Category Archives: Technology

Hurricane 2021: WC-130J WX hunters deploy

Image June 25, 2021 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Kristen Pittman.

On 17JUN2021, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (U.S. Air Force Reserve) began launching their WC-130J hurricane hunters from Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, for the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane season.

Planning an ‘LLI’ mission. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Kristen Pittman, 17JUN2021.

The first WC-130J mission of the 2021 Hurricane season was a ‘lower level invest’ (LLI) over The Gulf of Mexico.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Kristen Pittman, 17JUN2021.

LLIs are flown by WC-130Js at a lower altitude than regular storm missions, whenever weather satellites are having a hard time finding the center of a tropical system.

Hurricane History: AIRBORNE HURRICANE HUNTERS, WHEN DID IT ALL START?

Hurricane 2021: U.S. ARMY DEPLOYS EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION VEHICLES!

Technology, U.S.

Hurricane 2021: U.S. Army deploys emergency communication vehicles!

June 25, 2021 Hutchins AAron

On 21JUN2021, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) deployed a Engineer Command and Control Vehicle-7 (ECCV-7) to Puerto Rico, for the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane season.

USACE photo by Mark Rankin.

It is also called Deployable Tactical Operating System (DTOS). It allows USACE personnel to integrate with local, federal and state authorities. The DTOS/ECCV-7 was one of many USACE vehicles being deployed from Florida to Puerto Rico.

USACE photo by Mark Rankin.

Failed State 2020: OHIO JOINS NEW YORK IN DEPLOYING National Guard TO PUERTO RICO

ARMY RESERVE DEPLOYS FOR PUERTO RICO QUAKE RECOVERY

Maria, 2017: ARMY RESERVE RESPONDE AL LLAMADO DE AYUDA EN PUERTO RICO!

Hurricane 2021: USMC PREPS FOR DESTRUCTIVE WX EVENT IN NORTH CAROLINA!

Technology

Solar flares to sink U.S. Navy?

June 22, 2021 Hutchins AAron

“I study solar flares and I spent my career modeling them. We generally think of flares in terms of their size or their brightness, but we often ignore the part about their duration.”-Jeff Reep, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

On 15JUN2021, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory published a story concerning the expected increase in duration of solar flares, and the possibility that entire U.S. Navy (USN) fleets could be affected.

In a recent scenario a USN fleet was hit by a solar flare, destroying its electrical infrastructure and causing havoc to its electronic communications. The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory is working on a way to allow fleet commanders to conduct real-time forecasting of such solar flares, and to determine how long they will last. (Forecasting the Remaining Duration of an Ongoing Solar Flare)

21JUN2021, Indian Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer Third Class Jason Tarleton.

The USN scientists argue that how long a solar flare lasts is as important as how intense the flare is, yet we still can’t determine how long such solar events will last. The research is part of a NASA program called Living With A Star.

U.S. MILITARY WARNS, SUN WILL INTERFERE WITH YOUR HI-DEF TV

Technology

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

June 22, 2021 Hutchins AAron

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

Technology

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

June 22, 2021 Hutchins AAron

“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?

Technology, U.S.

Rogue One ExEval: Oregon mass-casualty event!

Video June 21, 2021 Hutchins AAron

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!

Technology, U.S.

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

Image June 21, 2021 Hutchins AAron

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

Technology, U.S.

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

Video June 21, 2021 Hutchins AAron

“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

Technology

California: MAFFS prep wildfire 2021

Video June 17, 2021 Hutchins AAron

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 ‘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?

Technology

MAFFS preps, Wildfire Season 2021: Colorado

Video June 15, 2021 Hutchins AAron

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.