#Marine Aircraft Group 41

[usafphantom2]

NATO intensifies patrols in the Baltic Sea after damage to submarine infrastructure

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 10/20/2023 - 4:00 p.m. in Military

NATO and the Allies are intensifying patrols in the Baltic Sea, following the recent damage caused to the region's submarine infrastructure.

The added measures include additional surveillance and reconnaissance flights, namely with maritime patrol aircraft, NATO AWACS aircraft and drones. A fleet of four NATO mine hunters is also being sent to the area.

“We continue to closely monitor the situation and are maintaining direct contact with our allies in Estonia and Finland, and with our partner Sweden,” said interim NATO spokesman Dylan White. “NATO will continue to adapt its maritime posture in the Baltic Sea and will take all necessary measures to keep the Allies safe.”

Since the sabotage of the Nord Stream in September 2022, NATO has intensified patrols near critical submarine infrastructure and promoted technological innovation - including with drones - to better detect any suspicious activity. Earlier this year, NATO created an underwater infrastructure coordination cell to deepen ties between governments, military, industrial actors and NATO, and since then created the NATO Maritime Center for the Security of Critical Underwater Infrastructures under the NATO Maritime Command.

Tags: Military AviationAWACSNATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[planesawesome]

(9/15/2022) Marines attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 112, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, await takeoff in F/A-18C Hornets at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas.. VMFA-112 is participating in a joint long-range strike exercise with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 234, VMFA-225, Marine Fighter Training Squadron (VMFT) 401 and U.S. Air Force 513th Operations Support Squadron. This large force exercise demonstrates MAG-41's ability to project long-range strike capability and integrate with the Marine Corps' active component 5th generation aircraft in contested environments. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kryzentia Richards)

[againstalloddswefoundperfectlove]

Those of you who have followed the writing of my book know my brother Orace Leon Edwards was part of the men in life who loved and spoiled me. He joined the Marines and was deployed to Korea at 18. No one was expected to survive this battle but he did. Once someone asked how he stayed alive when so many of his buddies died, he said, “My sister and mother were praying for me every day!” He is 91, a proud Marine, and survivor of the “Chosin Few.” Special thanks to my cousin, Laura Long-Edwards for the pictures! U. S. Marines from Marine Aircraft Group 41, participated in the Chosin Few Memorial dedication ceremony at Dallas Fort-Worth National Cemetery on July 9, 2022. “The Marines that fought at the Chosin Reservoir are inspiring. The Marine Corps places great value on its history and the battle of the Chosin Reservoir specifically, is a story of grit and determination; perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds.” The Chosin Few Memorial, a 12-foot-tall, black granite wall with text engravings on both sides, was created and organized by Metroplex Military Charitable Trust and honors those who fought and died during the Battle of Chosin during the Korean War. The Battle of the Chosin Reservoir is considered to be one of the most significant battles in Marine Corps history and survivors of the conflict are known as the “Chosin Few. https://www.instagram.com/p/CgKA1DgOxDs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[nasa]

The ranks of America’s Astronaut Corps grew by 11 today!

After completing more than two years of basic training, our graduating class of astronauts is eligible for spaceflight. Assignments include the International Space Station, Artemis missions to the Moon, and ultimately, missions to Mars.

The class includes 11 astronauts, selected in 2017 from a record-setting pool of more than 18,000 applicants. This was more than double the previous record of 8,000 applicants set in 1978.

Meet the graduates:

Kayla Barron

“If you don’t love what you’re doing, you’re not going to be good at it. I think it’s a combination of finding things that you really love that will also be really challenging and will force you to grow along the way.”

This Washington native graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering. As a Gates Cambridge Scholar, which offers students an opportunity to pursue graduate study in the field of their choice at the University of Cambridge. Barron earned a master’s degree in nuclear engineering.

As a Submarine Warfare Officer, Barron was part of the first class of women commissioned into the submarine community, completing three strategic deterrent patrols aboard the USS Maine.

Zena Cardman

“Every STEM opportunity that I have ever gone down is because of some mentor who inspired me or some student who was ahead of me in school who inspired me.”

Zena Cardman is a native of Virginia and completed a bachelor’s degree in biology and master’s degree in marine sciences at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Her research has focused on microorganisms in subsurface environments, ranging from caves to deep sea sediments.

An intrepid explorer, Cardman’s field experience includes multiple Antarctic expeditions, work aboard research vessels as both scientist and crew, and NASA analog missions in British Columbia, Idaho, and Hawaii.

Raja Chari

“I grew up with the mentality that education is truly a gift not to be taken for granted.”

This Iowa native graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1999 with bachelor’s degrees in astronautical engineering and engineering science. He continued on to earn a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.

Chari served as the Commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron and the Director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force. He has accumulated more than 2,000 hours of flight time in the F-35, F-15, F-16 and F-18 including F-15E combat missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Matthew Dominick

“I get to work with incredible people that want to solve problems and are passionate about it. I really want to contribute to the world and this is how I want to do it.”

This Colorado native earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of San Diego and a master’s degree in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He also graduated from U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.

Dominick served on the USS Ronald Reagan as department head for Strike Fighter Squadron 115. He has more than 1,600 hours of flight time in 28 aircraft, 400 carrier-arrested landings and 61 combat missions.

Bob Hines

“As you get older, other things become important to you, like being a part of something that’s bigger than yourself. This human endeavor of exploration is something that’s really exciting.”

Bob Hines is a Pennsylvania native and earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Boston University. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, where he earned a master’s degree in flight test engineering. He continued on to earn a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Alabama.

Hines served in the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserves for 18 years. He also served as a research pilot at our Johnson Space Center. He has accumulated more than 3,500 hours of flight time in 41 different types of aircraft and has flown 76 combat missions in support of contingency operations around the world.

Warren Hoburg

“It was back in high school that I realized that I was really interested in engineering. I always liked taking things apart and understanding how things work and then I also really enjoy solving problems.”

Nicknamed “Woody”, this Pennsylvania native earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT and a doctorate in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Hoburg was leading a research group at MIT at the time of his selection and is a two-time recipient of the AIAA Aeronautics and Astronautics Teaching Award in recognition of outstanding teaching.

Dr. Jonny Kim

“I fundamentally believed in the NASA mission of advancing our space frontier, all while developing innovation and new technologies that would benefit all of humankind.”

This California native trained and operated as a Navy SEAL, completing more than 100 combat operations and earning a Silver Star and Bronze Star with Combat “V”. Afterward, he went on to complete a degree in mathematics at the University of San Diego and a doctorate of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Kim was a resident physician in emergency medicine with Partners Healthcare at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Jasmin Moghbeli

“Surround yourself with good people that have the characteristics that you want to grow in yourself. I think if you surround yourself with people like that you kind of bring each other up to a higher and higher level as you go.”

Jasmin Moghbeli, a U.S. Marine Corps major, considers Baldwin, New York, her hometown. She earned a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering with information technology at MIT, followed by a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.

She is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and has accumulated more than 1,600 hours of flight time and 150 combat missions.

Loral O’Hara

“I’m one of those people who have wanted to be an astronaut since I was a little kid, and I think that came from an early obsession with flying – birds, airplanes, rockets.”

This Houston native earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Kansas and a Master of Science degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue University. As a student, she participated in multiple NASA internship programs, including the Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program, the NASA Academy at Goddard Space Flight Center, and the internship program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

O’Hara was a research engineer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, where she worked on the engineering, test and operations of deep-ocean research submersibles and robots. She is also a private pilot and certified EMT and wilderness first responder.

Dr. Frank Rubio

“I just figured it was time to take the plunge and try it. And so, I did and beyond all dreams, it came true.” 

Dr. Francisco “Frank” Rubio, a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, is originally from Miami. He earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the U.S. Military Academy and earned a doctorate of medicine from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. 

Rubio served as a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot and flew more than 1,100 hours, including more than 600 hours of combat and imminent danger time during deployments to Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He is also a board certified family physician and flight surgeon.

Jessica Watkins

“I’ve always been interested in exploring space. What’s out there and how can we as humans reach those outer stars and how can we learn more information about who we are through that process.”

This Colorado native earned a bachelor’s degree in geological and environmental sciences at Stanford University, and a doctorate in geology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Watkins has worked at Ames Research Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Watkins was a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology, where she collaborated on the Mars Curiosity rover, participating in daily planning of rover activities and investigating the geologic history of the Red Planet.

Learn more about the new space heroes right here: https://www.nasa.gov/newastronauts

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com.

[airmanisr]

68-8284 1968 Sikorsky MH-53M Pave Low lV USAF RAF Museum Cosford 26.06.18 by Phil Rawlings Via Flickr: Built by Sikorsky Aircraft in 1968. Medium-lift Combat Search and Rescue helicopter; USAF version of US Navy and Marine Corp’s CH-53A/D Sea Stallion helicopter. The HH-53C ‘Super Jolly Green Giant’ (officially known as the Stallion) was long-range Combat Search and Rescue helicopter that was also used for covert operations during the Vietnam War. May 71-Jan 72 Active in South East Asia; Call Sign JG 55. Made two known aircrew recoveries. One of nine MH-53Hs and 32 HH-53s later converted to ‘MH-53J Pave Low III Enhanced’ low-level, long-range Special Operations standard with uprated engines, more armour, forward-looking infrared, global positioning system, Doppler navigation systems, terrain following and terrain-avoidance radar, on-board computer and integrated avionics for ‘low-level, long-range, undetected penetration into denied areas, day or night, in adverse weather, for infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces’ to quote the USAF official website. There were 41 MH-53Js in all, all modified from existing airframes between 1986 and 1990; they all retained Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR) capability in addition to Special Operations duties, and were the largest helicopter in the USAF inventory. Pave refers to the allweather sensor system, Precision Avionics Vectoring Equipment. Later modified from J model to MH-53M Pave Low IV standard with Interactive Defensive Avionics System/Multi-Mission Advanced Tactical Terminal, enhancing its defensive capabilities. Latterly assigned to 20th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron (20 SOS – the ‘Green Hornets’), part of 1st Special Operations Group, Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, Florida, USA. This unit converted to the HH-53 at Hurlburt Field in 1980, equipping with the MH-53H Pave Low in 1986 and the MH-53J from 1988 and MH-53M in 1999. The unit was involved in Operation Desert Shield from August 1990 and later operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina 1992/94 and Operation Desert Thunder in 1998. 24.09.08 Final flight, flying time 4hrs. Total airframe hours 12066.6. 30.09.08 type finally retired from USAF Inventory following a final operational combat mission by 20 SOS in Iraq on 26 September 2008. 28 Oct 08 Following gifting by the United States Air Force via the National Museum of the United States Air Force, delivered by USAF C.17 to RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, arriving from Joint Base Balad, Baghdad, Iraq. 17.12.08 flown by No. 99 Squadron RAF C.17A Globemaster III ZZ176 from RAF Brize Norton to Cosford for reassembly. Info from museum website

[kny111]

USS Nimitz UAP incident

The USS Nimitz UFO incident was a radar-visual encounter of an unidentified flying object by US fighter pilots of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group in November 10th 2004, lasting for about a week. The encounter also included an engagement with the UFO by the commander of Strike Fighter Squadron 41, and his weapon systems officer.

The primary encounter occurred during a combat training exercise being conducted in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern California on 14 November 2004, with purportedly related sightings occurring in the days before and after this encounter. A 2015 account of the incident on FighterSweep.com, interviews with one of the pilots, and subsequent news reports describe the sighting of an “unidentified flying object” by six Navy Super Hornet fighter jets.

Thirteen years after the incident, in December 2017, infrared footage of the encounter was released to the public. According to The Washington Post, the video was released by former intelligence officer Luis Elizondo to shed light on a secretive Department of Defense operation to analyze reported UFO sightings, the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program.

Numerous Freedom of Information Act requests were submitted regarding the incident. There was an FOIA obtained that indicated four Marine Lieutenant Colonels and a Marine Major were aware of the event and had witnessed the IR video of the unknown object. A number of documents were leaked to the Internet, with varying levels of credibility. Acceleration values for the performance characteristics of the object were based upon statements from the USS Princeton radar operators, the F/A-18 pilots that saw the object disappear within a second, and the IR video.The Navy has since reportedly updated their protocols for pilots to report UFO sightings in an effort to reduce the stigma associated with such reports.

Skeptics have called into question the veracity of the pilots’ accounts. One of the witnesses, retired United States Navy officer, Commander David Fravor, lamented the amount “of misinformation that [was] starting to come out through third and fourth parties” during a June 2018 interview. On 17 September 2019, the U.S. Navy acknowledged that the three UFO videos are of real unidentified phenomena.

Encounter

 Prior to the incident, in early November 2004, the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton, part of Carrier Strike Group 11, had been tracking mysterious aircraft intermittently for two weeks on an advanced AN/SPY-1B passive radar. Navy Chief Petty Officer (NCO, E-7) Kevin Day, stationed on Princeton, recalls that he first noticed the clear radar traces of eight to ten objects around 10 November. They were travelling southwards in a loose though fixed formation at 28,000 feet (8,500 m) in the immediate vicinity of Catalina and San Clemente islands. He was startled by their slow speed of 100 knots (190 km/h; 120 mph), but received confirmation of their presence from radar operators on other vessels. Regular observations were made of a similar number of objects over the following six days. The objects were also faintly detected by an E-2C Hawkeye plane after Princeton sent them coordinates.

[spaceexp]

NASA Assigns Crews to First Test Flights, Missions on Commercial Spacecraft

NASA - Commercial Crew Program logo. Aug. 3, 2018

Image above: NASA introduced to the world on Aug. 3, 2018, the first U.S. astronauts who will fly on American-made, commercial spacecraft to and from the International Space Station – an endeavor that will return astronaut launches to U.S. soil for the first time since the space shuttle’s retirement in 2011. The agency assigned nine astronauts to crew the first test flight and mission of both Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. The astronauts are, from left to right: Sunita Williams, Josh Cassada, Eric Boe, Nicole Mann, Christopher Ferguson, Douglas Hurley, Robert Behnken, Michael Hopkins and Victor Glover. Image Credit: NASA. ASA introduced to the world on Friday the first U.S. astronauts who will fly on American-made, commercial spacecraft to and from the International Space Station – an endeavor that will return astronaut launches to U.S. soil for the first time since the space shuttle’s retirement in 2011. “Today, our country’s dreams of greater achievements in space are within our grasp,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “This accomplished group of American astronauts, flying on new spacecraft developed by our commercial partners Boeing and SpaceX, will launch a new era of human spaceflight. Today’s announcement advances our great American vision and strengthens the nation’s leadership in space.”

NASA Announces Astronaut Crews for First Commercial Vehicle Flights

The agency assigned nine astronauts to crew the first test flight and mission of both Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. NASA has worked closely with the companies throughout design, development and testing to ensure the systems meet NASA’s safety and performance requirements. “The men and women we assign to these first flights are at the forefront of this exciting new time for human spaceflight,” said Mark Geyer, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “It will be thrilling to see our astronauts lift off from American soil, and we can’t wait to see them aboard the International Space Station.” Starliner Test Flight Astronauts Eric Boe was born in Miami and grew up in Atlanta. He came to NASA from the Air Force, where he was a fighter pilot and test pilot and rose to the rank of colonel. He was selected as an astronaut in 2000 and piloted space shuttle Endeavour for the STS-126 mission and Discovery on its final flight, STS-133. Christopher Ferguson is a native of Philadelphia. He is a retired Navy captain, who piloted space shuttle Atlantis for STS-115, and commanded shuttle Endeavour on STS-126 and Atlantis for the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program, STS-135. He retired from NASA in 2011 and has been an integral part of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner program. Nicole Aunapu Mann is a California native and a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps. She is an F/A-18 test pilot with more than 2,500 flight hours in more than 25 aircraft. Mann was selected as an astronaut in 2013. This will be her first trip to space. Boeing’s Starliner will launch aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Crew Dragon Test Flight Astronauts Robert Behnken is from St. Ann, Missouri. He has a doctorate in engineering and is a flight test engineer and colonel in the Air Force. He joined the astronaut corps in 2000 and flew aboard space shuttle Endeavour twice, for the STS-123 and STS-130 missions, during which he performed six spacewalks totaling more than 37 hours. Douglas Hurley calls Apalachin, New York, his hometown. He was a test pilot and colonel in the Marine Corps before coming to NASA in 2000 to become an astronaut. He piloted space shuttle Endeavor for STS-127 and Atlantis for STS-135, the final space shuttle mission. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After each company successfully completes its crewed test flight, NASA will begin the final process of certifying that spacecraft and systems for regular crew missions to the space station. The agency has contracted six missions, with as many as four astronauts per mission, for each company. Starliner First Mission Astronauts Josh Cassada grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. He is a Navy commander and test pilot with more than 3,500 flight hours in more than 40 aircraft. He was selected as an astronaut in 2013. This will be his first spaceflight. Sunita Williams was born in Euclid, Ohio, but considers Needham, Massachusetts, her hometown. Williams came to NASA from the Navy, where she was a test pilot and rose to the rank of captain before retiring. Since her selection as an astronaut in 1998, she has spent 322 days aboard the International Space Station for Expeditions 14/15 and Expeditions 32/33, commanded the space station and performed seven spacewalks. Crew Dragon First Mission Astronauts Victor Glover is from Pomona, California. He is a Navy commander, aviator and test pilot with almost 3,000 hours flying more than 40 different aircraft. He made 400 carrier landings and flew 24 combat missions. He was selected as part of the 2013 astronaut candidate class, and this will be his first spaceflight. Michael Hopkins was born in Lebanon, Missouri, and grew up on a farm near Richland, Missouri. He is a colonel in the Air Force, where he was a flight test engineer before being selected as a NASA astronaut in 2009. He has spent 166 days on the International Space Station for Expeditions 37/38, and conducted two spacewalks. Additional crew members will be assigned by NASA’s international partners at a later date.

Image above: NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with the American aerospace industry as companies develop a new generation of spacecraft and launch systems to carry crews safely to and from low-Earth orbit – the SpaceX Crew Dragon and Boeing CST-100 Starliner. Image Credit: NASA. NASA’s continuous presence on the space station for almost 18 years has enabled technology demonstrations and research in biology and biotechnology, Earth and space science, human health, physical sciences. This research has led to dramatic improvements in technology, infrastructure and medicine, and thousands of spinoff technologies that have improved quality of life here on Earth. The new spaceflight capability provided by Boeing and SpaceX will allow NASA to maintain a crew of seven astronauts on the space station, thereby maximizing scientific research that leads to breakthroughs and also aids in understanding and mitigating the challenges of long-duration spaceflight.  NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is facilitating the development of a U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability with the goal of achieving safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from the International Space Station and low-Earth orbit. The public-private partnerships fostered by the program will stimulate growth in a robust commercial space industry and spark life-changing innovations for future generations. Learn more about NASA’s Commercial Crew Program at: https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew Commercial Space: http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/index.html Images (mentioned), Video, Text, Credits: NASA/Stephanie Schierholz/Sean Potter/JSC/Brandi Dean/KSC/Stephanie Martin. Greetings, Orbiter.ch Full article

[usafphantom2]

U.S. Senate evaluates F-35 performance in Europe

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 03/26/22 - 10:41 AM in Military, War Zones

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine drags on and the U.S. and NATO continue to strengthen their eastern front, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said he will watch carefully to see how the F-35 behaves in Europe.

Speaking at a round table on March 23 organized by the Defense Writers Group, Senator Jack Reed (Rhodes Island Democrats) said he remains committed to building the fighter fleet. At the same time, he hinted that the coming months can play a key role in building his confidence in the program, which has struggled simultaneously with excessive costs and support problems, while receiving praise for his performance.

"I think that once we have reached the validation point, and particularly by observing what they do in Europe, we can be more confident in moving forward with the system," Reed said. “But you know, we are committed to this system, to leaving the squadrons full and being part of our Operational Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy.”

Reed's comments come just a few days after the Department of Defense decided to reduce its budget request in 2023 to acquire only 61 F-35s instead of 94 as originally planned. This number is also lower than the request for 85 fighter jets in 2022, the 85 requested in 2021 and the 98 financed in 2020.

Asked about the reduction, Reed once again pointed out the tension between capabilities and support as a question "what is the Air Force doing".

“I heard complimentary comments from pilots and operators about the aircraft's performance capacity. I also heard, like you do, maintenance issues, cost issues, support issues - there are extreme costs in support," Reed said. “So, these aircraft are highly capable. But the question we asked, and I think the USAF is asking: are they sustainable, durable? And until they answer these questions, I don't think they'll rush and acquire a significant number. They are on their way to... acquiring another group this year."

Reed also pointed out possible production delays associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the Pentagon's budget request, scheduled to be released on March 28, may include a reduced purchase of F-35, Lightning II appeared in NATO's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The U.S. sent F-35s from Hill Air Base, Utah, to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, on February 16 to improve NATO's defense posture, and these jets were subsequently sent to Romania and Poland, joining the American F-15s and F-16 deployed there. The Netherlands has also deployed a pair of its F-35s in Eastern Europe.

At the same time, Germany announced that it will buy 35 F-35 fighter jets to strengthen its air force as part of a greater overall boost in defense spending caused by Russian aggression. Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the United Kingdom, Finland and Switzerland are also customers of the F-35.

Just a few months earlier, amid Russia's accumulation before the invasion, the first American F-35 arrived in Europe as part of the 495th Fighter Squadron at the RAF Base in Lakenheath, United Kingdom.

But even if the F-35 program continues to expand, Reed warned against celebrating it as a total success, saying that there are lessons to be learned from his problems.

"Going back to the beginning of the F-35, and you know, we've seen it before, so we should have been a little brighter, I think, but it's like the Swiss aircraft knife," Reed said. "It's for the Marine Corps - vertical elevation. It's for the Navy - takeoff of aircraft carriers. It's for the Air Force, which has a different context, and so on. And we took an aircraft, we thought it would be profitable to make one, and I think we learned that this may not be the best approach."

Source: Air Force Magazine

Tags: Military AviationF-35 Lightning IIWar Zones - Russia/Ukraine

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in a specialized aviation magazine in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

Cavok Brasil - Digital Tchê Web Creation

[nicholassabalos]

Game-changing fighting machine...

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (July 24, 2018) -- A United States Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II sits menacingly at the entrance to a hangar for an ashore media availability briefing.

This F-35B is assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)....currently deployed aboard United States Navy Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2)....and part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).

Escorted here by guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108), the 2018 Essex ARG consists of USS Essex (LHD 2), amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23), and amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 41).

The Essex ARG and 13th MEU is the first continental United States Navy/Marine Corps team to deploy overseas with the F-35B embarked for operational missions.

The F-35B....hovering here over the USS Essex’s flight deck....is the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the F-35 fighter jet.

                     An F-35B streaks above USS Essex (LHD 2)

This is a game-changer!

Fighter jets can now be embarked aboard some classes of warship other than an aircraft carrier.

                         Amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2)

                                 ____________________________

>>CLICK the top photo for an impressive close-up of the F-35B....

>>Top photo: Sgt. Aaron S. Patterson, USMC

[usapat]

U.S. Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 775, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, provide close air support with live-fire during a training exercise at Range 440Z on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

[sensamlove1]

Enjoy Some Attractive Venues in Alabama

Alabama is considered as the laid-back area of the United States. This place offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor attractions, including national preserves, botanical gardens, and many other water parks. Whenever you will plan a vacation in this state, then you will find plenty of things to do in Alabama, including historical sites, white sand beaches, luxurious hotels, and many shopping centers.

If you are planning a vacation in Alabama, then please visit all those famous Venues in Alabama which are given below:

1. U.S. Space & Rocket Center: It is a center which provides the rockets, and achievements of the US Space program. This center describes an excellent way to learn about space in a town from the very beginning. This museum also provides an opportunity for visitors to access the interactive science exhibits, space shuttle exhibits, and aircraft. This place also organizes many camp programs in which visitors can get all the important information related to spaceflight and aviation.

2. Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts: It is a Museum located in Montgomery, Alabama. This museum highlights several art collections includes American paintings and Sculpture. The main attraction of the American collection is the Blount Collection Of American Art, which includes a group of 41 paintings approximately. This museum offers a broad range of exhibitions for visitors. This center offers different activities related to educational programming: which include workshops, tours, and lectures.

3. The Wharf at Orange Beach: This district is considered as the most entertaining spot of Alabama. This place offers hundreds of fun activities throughout the year, including boutiques, shops, The Wharf Amphitheater, and many other restaurants. This district is mainly famous for its marine culture and traditions. This place provides various activities for the tourists, including boating, white sand beaches, watersport activities, and many other golf course destinations.

If you wanted to get any other information about Alabama Tourist Attractions, then please visit the website visitingmontgomery.com. On this website, you will get all the detailed information on different places in Alabama. This website also includes information on the wide variety of accommodations, in which customers can choose it according to its requirement. If you have any doubt, then you can also contact them. With the help of this website, you will get the best attractions, and also spend the most memorable vacations with your family.

[airmanisr]

68-8284 1968 Sikorsky MH-53M Pave Low lV USAF RAF Museum Cosford 26.06.18 by Phil Rawlings Via Flickr: Built by Sikorsky Aircraft in 1968. Medium-lift Combat Search and Rescue helicopter; USAF version of US Navy and Marine Corp’s CH-53A/D Sea Stallion helicopter. The HH-53C ‘Super Jolly Green Giant’ (officially known as the Stallion) was long-range Combat Search and Rescue helicopter that was also used for covert operations during the Vietnam War. May 71-Jan 72 Active in South East Asia; Call Sign JG 55. Made two known aircrew recoveries. One of nine MH-53Hs and 32 HH-53s later converted to ‘MH-53J Pave Low III Enhanced’ low-level, long-range Special Operations standard with uprated engines, more armour, forward-looking infrared, global positioning system, Doppler navigation systems, terrain following and terrain-avoidance radar, on-board computer and integrated avionics for ‘low-level, long-range, undetected penetration into denied areas, day or night, in adverse weather, for infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces’ to quote the USAF official website. There were 41 MH-53Js in all, all modified from existing airframes between 1986 and 1990; they all retained Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR) capability in addition to Special Operations duties, and were the largest helicopter in the USAF inventory. Pave refers to the allweather sensor system, Precision Avionics Vectoring Equipment. Later modified from J model to MH-53M Pave Low IV standard with Interactive Defensive Avionics System/Multi-Mission Advanced Tactical Terminal, enhancing its defensive capabilities. Latterly assigned to 20th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron (20 SOS – the ‘Green Hornets’), part of 1st Special Operations Group, Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, Florida, USA. This unit converted to the HH-53 at Hurlburt Field in 1980, equipping with the MH-53H Pave Low in 1986 and the MH-53J from 1988 and MH-53M in 1999. The unit was involved in Operation Desert Shield from August 1990 and later operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina 1992/94 and Operation Desert Thunder in 1998. 24.09.08 Final flight, flying time 4hrs. Total airframe hours 12066.6. 30.09.08 type finally retired from USAF Inventory following a final operational combat mission by 20 SOS in Iraq on 26 September 2008. 28 Oct 08 Following gifting by the United States Air Force via the National Museum of the United States Air Force, delivered by USAF C.17 to RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, arriving from Joint Base Balad, Baghdad, Iraq. 17.12.08 flown by No. 99 Squadron RAF C.17A Globemaster III ZZ176 from RAF Brize Norton to Cosford for reassembly. Info from museum website

[theamericanpatriotpage]

14th Marines and MWSS-473 transport supplies to Hurricane relief efforts Credit: Lance Cpl. Niles Lee | Marine Forces Reserve | Date Taken: 09/02/2017 BEAUMONT, Texas – Marines from Detachment Bravo, Marine Wing Support Squadron 473, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve, Marines from 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, MARFORRES and volunteers from the Red Cross, reorganize water and supplies at a Red Cross warehouse in Beaumont, Texas, Sept. 2, 2017. Detachment Bravo and 14th Marines, both based out of Fort Worth, Texas, traveled to Beaumont to transport supplies to locals effected by Hurricane Harvey which devastated areas of eastern Texas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Niles Lee/Released)

[usafphantom2]

153904 / 000 MG. “Triple Nuts”. Marine Aircraft Group 41 Detachment Alpha

F-4S.

VFMA-321.

NAF Washington, Maryland.

1991.

SOC Jul 13, 1991. Was preserved at Andrews AFB, Maryland. Acquired by Aviation

Museum of Kentucky, Lexington, KY and underwent restoration. Has now been fully assembled since 2005 and is currently on display