Friday, July 23, 2010

US Marine Corps and Bell Helicopters pushes sells of the H-1...


Interesting story from Defense News.  I have mixed feelings on this.  The Military helping corporations sell their products at these events is somehow....unseemly.  It helps blur the line between the two and I'm sure this helps senior Officers make the transition from the military to civilian positions in these same companies.  I feel the same way regarding the military and participation with certain think tanks....read the whole thing but this part caught my eye...

“One of the reasons we’ve come to Farnborough is export opportunities,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Harry Hewson... “We’re more than willing to start talking about possible FMS [Foreign Military Sales] cases.”....
Save me the line about foreign military sales lowering the price of the aircraft for the US military.  I realize that but I'm also concerned about a Colonel....A Colonel in the US Marine Corps sounding like a used car salesman.

Just my two cents.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Let's talk Super-Cruise.

Lets talk Super-Cruise.

First up lets get the definition of super cruise.  From Wikipedia...
Supercruise is sustained supersonic flight of an aircraft with a useful cargo, passenger, or weapons load performed efficiently and without the use of afterburners ("reheat").
Wiki goes on to state that the Gripen, Typhoon, F-22 and Rafale are all capable of super cruising.

I find that to be questionable.


I find claims that the Gripen can super cruise laughable.

But more than anything else I question the utility of being able to super cruise.

1.  Will it increase range?
2.  Does it add anything to the aerial fight?

If the answer to those two basic questions is no ---and I have yet to hear any advantages found in this capability, then the question remains...is it militarily useful or is it the latest buzz?

Oh and before you make the leap that the F-35 is incapable of super cruising, I wouldn't be so quick.  Its optimized to perform high subsonic flight but we just don't know yet (and yes I know Burbage has stated that it doesn't but again, we'll have to wait and see).

Your thoughts.

NOTE*
I'm getting rolled in the discussion here.  If there is an Engine guy around that can clarify a few issues I'd sure appreciate it.  Any bored Aerodynamicists that want to answer a rookies questions would be appreciated too.


When have you become old Corps? When morning PT becomes Dynamic Conditioning.

We did beach runs all the time.  Our crusty ass old 1stSgt loved to add a little "variation" to it by having us do sit-ups, push-ups etc...with the surf washing into us.  Made us 'hard' he would say.  This is what being a Marine is all about he would sing.

Now its called Dynamic Conditioning.  

Read it and weep, old Corps (and if you're like me you didn't even realize you qualified for that label!).

Amazing!

But lets be real...this isn't Corps wide, this is a Marine Logistics Group!  Strike two for you guys (and girls)...first a Cpl's Course in Afghanistan (1st MLG) and now this cluster (2nd MLG).  Thank God I never got a whiff of this outfit.  Just drop the beans and bullets and be gone!


Marines ‘take’ Onslow beach for dynamic conditioning 



CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.  — Nearly 100 Marines with Headquarters Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 27 overran Onslow Beach, literally, aboard Camp Lejeune, July 22.   The early morning company run, led by acting first sergeant, Gunnery Sgt. Timothy Stovall, and commanding officer, Capt. Amy Upton, was concluded with various squad exercises followed by a cool-down, compliments of the ocean.

MagPul Dynamic Handgun Vid.

This is going to be my next gift to me. 

Bettina Chavanne of Aviation Week and the MH-60R at Farnborough.

C-130 Demonstration Flight at Farnborough.

Let's see if the A400 is this nimble.  Oh and for those that think that the C-27 is an answer to anything...Really?  Really?  Say it out loud and see if it sounds right.  The US Army wanted C-27's because they couldn't get C-130's...the C-27 is an answer to a problem that doesn't exist.

F-111's at Pitch Black.

22 July 2010
No. 6 Squadron F-111 Aircraft Taxiing

The Royal Australian Air Force's iconic F-111s are participating in Exercise Pitch Black for the final time before they are decommissioned from service at the end of the year. Four F-111s from RAAF Amberley, Qld are operating from RAAF Darwin, NT during the three-week long exercise.

The venerable F-111 long-range strike aircraft has provided excellent service to Australia for the last 37 years and continues to perform a vital role in maintaining air power in the region in conjunction with the F/A-18 Classic and Super Hornets. The F/A-18F Australian Super Hornets are set to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2012.


The F-111s will return to Darwin later next month to participate in Exercises Kakadu and Singaroo. 

 

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

VMM-261 back home.


The unit that first took the MV-22 to Afghanistan is back home....

VMM-261 Raging Bulls complete historic deployment 

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, Jacksonville, N.C.  — Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, “The Raging Bulls,” returned to Marine Corps Air Station New River from Afghanistan July 16.  They were stationed at Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, under the command of Lt. Col. Anthony Bianca, as an assault support unit.
 Due to a change of command in May, the Squadron completed their tour under the command of Lt. Col. Ivan Thomas.
The Squadron was the first MV-22 Osprey squadron to operate in Afghanistan, and the unit’s primary mission was to serve as assault support.
“The V-22 was used (in Afghanistan) to exploit its capabilities to the maximum extent,” said Maj. Timothy Miller, executive officer for VMM-261. “We were able to range the entire country. We flew to places that could only be ranged by plane, but only be landed by helicopter.”
This was the squadron’s fourth deployment. Before the recent tour in Afghanistan, the squadron supported Operation Iraqi Freedom during three separate deployments.
Miller said he believes the unit did very well, and performed all missions asked of them to the utmost of their abilities.
 “This environment was more challenging (than Iraq),” said Miller. “We performed all missions that were asked us and brought back all aircraft and Marines. Certainly, this was a mission success.”
More than twenty Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 were attached to VMM-261 for the return trip.
It was approximately 8 p.m. when the buses carrying the Marines arrived onto the flightline.
One of the Marines who came back was Sgt. Frank Mershon IV. His family was anxiously waiting for him, wearing bright yellow shirts that read “Frank the Tank.”
“We are very excited he’s coming home,” said Terry Mershon, Frank’s mother.
“We are very proud of Frankie, and all the Marines that worked twenty-four-seven,”said Frank Mershon III, Sgt. Mershon’s father.
Another example of a weapon system that has been vilified by many before it even entered into Marine Corps service (strangely people seem to have no problem with US Air Force Special Ops flying this airplane) that has gone on and proven its worth in the war zone.

And now we start hearing from Canadian Aviation Blogs....


More good news and another sign of strong support for the F-35...this from Aviation.ca

“It’s pretty exciting to be part of the change that’s about to occur with the new aircraft coming in,” says Captain Forrest Rock, the fighter pilot who flew in a CF-18 from 425 (Tactical Fighter) Squadron at 3 Wing Bagotville, Que. for the news conference last Friday.
“I love flying the CF-18, but obviously flying the F-35 one day will be pretty exciting. I love what I do. It’s not every day you can wake up, and go to work and do something you love. Every time you put the throttles in afterburner you get a smile on your face.”
In announcing the $9 billion acquisition, Defence Minister Peter McKay emphasized why the conventional take-off and landing variant of the F-35 Lighting II is the right replacement for the CF-18 Hornet.
“The F-35 Lightning II’s technology in terms of sensors, stealth technology, weapons systems, survivability and the integrated nature of its systems make it a truly fifth generation aircraft,” said Minister McKay. “It is the only fighter to meet the Canadian Forces operational and interpretational requirements and needs.”
Read the whole thing but the Canadian Air Force seems pretty happy with this development.

Italy cuts Eurofighter buy.


via ASDNews.

Italy cuts Eurofighter order by 25 units, citing finances

MILAN, July 20, 2010 (AFP) - Italy will slash an order for Eurofighter warplanes by 25 from a planned 121 for savings of about two billion euros (2.6 billion dollars), the defence ministry said on Tuesday.

The reduced order is part of "savings that the ministry must make under the austerity plan" adopted by the centre-right government in May, a press officer told AFP, confirming remarks by Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa at the Farnborough Airshow in Britain.

The two-year austerity package totalling 24.9 billion euros is aimed at cleaning up Italy's finances and reassuring financial markets.

The Eurofighter, a multi-purpose twin-engine fighter jet introduced in 2003, is built by a consortium made up of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), Britain's BAE Systems and Alenia/Finmeccanica of Italy.

EADS' share is 46 percent, followed by BAE's 33 percent and Alenia/Finmeccanica's 21 percent.

The Eurofighter programme has been dogged by criticism over costs, notably from Italy and Britain.
Wow.

Everyone was predicting that the F-35 would fall prey to the financial crisis but it seems like the production schedule will preclude that type of hit. 

High tech jobs have a type of political capital that must not be underestimated. 

I do wonder what this will do to the planned upgrade of the AESA radar that is being developed.  Especially when it can be seen that the F-35 will be a more capable and lower cost airplane.

BAE teases!

I've been watching the BAE micro Farnborough website for news on this tantalizing bit of news on the F-35's defensive avionics suite.  Still no word but it appears to be game changing...or it could just be clever marketing.  I guess we'll see when we see.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010