxSD-mMhqsq4gM7qF3DAcDNQ/s2656/AP%20Blog%204-DeNoiseAI-standard.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1739" data-original-width="2656" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0b4b3DUHVwWmbHSAZjjkk0pauo9-HRkdk1-vgTkhWLPluNgkwSX1U5aqG9yqGcpeX8-X6JkrZ8xpeyX6n4viqEWHlp5T3-lzjPlKF2lBFxewX3reVjALJSmuh-q7GYVDg31twDEBFjsbT9FmWLvdqe8IO-AipQtJ4SWkxSD-mMhqsq4gM7qF3DAcDNQ/w476-h312/AP%20Blog%204-DeNoiseAI-standard.JPG" width="476" /></a></div><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></o:p><span style="font-family: arial;">One of McGuire’s KC-135 Stratotankers, easily identifiable
with its tiger tail markings.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KGHiiMsbvrbS2D9m3jkR_ZqKMN3LpEhkp0jHDqsMQszc4LBS39HR_HeJfjDbjKmfsFYzhwb2tEArsoqXR5ZrfnzydGIwPbhtzrukcfXVwEGES_7_jKTvfGEKoT7RVR-0kEHkG3kiWhk_AmUJCErW6RUPNynsBgzRf5dIJ8foewwqJQFNINM6axErLQ/s5923/AP%20Blog%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3374" data-original-width="5923" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KGHiiMsbvrbS2D9m3jkR_ZqKMN3LpEhkp0jHDqsMQszc4LBS39HR_HeJfjDbjKmfsFYzhwb2tEArsoqXR5ZrfnzydGIwPbhtzrukcfXVwEGES_7_jKTvfGEKoT7RVR-0kEHkG3kiWhk_AmUJCErW6RUPNynsBgzRf5dIJ8foewwqJQFNINM6axErLQ/w475-h270/AP%20Blog%205.JPG" width="475" /></a></div><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> <br /></span></o:p><span style="font-family: arial;">The current generation USAF refueling aircraft, the KC-46
Pegasus, taxis in the distance between two F-16Cs assigned to the Viper
Demonstration Team.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaRUiFLTLYJesu_zM1o8qxjuM8eDaPjmLpFYB22eYQr3PNi7gsTkSnedk2NzoYIrfJ7uq55wmAyKm123z6xbJtZRz3ikW-fhUvkMz-se16luvRM7rM0dMLzE3DeNYPZaTjYxC8kWsDYT7k1ErvPiKvp51D8TN7Ve9gfzwpD4Ox0LBZwKu7j8UrYChgg/s2964/AP%20Blog%206-DeNoiseAI-standard.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="2964" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaRUiFLTLYJesu_zM1o8qxjuM8eDaPjmLpFYB22eYQr3PNi7gsTkSnedk2NzoYIrfJ7uq55wmAyKm123z6xbJtZRz3ikW-fhUvkMz-se16luvRM7rM0dMLzE3DeNYPZaTjYxC8kWsDYT7k1ErvPiKvp51D8TN7Ve9gfzwpD4Ox0LBZwKu7j8UrYChgg/w469-h306/AP%20Blog%206-DeNoiseAI-standard.JPG" width="469" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">A US Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin banks hard left during its
program.<br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></o:p></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEO4SDsWnxwlrmkIM-RPclJt6JY1BbZkJVp80VbDqXDjweikUd8yPNNErBTcstBHdb6aHVVsPNkLCN51sCpD8i8k_aIqZyHmMfDsN4dQNRy49Zp0EwNhaGpE3H71GB9Y61TQemf_nikYuk06c48DnwNxQfEBYaJmpU4e0dIp6mk8XC-AsmR25GOJ7FQ/s3471/AP%20Blog%207-SharpenAI-Standard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1896" data-original-width="3471" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEO4SDsWnxwlrmkIM-RPclJt6JY1BbZkJVp80VbDqXDjweikUd8yPNNErBTcstBHdb6aHVVsPNkLCN51sCpD8i8k_aIqZyHmMfDsN4dQNRy49Zp0EwNhaGpE3H71GB9Y61TQemf_nikYuk06c48DnwNxQfEBYaJmpU4e0dIp6mk8XC-AsmR25GOJ7FQ/w490-h268/AP%20Blog%207-SharpenAI-Standard.jpg" width="490" /></a></div></o:p></i></b><b><i><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">A friendly wave from a crewmember in an intimidating vehicle,
the Bell AH-1Z Attack and Reconnaissance helicopter.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiY8H5zosml44NhdwCvFgL3OAzdBko2-7_rTtdlZ3zw9BOrFn_VClmpyB8i-kt-Bgs-22FGsSH4_zQqAW3Pc2as9-khCIRK5XtOhKrfkR250nzSjqE6yEmzRnSydQ-eETKkeGMjz5-nbNEprTknWx01B25NhpmYchCKYZ7n8QQoQAfNrG5fmPkZMWKw/s5349/AP%20Blog%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3194" data-original-width="5349" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiY8H5zosml44NhdwCvFgL3OAzdBko2-7_rTtdlZ3zw9BOrFn_VClmpyB8i-kt-Bgs-22FGsSH4_zQqAW3Pc2as9-khCIRK5XtOhKrfkR250nzSjqE6yEmzRnSydQ-eETKkeGMjz5-nbNEprTknWx01B25NhpmYchCKYZ7n8QQoQAfNrG5fmPkZMWKw/w491-h293/AP%20Blog%208.jpg" width="491" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Roadside assistance, USMC style. One massive CH-53E Super
Stallion was on hand for walkthroughs, while another starred in a very effective
demonstration of aerial vehicle relocation.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA20RAxdA-qMRlC48gep7yDCBgUc5pC4BUHfsQLXGSn8Ogk6ofhJ9J3Ch6X96RPZ4U0DGKJrQVhr4kXUpuXUrljFbPCexfiHZDljqyOn47gCETd78iWvaTp1EFCxtqb6TjwFMAhJ7P2NGv-xJHNA4OoI-wchtUBB303SPsvLs1SJsg_Lvu__f6s_cXnw/s4769/AP%20Blog%209-DeNoiseAI-standard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3027" data-original-width="4769" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA20RAxdA-qMRlC48gep7yDCBgUc5pC4BUHfsQLXGSn8Ogk6ofhJ9J3Ch6X96RPZ4U0DGKJrQVhr4kXUpuXUrljFbPCexfiHZDljqyOn47gCETd78iWvaTp1EFCxtqb6TjwFMAhJ7P2NGv-xJHNA4OoI-wchtUBB303SPsvLs1SJsg_Lvu__f6s_cXnw/w495-h314/AP%20Blog%209-DeNoiseAI-standard.jpg" width="495" /></a></div><br /><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">A star of the show was this historic C-47, <span style="background: white; color: #050505;">the actual plane that led the air assault at the
pivotal battle of World War II, the D-Day/Normandy attack. Following this plane
were over 800 (yes, 800!) more C-47s like this one. They carried over 13,000
paratroopers and, acting in conjunction with the massive amphibious assault of
the allies, turned the tide of the war against Hitler’s forces.</span></span></i></b></div></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; color: #050505;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJAXBuPu2WlqWFYckeTQ2WhuwFxnSEI1ut4bw7ELqdRhgXkTUxsE5_xU83MDKSHE_lMduZkEkBwg59MInBEfSacVBQ4gh22jvGBBANa1PC86Z3VDRpcJ-_P9e4j-DXCnWVZ-kMb5Rif_7UrDlGaYs4FPB7tvihigoMILlmWlGBEFSFsU5kINUj730Lw/s5998/AP%20Blog%2010-SharpenAI-Standard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3128" data-original-width="5998" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJAXBuPu2WlqWFYckeTQ2WhuwFxnSEI1ut4bw7ELqdRhgXkTUxsE5_xU83MDKSHE_lMduZkEkBwg59MInBEfSacVBQ4gh22jvGBBANa1PC86Z3VDRpcJ-_P9e4j-DXCnWVZ-kMb5Rif_7UrDlGaYs4FPB7tvihigoMILlmWlGBEFSFsU5kINUj730Lw/w488-h255/AP%20Blog%2010-SharpenAI-Standard.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">The F-15C Eagle interacts with the atmosphere over the
flight line during a high-speed pass early in its program.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_APGXc2DN1RXRkHx_dRCS-PLTNa0Y-td3iu5dM74-TUBqBdDPS1wKmgRMNI6XAG3QhKAOQvZWz4eMfWVpX5M3MRo4AhZ68D7t5AiwH7Sp76szTASyrTRRyssAB91RyVjaINlHu3D9MVSeqpEzZG4OCgq9A9VjzD1pZU5UJEdYSiwLagtQfglMMgm7A/s2521/AP%20Blog%2011-SharpenAI-Standard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1649" data-original-width="2521" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_APGXc2DN1RXRkHx_dRCS-PLTNa0Y-td3iu5dM74-TUBqBdDPS1wKmgRMNI6XAG3QhKAOQvZWz4eMfWVpX5M3MRo4AhZ68D7t5AiwH7Sp76szTASyrTRRyssAB91RyVjaINlHu3D9MVSeqpEzZG4OCgq9A9VjzD1pZU5UJEdYSiwLagtQfglMMgm7A/w481-h314/AP%20Blog%2011-SharpenAI-Standard.jpg" width="481" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Powering into an inversion, the maneuverability of the F-15C
brought the crowd to their feet.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZvFEjLprQz5wb7lzuLyoygwfmtOZsKRyE6sMNWpzIkLJ8GyaunrrnIeq5vhWpf-qzdzp3h9bERA_CreB3cKO_1qyUEVhoJzQPzUWYf9LR1tEO0_CM5UdsoWxxA18MTEB2isfNdJAfXxJq6OkZMjWG2EDOM3KV2AAw0cpvwzbhHPXEzoHhxrvCqnrGg/s4405/AP%20Blog%2012-SharpenAI-Standard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2832" data-original-width="4405" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZvFEjLprQz5wb7lzuLyoygwfmtOZsKRyE6sMNWpzIkLJ8GyaunrrnIeq5vhWpf-qzdzp3h9bERA_CreB3cKO_1qyUEVhoJzQPzUWYf9LR1tEO0_CM5UdsoWxxA18MTEB2isfNdJAfXxJq6OkZMjWG2EDOM3KV2AAw0cpvwzbhHPXEzoHhxrvCqnrGg/w465-h299/AP%20Blog%2012-SharpenAI-Standard.jpg" width="465" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">A pair of North American Aviation Texans, designated as
SNJ-2s for their US Navy service, prepare to demonstrate precision flying
capabilities.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOWAArsEfDy20F7OT-cG7A3WLqWN8xonqpyFH_LRChHBk8xeivdQTR5Pn6XRG6cGLjFL__lINBLF6lrM2e51F72q2D0_oi7JfYNoiECW1SdvuXAZCZQjLIDYj7QfLWJKv51f8l37Elp61IQ7yZIKq_nwXwIDuSzIax2l3mYwPJtmgcVtJf72pSybCJw/s4860/AP%20Blog%2013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4860" data-original-width="3862" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOWAArsEfDy20F7OT-cG7A3WLqWN8xonqpyFH_LRChHBk8xeivdQTR5Pn6XRG6cGLjFL__lINBLF6lrM2e51F72q2D0_oi7JfYNoiECW1SdvuXAZCZQjLIDYj7QfLWJKv51f8l37Elp61IQ7yZIKq_nwXwIDuSzIax2l3mYwPJtmgcVtJf72pSybCJw/w448-h564/AP%20Blog%2013.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The SNJ-2s arch across the skies, leaving a smoke trail as
evidence of their formation aerobatics.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRM-laMjZv4-RzG3eAtBovdyGIK-OfnpPdD5WBC3o3mnujNrzrR8wuwpBiZWE3JTBatDzqe2FVSMLdqY5Rvpz8kQhUdLvlTUqTEffbZN5vDnQlUWA5fkpiFuKsjJRB6jaLCdopOrVEJxFEWcStOueOPAMLnC22F0Cn60tV7eZFnYKk9-56N1fmTlfZA/s3141/AP%20Blog%2014-DeNoiseAI-standard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2086" data-original-width="3141" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRM-laMjZv4-RzG3eAtBovdyGIK-OfnpPdD5WBC3o3mnujNrzrR8wuwpBiZWE3JTBatDzqe2FVSMLdqY5Rvpz8kQhUdLvlTUqTEffbZN5vDnQlUWA5fkpiFuKsjJRB6jaLCdopOrVEJxFEWcStOueOPAMLnC22F0Cn60tV7eZFnYKk9-56N1fmTlfZA/w481-h320/AP%20Blog%2014-DeNoiseAI-standard.jpg" width="481" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">One of McGuire’s own C-17 Globemasters demonstrated the full
capabilities of this essential transport aircraft.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrR20rOBejxYPpuLh-O0tIuwhittX20BXOtvPO1zGg2Z6Uqp3RMq7xsZTr223qneGLdDQBZ-Rk7ReGjZku_CnSONJis_IVCA00ehOMVLAD3EI0nuIO6zNZIqBJEEQWjQn8M4zeJS6L5MwyTDud5f6RrBLmT5aYfHqXRIXCHgGeP-iiN0JAECNwtnGdag/s3430/AP%20Blog%2015-DeNoiseAI-standard-SharpenAI-Standard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2151" data-original-width="3430" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrR20rOBejxYPpuLh-O0tIuwhittX20BXOtvPO1zGg2Z6Uqp3RMq7xsZTr223qneGLdDQBZ-Rk7ReGjZku_CnSONJis_IVCA00ehOMVLAD3EI0nuIO6zNZIqBJEEQWjQn8M4zeJS6L5MwyTDud5f6RrBLmT5aYfHqXRIXCHgGeP-iiN0JAECNwtnGdag/w494-h310/AP%20Blog%2015-DeNoiseAI-standard-SharpenAI-Standard.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Headlining the day, the USAF F-16C Viper Demonstration
Team’s principal aircraft sneaks up on the flight line from behind to noisily
initiate its portion of the program.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAU-RchWAD2zSJ5AmygKenfFRPlgyxEgririuE0w2fFudvroUILdkKMOc3OWy1WxHvzx_m_D1Fju3gBiFW1oQojaRqOrQt9K92mU9-8Q5rD2cy-dV7hC3gghCVsgNq5U4dRGILbBl4BU-X27qNpYO-MdoWRcmTP97sx2keltbgBlw0Q4NqFEd4gql-Q/s2586/AP%20Blog16-SharpenAI-Motion.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2586" data-original-width="2174" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAU-RchWAD2zSJ5AmygKenfFRPlgyxEgririuE0w2fFudvroUILdkKMOc3OWy1WxHvzx_m_D1Fju3gBiFW1oQojaRqOrQt9K92mU9-8Q5rD2cy-dV7hC3gghCVsgNq5U4dRGILbBl4BU-X27qNpYO-MdoWRcmTP97sx2keltbgBlw0Q4NqFEd4gql-Q/w459-h546/AP%20Blog16-SharpenAI-Motion.jpg" width="459" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Capt. Aimee Fiedler demonstrates the evasive capabilities of
her F-16C, deploying countermeasure confusion for the opposition while climbing
hard and away.</span></i></b></div><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-57088425164960378282023-04-28T10:28:00.004-07:002023-04-28T10:29:15.425-07:00The Great Divide<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Like most people with an interest in spaceflight, I watched
SpaceX’s launch of a Starship vehicle on April 20. Following up on that
liftoff, yesterday I had an opportunity for an in-depth viewing of the events
from that day, courtesy of the Everyday Astronaut website, which has crafted an
excellent collection of launch angles gathered into a single video. It’s a
14-minute portrait of the doomed flight of – I’m sure you can say it with me by
now – “the most powerful rocket ever launched!”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISi1pvVAqf2pj5ite1q3V7Pkmpgob0PVCSTx_Gx4h2jNuGKiHGZRmc0M_rItnNbujGaXeGvU3mO3Yr6J9KKx8AYxXsAwfYjBZ22f7H0kKwGGxGqRHhar0JPqrLIFlmuyn_tTjFEb4YBq9T5P5ta0RsKMcBJg59fMcfzuFzu3ItxLl2EfLAsspmMb6jg/s1678/04282023%20Starship%20Liftoff.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1605" data-original-width="1678" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISi1pvVAqf2pj5ite1q3V7Pkmpgob0PVCSTx_Gx4h2jNuGKiHGZRmc0M_rItnNbujGaXeGvU3mO3Yr6J9KKx8AYxXsAwfYjBZ22f7H0kKwGGxGqRHhar0JPqrLIFlmuyn_tTjFEb4YBq9T5P5ta0RsKMcBJg59fMcfzuFzu3ItxLl2EfLAsspmMb6jg/w483-h462/04282023%20Starship%20Liftoff.jpg" width="483" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>From a safe distance the liftoff of SpaceX’s first Starship
vehicle appears to be a nearly serene spectacle. Photo: SpaceX</b></i></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">My reactions during this granular viewing of the new video were
not much different than my feelings witnessing the initial launch video stream.
From the prolonged pad blasting hurling debris and an oddly drifting liftoff to
the destruction of the vehicle after control was ultimately lost, any sense of
wonder was suppressed somewhat by a series of “That doesn’t look right…” and “Is
that supposed to do that?” moments.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUaFm-rtZ_SZIMlbrMgetoPYsLDxAHGh1BQ4ebp4FhySpkazejf7fOrybngJXtGNI_obmQbhIZ4tS5KV2_tt3qFihkl-7i_BxZ8t8WYShjby5ACZ1WEz6v4MsYiV6Gw5FS6UsqpVMwZ5d1sqKyapfXOhlz4X2g5IUmpSObeVKgIst9mSrdT01jNaYXQ/s1552/04282023%20Starship%20Engine%20Fail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1552" data-original-width="1439" height="515" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUaFm-rtZ_SZIMlbrMgetoPYsLDxAHGh1BQ4ebp4FhySpkazejf7fOrybngJXtGNI_obmQbhIZ4tS5KV2_tt3qFihkl-7i_BxZ8t8WYShjby5ACZ1WEz6v4MsYiV6Gw5FS6UsqpVMwZ5d1sqKyapfXOhlz4X2g5IUmpSObeVKgIst9mSrdT01jNaYXQ/w478-h515/04282023%20Starship%20Engine%20Fail.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>One of the more obvious “that doesn’t look right” moments
of the Starship launch, as numerous engines in the Super Heavy first stage
assembly appear to have not ignited or have failed. Screen grab: SpaceX Video</i></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the days since the Starship’s short-lived and explosive
flight, there has been a lot of scorching debate over the development
methodologies of both NASA and SpaceX. I’m optimistic that there are people
cheering on all spaceflight developments - no matter the source - as a silent
majority. But there has been no shortage of hot-headed vitriol publicly
expressed in the wake of the Starship’s ascension, perhaps inevitably
reflecting the kind of divisiveness now characterizing American society.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Many people on one side criticize NASA for swallowing
massive outlays of government funding in service of what they perceive to be a
plodding pace of progress. The agency’s supporters point to last year’s first unmanned
mission of the Space Launch System, one that successfully sent the massive
vehicle and its Artemis payload into orbit, followed by a lengthy excursion to
the moon where numerous orbital exercises were achieved before a successful
return to Earth. Striking back, critics bizarrely lambast SLS for its
dependence on older, proven engine technology, as if pulling off what was essentially
an incredibly complex proof-of-concept lunar mission should not really count.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">SpaceX, on the other hand, is often judged by rapid progress
that many believe is measured in the outcome of “try it and see what happens”
moments. The attitude is personified by Elon Musk’s April 14 tweet: “Success
maybe, excitement guaranteed.” It’s an approach that has drawn the passionate support
of a huge SpaceX fan base, with a disturbing undercurrent bearing cheers for the
megalomaniac musings of the erratic, polarizing Musk.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Food for debate: if Starship was a NASA program, would a
flight at this development stage ever have been attempted?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmMivmE8wLvNcxc27olKE-bd5QFZ_hF9EGBcB7yvQqojjcQx6JzQlEjxl8WMKGXBdNBhhtlR3IRSGUBxJ_6CqDUG5joGrY8i416chnCyTbtgAcUY1qEs2rkiyamDz9le_AzXoWW929dU8w_nsHtHWe4TK3WTh2Gil0UR03sAA5wJTLw45QFEfHlCkJw/s985/04282023%20Starship%20Lander.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="985" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmMivmE8wLvNcxc27olKE-bd5QFZ_hF9EGBcB7yvQqojjcQx6JzQlEjxl8WMKGXBdNBhhtlR3IRSGUBxJ_6CqDUG5joGrY8i416chnCyTbtgAcUY1qEs2rkiyamDz9le_AzXoWW929dU8w_nsHtHWe4TK3WTh2Gil0UR03sAA5wJTLw45QFEfHlCkJw/w484-h272/04282023%20Starship%20Lander.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>A SpaceX Starship is envisioned as the lunar landing vehicle
for NASA’s Artemis program, carrying astronauts from orbit around the moon to
the surface. Conceptual Image: SpaceX</i></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Regardless, SpaceX and NASA are locked in as partners in the
exploration of our solar system and the ramping up of ambitions for manned
spaceflight, dependent on each other. One can only hope that the serious
working relationships necessary among both entity’s branches of administration,
science, and engineering are shielded from the hot keyboard conflicts being
waged by the public on social media battlefields.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Starship launch video collated by Everyday
Astronaut:</span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCYSVmSPM7E" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCYSVmSPM7E</a> </span></span></div></div>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-63531816009304289862023-04-18T07:51:00.006-07:002023-04-18T07:57:19.437-07:00A Change in the Game<p><span style="font-family: arial;">A favorite pastime at Aerospace Perceptions headquarters involves breaking
out the big telephoto lens (no, the really big one!) and hoping for the right
weather and sun conditions to allow photography of United States Air Force
refueling operations taking place 26,000 feet overhead. An array of KC-135
Stratotanker, KC-46 Pegasus, and the soon-to-be-retired KC-10 Extender have all
been spotted in the skies directly above, providing fuel to thirsty F-15 and
F-16 aircraft on patrol. But in the future, the parameters behind such operations may well be very different, with a fundamental change in the game.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4jHDv0ncLjH6-sFdcyQNU74ZPSycZntX0VfuwK_x3S15F84zn5_oC4llwYojWnObYId60a7Wgggsrwqu3Yf3kcIJMaCj-OokT-w6N3Eses8QtMu7AouK60TOQmBLHOToMQ92_l4J7VU5iJoH3W3F919n8owS0FrpXZTJc2lRvy2SeBTPhn4R-eG0pA/s1500/04182023%201670%20Edit%20Small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="988" data-original-width="1500" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4jHDv0ncLjH6-sFdcyQNU74ZPSycZntX0VfuwK_x3S15F84zn5_oC4llwYojWnObYId60a7Wgggsrwqu3Yf3kcIJMaCj-OokT-w6N3Eses8QtMu7AouK60TOQmBLHOToMQ92_l4J7VU5iJoH3W3F919n8owS0FrpXZTJc2lRvy2SeBTPhn4R-eG0pA/w586-h386/04182023%201670%20Edit%20Small.jpg" width="586" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Refueling complete, an F-15 banks away from a USAF KC-10 Extender. Photo: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions </i></b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Recently Airbus Defense and Space announced they have taken major
steps toward Autonomous Air-to-Air refueling as focus continues to hone in the
usage of unmanned aircraft in addition to traditional vehicles. In one test
over the Gulf of Cadiz off the shores of Spain, an Airbus A310 MRTT jet tanker interacted
with a DT-25 unmanned drone. Control of the drone transitioned from ground
control to the airborne tanker, which autonomously directed the DT-25 into
position for refueling. Although no fuel was transferred from the tanker to the
drone, the operation acted as a proof of concept for the development of
autonomous fuel transfer while in flight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQC3kIhKHLWmrTdWJPkkozfMyNl4p4T11RIxZGQlNDRYjPTDGUWYqGDbDTJDjfwGSHM6OXd_oLsoTSuIzh5hwfCm_UmC-CQyXeM7dMm2MjPvgWp9f-GmauZOQhYiucw4QDW2feHNbrC5kkb-lIyLj6fD7ERwVrpPZuShNzCEJXrXIN-3ftT6vyh_BAoQ/s1440/04182023%20Airbus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQC3kIhKHLWmrTdWJPkkozfMyNl4p4T11RIxZGQlNDRYjPTDGUWYqGDbDTJDjfwGSHM6OXd_oLsoTSuIzh5hwfCm_UmC-CQyXeM7dMm2MjPvgWp9f-GmauZOQhYiucw4QDW2feHNbrC5kkb-lIyLj6fD7ERwVrpPZuShNzCEJXrXIN-3ftT6vyh_BAoQ/w539-h359/04182023%20Airbus.jpg" width="539" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Airbus A310 MRTT in the process of taking a major step toward autonomous refueling. Photo: Airbus </i></b></span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #282e3a;">“The success of this first flight-test campaign paves the way
for developing autonomous and unmanned air-to-air refueling technologies,” said
Jean Brice Dumont, Head of Military Air Systems at Airbus Defense and Space, in
comments provided by Airbus. “Even though we are at an early stage, we have
achieved this within just one year and are on the right track for
manned-unmanned teaming and future air force operations where fighters and
mission aircraft will fly jointly with drone swarms.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; color: #282e3a;"><br /></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #282e3a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The full Airbus press release can
be found at this link:</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #282e3a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-03-airbus-achieves-in-flight-autonomous-guidance-and-control-of-a" target="_blank">https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-03-airbus-achieves-in-flight-autonomous-guidance-and-control-of-a</a><br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Video of the operation is viewable via YouTube:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; color: #282e3a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; color: #282e3a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urndQLEcPdU" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urndQLEcPdU</a> </span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #282e3a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #282e3a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-82729633526642505532023-04-12T11:40:00.006-07:002023-04-12T11:45:49.895-07:00Hubble Vision<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thirty-three years ago today, I found myself once again in Florida
wondering if I’d ever see a space shuttle launch. Despite making several
long-haul trips to Kennedy Space Center, the temperamental technological
complexity of the Space Transportation System had rewarded me with nothing but
disappointment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">On this trip, three days earlier, I’d once again stood on the turf
of the press site at KSC, anxiously watching the famed countdown clock descend
to just four minutes before <i>Discovery</i> was due to loft the Hubble Space
Telescope into orbit on mission STS-31. And that was the moment when the clock
froze, technicians discovering a faulty valve in an auxiliary power unit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyha2-cnPai823aiapweZH5fRk36_fVNOMEiaa401nz0ErhrYDVWpl1_YeqRXuk_KlNolnGgVKkWj2OPQclooB_drW1xk3Wng-bunKqZA2u-fIAxxuH7Vy_5rrUFcDRljqfKDgBILq1eSU2evrDEkvc7Ihoxv7G_gOGx4oLnI1i7P0xhoHQJrA04wkrQ/s1500/04122023%20STS31%201500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="1500" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyha2-cnPai823aiapweZH5fRk36_fVNOMEiaa401nz0ErhrYDVWpl1_YeqRXuk_KlNolnGgVKkWj2OPQclooB_drW1xk3Wng-bunKqZA2u-fIAxxuH7Vy_5rrUFcDRljqfKDgBILq1eSU2evrDEkvc7Ihoxv7G_gOGx4oLnI1i7P0xhoHQJrA04wkrQ/w494-h326/04122023%20STS31%201500.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></i></p>STS-31 flight crew logo reflecting Discovery’s precious cargo, the
Hubble Space Telescope. Image: NASA</b></span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Two weeks later, on April 24, 1990, I was back in the shadow of
the massive Vehicle Assembly Building, the countdown clock again making its
agonizing journey down to main engine start and the moment of ascension when
the Solid Rocket Boosters kicked in. We sailed past the four-minute mark, down
to one minute, watching each second pass, 33, 32, 31… Wait, still 31? The clock
is stopped at 31? A recalcitrant valve was the culprit this time, but the issue
was quickly resolved. The countdown resumed, <i>Discovery</i> came alive with a
surge upwards at zero, and I witnessed one of the greatest aerospace sights I
could possibly imagine.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3CxrH8zwP2jJa4XEniNyqGK6R7oyo1rT_AoTyEMc76INYcQeozOPXhmfwCSzGxapDUKkVdKdohwyelhuuJ4NWxoSWyYMEmLVlyK8eM7Anpwu3483422utDHoMzzXYGA-4GFNYfVzEFKsVV93Anzca7eZsly3tX7agH6rud6vZKSmtodk2dlSPxBQwg/s1822/04122023%20STS31FCM04241990%20Edit-Final1500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1822" data-original-width="1500" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3CxrH8zwP2jJa4XEniNyqGK6R7oyo1rT_AoTyEMc76INYcQeozOPXhmfwCSzGxapDUKkVdKdohwyelhuuJ4NWxoSWyYMEmLVlyK8eM7Anpwu3483422utDHoMzzXYGA-4GFNYfVzEFKsVV93Anzca7eZsly3tX7agH6rud6vZKSmtodk2dlSPxBQwg/w462-h562/04122023%20STS31FCM04241990%20Edit-Final1500.jpg" width="462" /></a></span></i></div><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></i></p>My view from the Kennedy Space Center press site as Discovery
hauls the Hubble Space Telescope “uphill” into orbit. Recorded, of course, on
film. Photo: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions</b></span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Though I returned to KSC numerous times over the decades that
followed, and covered STS-135 <i>Atlantis</i> as that mission brought the Space Shuttle program to a close, I remain envious of my fellow media members for
whom witnessing spaceflight is a regular occurrence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Still, it was a privilege to attend the launch of the Hubble Space
Telescope, a payload that would have a seismic impact upon astronomy and our
understanding of the vast realms that surround our solar system.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">But now, with the successful launch and 2022 implementation of the
new James Webb Space Telescope, the question becomes: what now for Hubble?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnQQ_zkFcLNJWkIfBVpFXgek5ee1KI-9qi5frQiIqx-3PmUjekShsw5KIMOzlTUP55V_oEwCOFr3UxAQly4DaunzU51W9gHqDRDes_KGRQOWndwS4m2RxTHklgB0d2CnqylkLmaY3prRU-nPMk5Lrrp1xa5lF4rY6I1f2vFnFOLx7S4G39iWBKXUA3g/s1500/04122023%20Hubble%20in%20Operation.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1500" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnQQ_zkFcLNJWkIfBVpFXgek5ee1KI-9qi5frQiIqx-3PmUjekShsw5KIMOzlTUP55V_oEwCOFr3UxAQly4DaunzU51W9gHqDRDes_KGRQOWndwS4m2RxTHklgB0d2CnqylkLmaY3prRU-nPMk5Lrrp1xa5lF4rY6I1f2vFnFOLx7S4G39iWBKXUA3g/w497-h329/04122023%20Hubble%20in%20Operation.jpg" width="497" /></a></div><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></i></p>The Hubble Space Telescope at work, photographed May 19, 2009 –
the last time the telescope had visitors. Photo: NASA</b></span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Already the subject of several technically challenging servicing
missions – most recently in 2009 – Hubble is confronting the spacecraft mortality
that most objects in orbit inevitably confront. Though Hubble will continue to
contribute to science into the 2030s, the telescope’s orbit is slowly decaying.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In 2017 Sierra Nevada Corporation proposed utilization of their Dream
Chaser “space plane,” to be launched by an Atlas V and then returning to Earth
to a gliding landing, much like the Space Shuttle. In between, a crew would service
Hubble and prepare it for a renewed lifespan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">But it wasn’t until September 22, 2022, that concrete action was
taken. On that date, NASA and SpaceX, in a partnership with its manned mission
Polaris Program, announced a Space Act Agreement to look into the feasibility
of using SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft “<span style="background: white;">to
boost the agency’s Hubble Space Telescope into a higher orbit with the Dragon
spacecraft, at no cost to the government.</span>” NASA was quick to caution in
its release, “There are no plans for NASA to conduct or fund a servicing
mission or compete this opportunity; the study is designed to help the agency
understand the commercial possibilities.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTDY7AMwI4WZc9ag22xt5fOX7WqZa5dROoJvcKOF-eM3trLMnWsdBHLt0hqv7CQYG4T8EnyQuaeOQalpmyNvdnWe6It2EDbopnaz5OXbSzQhfATkV4VYTsjntwjt1G3-R0yTKRX9Wm_OeNuu3obRzg4YYIFtmcGv59WexfVm1gce_OMUIVBqkHIttvg/s1500/04122023%20Crew%20Dragon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTDY7AMwI4WZc9ag22xt5fOX7WqZa5dROoJvcKOF-eM3trLMnWsdBHLt0hqv7CQYG4T8EnyQuaeOQalpmyNvdnWe6It2EDbopnaz5OXbSzQhfATkV4VYTsjntwjt1G3-R0yTKRX9Wm_OeNuu3obRzg4YYIFtmcGv59WexfVm1gce_OMUIVBqkHIttvg/w493-h328/04122023%20Crew%20Dragon.jpg" width="493" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour, photographed
two years ago near the International Space Station. Could a Dragon play a role
in extending the lifespan of Hubble? Photo: NASA</b></span></span></i></div><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was envisioned that gathering
technical data and analyzing all aspects of this proposal to determine “whether
it would be possible to safely rendezvous, dock, and move the telescope into a
more stable orbit” would take roughly six months of study. Which means that at
any time now, we could hear the results of this initial effort.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Although inevitably NASA will some day face the challenges of deorbiting
or disposing of Hubble, if that final chapter can be held off for an additional
period of decades in the name of science, the legacy of the Hubble Space Telescope
will become even more remarkable. </span></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-10982462947454031182023-03-15T12:04:00.005-07:002023-03-15T12:28:21.532-07:00Going for the One<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Most people are aware that whatever United States Air Force
plane is carrying the president immediately is designated “Air Force One.” But
it’s safe to say the image that comes to mind when the vast majority of people
hear that designation is the massive, four-engine Boeing VC-25A.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOe7IhJwOZYG0meb7_nmzgY3IDjXtSFMIFblVrBoLkxUW_07nG9T97gLhsAQQb_75Jt8eZoHFgXVEBEYMTWJ1zWti7_n5PVDuhzFgpz_T6uvVuxYHQjQWjL_V59G-swhZCty3HN2QClyNlm9jXE6JY1njYoZyk_hwTow7SL3KGScR8nsXr1gfrTDHSA/s1500/03152023%20Current%20AF1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOe7IhJwOZYG0meb7_nmzgY3IDjXtSFMIFblVrBoLkxUW_07nG9T97gLhsAQQb_75Jt8eZoHFgXVEBEYMTWJ1zWti7_n5PVDuhzFgpz_T6uvVuxYHQjQWjL_V59G-swhZCty3HN2QClyNlm9jXE6JY1njYoZyk_hwTow7SL3KGScR8nsXr1gfrTDHSA/w533-h200/03152023%20Current%20AF1.jpg" width="533" /></a></div><div><br /></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Air Force One/VC-25A takes to the skies at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on September 17, 2022. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;">Photo: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions</span></span></b></i></div></i><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Based on the regal and legendary Boeing 747-200 passenger
airplane, the two VC-25A’s are fielded by the Presidential Airlift Group assigned
to the Air Mobility Command’s 89<sup>th</sup> Airlift Wing at Joint Base Andrews
in Maryland. First entering presidential service late in 1990, the VC-25As
conjure a majestic aerial presence whenever they take flight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Last week, however, public attention turned to the future
and a next generation of presidential aircraft, the new Boeing VC-25B. Based on
the later generation 747s, and therefore larger than the VC-25As, the goal as
always is for the new aircraft to provide dependable transportation with
enhanced communications and security capabilities. As the USAF has noted in a
press release, “Modifications to the aircraft will include electrical power
upgrades, a mission communication system, a medical facility, an executive
interior, a self-defense system, and autonomous ground operations capabilities.”<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">While the enhanced functional features of the VC-25B were planned
all along, one aspect of these aircraft remained uncertain: their appearance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoQMC8II9DJpMpShpo62SkFb2FiC_Ck-S7z1gmlsG_pU4s4C8CZkpDo7scPpeehPmD4u12vDtPCVyolWpWIpYLzaHw5CAuWbqLv73_NJ8LZeHzmFnJse5vansY93rA4cf3nAG9LNDxhzT8-1kfPWBkPi0BKRAZNsd6bDFa-ndZmN1BGPYLqaq9WHO7Q/s1415/03152023%20Trump%20Reveals%20Design%20June%202019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1415" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoQMC8II9DJpMpShpo62SkFb2FiC_Ck-S7z1gmlsG_pU4s4C8CZkpDo7scPpeehPmD4u12vDtPCVyolWpWIpYLzaHw5CAuWbqLv73_NJ8LZeHzmFnJse5vansY93rA4cf3nAG9LNDxhzT8-1kfPWBkPi0BKRAZNsd6bDFa-ndZmN1BGPYLqaq9WHO7Q/w566-h318/03152023%20Trump%20Reveals%20Design%20June%202019.jpg" width="566" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Then-President Donald Trump revealed his plans for a revamped Air Force One in an exclusive granted to ABC's chatty Good Morning America broadcast in June 2019. Video image: ABC News</i></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In June 2019, then-President Donald Trump revealed his vision
for a complete re-vamping of the look of Air Force One, which had shared design
cues stretching back to the Kennedy era. The Trump design looked more like a
commercial aircraft, heavy on contrast. It called to mind the paint schemes of
Trump’s pre-presidential private jets, with a strident, blood-red stripe
extended nose-to-tail busily bordered above dark blue. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoKsC-4jqYyNq6l0TS__b3TnmV9lodRslyq91OgRKdigtNfuy_BVRZ7jR3DvqXgPRN6_3D5O-zlevgITP2l6Vqw44t4He1O6hMJ1-jifyLz5qyoTumPxSAGt8jinnLrg2j_EzBEyuBX4a8a56dESF6AkbVAt8XHJShdO3pyxxMzytJpgkJJUr2bQ-qQ/s1440/03152023%20Trump%20Design.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoKsC-4jqYyNq6l0TS__b3TnmV9lodRslyq91OgRKdigtNfuy_BVRZ7jR3DvqXgPRN6_3D5O-zlevgITP2l6Vqw44t4He1O6hMJ1-jifyLz5qyoTumPxSAGt8jinnLrg2j_EzBEyuBX4a8a56dESF6AkbVAt8XHJShdO3pyxxMzytJpgkJJUr2bQ-qQ/w543-h306/03152023%20Trump%20Design.jpg" width="543" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>President Trump soon had a model built reflecting his plans for Air Force One, the replica strategically placed to hopefully generate envious glances from other world leaders such as Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, seen here with Trump in June 2019. Photo: Evan Vucci/Associated Press</i></b></div></span><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Trump found the new livery to be perfect; last week the Air
Force begged to differ. Pointing out that the issue of appearance did not
demand final specification until this later stage of the VC-25B program’s
development, the Air Force rationally pointed out an issue with the dark blue expanses
demanded by Trump. “A thermal study later concluded the dark blue in the design
would require additional Federal Aviation Administration qualification testing
for several commercial components due to the added heat in certain environments,”
noted a USAF press release issued on March 10. The bottom line is Trump’s
vision will remain unrealized.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7TLzRXmn205qdPSroLpuuawnuUfm6oqH7UpWj8PrQL8U4KwxdUkq4TptTKVauT2O3AjNbCbGEsMgryehqIwSAX8Q14sCqtYJLKNysMFjP28F31PC7_zThljFA3thwNoEfCVBQPtzCXfPkA0-hOXoeCxxiI-xyCIbUDYROe3ZMi1EHNHqfHB9Dq8a0w/s1920/03152023%20USAF%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7TLzRXmn205qdPSroLpuuawnuUfm6oqH7UpWj8PrQL8U4KwxdUkq4TptTKVauT2O3AjNbCbGEsMgryehqIwSAX8Q14sCqtYJLKNysMFjP28F31PC7_zThljFA3thwNoEfCVBQPtzCXfPkA0-hOXoeCxxiI-xyCIbUDYROe3ZMi1EHNHqfHB9Dq8a0w/w534-h300/03152023%20USAF%202.jpg" width="534" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>United States Air Force concept art of the final approved design scheme for the VC-25B aircraft. Image: USAF</i></b></div></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The new final design elements – recently approved by President
Joe Biden - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are far less weighty, sympathetically
continuing the current design theme with minor modifications. Overall, the
scheme is one that portrays the aircraft as part of the skies it travels
through via cloud-white and sunny-day-blue sections, accented with a single,
narrow gold center-line stripe.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8Ni8OkyOQpuqP4MXZ1RVP7N-vgtZxNdIY3LLK86Kd-hl-PlLvgKooZycuQX8OssRed_-gbfDZrfrXLWEAVjwYwRGUa1xAh-OeJCmUaVHKhq9P1UoEF51vKc7a61YA8L0e-VzIpeS-iwm4CTOadCFGilskXmHRlIbDKy29zbYabBkQ_WGo-QTUaKrpA/s1440/03152023%20USAF.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8Ni8OkyOQpuqP4MXZ1RVP7N-vgtZxNdIY3LLK86Kd-hl-PlLvgKooZycuQX8OssRed_-gbfDZrfrXLWEAVjwYwRGUa1xAh-OeJCmUaVHKhq9P1UoEF51vKc7a61YA8L0e-VzIpeS-iwm4CTOadCFGilskXmHRlIbDKy29zbYabBkQ_WGo-QTUaKrpA/w558-h313/03152023%20USAF.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>The new Boeing VC-25B depicted at rest, ready for presidential flight duty. </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Image: USAF</i></b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">But just don’t expect to see these new VC-25Bs in action any
time soon. Delivery dates for these two new presidential aircraft have slipped
from September 2026 and February 2027 to most likely some time in 2027 and
2028.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-55911701831419195972023-03-03T08:53:00.002-08:002023-03-03T09:04:46.810-08:00It's About Time<p><span style="font-family: arial;">With a renewed focus on manned lunar missions growing in
importance, what might have once been considered an interesting wrinkle is
beginning to loom as a real concern: time. Specifically, how is time to be defined,
measured, and recorded in lunar activities.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWAV_2bT693gxY6ejM8POf4hdP8k-vbhqV-n4I8UnskIDfJiELH9CAB_kAuDsihMyqlljmzdcPVyLxC6Sv2NohhU-rK4gd0OPGkFvjkBhGTvscQvFy0OWsp_SYd-LjPg092nPl38er5WvxEnGkPZTluW8zkd9HWpnH8gMFinGofQx2zNGc1gTsSUKlQ/s1205/12132022%20Moonrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1205" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWAV_2bT693gxY6ejM8POf4hdP8k-vbhqV-n4I8UnskIDfJiELH9CAB_kAuDsihMyqlljmzdcPVyLxC6Sv2NohhU-rK4gd0OPGkFvjkBhGTvscQvFy0OWsp_SYd-LjPg092nPl38er5WvxEnGkPZTluW8zkd9HWpnH8gMFinGofQx2zNGc1gTsSUKlQ/w480-h417/12132022%20Moonrise.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>That's one big time zone... </i></b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Photo: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions</span></i></b></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Will United States explorers utilize chronographs set to
Houston time, Chinese crews to the clocks of Beijing? Time moves faster on the
surface of the moon. 56 microsceonds a day doesn’t sound like much, but it
eventually adds up, especially when precise orbital calculations depend on
accuracy. And the parameters of time even vary from the lunar surface to
vehicles and objects in orbit above the moon. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">This dilemma is nothing new. The International Space Station
was designated on Coordinated Universal Time, based on atomic clocks. But that’s
just one orbital installation. The moon is obviously a much larger territory. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTYAkV5HNqYqKJze688kxJxl_Lq6Y_fI4QSuFuZUNDLkM7Nk-XoV2ZFiEmqMBpaPAYj89ntR0ql54z8DZl00R79G9YeubqcnEZ0CBd3xV1XganwL0tQmscHc7BvF2GKtqRpbQ4GBhVl9W3qAmqsLotGGHov-Kd_KISjqVhe__wFR44TIGzNZ6i1nJRw/s1920/03032023%20Buzz%20Aldrin%20Time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1920" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTYAkV5HNqYqKJze688kxJxl_Lq6Y_fI4QSuFuZUNDLkM7Nk-XoV2ZFiEmqMBpaPAYj89ntR0ql54z8DZl00R79G9YeubqcnEZ0CBd3xV1XganwL0tQmscHc7BvF2GKtqRpbQ4GBhVl9W3qAmqsLotGGHov-Kd_KISjqVhe__wFR44TIGzNZ6i1nJRw/w487-h209/03032023%20Buzz%20Aldrin%20Time.jpg" width="487" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Buzz Aldrin prepared to track time on Apollo 11's voyage to the moon.</i></b></span><b style="font-family: arial;"><i> Photo: NASA</i></b></p><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Space agencies around the planet are beginning to exchange
ideas about the creation of a universal lunar time zone – “a common lunar
reference time,” described the European Space Agency’s Pietro Giordano, who
engineers navigation systems.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Marcia Dunn, a highly-regarded space correspondent for Associated
Press, covered this topic earlier in the week. Her reporting can be read here:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://apnews.com/article/moon-time-zone-space-2b0124415c14755e08a58e1b5ed5362a" target="_blank">https://apnews.com/article/moon-time-zone-space-2b0124415c14755e08a58e1b5ed5362a</a><br /></span></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-36981899031883308342023-02-14T08:06:00.007-08:002023-02-14T08:06:43.379-08:00Red Flag, Checkered Flag<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">NASCAR’s biggest race, the Daytona 500, takes place this
weekend. And in racing, nobody wants to see a red flag before the checkered
flag. But in the realm of aviation, it’s a different story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">From late last month into February, Nellis Air Force Base in
Nevada has hosted one of several major exercises that take place every year
under the name Red Flag. With thousands of miles of airspace on hand, Red Flag
offers pilots, crews, and many other personnel the opportunity to hone their
skills under realistic air combat conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52KOGPSbaBc3bJVIfOmhEtLNHz3_ykJWaLcn1ejflJhsGqRqJMMBQtFmLVM4VNiAsEeRUv7EzIqosSmE42EK-RcTvqHdqdDI9VCzTOzgcq2S_bcaYfeUt20KDpGQFOC-Z0g02KtXEfvAYUWzs3rxoutCPnw54KGNWKRBKCB8fQBX0PdC9XI4F22ExfQ/s651/Red%20Flag%20Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="651" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52KOGPSbaBc3bJVIfOmhEtLNHz3_ykJWaLcn1ejflJhsGqRqJMMBQtFmLVM4VNiAsEeRUv7EzIqosSmE42EK-RcTvqHdqdDI9VCzTOzgcq2S_bcaYfeUt20KDpGQFOC-Z0g02KtXEfvAYUWzs3rxoutCPnw54KGNWKRBKCB8fQBX0PdC9XI4F22ExfQ/w462-h280/Red%20Flag%20Logo.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">While there are Red Flag exercises restricted to United
States military only, the iteration that has just concluded brought together
international partners to team up with our aviators. Which means our skies
hosted a number of aircraft rarely seen in the United States. Yesterday a
flight of four Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft and a large
Airbus Voyager KC tanker/transport plane took off from Las Vegas headed home on
the long flight back to England. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fortunately, these planes took a break after flying across
the US, landing at Dover Air Force Base late yesterday. And with Dover located just
down the road from <i>Aerospace Perceptions</i> headquarters, I made it a point
to be on hand to welcome these special visitors to Delaware as the sun set. I
hope you’ll enjoy the photos. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Click each image to see larger sizes…</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">All photographs: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">For more on Red Flag visit: <a href="https://www.nellis.af.mil/About/High-End-Training/Red-Flag-Nellis/" target="_blank">https://www.nellis.af.mil/About/High-End-Training/Red-Flag-Nellis/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">For more on Eurofighter Typhoon visit: <a href="https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircraft/typhoon-fgr4/" target="_blank">https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircraft/typhoon-fgr4/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">For more on Voyager KC visit: <a href="https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircraft/voyager/" target="_blank">https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircraft/voyager/</a></span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWT1fqsun573Jc01fK7UFhLLMmZK0c08QgX2F__zzsz56pe5vC1fRQ_gMY4LDte2LG5AaWyGfsXT8FuSHn1gN14FiplFaUbpshU3z8QBBKsH61T3CUxU7D41DiLY2Wl7YFmNrcazn8nPwH6ofWsaRI1u2XYG5wRCEo-9whwBFaXnFrA6HsIG-8k1eJYQ/s2000/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="2000" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWT1fqsun573Jc01fK7UFhLLMmZK0c08QgX2F__zzsz56pe5vC1fRQ_gMY4LDte2LG5AaWyGfsXT8FuSHn1gN14FiplFaUbpshU3z8QBBKsH61T3CUxU7D41DiLY2Wl7YFmNrcazn8nPwH6ofWsaRI1u2XYG5wRCEo-9whwBFaXnFrA6HsIG-8k1eJYQ/w578-h318/01.jpg" width="578" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eSBRr7fapBBQ5FzXqvFOagk7_ZQkxs2PIu0Q_UGgyzl_fUQo0a9pHm58PU3SP7OPt60RM44iE_eEHGT5oq6VHpO7lZYb_N9PaB5-02hcZ3DV7GexIhkLBADQQOiAhpDlJvhn8BFbLgtFB0HnRRoSmabrLqtVTF1jRXlQbNWMUkxzWatvWcPK-y4u4A/s2000/02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="2000" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eSBRr7fapBBQ5FzXqvFOagk7_ZQkxs2PIu0Q_UGgyzl_fUQo0a9pHm58PU3SP7OPt60RM44iE_eEHGT5oq6VHpO7lZYb_N9PaB5-02hcZ3DV7GexIhkLBADQQOiAhpDlJvhn8BFbLgtFB0HnRRoSmabrLqtVTF1jRXlQbNWMUkxzWatvWcPK-y4u4A/w578-h293/02.jpg" width="578" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OBIjWjsJIuQarTwMcpQZCR87NP8o9NP4aBBaC3PXFkm9LYPAJz_KRreS9cNeHWH2H0kLyJopByjCaY4jSl90NV59rXiGxutYdFvUYLNhuP5gHy3ZoW1xgOxQaFbCqCNBR4k3XWfVXf4czNzxeXii9VJJwKsoABAigX4nNdMpmIh86YqfXYBacnYslg/s2000/03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2000" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OBIjWjsJIuQarTwMcpQZCR87NP8o9NP4aBBaC3PXFkm9LYPAJz_KRreS9cNeHWH2H0kLyJopByjCaY4jSl90NV59rXiGxutYdFvUYLNhuP5gHy3ZoW1xgOxQaFbCqCNBR4k3XWfVXf4czNzxeXii9VJJwKsoABAigX4nNdMpmIh86YqfXYBacnYslg/w580-h397/03.jpg" width="580" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1zE73hoeDwVjvmyYexEg7ecCld2vuQQzgz4oFI_Wbrq1JlqQArB_Ru8LEP-ycmmulFay88L4R5pNcomKz4Ir4SGlvM7yIjDbIfs53VZvPE0phmME46t-ZzMOlP9IqvKKBcrAQfo9nvxom3s8BfwI5tfqjidDKmu-Rpx3EKAjpe7fm20RuSHkLAdh1A/s2000/04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1263" data-original-width="2000" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1zE73hoeDwVjvmyYexEg7ecCld2vuQQzgz4oFI_Wbrq1JlqQArB_Ru8LEP-ycmmulFay88L4R5pNcomKz4Ir4SGlvM7yIjDbIfs53VZvPE0phmME46t-ZzMOlP9IqvKKBcrAQfo9nvxom3s8BfwI5tfqjidDKmu-Rpx3EKAjpe7fm20RuSHkLAdh1A/w578-h365/04.jpg" width="578" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpBe9Xbi9c6S00yQugydzU91-gYNp_CTrZXaEj6aXgL506UgBD6OC7BOtk4E9xh_z1Wy-EZWtuO5LS159ckHFuA7HyJ9sPdm5tmqcTH8_J0v-nLuZ2O6t9waBLpQS2299KCE1ArRpqMbd4L-81bUJ3i7tx1_f46LIonNUobvXt686eGG3Jw0uvlTJrA/s2000/05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2000" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpBe9Xbi9c6S00yQugydzU91-gYNp_CTrZXaEj6aXgL506UgBD6OC7BOtk4E9xh_z1Wy-EZWtuO5LS159ckHFuA7HyJ9sPdm5tmqcTH8_J0v-nLuZ2O6t9waBLpQS2299KCE1ArRpqMbd4L-81bUJ3i7tx1_f46LIonNUobvXt686eGG3Jw0uvlTJrA/w576-h344/05.jpg" width="576" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTTifh35hX5hZZIUj5lIVmlPRxsuvG2qG7TVmPI5sP1NKw6_usHW2Tu2V323efSwO7vGRRSF2L36tHdOrLwT-avRYJ5NNzD-_f-d7ng8jE8zXGMB13DJPCHTMZUtztO24jB5lHt0xrrSab72ueN-lRx297-30vsIsQe8M7SJpJCRZ4cambQGYtlzIQg/s2000/06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="2000" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTTifh35hX5hZZIUj5lIVmlPRxsuvG2qG7TVmPI5sP1NKw6_usHW2Tu2V323efSwO7vGRRSF2L36tHdOrLwT-avRYJ5NNzD-_f-d7ng8jE8zXGMB13DJPCHTMZUtztO24jB5lHt0xrrSab72ueN-lRx297-30vsIsQe8M7SJpJCRZ4cambQGYtlzIQg/w577-h369/06.jpg" width="577" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzua8GJFDbeNkQiafBN-MlKDue_qZQTlHXI9FxS1SjCcz30aZuDZJECQiF-3FybzLhLBaKHnIiOyaZOKpVwC-cyMPYljwKOnGF1fXITvvhRhZ6tzsd8d3VoWpEkhktRYpH3r-F5CBlOx0aQTazKbkELqyccPhH0pdDFuzfi_3ExzeGh1sedyIVsFqoHQ/s2000/07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="2000" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzua8GJFDbeNkQiafBN-MlKDue_qZQTlHXI9FxS1SjCcz30aZuDZJECQiF-3FybzLhLBaKHnIiOyaZOKpVwC-cyMPYljwKOnGF1fXITvvhRhZ6tzsd8d3VoWpEkhktRYpH3r-F5CBlOx0aQTazKbkELqyccPhH0pdDFuzfi_3ExzeGh1sedyIVsFqoHQ/w578-h349/07.jpg" width="578" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWvzL0czNzyVdFgwbx75zURCYDykuPAyr0lXQj3-f-GEhYj009wO46amBoa7QiYgxw8S1M2vAzj4WfPJD1TI42FviO4qe1VhMj3prOOCxDrepZVeTqg6rWHuSVXCIsUFLCSAbpLNf35kCdt9E_BAdY9LYpCCsqZ9uH4ZOW9Dph4Ik8YVfGfhNytoXqw/s2000/08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2000" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWvzL0czNzyVdFgwbx75zURCYDykuPAyr0lXQj3-f-GEhYj009wO46amBoa7QiYgxw8S1M2vAzj4WfPJD1TI42FviO4qe1VhMj3prOOCxDrepZVeTqg6rWHuSVXCIsUFLCSAbpLNf35kCdt9E_BAdY9LYpCCsqZ9uH4ZOW9Dph4Ik8YVfGfhNytoXqw/w576-h336/08.jpg" width="576" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokAjyZ8yZZgYaU8VJOzjp8fIqZaWr1SaxqQnUo_bnbTIeDeil3DcYoM8gir8zDrJ03sdD6XJrnfwn6gPqin9bIVP5ky9mE7lNYx1AkKG3pE_3IigrQNg7QkLgTQnxjDW6aJN_uYF64aGE6ZddtMTW1JLH8QCXlAJfj40rXOGTSyYuugVCTSnRMpbTIw/s2000/09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1375" data-original-width="2000" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokAjyZ8yZZgYaU8VJOzjp8fIqZaWr1SaxqQnUo_bnbTIeDeil3DcYoM8gir8zDrJ03sdD6XJrnfwn6gPqin9bIVP5ky9mE7lNYx1AkKG3pE_3IigrQNg7QkLgTQnxjDW6aJN_uYF64aGE6ZddtMTW1JLH8QCXlAJfj40rXOGTSyYuugVCTSnRMpbTIw/w569-h391/09.jpg" width="569" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In a stroke of luck, in the moments between the Typhoon
flight and the Voyager landing, a beautiful Boeing 747-400 on a freight mission
for Atlas Air also arrived on the scene. I can’t let that majestic sight go
undocumented!</span><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLr_4D7ikemm0kaLJ-db7WDU05RtPrg47AiAI4Tdw-5LMyagd_R330uu8wtAZx4sMcbMt8PUgOSQQJhgYwY2N7fr4HYEj3er2TIzv3zCQdUwX4FQ9a3a-9gCS2BfiIW7GbNfpM7eCBNTd4cjlWlCPtCouI05ecLejGaQe_rnoJkqt-yMkByY3QmwEVg/s2000/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="2000" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLr_4D7ikemm0kaLJ-db7WDU05RtPrg47AiAI4Tdw-5LMyagd_R330uu8wtAZx4sMcbMt8PUgOSQQJhgYwY2N7fr4HYEj3er2TIzv3zCQdUwX4FQ9a3a-9gCS2BfiIW7GbNfpM7eCBNTd4cjlWlCPtCouI05ecLejGaQe_rnoJkqt-yMkByY3QmwEVg/w573-h346/10.jpg" width="573" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcGuftsRH7SjX_YsSkCeEmUNoOm_zQMh5BYV7maP4-qdymEodpdhJgLeb8vdA3tBnd9umCk2j0EsNQUDcWapFNrLLfNVDuEstNm2LLXsVPQKP_QNOM-dBOzBX7FB7ucZKsoGEkconD968dW6BV-gGNS9isf1jtiL8t13gbO5BYU5gnK112FY4QHlfQw/s2000/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="2000" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcGuftsRH7SjX_YsSkCeEmUNoOm_zQMh5BYV7maP4-qdymEodpdhJgLeb8vdA3tBnd9umCk2j0EsNQUDcWapFNrLLfNVDuEstNm2LLXsVPQKP_QNOM-dBOzBX7FB7ucZKsoGEkconD968dW6BV-gGNS9isf1jtiL8t13gbO5BYU5gnK112FY4QHlfQw/w571-h344/11.jpg" width="571" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-47276146717164329252023-02-10T06:17:00.002-08:002023-02-10T15:33:12.648-08:00Forget the halftime show – we want the flyover!<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Traveling from Aerospace Perceptions headquarters to the
practice facilities and stadium of the Philadelphia Eagles requires just a
short jaunt up I-95. So, it’s easy to understand why Super Bowl fever has
consumed my immediate area and – to be honest – this entire region. After the
Eagles (finally) won their first Super Bowl on February 4, 2018, Philadelphia
hosted a massive victory parade which included my participation and a chance to
congratulate several of the players first-hand. Not surprisingly, I wouldn’t
mind a repeat of that experience.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Regardless of your choice in football teams, though, one
aspect of the Super Bowl that always attracts attention is the pre-game
flyover. Super Bowl LVII is no exception. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAP2Qc_zkZ__R2eLZqBwPbRVkKm1PPgk6qGNWGref1Wef-n60BOIOaTKtrAnCOfwKIsEEAwNAyTAMpWZ3SWlI2-WJMBZ5VjKgKwPFpvALDzqAhnjIsSvdlutELxDcL5Vh6YrmxUlZSTe9sWG08dW9-kPaZqgQpEdUAz6xf9uzGd92PZF6pYTORNRVkg/s1378/02102023%20Super%20Bowl%20Flyover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1378" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAP2Qc_zkZ__R2eLZqBwPbRVkKm1PPgk6qGNWGref1Wef-n60BOIOaTKtrAnCOfwKIsEEAwNAyTAMpWZ3SWlI2-WJMBZ5VjKgKwPFpvALDzqAhnjIsSvdlutELxDcL5Vh6YrmxUlZSTe9sWG08dW9-kPaZqgQpEdUAz6xf9uzGd92PZF6pYTORNRVkg/w568-h334/02102023%20Super%20Bowl%20Flyover.jpg" width="568" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Screen grab from U.S. Navy Video/Austin Rooney</i></b></div></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fortunately, the U.S. Navy understands how hard it is to
wait until Sunday. So, they have kindly provided a tightly-produced sneak
preview video of the aircraft that will be involved. I won’t list them here in
case you want to maintain the element of surprise, but it’s an impressive array
and I can guarantee you I’ll be ready and waiting for the flyover Sunday
evening!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">You can enjoy this brief promotional video at the following
link:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/video/872511/2023-nfl-super-bowl-flyover-promo-superbowlflyover2023" target="_blank">https://www.dvidshub.net/video/872511/2023-nfl-super-bowl-flyover-promo-superbowlflyover2023</a><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One thing I will add is that the pilots at the controls of these aircraft are an all-female crew. Though that's news this weekend, hopefully in the days to come the skill and talents of female pilots will continue to be fully embraced and attract no more attention than the presence of male pilots.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgep1NaWSuHmlm2pvc5_fQld7CE8e2gYgTlLk6TPFhiT-MbXQzZ2xck1V5f7y4DyXVuUk5zvI-_RJlP-amGzy_mDKP0WC26X-0kTB0vLBVV5_pPxbEAwGZ5ClLsfIkBclAPkvC0ifKQWRQ0J4ldL_GPjACQaRlVAlAsGfCV9GqN1UnOKSVTO3rOXkW--w/s1222/02102023%20Female%20Flyover%20Crew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="1222" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgep1NaWSuHmlm2pvc5_fQld7CE8e2gYgTlLk6TPFhiT-MbXQzZ2xck1V5f7y4DyXVuUk5zvI-_RJlP-amGzy_mDKP0WC26X-0kTB0vLBVV5_pPxbEAwGZ5ClLsfIkBclAPkvC0ifKQWRQ0J4ldL_GPjACQaRlVAlAsGfCV9GqN1UnOKSVTO3rOXkW--w/w515-h245/02102023%20Female%20Flyover%20Crew.jpg" width="515" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Screen grab from ABC News/Good Morning America</i></b></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-11287559562041538712023-01-10T06:26:00.007-08:002023-01-10T06:36:57.472-08:00Old Dogs, New Tricks<p> <i style="font-family: arial;">Aerospace Perceptions</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> closed out 2022 acknowledging the
final Boeing 747 ever built, while looking back at some of that great platform’s
many variations.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">So, it seems appropriate enough to start 2023 with a look at
one more 747 variation – one I was happily reminded of during an early 2023
commercial broadcast during <i>Monday Night Football</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">GE Aerospace has long depended on the 747 platform for
in-air engine testing. In fact, the 2018 retirement of GE’s first 747 test
aircraft marked the conclusion of that plane’s 49<sup>th</sup> year in the
skies, as it was the last flying example of the very first 747 model. That
hardy 747-100 flew for Pan Am from 1969 until 1991, when it “retired” into a
life with GE for 24 more years!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcfYxijSId9KRbo52GfkSYnj1CLzNcWdroRuE-fdHjv3EvOXwhHtUpoVldqOC4ESXJhYvRjXozjd3JxnFfKr7E2G6lgZGcfNNBcUOxoV5rmq9xc3yIG8nMiCpGssxvwKlSFVBgJHbrBldVwyJBxHfGjDOpxojBsZWIpIGgzsAcW4L3OhADp1uO6CH9A/s1800/01102023%20GE9X-FTB-Takeoff%20GE%20Aviation.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcfYxijSId9KRbo52GfkSYnj1CLzNcWdroRuE-fdHjv3EvOXwhHtUpoVldqOC4ESXJhYvRjXozjd3JxnFfKr7E2G6lgZGcfNNBcUOxoV5rmq9xc3yIG8nMiCpGssxvwKlSFVBgJHbrBldVwyJBxHfGjDOpxojBsZWIpIGgzsAcW4L3OhADp1uO6CH9A/w550-h366/01102023%20GE9X-FTB-Takeoff%20GE%20Aviation.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>One of these engines is definitely not like the other one.
The modern GE9X engine undergoes flight testing mounted to the inboard
positions of GE’s Propulsion Test Platform 747 test plane. Photo: GE Aerospace</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">More recently – and starring in GE’s current round of
broadcast commercials – the aerospace company relies on the “GE Propulsion Test Platform” seen above. Acquired
by GE in 2001, this 747-400 served as the testbed for the state-of-the-art GE9X
jet engine powering Boeing 777X aircraft. The expanded dimensions of this large
turbofan engine are easily noted in the photograph, with the GE9X dwarfing the
outboard standard-size 747 engine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKWk-_BXQ18EORzgrueUNKrBbGzO-LTz_ASTYa9rywHPbLvgl7D2dhmL2JzCcdGrM1jPAmkaDaXGexbIDGuIrt51w8nfQx8hNnU_mgxe-K3jUC2gJGiEoLGsJP4hxM8xtpOMHp4qmCf3xJb7_PCdS7qBIWSbnrMOSANHppf1H1RxA78lFS0pG4FE8SA/s1600/01102023%20Omega%20F-35%20credit%20US%20Navy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKWk-_BXQ18EORzgrueUNKrBbGzO-LTz_ASTYa9rywHPbLvgl7D2dhmL2JzCcdGrM1jPAmkaDaXGexbIDGuIrt51w8nfQx8hNnU_mgxe-K3jUC2gJGiEoLGsJP4hxM8xtpOMHp4qmCf3xJb7_PCdS7qBIWSbnrMOSANHppf1H1RxA78lFS0pG4FE8SA/w552-h367/01102023%20Omega%20F-35%20credit%20US%20Navy.jpg" width="552" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><i>A thirsty F-35 has a rendezvous with one of Omega’s tanker
aircraft. In addition to the Boeing 707 platform seen here, Omega also fields DC-10
tankers with a greater fuel capacity. Photo: US Navy</i></b></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Amazingly, there are even variations of older-yet-fully-reliable
aircraft still regularly pressed into service, like the above jet operated by
Omega Aerial Refueling Services. Omega is the first commercial entity to offer
air-to-air refueling services, and among its fleet is the “Omega Tanker” seen
here. Yes, it’s based on the venerable Boeing 707, an aircraft which first
entered commercial service back in 1958. Omega supplements the refueling
capabilities of our armed forces, providing support to Navy and Marine Corps
aircraft ranging from the F-35 to the V-22 – and even the unmanned experimental
X-47B.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>RESOURCES</b></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">GE
Aerospace GE9X Engine: <a href="https://www.geaerospace.com/propulsion/commercial/ge9x" target="_blank">https://www.geaerospace.com/propulsion/commercial/ge9x</a> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">GE
Aerospace broadcast commercial (15 seconds): <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK5pRKuA20w" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK5pRKuA20w</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Omega
Aerial Refueling Services: <a href="http://www.omegaairrefueling.com/" target="_blank">http://www.omegaairrefueling.com/</a> </span></span></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-88662368728131161822022-12-15T12:27:00.012-08:002022-12-16T07:42:26.444-08:00All Hail the Queen<p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Boeing B-52 is the seemingly eternal king of the
military skies for the United States Air Force. Introduced into service in
1955, the B-52H models that currently make up the USAF fleet will soon be
receiving upgrades – and likely new model letter designations – that will see
them continuing to serve through at least 2050, if not longer.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Equally regal – at least in the commercial realm – is the
aircraft long known as the Queen of the Skies: the Boeing 747. Officially
entering into service in January, 1970, the 747 has not been flying quite as
long as the B-52, but the lengthy career of this aircraft is no less
astonishing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4dP3Yntt5qP5hL65G0QO62wci62QakhanBA_QJ5OP4sN9pFmz9ZZdFdVsGCtKNNYsECGyuW5DdXuBdd71Uc5uNNEN2rRZxeEYRJVsu9ogA_p91kEjfeWbiCZOKuBI_9RaF8Kt-73i3O4w3AlYcWzwmIbgYdW2JrqNaTfp_AEYUszrpC_DxTzON7l7g/s1500/01%2022BFT192_03_PhotoBy_PaulWeatherman1500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4dP3Yntt5qP5hL65G0QO62wci62QakhanBA_QJ5OP4sN9pFmz9ZZdFdVsGCtKNNYsECGyuW5DdXuBdd71Uc5uNNEN2rRZxeEYRJVsu9ogA_p91kEjfeWbiCZOKuBI_9RaF8Kt-73i3O4w3AlYcWzwmIbgYdW2JrqNaTfp_AEYUszrpC_DxTzON7l7g/w558-h314/01%2022BFT192_03_PhotoBy_PaulWeatherman1500.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span>Last call for a legend. The final Boeing 747 emerges from Boeing's assembly facility on December 6, 2022. Boeing's media release made some odd choices when describing the aircraft's payload capacity, noting it's </span></i></b><span style="text-align: left;"><b><i>"enough to transport 10,699 solid-gold bars or approximately 19 million ping-pong balls or golf balls."</i></b></span><b><i><span> </span></i><i><span>Photo: Paul Weatherman/Boeing</span></i></b></div></span><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Last week a brand new 747-8 freighter completed its final
assembly phase and rolled out of Boeing’s Everett Washington plant. It was, as
always, a proud moment – but also a bittersweet one, as this marked the end of
the 747 program after nearly 55 years of production.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In that time the design of the 747 has been proven to be
remarkably durable and flexible, adapting to various purposes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Over 1500 747s have been produced across multiple variations
of the original aircraft, with that first commercial flight for Pan Am
signaling the arrival of the “Jumbo Jet” era – large jet aircraft designed to
carry hundreds of passenger in comfort on long-duration flights. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFC-Xfep_Vg5P2KEQ44wPBKiNX9EnOz-WA6tSdDGP9xzk96UG2-qYmextz7RkZAI5l1b67Fhoc1h4FbHP9JVXIR6yB3d7SNFhXEvscUk59yAR2IHZwN0IrkSvNcm8ZKo2O423ThfIVUa4wuuo87yVjSuhbEnur_TJ4bQzjd6lEOjsElqRvMUyky3xsQ/s1500/02%202526%20Edit%20Tight.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="964" data-original-width="1500" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFC-Xfep_Vg5P2KEQ44wPBKiNX9EnOz-WA6tSdDGP9xzk96UG2-qYmextz7RkZAI5l1b67Fhoc1h4FbHP9JVXIR6yB3d7SNFhXEvscUk59yAR2IHZwN0IrkSvNcm8ZKo2O423ThfIVUa4wuuo87yVjSuhbEnur_TJ4bQzjd6lEOjsElqRvMUyky3xsQ/w556-h358/02%202526%20Edit%20Tight.jpg" width="556" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span><i>A Boeing 747-400 operated by UPS soars majestically through the twilight.<br /></i></span><span><i>Photo: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions</i></span></b></div></span><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The 747 proved equally valuable as a large-capacity cargo
aircraft. In fact, 747 passenger usage in 2022 has dwindled to just a few
aircraft for airlines including Korean Air and Air China. Lufthansa fields the
largest fleet of 747 passenger jets, with more than two dozen still in service.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">But despite diminished passenger flight usage, the cargo
realm remains the domain of the 747. In fact, as I write these words no less
than 20 Boeing 747-400s are in the air over the United States. They belong to
the shippers almost everyone is familiar with – United Parcel Service and FedEx
– as well as numerous specialized shipping firms like Kalitta Air, Sky Lease,
Atlas Air, Magma Aviation, and Cargolux.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxDzRV54jahoIwHBkSsFdibPAWIe98mPdWPLQE0J9A429DDcUksU3G-pUSdhNy22bF-KDWHjckFBME7IstX_U56-D7h2GNpMxZYFbEi-8j3DccNQBxpeayOBnnHNVqyn4CjzbUJviBOkEc57DB3dki0BjTLmBia_tI-owfuiH5yIBeSr3yQoayTdzhQ/s1091/03%20lufthansa-first-747-freighter%201972.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1091" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxDzRV54jahoIwHBkSsFdibPAWIe98mPdWPLQE0J9A429DDcUksU3G-pUSdhNy22bF-KDWHjckFBME7IstX_U56-D7h2GNpMxZYFbEi-8j3DccNQBxpeayOBnnHNVqyn4CjzbUJviBOkEc57DB3dki0BjTLmBia_tI-owfuiH5yIBeSr3yQoayTdzhQ/w536-h532/03%20lufthansa-first-747-freighter%201972.jpg" width="536" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b><i>Revolutionizing the transport of Volkswagen Beetles. In 1972 Lufthansa shows off the cargo capacity of its then brand new </i><i>747-200 freighter. </i><i>Photo: Boeing</i></b></span></div></i></span><div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Cargo 747s have adapted to their commercial environments,
with noses that open and flip upward to allow bulky shipments to be more easily
loaded into the aircraft. In the case of the 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter
developed in the 2000s, the aircraft fuselage in front of the tail swings open
for loading. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcACJ41nBcqZlv4GeK4unFyo8i7d4ueGvi5QV1apY-kWKmLADznOUtEpqNUzd1g-DMOZ2-gpUXypr-kLV9Hjp-F1UoKfWjn-GmEkhHHgMBA8Ryl1zIlri1ZbItwfkSJcwRqbPmfNToOyEngAaj2-VfvoFUiNwr_VN2jZPj_PjiGvCDAtrVDuird71BTg/s800/04%20N249BA-Dreamlifter-ANC-1_opt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="800" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcACJ41nBcqZlv4GeK4unFyo8i7d4ueGvi5QV1apY-kWKmLADznOUtEpqNUzd1g-DMOZ2-gpUXypr-kLV9Hjp-F1UoKfWjn-GmEkhHHgMBA8Ryl1zIlri1ZbItwfkSJcwRqbPmfNToOyEngAaj2-VfvoFUiNwr_VN2jZPj_PjiGvCDAtrVDuird71BTg/w532-h331/04%20N249BA-Dreamlifter-ANC-1_opt.jpg" width="532" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span><i>The Dreamlifter may appear ungainly, but it boasts an astonishing 65,000 cubic feet of cargo capacity. </i></span><span><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Photo: Atlas Air</span></i></span></b></div></i></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The swing-tail variation aircraft, more casually referred to
as the Dreamlifter, has a massively expanded body that increases its capacity
to three times that of a standard 747-400 freighter. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Beyond the obvious passenger and cargo implementations of
the 747, several unique and specialized uses have been seen over the decades.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfwc2exR-n1SZNnM1WNlL5scjZ-yQP5kvLDrVujjZ8B1FA1HNGPqWZgw7UX0XwMn-Eix8KI-NCBdwmBls6gvfNu4nTUo8XwIyiQeGnjj89J8Vy4Ri1FyZaHwoTadyAORqDndS1uv_c5IEK_M931kOPy3opsREEJIRYI5dOGSy3rOOvrKYK3np6xxKCQ/s1500/05%2009172022%20AFOne%201500%20Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1500" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfwc2exR-n1SZNnM1WNlL5scjZ-yQP5kvLDrVujjZ8B1FA1HNGPqWZgw7UX0XwMn-Eix8KI-NCBdwmBls6gvfNu4nTUo8XwIyiQeGnjj89J8Vy4Ri1FyZaHwoTadyAORqDndS1uv_c5IEK_M931kOPy3opsREEJIRYI5dOGSy3rOOvrKYK3np6xxKCQ/w548-h385/05%2009172022%20AFOne%201500%20Edit.jpg" width="548" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span><i>Air Force One rises into the skies over the United States Air Force Thunderbirds at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on September 17, 2022. President Biden was traveling to the funeral ceremonies for Queen Elizabeth II. </i></span><i>Photo: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions</i></b></div></i></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Of course, the most widely recognized of these 747
variations is the VC-25A, the airplane most people immediately think of when
they hear the designation Air Force One. In reality, any USAF aircraft bearing
the president becomes Air Force One, no matter the size or model. Joint Base
Andrews outside Washington DC is the home of the VC-25A aircraft, operated by
the 89<sup>th</sup> Airlift Wing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKY_b5RoXKvBBBO6qvar27-TCLnY_4qnvMkjamba1gLMVdNMkM3SHC3QvDI1elkeZERcpCC-Wxpr7B3Q8vdvUAW-yK18s4scFFCnTcb-eteEafzANOKoPsUIqCXLKkdWqZnassrvZ4ipfvHWQ3ybk15QDJYalH4BKkjbJqmaO1j1iNtqBUkZvUFPhg6Q/s1708/06%20Enterprise%20Tight.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1708" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKY_b5RoXKvBBBO6qvar27-TCLnY_4qnvMkjamba1gLMVdNMkM3SHC3QvDI1elkeZERcpCC-Wxpr7B3Q8vdvUAW-yK18s4scFFCnTcb-eteEafzANOKoPsUIqCXLKkdWqZnassrvZ4ipfvHWQ3ybk15QDJYalH4BKkjbJqmaO1j1iNtqBUkZvUFPhg6Q/w561-h340/06%20Enterprise%20Tight.JPG" width="561" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><i><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span><i>The test orbiter Enterprise arrives over New York in style aboard a 747-SCA on April 27, 2012. Enterprise was heading to its new home at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in Manhattan. </i></span><span><i>Photo: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions</i></span></b></div></i></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Two 747s were modified to become Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.
The SCA played a pivotal role in the space shuttle program development,
carrying the prototype orbiter </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Enterprise</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> in approach and landing tests
in the 1970s. Both SCA planes had long careers carrying all five of the
space-flown orbiters that came after </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Enterprise</i><span style="font-family: arial;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">There’s even been a firefighting 747 modification. The 747
SuperTanker joins fellow wide-body passenger jet airframes including the DC-10
and MD-11 modified to battle blazes. But the 747 holds the crown as the
aircraft with the greatest firefighting capability, able to haul up to 20,000
gallons of water or fire retardant. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpbYgkFiLOAnxeOMnfC5xPEy0EyEpkaDxvznwCzTnaxnVkP5IhWuXkyC3ETIV5UFguynyd975Fuw3P3l53aBDvoxjU_rflCquN-5Q1aZcDtngCtDXOE7fhnMJqjU2RwLBvBu7X9HHLUXBpKXR9M2YbxakZNi-Y3BpAfyTdNpg9G0cicpWdYDG538vNw/s1500/07%20SOFIA%201500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1500" height="439" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpbYgkFiLOAnxeOMnfC5xPEy0EyEpkaDxvznwCzTnaxnVkP5IhWuXkyC3ETIV5UFguynyd975Fuw3P3l53aBDvoxjU_rflCquN-5Q1aZcDtngCtDXOE7fhnMJqjU2RwLBvBu7X9HHLUXBpKXR9M2YbxakZNi-Y3BpAfyTdNpg9G0cicpWdYDG538vNw/w549-h439/07%20SOFIA%201500.jpg" width="549" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span><b>The infrared telescope of SOFIA can been seen in this 747's custom fuselage opening. Though seen here in daylight, SOFIA
conducted its scientific observations in darkness. Photo: NASA</b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: small;"><br /></i></div><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ironically, late in 2022 as the final 747 was built in the state
of Washington, another 747 with a NASA connection came to the end of its
service life. Starting out life as a Pan Am Boeing 747, this aircraft took on a
new purpose and a new name: Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy,
or SOFIA. SOFIA was modified to carry a special telescope to study infrared
astronomy, something best accomplished from platforms high in the atmosphere.
This 747 became just that platform, carrying the 38,000 pound, 100-inch
telescope in search of new discoveries, including confirmation that water
molecules exist on the surface of the Moon. SOFIA’s first full science flight
took place on November 30, 2010.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's somehow fitting that as the final Boeing 747 prepares
for a long commercial life after marking the end of 747 production, SOFIA’s
scientific career also concludes. SOFIA will soon be on display at Arizona’s
Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson. But really, with such a landmark
existence in the realm of aviation, any Boeing 747 is worthy of such appreciation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">With that in mind, happy holidays from Aerospace
Perceptions!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FXhYlMOIrDp4wQBRjz1Eg0BFwwf-lPVjMa4xyTUYblqe-lOSZ1Ock55SIaScWHRAS-v_WAPvBXZgge4tt5IZnzvTGjJSFlsuD9t_iGfrRiAFi2qyPu1P45gAvWAFdfb8zQ_169Y2txoEqWujAHOw1xQT_f4OcrBiyy7e4zlzqDAIFK2lvS-uFORRGQ/s1500/08%20Tree%202022%20b%20edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1500" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FXhYlMOIrDp4wQBRjz1Eg0BFwwf-lPVjMa4xyTUYblqe-lOSZ1Ock55SIaScWHRAS-v_WAPvBXZgge4tt5IZnzvTGjJSFlsuD9t_iGfrRiAFi2qyPu1P45gAvWAFdfb8zQ_169Y2txoEqWujAHOw1xQT_f4OcrBiyy7e4zlzqDAIFK2lvS-uFORRGQ/w557-h332/08%20Tree%202022%20b%20edit.jpg" width="557" /></a></div><br /></div>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-18491721586738158402022-12-01T07:42:00.001-08:002022-12-15T17:24:40.879-08:00Stepping on Stage<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPcJh_FT2FkR0bY6izPFWHXm82QFQqwfxZdeUZd5cWyESupd0r6CwXyaukIi7vQczXVG7-k0t65RgEJ1-m-XxyMoGAAE8_-RZEqeQMkcp8JavbGeumMmAOpFyLVEisJiIyghpCqB5D46ueN2gnyp616QPYBV8F-qRIL1B-F1zSJlIOJkTJujPAYN5qw/s1920/12012022%20Northrop+Grumman+Unveils+B-21+Raider.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPcJh_FT2FkR0bY6izPFWHXm82QFQqwfxZdeUZd5cWyESupd0r6CwXyaukIi7vQczXVG7-k0t65RgEJ1-m-XxyMoGAAE8_-RZEqeQMkcp8JavbGeumMmAOpFyLVEisJiIyghpCqB5D46ueN2gnyp616QPYBV8F-qRIL1B-F1zSJlIOJkTJujPAYN5qw/w544-h306/12012022%20Northrop+Grumman+Unveils+B-21+Raider.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>See what's under the covers on December 2, 2022. Image: Northrop Grumman</b></i></div></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Back in early June <i>Aerospace Perceptions</i> covered a B-2
flyover at Dover Air Force Base as well as information about the B-2’s planned
successor, the B-21 Raider.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tomorrow, December 2, 2022, the all-new B-21 will be the
star of a public unveiling at Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale California facility. “This
changes everything” the aerospace firm notes in a post offering a ten-second
video promoting the event on Facebook, and that’s an accurate assessment.
Though the B-21 may at first glance resemble the B-2, this new smaller aircraft
boasts the same long-range capabilities as its predecessor now made even more
potent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">It’s been more than 30 years since the U.S. Air Force
implemented a new bomber aircraft, so the growing excitement over the B-21 rollout
reflects that decades-long expanse. The Raider stands as a major advancement in
stealth technologies and in the digital methodologies used to discover, design,
and then test those enhanced approaches to masking aircraft operations. Speculation
has also focused on whether the B-21 will be operational without a crew onboard,
in addition to configurations hosting humans playing traditional roles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Northrop Grumman has announced the unveiling is scheduled
for 5 p.m. PST/8 p.m. EST. The following link has been provided for viewing the
event:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://ms.spr.ly/6186dCONr" target="_blank">http://ms.spr.ly/6186dCONr</a><br /></span></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-38186479121774270312022-10-12T11:28:00.008-07:002022-12-15T17:25:28.879-08:00Swimming with C-130s<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Being aviation obsessive, I’m pretty fortunate to have the skies
of Historic New Castle, Delaware, over my head. Moments ago, I photographed a
KC-135 refueling an F-15, the action visible from my upper deck. This afternoon
I can travel less than ten minutes see President Biden depart New Castle’s
airport via the fleet of Marine helicopters with a V-22 Osprey or two thrown in
to the mix for good measure. And being 40 miles or so up the road from Dover
Air Force Base means it’s not unusual to see C-17s and C-5M Super Galaxies majestically
cruising on by, often at low altitudes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-I-rAQkq0qtPjVsAvVnfj-DCYb0IxirZQ2-Pj8cFZSZMRL4k-OHbqW-pGhZHmtiqkDa2dWlROml6maWlyeOZmnvcX2hbUscZ7foh2OdAqT-Lm9jpxVfsH3ZtXd2QMVWMTb8c5RCq47yPGDcIKqBN-bVlRbR25mQzd8mWpgmFpHVEXt2MXTSi4F844_g/s2000/10122022%201758%20Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="2000" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-I-rAQkq0qtPjVsAvVnfj-DCYb0IxirZQ2-Pj8cFZSZMRL4k-OHbqW-pGhZHmtiqkDa2dWlROml6maWlyeOZmnvcX2hbUscZ7foh2OdAqT-Lm9jpxVfsH3ZtXd2QMVWMTb8c5RCq47yPGDcIKqBN-bVlRbR25mQzd8mWpgmFpHVEXt2MXTSi4F844_g/w554-h334/10122022%201758%20Edit.jpg" width="554" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Most frequent performers at the Aerospace Perceptions
Backyard Airshow? The Lockheed C-130s of the 166<sup>th</sup> Airlift Wing at
New Castle Air National Guard Base. <span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photo: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace
Perceptions</span></b></span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here at <i>Aerospace Perceptions, </i>though, there’s an even
greater soft spot for the Lockheed C-130H Hercules. The 166<sup>th</sup>
Airlift Wing and their beautiful prop aircraft are based at New Castle Air
National Guard Base – just over a mile away from <i>Aerospace Perceptions</i>
headquarters. To call the engine rumble of the C-130 a soundtrack to life
around here is not an exaggeration, and to this day if I can I’ll drop whatever
I’m doing to watch one of these big aircraft soar overhead, stars of the
backyard airshow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The C-130 is certainly one of the USAF’s “old reliables,” a
tactical airlifter having flown thousands upon thousands of missions. Simply
put, it’s an aircraft that can be counted on in critical situations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the essential benefits of the C-130 is its very special
ability to land in challenging environments. In fact, about the only landing
target that is off-limits is water. But that may be just about to change.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijALhPNrqm2XNUzNoX3XsnPu-F8Kej2R42POqj_GMTf-T_-mWQSzIPD9VecdkuNJR71hVhnIKlO9U6ySwKTInc5oQMN_qBKfwH7QZKaNZzdc7lyJ8HLrJf5-j1xJ1tzNeKTaQcc43N0S-YwaU3EKhk7fImYw4yeKer4eVMpkUFo6Hdv1-ls3oPp2OF4g/s850/10122022%20MAC2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="850" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijALhPNrqm2XNUzNoX3XsnPu-F8Kej2R42POqj_GMTf-T_-mWQSzIPD9VecdkuNJR71hVhnIKlO9U6ySwKTInc5oQMN_qBKfwH7QZKaNZzdc7lyJ8HLrJf5-j1xJ1tzNeKTaQcc43N0S-YwaU3EKhk7fImYw4yeKer4eVMpkUFo6Hdv1-ls3oPp2OF4g/w525-h210/10122022%20MAC2.jpg" width="525" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>A tropical setting potentially offers a new environment for
C-130 operations, although Lockheed did pitch a C-130 with a hull-like fuselage
years ago. Image: AFSOC</i></span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Air Force Special Operations Command – led by <span style="background: white; color: black;">Commander Gen. James Slife – has studied
the possibility of adding amphibious capabilities to the AFSOC variation of the
C-130, the MC-130. Basically, a special kit will be implemented in the field to
allow take offs and landings on water. AFSOC anticipates proof of concept testing
to begin as soon as next year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #2a2b2c; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“We're going
through the wave tank testing right now,” Gen. Slife explained during a
discussion on September 7 at the Air and Space Force Association’s Warfighters
in Action event in Arlington, Virginia. “We started out with a number of
digital designs. We ran through a series of testing to figure out, ‘Do we want
to do a catamaran or a pontoon or a hull applique on the bottom of the
aircraft?’ We went through all the iterations of that. And we settled on a
design that provides the best trade-off of drag, weight and sea-state
performance.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #2a2b2c; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #2a2b2c; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTqIh0HhKuO9jI6YkI_dzBWBsEY8YhLjoBAH2XMr3IHI2ZP1mCajiW7dQZ8ufQD0BNlMhrTGjzr09Q4UjZy9G2J-fjZOt0rtj_DwXOGJhLh4kTZX2aKlmrXhxJ5CN2Fpav9OeHpH8rSCTzpDCsiwQHSoqbbu56Ris-3a3z9Br_5JPGg5P8XURBkzhUg/s850/10122022%20MC-130-Seaplane-Concept2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="850" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTqIh0HhKuO9jI6YkI_dzBWBsEY8YhLjoBAH2XMr3IHI2ZP1mCajiW7dQZ8ufQD0BNlMhrTGjzr09Q4UjZy9G2J-fjZOt0rtj_DwXOGJhLh4kTZX2aKlmrXhxJ5CN2Fpav9OeHpH8rSCTzpDCsiwQHSoqbbu56Ris-3a3z9Br_5JPGg5P8XURBkzhUg/w560-h289/10122022%20MC-130-Seaplane-Concept2.jpg" width="560" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>A cutaway image reflects the 3-D virtual studies that will soon
yield to physical proof of concept testing, perhaps as soon as 2023. Image:
AFSOC</b></span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; color: #2a2b2c; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; color: #2a2b2c; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Gen. Slife
envisions one particular example of a C-130 with amphibious capability
supporting Naval special operations, landing SEALs close to an operational
target then being able to extract them. Many other potential uses for the
modified MC-130s are seen on the horizon, dovetailing with the air forces of
other countries placing a renewed focus on water operations performed by cargo
aircraft.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Perhaps someday in the not-too-distant future I’ll hear a C-130
landing at the nearby airport on my left, and a C-130 landing on the Delaware
River a few blocks to my right – stereo!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read more of Gen. Slife’s thoughts – and see him explain
in a video how aircraft prefixes like the “C” in the C-130 should not restrict
thinking about creative airplane applications – visit:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.afcea.org/signal-media/defense-operations/afsoc-goes-amphibious" target="_blank">https://www.afcea.org/signal-media/defense-operations/afsoc-goes-amphibious</a><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">An in-depth look at the aquatic planning for the MC-130 and
cargo aircraft operations on water:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/c-130-seaplane-should-fly-in-2023-says-air-force-specops-commander" target="_blank">https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/c-130-seaplane-should-fly-in-2023-says-air-force-specops-commander</a><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-31745472635228913542022-09-12T12:06:00.005-07:002022-12-15T17:26:36.484-08:00The "Off Nominal Situation"<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Shortly after 10:30 am EDT this morning, the aerospace world received
a stark reminder that launching spacecraft can be a risky proposition with
unexpected results.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">64 seconds into the 23<sup>rd</sup> flight of Blue Origin’s New
Shephard program – so named for pioneering US Mercury program astronaut Alan
Shephard – the unmanned vehicle failed and was quickly enveloped in a column of
flame as the capsule escape system initiated. The rocket had just passed
through the point of maximum aerodynamic pressure, accelerating at over 700 mph
and nearing 28,000 feet in altitude.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJ62NzvZwZEG_KWJHoLF_e3Q998qyl5jD7QDxP1Gqq1kOqbVa2CDOn92MBZCvcYRP1fsjTDD8T6op9uaMQ_K2IonZny35YF-yUgeIgIIATZo3LF_ctpoF9xzNCvhb66HW7A4SkPPB2NnXXWGu7jLg7DGlhMgyo8x7_BvLYp4UamhEaBixax7lLMtR5w/s459/09122022%20New%20Shepherd%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="459" height="439" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJ62NzvZwZEG_KWJHoLF_e3Q998qyl5jD7QDxP1Gqq1kOqbVa2CDOn92MBZCvcYRP1fsjTDD8T6op9uaMQ_K2IonZny35YF-yUgeIgIIATZo3LF_ctpoF9xzNCvhb66HW7A4SkPPB2NnXXWGu7jLg7DGlhMgyo8x7_BvLYp4UamhEaBixax7lLMtR5w/w486-h439/09122022%20New%20Shepherd%201.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><span><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><span><b>The first sign of trouble as the New Shephard rocket's plume takes on an uncharacteristic form just after Max-Q, where aerodynamics forces on the vehicle reach their peak. From Blue Origin video feed.</b></span></i></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Before today, New Shephard had been viewed as a consistently
reliable, single-engine rocket. Media coverage had normalized launches of the
vehicle from Blue Origin’s West Texas base in the wake of its first manned
flight just over a year ago. That initial crewed launch sent Amazon magnate and
Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, along with three others, on a suborbital trip
that climbed to 66 miles in altitude, with the entire flight clocking just over
ten minutes from launch to landing. Since that first manned venture, 27 more
passengers – including William Shatner – had ridden in a New Shephard capsule,
known in part for its space-tourism-friendly large windows. Todays uncrewed
flight was described by Blue Origin as a mission to “<span style="background: white; color: black;">loft 36 payloads from research institutions and student
organizations, half of which are funded by NASA.</span>”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bZ-d34L2OSvnEC4WCIigQluGWga3TvvOZNhQ9Q5b5ygSZpbKVXui9iblaqPaTcq9V2RTGhjs5heFi2Omq1dk4Bnn27laWjokhDS6aP1Rp9AWfh8i0MBtyyeZyVk8HNj_Kv2macfJHA1L06Py87cOYfx7Zx5PNS6BHolMBLcBiFLsTaGwXLG9DhUrWQ/s538/09122022%20New%20Shepherd%202a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="538" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bZ-d34L2OSvnEC4WCIigQluGWga3TvvOZNhQ9Q5b5ygSZpbKVXui9iblaqPaTcq9V2RTGhjs5heFi2Omq1dk4Bnn27laWjokhDS6aP1Rp9AWfh8i0MBtyyeZyVk8HNj_Kv2macfJHA1L06Py87cOYfx7Zx5PNS6BHolMBLcBiFLsTaGwXLG9DhUrWQ/w466-h409/09122022%20New%20Shepherd%202a.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><span><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><span><b>Here the crew escape system has separated the capsule from the rocket, the vehicle still climbing before descent initiates. From Blue Origin video feed.</b></span></i></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The good news: it may have been totally unplanned, but it appears
the crew emergency separation system did exactly what it was designed to do had
this been a manned flight. Of course, how this will impact the costly desirability
of riding a rocket in pursuit of the ultimate tourist adventure remains to be
seen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFcLelRvDB9ulEjo3d2gDVZ_cbkKWzbFHKWUZPuDqWXXM8LTMYEwx-UsNNWdqG09FcPmZfXAT6-b0vWzb45nAwBR1HMJhdBncDEoYKzgTth3zcYY3S3TflP-t_ekkMf4GdZmpa6TiIyC6LKwk52m3qtuG8CCRWB9J8uyaByVv5yjWZy0PDNTNUgpk1A/s535/09122022%20New%20Shepherd%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="535" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFcLelRvDB9ulEjo3d2gDVZ_cbkKWzbFHKWUZPuDqWXXM8LTMYEwx-UsNNWdqG09FcPmZfXAT6-b0vWzb45nAwBR1HMJhdBncDEoYKzgTth3zcYY3S3TflP-t_ekkMf4GdZmpa6TiIyC6LKwk52m3qtuG8CCRWB9J8uyaByVv5yjWZy0PDNTNUgpk1A/w411-h379/09122022%20New%20Shepherd%203.jpg" width="411" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><span><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><span><b>T</b></span><span><b>he capsule's drogue parachutes were functional before giving way to the main parachutes seen here, used to slow the capsule to its final landing speed. From Blue Origin video feed.</b></span></i></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You can watch video of today’s “off
nominal situation” on YouTube. Fast forward to </span>1:20:14 for the final 30
seconds of the countdown followed by the aborted launch.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqAVWvOT-1c" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqAVWvOT-1c</a><br /></span></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-15377118057874921072022-08-11T14:48:00.003-07:002022-12-15T17:28:22.001-08:00Potential for Domestic Bliss<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; color: #0f1419;">NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in coastal Virginia</span> has not seen the launch of an Antares rocket since early
this year, on February 19.<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> That day, a Cygnus vehicle placed into orbit carried
well over 8000 pounds of equipment, experiments, food, and other important
supplies to the International Space Station, docking safely on February 21.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Almost immediately after that Russia initiated that country’s
attempt to conquer Ukraine, and the ripples of that assault soon washed across
the </span><span style="background: white; font-family: arial;">Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> in a significant way. That’s
because the Antares 200 series rocket - which had performed successfully in its
launches to the ISS – is a first-stage assembly that depended on the power of
Russian RD-181 engines of Ukrainian manufacture.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ESdxLLjW4xUnxlFSSFw1OhCOM6VjulGQYsH7cWAQz49-PB1YYxKyHLZsY4u7SttDREskLkgY4AUZ8MZowLv79T8JbkVc1ifYcjBp0ZBWq4M8AypiStjiiS3hUnVcV63lduLBkNVVpy-m0_ai92EcUt35v85PiD_AiAzAX7CMAqTe_JZJKX1frnsD1w/s2500/08112022%20Northrop%20Grumman%20Antares.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1667" data-original-width="2500" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ESdxLLjW4xUnxlFSSFw1OhCOM6VjulGQYsH7cWAQz49-PB1YYxKyHLZsY4u7SttDREskLkgY4AUZ8MZowLv79T8JbkVc1ifYcjBp0ZBWq4M8AypiStjiiS3hUnVcV63lduLBkNVVpy-m0_ai92EcUt35v85PiD_AiAzAX7CMAqTe_JZJKX1frnsD1w/w559-h372/08112022%20Northrop%20Grumman%20Antares.jpg" width="559" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><em><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #070808;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket on Mid-Atlantic Regional
Spaceport Pad 0A at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia.
Photo: Northrop Grumman</b></span></span></em><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial;">Obviously, this dependence has been a massive cause for
concern at Northrop Grumman, the US space company that is responsible for the Antares
program.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">This week, however, a more solid footing for the future of
Antares was announced by Northrop Grumman and its new partner in rocket power,
Firefly Aerospace. Firefly is a relatively new company founded in 2017 and
based in a suburb of Austin, Texas. While Firefly has aspirations for vehicles
ranging from winged rockets to lunar landers, it is engine technology that has
led to their partnership with Northrop Grumman. The new Antares 330 first-stage
vehicle will be powered by seven of Firefly’s Miranda engines, making this new
generation of Antares a fully domestic launch vehicle. Significantly, launch
site upgrades will be minimal as Firefly’s technology will utilize the same
propellants that have powered the most recent Antares generation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_dpcAMsRfbgSIEx7qwgXz8KnGoQNDjlpHlfElCUorULz46OWANVy8fD82EcpY8RyU2ymSCNWsUa98cDveOfHrqqD8er-Fv7PU_HaCPxhW2N-f-NmjlfFKcQv4ftNlvABMNszhs4wvCzvQLwmJ5TaGcnm3BlECJizq7HPMklS8exlaNqOt2gNO_4r-Q/s1500/08112022%20First%20Firefly%20Engine%20Test.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="1500" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_dpcAMsRfbgSIEx7qwgXz8KnGoQNDjlpHlfElCUorULz46OWANVy8fD82EcpY8RyU2ymSCNWsUa98cDveOfHrqqD8er-Fv7PU_HaCPxhW2N-f-NmjlfFKcQv4ftNlvABMNszhs4wvCzvQLwmJ5TaGcnm3BlECJizq7HPMklS8exlaNqOt2gNO_4r-Q/w571-h362/08112022%20First%20Firefly%20Engine%20Test.jpg" width="571" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Initial engine testing performed by Firefly Aerospace, an
early step on the path to this week’s partnership with Northrop Grumman. Photo:
Firefly Aerospace</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial;">This alliance is certainly good news for the Antares program,
which can now return its focus to future operations without a dependence on
products from a region suffering through dynamic conflicts and upheaval.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial;">For more information on Firefly Aerospace: <a href="https://firefly.com/" target="_blank">https://firefly.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">For more information on Northrop Grumman: <a href="https://www.northropgrumman.com/ " target="_blank">https://www.northropgrumman.com/ </a></span></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-60413090628096542242022-07-22T09:20:00.004-07:002022-12-15T17:29:09.658-08:00Supersonic Visions<p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Twitter presence of United Airlines aspires to establish
the airline as your pal, with a “personality” that ranges
from wry to whimsical. “Drop your perfect vacay using emojis only and we’ll
guess the destination!” the account playfully instructs its followers in one
tweet this week. Another – dispatched on Wednesday - confesses, “Our hearts
went BOOM!” accompanied by a smiley face with hearts for eyes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">This latter tweet, of course, serves to herald the airline’s
upcoming plans to deploy a fleet of Overture airliners – the new supersonic concepts
being brought to reality by Denver’s Boom Supersonic. United joins Japan
Airlines as the initial commercial customers for this new aircraft.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHu054p669fdF5XcyKkcAIehgXKKpTzX71ctBb4iTAyusNT7jevZBEqKGRXij1wv4nTc-qqFAZ8150SBo9txDxoxHduaG2AvTbhzPEZiTOqtEk_bEfgqFZTfMX6xjid9sPAt18NUzycQAjF6NCmcFmJk_XZo9kmd8a8Bf0ORNHbS0o6O3SAZLRP3EGQ/s4032/07222022%2001%20Concorde.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2620" data-original-width="4032" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHu054p669fdF5XcyKkcAIehgXKKpTzX71ctBb4iTAyusNT7jevZBEqKGRXij1wv4nTc-qqFAZ8150SBo9txDxoxHduaG2AvTbhzPEZiTOqtEk_bEfgqFZTfMX6xjid9sPAt18NUzycQAjF6NCmcFmJk_XZo9kmd8a8Bf0ORNHbS0o6O3SAZLRP3EGQ/w558-h363/07222022%2001%20Concorde.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b>The vision of commercial supersonic travel was brought
into reality in 1976 by the Concorde, an aircraft documented in dozens of
books, but none more beautiful than this oversized publication by Frederic
Beniada and Michel Fraile. It is seen with commemorative materials given to
Concorde passengers. Photo: Frank Moriarty/Aerospace Perceptions</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">It’s been nearly two decades since the last flights of the
Concorde, the incredibly graceful airliners that brought supersonic travel into
reality from 1976 to 2003. And looking through the stunning photography in the beautiful
book <i>Concorde</i> by Frederic Beniada and Michel Fraile, it’s little wonder
that this aircraft had dedicated fans of its futuristic stance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAydgoYB9AeXlnqnFtd2UczYKkTiMHit6whRF2LcshLxFQmddF_Xu6EM_7v6CYxvPwYAk0qm6SnYGEiQJq-D7LBmRAWUZ-coa1r7TFj2Wxx_28lCzSvWFhpHaRJocaruI4HZsGEqMKovMi_qQgUcoLI7_6IC3vQosUFXDAJXzSx1T6exSSADbiI6SScA/s1200/07222022%2002%20Overture%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAydgoYB9AeXlnqnFtd2UczYKkTiMHit6whRF2LcshLxFQmddF_Xu6EM_7v6CYxvPwYAk0qm6SnYGEiQJq-D7LBmRAWUZ-coa1r7TFj2Wxx_28lCzSvWFhpHaRJocaruI4HZsGEqMKovMi_qQgUcoLI7_6IC3vQosUFXDAJXzSx1T6exSSADbiI6SScA/w553-h369/07222022%2002%20Overture%204.jpg" width="553" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b>An Overture depicted in the thin air of its cruising
altitude, 60,000 feet. Image: Boom Supersonic</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Overture’s design hallmarks certainly call to mind its
predecessor. The long, thin body following a needle nose ready to pierce the sound
barrier, the wide sweeping wings with engines mounted below. But naturally, a
closer look reveals significant differences, including a subtle gull-wing
design to reduce noise and stress from the four engines.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1zy4QA0XWhTEOlpeNvqDy8V5KIv1NcmVPdRJMgZCfQrU-99I3A61P-0SfcSP8uLjsmEF3EHiB7SF-aSUyo50_iIrL50LFz3B01tuqDE_B2DgezmXQjK8i8QRHwyimOKf61R0raV-iIdkCWxIk8gst86PyC4HvVFGMimL1DwVavi529mojhHSC0yYyQ/s1200/07222022%2003%20Overture%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1zy4QA0XWhTEOlpeNvqDy8V5KIv1NcmVPdRJMgZCfQrU-99I3A61P-0SfcSP8uLjsmEF3EHiB7SF-aSUyo50_iIrL50LFz3B01tuqDE_B2DgezmXQjK8i8QRHwyimOKf61R0raV-iIdkCWxIk8gst86PyC4HvVFGMimL1DwVavi529mojhHSC0yYyQ/w538-h358/07222022%2003%20Overture%203.jpg" width="538" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span>All dressed up: Overture in the livery of United
Airlines. United will purchase 15 aircraft from Boom Supersonic, with an option
for 35 more. Image: Boom Supersonic</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Of course, lighthearted tweets from corporate airlines do
little to dim the glaring suspicion of many raising environmental concerns about
the implementation of a new supersonic aircraft, particularly in the midst of a
week that has seen scorching ambient temperatures baking vast stretches of the
upper half of the planet. But United’s media materials are quick to note that
Overture’s propulsion is vastly different from the 1960s technology that was
the hallmark of Concorde. The airline’s announcement of its partnership with Boom Supersonic stressed: “<span style="background: white;">Once
operational, Overture is expected to be the first large commercial aircraft to
be net-zero carbon from day one, optimized to run on 100% sustainable aviation
fuel (SAF)… United and Boom will also work together to accelerate production of
greater supplies of SAF.</span>”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The first flights of an Overture aircraft are planned for
2026, with commercial air fleets taking to the skies within three years of the
test program.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For more information: <a href="https://boomsupersonic.com/overture" target="_blank">https://boomsupersonic.com/overture</a> </span></span>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6284878701753223247.post-51450876969685790062022-07-08T08:25:00.005-07:002022-12-15T17:29:44.857-08:00It Followed Me Home<p><span style="font-family: arial;">It’s one of the oldest and most reliable story crutches in
the realm of science fiction: humans brashly depart our home planet to explore
space, returning some time later. But they haven’t returned alone – stowing
away is a) a hostile alien being or b) a microscopically small killer that
threatens planetary extinction.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">It’s that latter scenario that hovers over NASA’s plans for
digging into the past of Mars. And though the discussion of such a threat has
generally remained out of the public eye, over the July 4 holiday weekend the
topic made a big splash in one of the most well-regarded newspapers in the
United States, the Philadelphia Inquirer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidp6kpcy1F1hM6DPtHAbAlq0_pgXKYfQwjf_EymM3d7aUeNtkLVj-UubjmiVwfpkGk5k5wv0UnNs61nOM1rvG1Kj-BIq9Vsi73KCT83W6tdhW8D9Z08fw6IVGbHvTtSnISWqxtL69lTpJUCVXL04A0yKx9Fpyq-tM9h7vT7Unxk3IM2q3fHeMaxL3gOQ/s1929/07082022%20Inq.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1929" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidp6kpcy1F1hM6DPtHAbAlq0_pgXKYfQwjf_EymM3d7aUeNtkLVj-UubjmiVwfpkGk5k5wv0UnNs61nOM1rvG1Kj-BIq9Vsi73KCT83W6tdhW8D9Z08fw6IVGbHvTtSnISWqxtL69lTpJUCVXL04A0yKx9Fpyq-tM9h7vT7Unxk3IM2q3fHeMaxL3gOQ/w545-h302/07082022%20Inq.jpg" width="545" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Front page news! The July 3, 2022, Philadelphia Inquirer
sounds the alarm about a potential Martian danger.</i></b></span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">NASA’s remarkable Perseverance rover, which arrived on the surface
of Mars on February 18, 2021, has been collecting samples, among its many other
scientific endeavors. Deposited into tubes, these samples of rock and other
materials – each weighing about .5 ounce - are left by the rover in its wake in
a process NASA calls “depot caching.” The tubes are dropped off by Perseverance
at several specific locations. NASA’s plan for these tubes? Here’s where the
controversy brews.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfD6mMCrbFKk3h3dTV2aIya7AzAdxU94DbNQDD7D54gS1efMB7aM9Dbkcz1nPSE1upx5KgHCndG10EX1CUS9jqZWYCKdPAYG4hyQIM3ltTEq1Ek_EGwZEhye_VgU1HgG9mRTlFGhDgCmlRe5UNDA_GSdSKdmsrgJe3LCCwt4c6d_Tt71kT4RNESgWMjA/s1600/07082022%20Pers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfD6mMCrbFKk3h3dTV2aIya7AzAdxU94DbNQDD7D54gS1efMB7aM9Dbkcz1nPSE1upx5KgHCndG10EX1CUS9jqZWYCKdPAYG4hyQIM3ltTEq1Ek_EGwZEhye_VgU1HgG9mRTlFGhDgCmlRe5UNDA_GSdSKdmsrgJe3LCCwt4c6d_Tt71kT4RNESgWMjA/w551-h310/07082022%20Pers.jpg" width="551" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>NASA’s Perseverance rover captured this self-portrait on
Mars on September 10, 2021. The rover’s most recent movements before the photo
was taken can be traced in the tracks seen on the planet’s surface. Photo:
NASA</i></b></span></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the next ten years, in an operation in partnership with
the European Space Agency, NASA hopes to initiate the Mars Sample Return Mission.
The plan is for another vehicle to venture to Mars, retrieve the Perseverance samples
from their storage locations, and return to Earth. The samples will arrive on
our planet in Utah, destined for a secure scientific facility yet to be
constructed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">No doubt NASA will go to the greatest of lengths to
offer reassurance about its Mars objectives and procedures to be implemented,
and officials have indicated this plan has a “low likelihood of risk.” But as
awareness of the Mars Sample Return Mission grows, one thing is certain: a
swelling chorus of concern is likely to join those who are already sounding
words of alarm – particularly in a general population that has spent several
years wrestling with the impact of COVID.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Philadelphia Inquirer article referenced above can be
read here:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/news/mars-perseverance-sample-return-mission-search-for-life-20220630.html" target="_blank">Philadelphia Inquirer: Mars Mission Has Some Wary</a></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The access portal to NASA’s many online resources covering
the exploration of Mars is here:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://mars.nasa.gov/" target="_blank">https://mars.nasa.gov/</a><br /></span></p>Frank Moriartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11627860300871020517noreply@blogger.com