Category Archives: Technology

Idaho invaded by Apaches from Arizona & Singapore?

“The Peace Vanguard detachment has trained all over the United States and Idaho has one of the best training sites in the country.”-Master Sergeant Joel Mann, Arizona Army National Guard

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 26AUG2022.

From July 21st through August 29th, of 2022, Southwestern Idaho was invaded by AH-64D ‘Longbow’ Apaches from the state of Arizona and the tiny British empire member (Commonwealth of Nations) of Republic of Singapore.

Personnel with the Arizona Army National Guard and Singapore Air Force’s Peace Vanguard load rounds into the AH-64’s 30mm Chain Gun, on Idaho National Guard’s Orchard Combat Training Center. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 26AUG2022.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force has a unit based in Arizona called Peace Vanguard.  They are there to learn how to operate the Longbow from the Arizona Army National Guard.  Part of that training brings them to Idaho’s Orchard Combat Training Center (OCTC) for gunnery.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 26AUG2022.

Idaho is home of a new kind of gunnery range called DAGIR (Digital Air Ground Integrated Range), one of only three in the U.S., which was opened for testing in March 2021, and officially certified for use by AH-64s in March of 2022.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 26AUG2022.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 26AUG2022.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 26AUG2022.

2021: SINGAPORE APACHES TEST IDAHO’S NEW D-A-G-I-R SYSTEM

IDAHO HOME TO FIRST EVER NATIONAL GUARD D-A-G-I-R!

SINGAPORE’S IDAHO BASED SKY PIRATES BOMB LAS VEGAS?

2022: IDAHO NOW PREMIERE SITE FOR WAR-FIGHTER TRAINING! NATIONAL GUARD THE NEW QUICK REACTION FORCE!

Commonwealth of Nations covert invasion of United States: 

WHY IS A P-M OF A BRITISH EMPIRE MEMBER NATION INSPECTING A U.S. MILITARY BASE IN COLORADO?

‘ILLEGAL’ TRUCKS BEING SMUGGLED INTO U.S. FROM CANADA, THRU IDAHO?

“Samuel, notify your men; the British are coming.”-General Oliver Prescott, 19APR1775

Idaho now premiere site for War-Fighter training! National Guard the new Quick Reaction Force!

August 2022:

More than 600 National Guard personnel deploy, again, from Idaho!

In 2022, National Guard combat units from California, Idaho, Iowa, North Carolina, Texas, Utah and Washington, assaulted the Orchard Combat Training Area (OCTC) in Southwestern Idaho.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 26AUG2022.

Between July and August 2022, the Arizona Army National Guard and the Republic of Singapore Air Force joined forces to shoot-up the OCTC with their AH-64 Apaches.

In July 2022, Oregon Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment conducted light machine gun training on the OCTC. Video by Major W. Chris Clyne (you’ll notice a paddle being held up that reads OTA, the OTCT used to be known as the OTA [Orchard Training Area] about 15 to 20 years ago):

Idaho Army National Guard promotional video about multi-state war game Western Strike 2022:

TACTICAL TOILETS, June 2022:

CALIFORNIA, IOWA, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, UTAH, WASHINGTON INVADE REBEL IDAHO!?

In this Utah Army National Guard video explainer, from 16JUN2022, it is revealed that National Guard combat units are now the new Quick Reaction Force (QRF) for the U.S. Army, required to deploy within 90 days of activation:

In May 2022, Idaho’s 116th Brigade Engineer Battalion trained for demolition and explosive breaching, Idaho Air National Guard video by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur:

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez, 19MAY2022.

Also in May 2022, the Idaho 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team’s Cavalry Scouts took part in the usual annual training (what we old timers used to call Summer Camp).  The unit later deployed to The Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez, 11MAY2022.

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez, 11MAY2022.

Idaho deploys, again, June 2022: IDAHO, MONTANA, OREGON STUCK IN A DEPLOYMENT LOOP!

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 21APR2022.

In April 2022, U.S. Marines JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) invaded Orchard Combat Training Center (OCTC). It was part of wargame Garnet Rattler, and the OCTC was described as being a premier training site, along with Idaho’s aerial gunnery range called Saylor Creek.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 28APR2022.

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez, 30MAR2022.

Towards the end of March 2022, Idaho Army National Guard 2-116th Combined Arms Battalion’s Bravo Company conducted live fire with their M1A2 Abrams, Golf Company (attached) provided the meals.  The 2-116th Combined Arms Battalion was preparing for deployment to The Middle East.

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez, 29MAR2022.

USA photo by Captain Kyle Abraham, 17MAR2022.

Also in March, the U.S. Army’s 1-229 Attack Battalion, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade (aka Tigersharks) sent their AH-64 Apache gunships (based on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington) to shoot-up Orchard Combat Training Center.

U.S. Army Photo by Captain Kyle Abraham, 17MAR2022.

February 2022:

IDAHO’S GOWEN FIELD UNDER GAS ATTACK!

OCTC-MATES:

IDAHO SHOWS YOU HOW TO ENGINE SWAP A 1:1 SCALE M113

Idaho Artillery 2021: GETS ‘SMART’ ARTILLERY ROUNDS, REVEALS “UPCOMING MOBILIZATIONS”

OCTC 2021: IDAHO HOME TO FIRST EVER NATIONAL GUARD D-A-G-I-R!

OCTC 2019:

M1A2-V2-SEP ABRAMS IDAHO LIVE FIRE

April 2018: Idaho Air & Army National Guards once again recognized as ‘Top Guns’

June 2017: “NEAR PEER THREATS”, CODE FOR RUSSIA & CHINA AND THE COMING 3RD WORLD WAR? “We’re going to continue to ask the……..Army National Guard to continue to make those sacrifices…..”-General Robert B. Abrams

F-15 50th Anniversary: Last Hurrah for Oregon’s 173rd FW?

Oregon Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Jennifer Shirar.

Oregon Air National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing (FW) trained with U.S. Marines, on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, in California.  But this year might be the last time.

Oregon Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Jennifer Shirar, 14AUG2022.

In August 2022, Oregon’s F-15C Eagles (along with 125th FW F-15s out of Florida) played ‘bad guy’ against  USMC F/A-18C/D Hornets from Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101), and the F-35B Lightning-2 from Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 502 (VMFAT-502).

Oregon Air National Guard video report by Staff Sergeant Emily Copeland:

Oregon Air National Guard video interview by Senior Master Sergeant Jennifer Shirar, 23AUG2022:

Recently, it was revealed that the 173rd has been ordered to get rid of its F-15C Eagles.  That means this year’s deployment to Miramar might be the last, at least with their F-15C Eagles.

Oregon Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Jennifer Shirar, 14AUG2022.

For almost 40 years the 173rd FW’s Kingsley Field served as the only F-15C training base for the U.S. Air Force!  But starting in 2024, the 173rd will be using the brand new F-15EX Eagle-2.

Oregon Air National Guard music video, by Senior Master Sergeant Jennifer Shirar, point of view of an F-15C Crew Chief:

F-15 50th Anniversary: SANDMAN’S SWAN SONG?

F-15 50th Anniversary: Sandman’s Swan Song?

Oregon Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Jennifer Shirar, 01MAR2022.

On 01MAR2022, an F-15C Eagle named Sandman took part in a training session with the Oregon Air National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing.

Oregon Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Jennifer Shirar, 01MAR2022.

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob T. Stephens, 25JUN2022.

Excerpt from 173rd Fighter Wing’s March 2022 video report, by Major Nikkie Jackson, explaining how Oregon’s F-15 Eagles are a key part of U.S. airspace defense, and revealing that Oregon will be home for the new “Eagle-2” (aka F-15EX):

Sandman flies over Crater Lake, Oregon, along with a restored B-17 Flying Fortress from World War 2. Oregon Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Penny Snoozy, 24JUN2022.

Oregon Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Penny Snoozy, 24JUN2022.

Then after a five years hiatus, on 24-25JUN2022, Oregon Air National Guard held its Sentry Eagle Open House and Airshow, over Kingsley Field.  Of course, Oregon’s F-15C Eagles were the main attraction, especially the one named Sandman.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob T. Stephens, 25JUN2022.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob T. Stephens, 25JUN2022.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob T. Stephens, 25JUN2022.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Jacob T. Stephens, 25JUN2022.

Then, in September 2022, it was officially revealed that Oregon’s Air National Guard was retiring all of its F-15C Eagles!

Quick excerpt from 173rd Fighter Wing video report, by Staff Sergeant Emily Copeland, even though it is dated 09SEP2022, and boasts of how great the F-15C is, it does not mention the 2022-23 retirement of those aircraft:

There will still be Eagles in the air over Oregon, the F-15Cs are being replaced with new build F-15EXs (aka Eagle-2), hopefully starting in 2024.

F-15 50th Anniversary:  EAGLE GETS CANNIBALIZED, LEFTOVERS SENT TO THE BONEYARD, NO MORE OREGON EAGLES?

F-15 50th Anniversary: Eagle gets cannibalized, leftovers sent to the Boneyard, no more Oregon Eagles?

“It died; I say died because that’s how it feels.”-Master Sergeant Charles Fleek, Oregon Air National Guard, talking about tail number 78-0511, one of the lucky F-15Cs that actually flew under its own power to The Boneyard, in April 2022

Oregon Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Jennifer Shirar, 01APR2022.

Just a few months before the 50th Anniversary of the first flight what is probably the best combat aircraft ever employed by the U.S. Air Force, the state of Oregon decided to cannibalize one of its F-15Cs.

Oregon Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Jennifer Shirar, 01APR2022.

It is no April Fool’s Joke, after stripping the F-15C of usable parts, on 01APR2022, personnel with Oregon Air National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing loaded the worn out Eagle onto a flatbed trailer, to be hauled-off to the ‘Boneyard’ of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, in Arizona.

Oregon Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Jennifer Shirar, 01APR2022.

Oregon Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Jennifer Shirar, 01APR2022.

Oregon Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Jennifer Shirar, 01APR2022.

Oregon Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Jennifer Shirar, 01APR2022.

On 13SEP2022, the Oregon Air National Guard revealed that, after 24 years of service, all its F-15C Eagles were on the chopping block!  Not all of them; on 11SEP2022, eight Oregon Eagles were transferred to the Israeli air force, under the guise of Foreign Military Sales (which are usually taxpayer subsidized).

173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field, Klamath Falls, Oregon. Oregon Air National Guard photo via Master Sergeant Jefferson Thompson, 19JUN2018.

In July 2022, tail number 78-0515 was sent to work for NASA (National Aeronautics Space Administration). It is hoped that most of the Eagles will end up with the National Museum of the United States Air Force, for public displays, however, the reality is most will end up in the Boneyard.

David R. Kingsley Memorial, an F-15A is displayed by the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field. Oregon Air National Guard photo Master Sergeant Jefferson Thompson, 13APR2018.

Oregon’s 173rd FW has operated the A, B, C and D version of the undefeated-in-combat Eagle.  But wait, it’s not over for Oregon Eagles after all; the retiring F-15Cs are being replaced with the new build F-15EX.

Oregon Eagles:

PANDEMIC OVERFLIGHT, THE SANDMAN ENTERS

 NEW TAIL FEATHERS FOR OREGON EAGLE, B-17 BOMBER STYLE! PLUS, MINI-EAGLE, KAWAII!

Oregon deploys to Finland

F-15 50th Anniversary:  DESERT STORM FIRST BLOOD FOR USAF, THE NEVER ENDING TAR BABY CALLED IRAQ!

F-15 50th Anniversary: Desert Storm First Blood for USAF, the never ending Tar Baby called Iraq!

The first combat use of the F-15 Eagle was by Israel in 1979, followed by Saudi Arabia in 1984.  First combat use of the F-15 by the U.S. Air Force was during Operation Desert Storm, in 1991.

Five months before Desert Storm, the build-up was called Desert Shield. These F-15C Eagles are patrolling the sky over Saudi Arabian oil operations. U.S. Air Force/33rd Tactical Fighter Wing photo.

Desert Shield: 02AUG1990 to 16JAN1991

Somewhere in Saudi Arabia, a 1st Tactical Fighter Wing (out of Virginia) F-15D Eagle waits for a mission during Desert Storm, 23JAN1991. Notice the Patriot missile batteries in the background.

F-15E Strike Eagles waiting for another mission during the last weeks of Desert Storm, 01FEB1991. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Robert Jackson.

A Kuwaiti A-4KU Skyhawk and a USAF 1st Tactical Fighter Wing F-15C Eagle about to take off from an airfield in Saudi Arabia, during the last weeks of Desert Storm, 02FEB1991.

Desert Storm: 17JAN1991 to 28FEB1991

Notice the kill marking on this 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-15C. The USAF info says this photo was made during Desert Storm, yet the official date of the photo is December 1991! Photo by Technical Sergeant Fernando Serna.

An F-15C Eagle over the desert during the cease-fire between coalition and Iraqi forces, March 1991. USAF photo.

The USAF info that came with this photo is highly dubious. 1st, it states the photo was made in May 1992, more than a year after Desert Storm, yet claims this F-15C is being prepped for a mission during Desert Storm. 2nd, as you will see in the photo below, this Gulf Spirit does not have the kill markings that were applied after Desert Storm. Possibly this photo was made during Desert Storm, but not released until May 1992? Photo by Senior Airman Chris Putnam.

Kill markings on a F-15C Eagle named Gulf Spirit. The Gulf Spirit had just returned to the U.S. from Desert Storm, May 1991. USAF photo by Don S. Montgomery.

USAF photo by Don S. Montgomery.

After Desert Storm, France, the United States, and United Kingdom, imposed a ‘no fly zone’ over Iraq.  This Operation Southern Watch would last more than a decade, and help the U.S./NATO invade Iraq in 2003.  Even though the invasion was rationalized by the claim of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), which would later be proven false, the invasion of Iraq was dubbed Operation Iraqi Freedom (a major clue that it was not about WMDs). This was followed by Operation Inherent Resolve in 2014, supposedly to fight religious extremism that had taken over Iraq as a result of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Even though Operation Inherent Resolve was declared a success in Iraq, in 2019, U.S./NATO forces continue to operate in Iraq.  This means the taxpayers of U.S./NATO have been funding direct military involvement in Iraqi affairs for more than three decades, and the result the leaders of the so called free world promised has yet to materialize.

For many decades after Desert Storm was declared finished, Eagles would continue to patrol over, and even bomb, Iraq. The relatively new F-15E Strike Eagle somewhere in Saudi Arabia, 20MAY1992. USAF photo.

Southern Watch: 27AUG1992 to 19MAR2003

An F-15C Eagle, normally based in NATO Germany, takes off from Incirlik Air Base in NATO Turkey, for a no-fly-zone mission over Northern Iraq, under the guise of protecting Kurds. USAF photo by Senior Airman Gudrun Cook, May 1995.

Two F-15C Eagles patrol the no fly zone over Southern Iraq, in support of Operation Southern Watch, 14JAN2002. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Jack Braden.

Iraqi Freedom: 20MAR2003 to 15DEC2011

A Washington based KC-135 refuels an Idaho based ‘Bold Tiger’ F-15E for its deployment to Iraq during the first months of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 29DEC2003. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Suzanne M. Jenkins.

A ‘Bold Tiger’ F-15E Strike Eagle (from Mountain Home, Idaho) was one of many Eagles deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Suzanne M. Jenkins, 29DEC2003.

Inherent Resolve: 15JUN2014 to present day 

On 23SEP2014, F-15E Strike Eagles used Iraqi airspace to conduct a dawn airstrike on Syria. USAF photo by Senior Airman Matthew Bruch.

USAF video report by Senior Airman Daniel Asselta, explaining the rational behind deploying F-15s to NATO Turkey to bomb Iraq and Syria, November 2015:

Video by Staff Sergeant Michelle Di Ciolli, of fully armed Idaho based ‘Bold Tiger’ F-15Es, getting refueled over Iraq during Operation Inherent Resolve, 17MAR2016:

An F-15E Strike Eagle somewhere over Iraq 06SEP2017. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Trevor T. McBride.

Night vision video, by Senior Airman Nathaniel Stout, of KC-10 Extender refueling F-15E Strike Eagles over Iraq, December 2017:

An F-15E Strike Eagle gets refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker, somewhere over Iraq, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, 05OCT2018. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Keith James.

On Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, a USAF F-15E gets ‘bombed-up’ with GBU-31 bombs, for an air strike on the Salah ad Din Province of Iraq, 10SEP2019. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Chris Thornbury.

Yet again, another F-15E Strike Eagle gets refueled over Iraq, and even The Pandemic has no affect on military operations. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Taylor Harrison, 09FEB2021.

Desert Storm:

What is left of a MiG 25. U.S. DoD photo.

AIRCRAFT GRAVEYARD

Cold War & Beyond: F-15A POLE DANCER, OR WHATEVER HAPPENED TO 72-0113?

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: F-15 EAGLE NOW 50 YEARS OLD

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis & Beyond: Antonov 2 Biplane, the most practical aircraft ever?

To many people, the Antonov 2 is something that harkens back to the First World War’s biplanes, but it was developed after the Second World War (first flight 31AUG1947), soldiered on through the undeclared Cold War and continues flying for militaries on both sides of the Ukraine Crisis.

A proud Oleg Antonov stands between the crew that flew the An-2 on its first flight. Photo via Antonov Company.

It was Oleg Konstantinovich Antonov’s first aircraft design through his new independent Antonov Design Bureau.  It is a utility aircraft, originally meant as a crop duster/agricultural aircraft, and originally known as Sel’sko−Hoziaystvenniy samoliot (literally Agricultural Aircraft).  Mass production of the An-2 Maize actually began in a factory in Ukraine, in 1948.  In 1952, O.K. Antonov moved his design bureau operations/headquarters from Russia to Ukraine, where it is now known as Antonov Company.

The crop duster was a top loader. Photo via Antonov Company.

Photo via Antonov Company.

Round them doggies up! There’s almost as many ‘Colts’ as there are cows! Photo via Antonov Company.

Silly music video by Antonov Company:

Photo via Antonov Company.

Since 1948, the ‘Maize’ has been produced in several dozens of factories in dozens of countries, with at least six official modifications resulting in dozens of silly-vilian (civilian) and military variants.  The NATO reporting name is Colt.  Colt = An-2, 3, 4, 6, plus many other variants.  In China it is known as Y-5, and they even built a pilotless/robot version called Feihong 98.

An-2CX, photo via Antonov Company.

Even Santa Claus uses the Maize/Colt to transport his reindeer! Photo via Antonov Company.

An-6 fire fighter, photo via Antonov Company.

This odd looking Maize/Colt is the An-6 Meteo, high altitude weather tracker. Notice the cockpit in the tail, and the supercharged radial engine. Photo via Antonov Company.

Mount McCauley, Antarctica, 1973. Photo via John Sheraton.

A Warsaw Pact Polska (Poland) built PZL Maize/Colt floatplane, known as An-2M or An-2W in Poland (in the Soviet Union it is An-2V). What is realy interesting is that the NATO info published with this photo (in 1978) actually stated that the floatplane version was “rather rare”.

Sometime during the Cold War, in Warsaw Pact Deutsche Demokratische Republik (aka East Germany) fighter pilots were required to learn how to jump from a Colt.

In Warsaw Pact Československo (Czech-o-Slovakia), silly-vilian (civilian) parachute clubs were the rage, and the Colt was a major player. Photo made sometime in 1979.

SlovAir operated Colts were used by silly-vilian parachute clubs in Warsaw Pact Czech-o-Slovakia. Photo made sometime in 1980.

Czech-o-Slovaks loved parachuting so much they even jumped during Winter. Photo from Winter of 1979/80.

A Soviet agriculture Maize gets dusted. Photos by V. Jukl, sometime in 1980.

Ready for dusting. Photo by V. Jukl, sometime in 1980.

Antonov Company video, sometime towards the end of the undeclared Cold War, a mini-documentary was made about O. K. Antonov’s love of designing aircraft (in his own words), including his Maize:

Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).  The Western NATO (North Atlantic treaty Organization) must not have considered the Colt a significant aircraft, I have several books concerning Soviet aircraft, published in the United States and United Kingdom in the 1970s, only two slightly mention the An-2 and only one has a photo of it.

Last days of a former Warsaw Pact-East German Colt. In 1990, East & West Germany officially became one, but many East German aircraft continued to carry their Cold War insignia. East German An-2s were quietly retired.

Colt cargo aircraft on display U.S. Air Mobility Command Museum on Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Zachary Cacicia, 15NOV2014.

Video report from 2016, about conversion of old Russian Colt/Maize to U.S. turbo-prop engines (made by Honeywell) and redesigned wings:

The composite winged TVS-2DT, Rostec photo.

Video report from 2016, about the new build TVS-2DT, an attempt to modernize the An-2:

Antonov Company video, An-2-100 turbo-prop sets lift record, April 2017:

Antonov Company video, celebrating 70 years of An-2, September 2017:

This Russian civilian Maize crashed in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, December 2017. It was loaded with 13 crew and passengers, three of which did not survive.

CGTN video report of Feihong-98 (FH-98) cargo UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), October 2018:

In 2018, Russia’s Rostec State Corporation for Assistance to Development, Production and Export of Advanced Technology, announced production of a new ‘An-2’, called the TVS-2DTS.  First deliveries were expected in 2021, but oh that darn Pandemic lockdown.

Composite wing and fuselage TVS-2DTS, Rostec photo 2018.

The difference between the TVS-2DT and the TVS-2DTS is that the 2DTS has all composite wings and fuselage, whereas the 2DT has composite wings.

A Colt makes an ‘after hours’ drop to U.S. and Latvian Special Forces units during a wargame. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Garrett L. Dipuma, 22NOV2020.

Latvian Defence Ministry photo by Gatis Dieziņš, 05MAR2021.

Serbian paratroops make their first jump from a Colt, February 2022. Photo via Serbian Defence Ministry.

NATO Latvian An-2, notice the large muffler on the exhaust. Latvian Defence Ministry photo by Gatis Dieziņš, 03MAY2022.

Latvian Defence Ministry photo by Gatis Dieziņš, 03MAY2022.

Latvian Defence Ministry photo by Gatis Dieziņš, 03MAY2022.

Latvian Defence Ministry photo by Gatis Dieziņš, 03MAY2022.

Latvian Defence Ministry photo by Gatis Dieziņš, 03MAY2022.

A privately owned An-2 performs during the Sivrihisar Airshow in NATO Turkey, 17SEP2022. Photo by Mustafa Kaya via Xinhua News.

A child of California seems excited to in the cockpit of an old Colt/Maize, part of the air show on Edwards Air Force Base. USAF photo by Lisa Dixon, 15OCT2022.

On 14NOV2022, a Cold War era Cuban An-2 crashed while taking off from Florida, U.S.  It was later discovered that the same Antonov had  arrived in Florida the prior month, possibly the pilot was trying to defect to the U.S.:

A bigger Antonov, this time in use by the United States?: 

USMC photo by Corporal Nathan Wicks, 02AUG2016.

RUSSIAN ANTONOV DELIVERS KC-130J SIMULATOR TO U.S. MARINES IN JAPAN!

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: KAMOV 27 HELIX

F-15 EAGLE NOW 50 YEARS OLD

M-T-L-B, USED BY U.S., N-A-T-O, AND STILL USED BY RUSSIA!

WW3 Vehicle I-D: Su-75, The Checkmate, will they or won’t they?

Full scale model of Su-75, at one of the many international air shows for manufacturers, in 2021.

Russia’s Sukhoi 75 ‘The Checkmate’ is a single engined ‘low cost’ 6th Gen fighter.  It uses the AL-41F1 ‘project 117’ engine, a development of the engine used on the twin engined 5th Gen fighter Su-57, as well as the Su-35.

Full scale model, sometime in 2021.

First flight is expected sometime in 2023.  After a few years of testing, Rostec (aka State Corporation for Assistance to Development, Production and Export of Advanced Technology) hopes that production can commence in 2026-27.

Rostec claims the 6th Gen fighter will cost about 30-million U.S. dollars.  A two seat trainer is planned, as well as an pilotless robot version.

Artist’s concept of robot version.

The Su-75 is intended to work in conjunction with the Su-57 Felon and the S-70 Hunter drone.

Overhead view of Su-75 and Su-57, Rostec photo 2021.

Russian news reports are confusing, some claim Russian officials are considering it for the Russian Aerospace Forces, while others say the Russian military has yet to express interest in the 6th Gen fighter.

Rostec photo, 2021.

Rostec representatives admit they are hoping that potential foreign buyers will result in at least 3-hundred foreign orders, which could spur interest by the Russian military.

Rostec photo, 2021.

World War Three, Vehicle I-D: SUKHOI 57/T-50 PAK, PRODUCTION OF THE CONVICT (FELON) RAMPS UP!

Vehicle I-D: More T-38 Heritage paint jobs

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Larsen, 05MAY2022.

T-38 with 80th Anniversary logo on its tail, Laughlin Air Force Base (AFB), Texas, 05MAY2022.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Larsen, 05MAY2022.

USAF photo by Airman Kailee Reynolds, 03FEB2022.

87th Flying Training Squadron (FTS) heritage trainer on Laughlin AFB, Texas, 03FEB2022.

USAF photo by Airman Kailee Reynolds, 03FEB2022.

USAF photo by William R. Lewis, 24SEP2021.

On Nellis AFB, Nevada, September 2021.

USAF photo by Airman First Class David Phaff, 24MAY2021.

On Laughlin AFB, Texas, May 2021.

USAF video, by Airman First Class David Phaff, of 87-FTS T-38 Talon over Corpus Christi, Texas, 02MAY2021:

USAF photo by Senior Airman Cameron Schultz, 09APR2021.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Cameron Schultz, 09APR2021.

5th FTS ‘heritage’ T-38C Talon over Oklahoma, April 2021.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Cameron Schultz, 09APR2021.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Cameron Schultz, 09APR2021.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Jake Jacobsen, 15JUL2020.

T-38 Talon of the 50th Flying Training Squadron (FTS), 14th Fighter Training Wing (FTW), Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, 15JUL2020.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Jake Jacobsen, 15JUL2020.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Keifer Bowes, 17AUG2017.

87th FTS centennial flag ship, Laughlin AFB, Texas, August 2017.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Keifer Bowes, 17AUG2017.

T-38 Talon:

U.S. Air Force photo by Tom Hill.

OLD SKOOL TALON TESTS NEW-TECH GLOBAL INFORMATION DOMINANCE EXPERIMENT

 PACER CLASSIC-3

25TH FTS HERITAGE

REPAIRING 1/1 SCALE T-38 TALON

F-106, TEST-BED FOR T-38 ENGINES

World War 3 Vehicle I-D: Sukhoi 57/T-50 PAK, production of The Convict (Felon) ramps up!

Su-57 (Су-57), NATO reporting name Felon.

United Aircraft Corporation photo.

KnAAZ photo.

On 22SEP2022, after the partial mobilization of Russia’s reserve military units against a perceived invasion by NATO, Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Factory (KnAAZ) announced it is ramping up production of the Sukhoi 57: We understand how important this work is, so the plant is actively expanding and modernizing to increase production of the Su-57. At the moment, KnAAZ is loaded with orders until 2028.”-Sergey Chemezov, State Corporation for Assistance to Development, Production and Export of Advanced Technology (aka Rostec)

Sukhoi 57 (Сухой 57), the version offered for international sales is known as the PAK T-50 (ПАК ФА T-50).  Weapons are stored internally, the Felon is able to interact electronically with other Su-57s:Repeatedly involved, and single sorties, and several aircraft in coordination, in information interaction used aviation weapons, very effectively. Reviews are very good. Intra-fuselage armament worked flawlessly.”-Yuri Borisov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation

As part of the state contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense for the mass production of the Su-57, four aircraft have been built to date. This year it is planned to deliver the next batch of aircraft. UAC with allied enterprises performs work in accordance with the concluded state contract.-Yuri Slyusar, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), 16AUG2022

The first mass production (specifically for Russia) Su-57 crashed during a test flight in 2019.  The second production Su-57 is being used as a test vehicle.  Before the partial mobilization of reserve forces was ordered, it was planned for 76 Felons to be delivered to Russian Aerospace Forces by 2027.

The new helmet to be worn by Russian Su-57 pilots.

This Su-57 pilot is wearing the old Cold War era helmet.

The proposed two seat Su-57E, with insignia for Indian Defense Forces.

Since 2019, flights were conducted with a Su-57 ‘drone controller’ and the S-70 Hunter drone. It is planed that a single Su-57 can control several of the new combat UAVs in one flight.

Video showing a Su-57 flying with a Russian Sukhoi stealth UAV (unmanned Aerial Vehicle), which looks very similar to a U.S. stealth drone:

China has considered testing the PAK T-50 (export Su-57) as a pilotless combat drone.

According to unnamed Russian sources, the prototype T-50 UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) will still have a pilot, but only as a back-up.  The T-50 UAV is part of experiments to create a 6th Gen fighter aircraft.

Promotional video from March 2020:

First mass production Felon, November 2019.

In August 2019, Russia’s Vladimir Putin showed-off the Su-57/T-50 to NATO Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Su-57 preproduction/prototype at an airshow with old World War Two aircraft.  Development of the Felon began in 1999, first flight in January 2010 (was to be in 2007, but was delayed due to ‘technical’ problems).

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