Too Funny! If you are a subscriber you're missing out...

I love this guys work....

WOW.

HEMORAGE HAS ME TRIPPIN!  IF YOU'RE NOT A SUBSCRIBER YOU'RE MISSING OUT.  AMPED UP TO WORKOUT AND PUTTING UP POSTS IS THE WRONG THING TO DO!  MY BAD!

The real C-130/A-400 Killer...

Airbus Military, Boeing and Lockheed Martin better be thanking their lucky stars that Japan has extremely tight controls on the sales of its military equipment.

If they brought this plane to market and IF it was sold at a decent price then it would sweep the cargo plane market clear of competition.

Via Defense Tech.

British "Rapid Rope" Training....

We say Fast, they say Rapid...either way its quick....especially when you're wearing gear....

Pictured are members of the HMS Monmouth boarding team conducting rapid rope training from the ship's Lynx Mk 8 helicopter, call sign "Black Knight".
Royal Marines & sailors took it in turns to jump from the Lynx at various heights and kit different configurations.
The Type 23 frigate was deployed on counter piracy and maritime security operations in the Indian Ocean.
Photographer: LA(Phot) Stuart Hill

Pictured are members of the HMS Monmouth boarding team conducting rapid rope training from the ship's Lynx Mk 8 helicopter, call sign "Black Knight".
Royal Marines & sailors took it in turns to jump from the Lynx at various heights and kit different configurations.
The Type 23 frigate was deployed on counter piracy and maritime security operations in the Indian Ocean.

A Royal Marine with Mike Company, 42 Commandois pictured on patrol around Nad-e Ali in Afghanistan.
Royal Marines from 42 Commando have officially taken over control of Nad-e Ali North district of Helmand province.
Having arrived in Afghanistan and completed a final course of training and acclimatisation to prepare them for their six month deployment, the Marines headed from Camp Bastion to their base in Shahzad – which will be their home until October.
Photographer: LA(Phot) Dave Hillhouse

A Royal Marine with Mike Company, 42 Commando carries a GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) during a patrol around Nad-e Ali in Afghanistan.
Royal Marines from 42 Commando have officially taken over control of Nad-e Ali North district of Helmand province.
Having arrived in Afghanistan and completed a final course of training and acclimatisation to prepare them for their six month deployment, the Marines headed from Camp Bastion to their base in Shahzad – which will be their home until October.
Photographer: LA(Phot) Dave Hillhouse

The USAF has lost its fucking mind.

This little news piece that The DEWLINE pointed me to has me ready to punch walls, grab the USAF PAO Officer and give him an extended session of wall to wall counseling.

The BASTARDS at Wright Patterson have the audacity to call a busted airplane a WOUNDED WARRIOR!

Check out this article and see if your blood pressure doesn't rise...

by Daryl Mayer
88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

8/23/2011 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Sadly, we've seen too many comrades return home bearing the scars of war -- enough that the term "wounded warrior" has become entrenched in the American lexicon and merits millions of hits on Google.

So when a 'wounded warrior' - a veteran which has stood ready to answer its country's call -- flew into Palmdale, Calif., on August 16, it could've passed as yet another sad and noble story.

Except that aircraft number 0332, the B-2 bomber named the "Spirit of Washington," hadn't received its scars in battle, but from a horrific fire in February 2010 that left it unable to fly.

Marooned on the island of Guam, the aircraft needed to travel to Northrop Grumman's maintenance facility in Palmdale. Six thousand miles across the Pacific is normally a cakewalk for an aircraft that was designed to project U.S. power to any spot on the globe. But the Spirit of Washington was going to need a lot of work just to get off the ground.

What ensued over the next 18 months was nothing short of a herculean effort, according to Col. Mark Williams, Aeronautical Systems Center's B-2 Division Chief.

"This was a truly amazing effort with tremendous teamwork between my folks in the B-2 Division, B-2 System Support Branch, Northrop Grumman, Global Strike Command, Air Force Materiel Command, Global Logistics Support Center, U.S. Transportation Command, and the Air National Guard," Colonel Williams said. "A very large group of people came together to bring this aircraft home."

Early on, the team set a goal to have the aircraft in Palmdale before the end of the 2011 fiscal year.

"We budget for three aircraft every other year to receive Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM)," Colonel Williams said. "It was an aggressive goal, but we wanted to get 0332 to Palmdale before the end of FY11 as our third PDM."

Getting a team on the ground was the first order of business and Northrop Grumman basically deployed a team of engineers and technicians to work with the Air Force. The task list was long and included rebuilding some structural components, work that typically is only done at the depot.

"Our goal was to make the aircraft safe to fly. We knew it would be going straight in for depot maintenance and didn't want to duplicate anything. But there were some depot-level items that needed attention to ensure our flight crew would be safe," Colonel Williams said.

The colonel dispatched two of his best from the division to be his eyes and ears on the ground.

Lt. Col. Greg Tolmoff deployed and learned how to inspect and certify the repairs to ensure every task was performed to standard. Senior Master Sgt. Keith Sanders used his 16 years of experience as a B-2 Maintenance Crew Chief to help guide and assess progress.

"I can't say enough about how Greg and Keith performed," Colonel Williams said. "I'm extremely proud of the dedication they displayed during periods of long hours and family separation."

Once the aircraft was ready to again take the skies, the entire team outlined a comprehensive plan to fly the aircraft home. They established very strict controls on weight, altitude, and speed to lessen stress on the airframe. In-flight refueling was used to prevent ever having to take on the weight of a full load of fuel and a support aircraft followed along to assist the flight crew with avoiding turbulent weather and coordinate with air traffic control.

"The 141st Air Refueling Wing (ANG) deployed to Guam from Fairchild, Washington, and provided KC-135s for refueling and to serve as a support plane," Colonel Williams said. "That allowed us to put a team of Northrop engineers in the support plane where they could monitor the aircraft's performance and offer technical advice to deal with any issues."

Fortunately for all, this "wounded warrior" took to the skies like the proverbial phoenix traveling the entire distance without incident and landing in Palmdale more than a month ahead of schedule. It now starts a 24 month PDM process that will completely return this veteran to operational duty for the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo.

Looking at a photo of 0332 silhouetted against Joshua Trees and the rising California sun taken as it prepared to land in Palmdale, Colonel Williams has the look of someone who witnessed something amazing.

"I'm going to make that photo my new computer wallpaper," he said.

Spare me the reasoning that this is said tongue in cheek.  Too many have actually received this title and their lives will be changed forever because of it.

You lessen their sacrifice by calling a piece of machinery a "warrior"...

You can't be part of a war fighting organization and not realize how UTTERLY STUPID AND DISRESPECTFUL SUCH A COMPARISON IS!

The USAF needs to pull this article today.  Confine it to the scrap heap of history and give whatever dumbass that approved it an official letter of reprimand....or better yet, save the paperwork, take his butt behind a sandberm and get his mind right.

US Special Operations Blackhawks spotted on British LHD!

Rohan!  You're magnificent!  I didn't spot this at first because I was so focused on the non-event of Apache's operating at sea.  Luckily Rohan did.  Check out the Helos at the stern of the ship!  3 Blackhawks.

Interesting.  Photo was published by the British Ministry of Defense.

F-35C Catapult Launch Testing

11th MEU Propaganda.

Damn!


11th MEU must have the best PAO shop in the Marine Corps.  Good stuff.

Pic of the day. August 24, 2011.

A CH-47 Chinook helicopter drops off Army soldiers to practice squad-level tactics during Operation Checkerboard on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Aug. 10, 2011. The soldiers are assigned to Headquarters Company, 99th Regional Support Command. The tactics include moving as a squad, reacting to contact, establishing a perimeter and conducting a tactical road march U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Morris

What if???? F-15N Sea Eagle.

F-35 in STOVL mode

F-35B test aircraft BF-1 on flight 147, Aug. 22, 2011. Lt. Col. Fred Schenk pilots the aircraft in short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) mode.

The above photos look like no big deal right?  I mean sure we've seen the F-35 in STOVL mode before....but one thing should be apparent.  Its over water and you can bet that these flights are in preparation for the shipboard tests due to start this fall.

My gut reaction?  Expect the Marine Corps to move up its IOC even further.  I wouldn't be surprised to see these planes being sent to Marine bases in late 2012

SOTG teaches Marine Coxwain Course.

Apache Helicopter Takes off from HMS Ocean During Operation Ellamy

An Army Air Corps Apache helicopter takes off from HMS Ocean during Operation Ellamy, the UK's contribution to UNSCR1973 in the Mediterranean Sea.
Photographer: LA(Phot) Guy Pool

An Army Air Corps Apache helicopter takes off from HMS Ocean during Operation Ellamy, the UK's contribution to UNSCR1973 in the Mediterranean Sea near Libya.
Photographer: LA(Phot) Guy Pool

Beesley answered Bill long before he retired.

Bill posted an article talking about the SU-35 in the recent Russian airshow.  In it he talks about the Sukhoi's moves and how wonderfully it performs.

Remember we're talking an airshow.

I would love to know if a Navy or Air Force test pilot could duplicate those moves in a stripped down F-18 or F-16.

But that really gets us away from the point of all this.  Beesley already answered the Sukhoi question long ago.  Lets take a trip back and time and see what he has to say about the issue....



So the answer to all the smoke and thunder on ARES is quite simply this.

It looks great for the airshow fans but in combat its a nonfactor.

Ranger Up!'s Leadership Rules. A must read.

Ranger Up! has a list of leadership rules...To be honest I was expecting a modernized "Rogers Rangers" type rules thing but its so much better than that.  As a matter of fact its so good that I won't spoil it by putting even a sample of it here.  Go to the site to check it out.  IT SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING AT THE SERVICE ACADEMIES, ROTC AND OCS!  Its just that good.

F-35C completes jet blast deflector testing

LAKEHURST, N.J. – F-35C test aircraft CF-1 with an F/A-18E prepares for two-aircraft jet blast deflector (JBD) testing Aug. 13. The Integrated Test Force collected temperature, pressure, sound level, and velocity environmental data to validate various aircraft models to optimize JBD cooling panel and flight deck configuration. F-35C carrier suitability testing is ongoing with catapult and arrestment test events through the rest of the year, leading up to initial ship trials in 2013.

Magpul's taking over.

Check out the Marines in the above photo.

See the guy at the end of the stack?

MAGPUL P-Mags and what appears to be a MAGPUL CTR stock....no big deal really.  The issue stock is trash....but I'm seeing this more and more across all the services.  As a matter of fact the first MAGPUL stock that I saw was being sported by an Airborne soldier during Talisman Saber.

I guess my biggest issue with this type thing is that I've seen alot of additions to the M-16/M4...so many additions in fact that it isn't the light weight, highly portable, easily pointable weapon that it was designed to be.

Quite honestly, once you change it over to a piston system it becomes a totally different beast and will have completely given up every reason for it to be chambered in 5.56.

One change that is long overdue is a switch to a stock that can be used in close combat.  The MAGPUL CTR is too fragile to fill the bill but its something that Quantico should look at. 

Meanwhile back to the boutique weapons options that we're beginning to see.  It was always drilled into my battalion that everyone wore gear the same way, in the same locations and that only issued stuff was to be worn so that in the event that someone needed to "stay in the fight" once you go down it wouldn't be a guessing game on how stuff worked.  I guess those days are over.  I wonder how the new way will work out.

Air Force recovers stolen materials from Friday's raid - www.ktnv.com

Air Force recovers stolen materials from Friday's raid - www.ktnv.com


Wow.

The FBI, US Marshals or ATF is more than capable of handling this type of investigation and recovery of military property. I wonder why the USAF decided it needed to operate off base...this might be perfectly legal but it sure sends the wrong message. Obviously the "powers that be" are either tone deaf, don't care or they're unaware of the alarm that this is causing.

People are on edge.

This isn't helping.

Lima Company conducts field training

Photos by Lance Cpl. Ryan Carpenter

Lance Cpl. Vincent A. Gonzales covers a corner here Aug. 17 during a field exercise with Company L, one of three rifle companies in Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Company L spent five days in the field during the unit’s first sea-based training since becoming a complete Marine air ground task force in May. The company disembarked USS New Orleans off Pendleton’s coast and was driven ashore by amphibious assault vehicles. A platoon of tracked vehicles from 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, Camp Pendleton, reinforces the Pendleton-based 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. The platoon provides the go-to means of maneuver for Company L. Gonzales is a 27-year-old Bakersfield, Calif., native and machine gunner with the company.

Lance Cpl. Jeremy Phares, rifleman, sights in Aug. 15 during a live-fire exercise here with Company L, one of three rifle companies in Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Company L spent five days in the field during the unit’s first sea-based training since becoming a complete Marine air ground task force in May. The company disembarked USS New Orleans off Pendleton’s coast and was driven ashore by amphibious assault vehicles. A platoon of tracked vehicles from 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, Camp Pendleton, reinforces the Pendleton-based 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. The platoon provides the go-to means of maneuver for Company L. Phares is a 22-year-old Orange, Texas, native.

Company L Marines rehearse capturing an enemy position Aug. 16 during live-fire training here. The rifle company is one of three in Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Company L spent five days in the field during the unit’s first sea-based training since becoming a complete Marine air ground task force in May. The company disembarked USS New Orleans off Pendleton’s coast and was driven ashore by amphibious assault vehicles. A platoon of tracked vehicles from 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, Camp Pendleton, reinforces the Pendleton-based 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. The platoon provides the go-to means of maneuver for Company L.

Recon Marines sharpen at-sea skills

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan -A Marine with the Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, enters a building and begins to secure it, August 18. The Marines of FRP were clearing the house in order to build their vessel boarding, searching and seizing skills. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 8/17/2011 8:03 PM

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan-A Marine with the Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to breach and clear a building, August 18. The Marines of FRP were clearing the house in order to build their vessel boarding, searching and seizing skills. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 8/17/2011 8:05 PM

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan -A Marine with the Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, engages multiple targets during an eight-week live-fire training course, August 18. Before the 31st MEU deploys to the Asia-Pacific region, the FRP conducts the training course to ensure they are prepared to respond to any situation that may arise. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 8/17/2011 8:02 PM

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan -A team of Marines with the Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, stack outside a door in preparation to breach and clear a building, August 18. The Marines of FRP were clearing the house in order to build their vessel boarding, searching and seizing skills. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation’s force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Cpl. Garry J. Welch, 8/17/2011 8:0

Bell D188A ingenuity and inspiration from the past.

RetroMechanix is continuing its series on the D188a.

I marvel at the imagination and ingenuity of those that came before.  Not only did they dream, but they designed machines that were truly ahead of their time.

Awesome.  More at RetroMechanix.