desertsaker

[desertsaker]

If only the sand could speak, the tales you’d hear.

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Australian mechanics working on the engine of a taxying 'Black Cat' Consolidated PBY Catalina of the RAAF in 1945.

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F-35B

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From the F22 Demonstration team

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NASA

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Reasons why War Thunder is better than World of Tanks:

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A hint of a rainbow under the engine via Mt. Fuji, approaching low over a city, a break in the clouds, a glimmer of stars through the morning gloom - these moments are what makes the hour-long island-hopping flights worth it. 

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Island-hopping Hawaii in KingAirs. They’re not exactly what one would consider bush planes -- but with ample amounts of thrust reverser and optimism, you can land them at 14,000 feet at the top of Mauna Kea. The flight there from Honolulu was a race against the setting sun. After pushing our planes right up to Vne, we landed on top of the mountain next to the observatory with twilight fading. It was one of the hardest landings I’ve ever done in any flight simulator.

Hands-down my favorite place in the world IRL, we stopped to star gaze a bit before heading back to PHNL. Next stop, Japan....

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KSFO -> PHNL

Chasing the sun across the pacific for five hours isn’t the most exciting of things. But the views are worth it.

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“Here we go.”

Everything gets pushed to the back of your head when you shoot off the cat. Your only focus is the mission ahead. 

[desertsaker]

Did a spot of Forward Air Control for three F/A-18′s and two A-10′s. There is something immensely satisfying about marking a target with the laser and watching it immediately getting vaporized by a 30mm cannon. 

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/622437643

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"Maykop traffic, Succ Flight - that's two 'c's but three harriers taking runway 22 for east departure, Maykop."

Yes, I know... 4th+ gen multirole fighters are the meta in DCS. But there is something just fun about the Harrier. Of course, my one of my wingmen had to ruin the picture by taxiing too fast and breaking a gear...but it was a great night that can be viewed here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/620541407

[desertsaker]

I still have some pictures on my wall I still know the places where they're from I still find all answers in my dreams

Do you really want to go back in time? By late 1944, many P-38′s were regulated to CAS roles. Despite being optimized for high-altitude performance, they were still able to hit nearly 400 mph on the deck --- which meant that after they dropped their bombs, they easily reminded the remnants of the Luftwaffe why they earned the nickname “Forked-Tail Devil.”  I’m used to flying 4th-generation fighter jets in DCS. Putting “California Cutie” through her paces in IL-2 was a pure stick-and-rudder experience. The P-38 is a quirky aircraft, and surviving against advanced German fighters requires you to use every strange advantage you can get. 

[desertsaker]

Wildcard Flight on the hot ramp, waiting for the push call

Once again, the JF-17′s carried the team to victory on Spudnocker’s PVP mission. We were on the red side this time, and opened the engagement with an ass-to-grass run through Death Valley to strike storage sites. It was almost eerie, diving into the valley. We faded from our own AWACS, and our RWR/datalink went completely clear...

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/603292331

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Practiced some BFM today - I learned a lot about what the JF-17 can and can’t do. If you see a Tomcat, get him slow and force a one-circle. If you see a Hornet, fucking run.

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Once again, the JF-17′s carry the team on Spudnocker’s mission. This was a PvP event, which was extremely entertaining. As planned, Spider Flight opened the engagement by hitting strategic targets with cruise missiles, then proceeded to enforce a no-fly zone over the FEBA. 

I love it when a plan comes together. And I also love the callsign “Spider.”