Category Archives: Technology

U.S. military warns, Sun will interfere with your hi-def TV

Towards the end of February 2021, the U.S. Department of Defense’s American Forces Network (AFN) warned that this year’s solar activity will interfere with television signals.

Specifically; the solar phenomena known as Sun Fade, Sun Transit or Sun Outage, is expected to target signals from AFN’s Riverside, California, broadcast center at various times this year.

Misawa, Japan, AFN center. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Candace Williams.

AFN officials said, so far this year their satellite TV broadcasts to Europe were targeted from February to March, and Japan and Korea were targeted in March.  They advise there is nothing you can do to fix the reception on your expensive high-definition television, except wait until the solar phenomenon ends.

U.S. NAVY CORRECTLY PREDICTS RADIOLOGICAL CHANGES WITH THE SUN

U.S. Navy correctly predicts radiological changes with The Sun

“What happens on the Sun has significant effects on the Earth’s upper atmosphere, which is important for communication and radar technologies that rely on over-the-horizon or ground-to-space radio frequency propagation…”-Christoph Englert, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s Space Science Division

“They can cause damage to satellites and other space objects. The high energy particles themselves are microscopic, but it’s their speed that causes them to be dangerous to electronics, solar panels, and navigation equipment in space.”-J. Martin Laming, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

In the mid-1990s, a scientist with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postulated that outer layers of our star were different than first thought.  Since then, J. Martin Laming has jointly published many solar studies: “It’s satisfying to learn that the new observations demonstrate what happens ‘under the hood’ in the theory, and that it actually happens for real on the Sun.”-J. Martin Laming, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

“We estimate that the Sun is 91% hydrogen but the small fraction accounted for by minor ions like iron, silicon, or magnesium dominates the radiative output in ultraviolet and X-rays from the corona. If the abundance of these ions is changing, the radiative output changes.”-Christoph Englert, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

The Sun’s magnetic waves change the chemical compounds in each of its own layers.  The final result can be visually observed only during a solar eclipse.

Ozone Hole, 2003 NASA/PBS-Nova program warns the Earth’s magnetic field is flipping out! What is causing it?

Rogue One ExEval: Oregon mass-casualty event!

Oregon Air National Guard photo by First Lieutenant N. Daniel Delgado.

During the middle of June 2021, Oregon Air National Guard personnel responded to a mass-casualty CBRNE (Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive) event at a place called Camp Rilea.

Oregon ANG photo by First Lieutenant N. Daniel Delgado.

Thankfully it was a training event, known as ‘Rogue One’ ExEval (sometimes meaning Exploitation Evaluation, or Exercise Evaluation, or External Evaluation, they can’t seem to make up their minds as I’ve seen all these used in military press releases), which takes place every two years (biennial).

Oregon ANG photo by First Lieutenant N. Daniel Delgado.

Crews were sent out to look for ‘victims’ who needed decontamination.

Oregon ANG photo by Staff Sergeant Sean Campbell.

A victim is brought in for decontamination.

Oregon ANG photo by First Lieutenant N. Daniel Delgado.

Oregon Air National Guard video by Major Samuel Lee, showing what you can expect if you become a victim and need to be decontaminated:

Oregon ANG photo by Staff Sergeant Sean Campbell.

Even the rescuers/responders are checked for contamination.

Oregon ANG photo by Staff Sergeant Sean Campbell.

Pacific Ring of Fire, May 2021:

WARNINGS FOR ALASKA, HAWAII & WASHINGTON

May 2021:

U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer Second Class Brigitte Johnston.

FEMA REGIONS PREP FOR DISASTER & SPEND YOUR MONEY LIKE IT’S WATER

CBRNE, 2019:  FEMA REGION 4, FEMA REGION 6, CONTAMINATION EVENTS!

July 2019: ARKANSAS HIT BY UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE, USAF SCRAMBLED!

CBRNE, 2017: UTAH’S SECRET(?) WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION EVENT IN EAST IDAHO!

U.S. Wildfire prep, 2021: Connecticut & New York join forces for coming disaster!

In August 2019, the governors of New York and Connecticut made an agreement to join their respective National Guard forces in case of disasters.  This is called New Mutual Aid Emergency Management Inter-State Compact, and also involves state police.  No justification was given other than that the two states needed to “collaborate” for future cross-border emergencies.

2020’s pandemic-panic-attack delayed joint training for wildfires.

Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Andrew Valenza.

During the first week of May 2021, New York and Connecticut helicopter crews finally joined-up with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers, for training over the Mohawk River.

Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Andrew Valenza.

“Our procedures vary a little bit compared to what they’re used to, and there’s a lot of terminology they use we have to get used to. We have to get used to working them to develop that crew mix and synergy. One thing we learned is that our previous spot-drop techniques are often not a good course of action due to the way the rotor downwash can fan out the flames.”-Captain Forest Thrush, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment

Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Andrew Valenza.

The Bambi bucket used by the New York/Connecticut National Guard UH-60 Blackhawks can weigh 2.8-tons when full.

U.S. Wildfire prep, 2021: ALASKA AIRBORNE RED CARD

U.S. Wildfire, 2021: SIERRA FIRE

U.S. Wildfire prep, 2021: Alaska airborne Red Card

“If we didn’t do this training to get the federal Red Card certification, we wouldn’t be able to support the state in every possible scenario. This gives the state the full flexibility to use resources in the National Guard regardless of who’s managing the fire.”-Lieutenant Colonel Michele Edwards, Alaska Army National Guard

Alaska Army National Guard photo by Specialist Grace Nechanicky.

Red Card is also known as Incident Qualification Card, it is a type of fire fighting training that is accepted by various federal and state agencies.  Alaska Army National Guard CH-47 and UH-60 helicopter crews conducted Red Card training on 09JUN2021.

Alaska ANG photo by Specialist Grace Nechanicky.

1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, CH-47 Chinook dragging a 2-thousand-gallon Bambi bucket: “There are no civilian helicopters in state that provide the high-volume, heavy lifts that our CH-47s provide.”-Lieutenant Colonel Michele Edwards, Alaska ANG

Alaska Army National Guard Red Card promotional video by Victoria Granado:

Alaska ANG photo by Dana Rosso.

1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment UH-60 Black Hawk hoisting a 550-gallon Bambi bucket over Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Video by Victoria Granado, Alaska ANG Bambi bucket ops:

U.S. Wildfire prep, 2021: CAL FIRE + CAL GUARD + PRISONERS

U.S. Wildfire prep, 2021: EVERGREEN STATE RED CARD

California: MAFFS prep wildfire 2021

California Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Michelle Ulber.

During the first week of May 2021, California and Nevada Air National Guard C-130H and C-130J crews took part in Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) training on San Bernardino Air Tanker Base, California.

California ANG photo by Senior Airman Michelle Ulber.

California Air National Guard video ‘explainer’ interview, by Technical Sergeant Nieko Carzis:

California ANG photo by Senior Airman Michelle Ulber.

California ANG photo by Senior Airman Michelle Ulber.

California ANG ‘nat-sound’ video by Technical Sergeant Nieko Carzis:

California ANG photo by Senior Airman Michelle Ulber.

MAFFS prep, wildfire 2021:

 COLORADO

2017: IDAHO CONDUCTS MASSIVE MAFFS TRAINING, IN PREPS FOR HOT WILDFIRE SEASON!

2016:  Another C-130 converted to MAFFS, U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Defense expecting hotter fire seasons?

1977: My little brother, Ernie, enjoying his tour of a C-130 at Edwards AFB Open House.

45 YEARS OF C-130 MAFFS OPS. WHO WOULD’VE KNOWN WILDFIRES WOULD BECOME SUCH A PROBLEM?

MAFFS preps, Wildfire Season 2021: Colorado

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

U.S. Air Force Reserve and Wyoming Air National Guard C-130 crews took part in Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS) training during the week of 10 thru 15 May, 2021.

Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

The weeklong training and certification took place out of U.S. Department of Agriculture-Forest Service’s Jeffco Airtanker Base, with the C-130s conducting water drops on nearby Arapaho/Roosevelt and Pike-San Isabel National Forests and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands.

Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

Video by Technical Sergeant Justin Norton, ground test of the U.S. Forest Service’s MAFFS unit 10MAY2021 at Peterson Air Force Base (AFB), Colorado:

Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

Video report by Michael Dougherty:

Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

Video by Staff Sergeant Laura Turner, MAFFS training drop over Hayman Burn Scar:

Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

14JUN2021:  Cold Creek Fire, Idaho

2020: MAFFS BIRD FLIES VENTILATORS TO NEW YORK AND ALL POINTS EAST

2017: MAFFS BOMBS IDAHO!

Vehicle I-D: End of Days for the Sea Ranger

After more than five decades, the U.S. Navy plans on retiring their aged fleet of TH-57 Sea Rangers in 2022-23.   It’s interesting that the Sea Ranger is being retired, as in 2019 a report came out about the U.S. Navy buying new TH-57 Sea Ranger flight simulators. 

Video by Julie Ziegenhorn, TH-57 Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field, Florida, February 2020:

Army Kiowas and Navy Sea Rangers are both based on the Bell 206 JetRanger.  The U.S. Navy began using the TH-57 in 1968.

U.S. Navy photo.

Hovering over a new outlying landing field, NAS Whiting Field, January 2019.

U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Antonio More.

TH-57Cs over Pensacola, Florida, February 2017.

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Karlton Rebenstorf.

Pre-flight checks on a TH-57 Sea Ranger, June 2014.

USN photo by Petty Officer First Class Karlton Rebenstorf.

USN photo by Jay Cope.

August 2012, Sea Rangers crammed together in a hanger on NAS Whiting Field, in preparation for Tropical Storm Isaac.

USN photo.

NAS Whiting Field, Florida, December 2008.

USN photo Lieutenant Michelle Parkington.

TH-57 carrying Santa visits Bennett C. Russell Elementary School, December 2007.

USN photo by Gary Nichols.

August 2006, TH-57 lands on Helicopter Landing Trainer (HLT) IX-514 Baylander.

USN photo.

Landing on the USS Lexington (AVT-16), October 1985.

Photo by Don S. Montgomery.

TH-57A instrument panel, May 1984.

Robot Wars: BEWARE THE ZOMBIE KIOWA!

Cold War Vehicle I-D: Korean 대한민국 M48

U.S. Department of Defense photo by Al Chang.

Wargame Team Spirit, March 1984.  Main gun over rear deck.

U.S. DoD photo by Al Chang.

M48 crosses bridge during Team Spirit ’84, with main gun tube over rear deck.

U.S. DoD photo Al Chang.

Very hairy looking M48, Team Spirit ’84.

March 1984, U.S. Army photo by Specialist Long.

U.S. Army photo by Specialist Long.

105mm gunned M48A5K, Team Spirit ’84.

USA photo by Specialist Long.

90mm gunned M48A3K, Team Spirit ’84.

USA photo by Specialist Long, March 1984.

Team Spirit ’89.

U.S. DoD photo Al Chang.

Team Spirit ’90.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Steven Tran.

90mm gunned M48 still in use, September 2015.

USMC photo by Lance Corporal Steven Tran.

USMC photo by Corporal Tyler S. Giguere.

M48s are still in use, slowly being replaced by K1A1s, and soon by the new K2.

‘Gate Guard’ duty.

Vehicle I-D:  KOREAN 대한민국 M47

Cold War 1961: M48A1 v T-54/55; BERLIN KRISE, ‘GAME OF CHICKEN’

December 2019: A FLYING M48A1?

Cold War Vehicle I-D: Korean 대한민국 M47

March 1982, U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Petty Officer First Class D. Brockschmidt.

U.S. Department of Defense photo by Al Chang.

Wargame Team Spirit, March 1982.  Main gun tube is facing over the rear deck.  Also, notice the type of muzzle brake, and then compare to the muzzle brakes seen on the M47s in 1985.

U.S. Department of Defense photo by Al Chang.

A Korean M47 that desperately needs a haircut. Team Spirit ’82.

U.S. DoD photo by Al Chang.

Team Spirit, March 1983.

U.S. DoD photo by Al Chang.

This one has a spotlight, Team Spirit ’83.

March 1983, U.S. DoD photo by Al Chang.

U.S. DoD photo by Al Chang.

Team Spirit, March 1985.

U.S. DoD photo by Al Chang.

Korean M47s had both types of muzzle brakes.

U.S. DoD photo by Al Chang.

March 1988, photographer unknown.

U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Jerry Baker.

M47 rolls off KI RIN (LSM-658) during Team Spirit ’91.  Reportedly, the last Korean M47 was retired in 2007.

Vehicle I-D M47: DUMMIES, ORPHANS, TARGETS & GATE GUARDS