Tag Archives: boeing

Influenza, Technology

Pandemic OverFlight: KC-135

Video

Salute to Heroes, Operation American Resolve, America Strong, or whatever is the latest Defense Department name for it, apparently massive flights of military aircraft flying over metro areas makes people feel more secure about fighting the “invisible enemy” of a Pandemic.

A KC-135 leads a pack of F-16s and F-35s on a Air Force Salutes flight over Arizona, 01MAY2020.  At least 15 aircraft were involved.

Video from the cockpit of a F-35 of a KC-135 over Phoenix, Arizona, 01MAY2020:

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Chris Thornbury, 06MAY2020.

A KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, flies over Ascension Via Christi St. Francis Hospital, 06MAY2020, Wichita, Kansas.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Nick Kibbey, 14MAY2020.

452nd Air Mobility Wing KC-135 over Riverside University Health System Medical Center, California, 14MAY2020.

Hawaii Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Alison Bruce-Maldonado, 14MAY2020.

Video, KC-135 flying over multiple hospitals through out the Hawaiian islands, 14MAY2020:

The crew of a Michigan Air National Guard 127th Wing KC-135 just before taking off for a Michigan Strong flyover, 13MAY2020.

Video, 108th Wing KC-135 with 177th Fighter Wing F-16s, Air Force Salutes flight over New Jersey, 12MAY2020:

KC-135R from the 914th Air Refueling Wing, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, in formation with F-35s from the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard Base, 12MAY2020.

Ohio Air National Guard KC-135 flies with an F-16 during Operation American Resolve, 13MAY2020.

Tail boom of 134th Air Refueling Wing, Tennessee Air National Guard, 12MAY2020.

Nebraska Air National Guard photo by Major Scott Ingalsbe, 13MAY2020.

Nebraska Air National Guard Stratotanker, 13MAY2020.

USAF photo by Second Lieutenant Christopher Thibeaux-Moore, 15MAY2020.

Pandemic fighting KC-135R Stratotanker gets airborne over Florida, 15MAY2020.

Bare Metal: KC-135R GETS STRIPPED

KC-135 STRATOTANKER BATH

EC-135E FIRE-BIRD, 10329 COMES BACK TO LIFE, AGAIN! OR, WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR EXTRA KC-135 KIT.

Idaho, International, Technology, U.S.

Singapore Sky Pirates & Idaho Gunslingers

Video

In March 2022, Idaho’s Gov’na, Brad Little, poses with Singapore’s Buccaneers. U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sergeant Joshua Hoskins, 21MAR2022.

In December 2021, the Buccaneers flew from Idaho to Florida, to take part in the Weapons System Evaluation Program. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Betty R. Chevalier, 08DEC2021.

The Buccaneers take part in Red Flag, in Nevada, March 2021.
USAF photo by Senior Airman JaNae Capuno.

Mountain Home Air Force Base (AFB), Idaho, is home to F-15SG Buccaneers (428th Fighter Squadron Republic of Singapore) and F-15E Gunfighters (U.S. Air Force 366th Fighter Wing).  They fly their own colorfully painted ‘flagships’. The tiny Republic of Singapore is part of the British empire’s Commonwealth of Nations.

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Andrew Kobialka, 15MAY2020.

Buccaneers F-15SG flagship flying alongside an F-15E from a different squadron (Bold Tigers) of the same Fighter Wing, and Idaho National Guard A-10Cs, as part of CoViD-19 morale booster operations 15MAY2020.  The Buccaneers are flown by the The Republic of Singapore Air Force, but are based at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 15MAY2020.

About to deploy from Idaho to Utah, for Combat Hammer. USAF photo by Airman First Class Jeremy D. Wolff, 02MAY2017.

Combat Hammer, 2017.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Jeremy L. Mosier, 02MAY2017.

Official USAF video report about Combat Hammer, Singapore bombs Utah:

USAF photo by Senior Airman Connor J. Marth, 27FEB2017.

Over Mountain Home AFB, February 2017.

USAF photo by Airman Alaysia Berry, 08APR2016.

Buccaneers bomb crew getting instructions at the start of weapons loading competition at Mountain Home AFB, April 2016.

Singaporean F-15SG crews competed against USAF F-15E crews for best weapons loading, on Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. USAF photo by Airman First Class Chester Mientkiewicz, 08APR2016.

USAF photo by Senior Airman James Hensley, 19NOV2015.

Landing at Luke AFB, Arizona, for exercise Forging Saber, November 2015.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Thomas Spangler, 11JUL2014.

Red Flag Nevada, July 2014.

Video, Red Flag Nevada night take-off, afterburners:

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Jim Araos, 09OCT2012.

Idaho’s, I mean Singapore’s Buccaneers taking part in Red Flag Alaska, October 2012.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Benjamin Sutton, 16OCT2012.

Only one of the F-15SGs has fancy paint on its tails, the others are plain.

The Republic of Singapore began flying F-15SG Strike Eagles at Mountain Home AFB in 2009.  The U.S. Air Force re-activated the 428th Fighter Squadron specifically for the RSAF (as part of the Peace Carvin V program).  The 428th Fighter Squadron (FS) is officially part of the 366th Fighter Wing (FW).

(MATTIS DISCOVERS SINGAPORE’S INVASION OF IDAHO)

And now for Idaho’s Gunfighters:

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Jeremy L. Mosier, 12JUN2019.

‘Flagship’ F-15E Strike Eagle of the 366th FW, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.

Video, 2019 ‘elephant walk’ at Mountain Home AFB:

USAF photo by Todd Cromar, 15AUG2018.

Taking part in Combat Hammer at Hill AFB, Utah, 15AUG2018.

USAF photo by Airman First Class JaNae Capuno, 22MAY2018.

Gunfighter flagship over Mountain Home AFB, 22MAY2018.

USAF photo by Airman First Class JaNae Capuno, 23MAY2018.

The 366th FW ‘Gunfighters’ (represented by the 20mm Vulcan-gun carrying Spook) includes 389th FS ‘Thunderbolts’ (represented by the lightening bolt), 391st FS ‘Bold Tigers’ (represented by the orange field with black tiger stripes [like Idaho State University’s colors]) and 428th FS ‘Buccaneers’.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Javier Cruz, 13DEC2016.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Javier Cruz, 13DEC2016.

A 391st Fighter Squadron Bold Tigers F-15E Strike Eagle over Saylor Creek bombing range, near Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. USAF photo by Master Sergeant Kevin Wallace, 16OCT2013.

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

D-DAY F-15E STRIKE EAGLE

LOCATION OF MISSING IDAHO F-15E STRIKE EAGLES REVEALED? OR, WHY HI-TECH DOESN’T EQUAL FEWER HUMANS?

IDAHO F-15E WALK-AROUND

Influenza, U.S.

Record setting Pandemic AirBridge Continues

Video

 

Since the end of March 2020, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been conducting a taxpayer funded global ‘Project Air Bridge’ in response to pathogen CoViD-19.

FEMA photo by Alexis Hall, 29APR2020.

China Cargo’s Boeing 777F arrives at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, 29APR2020.

FEMA photo, 28APR2020.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel waiting at Chicago O’Hare International Airport to inspect incoming medical supplies, 28APR2020.  (CBP PANDEMIC inspections REVEALS U.S. DEPENDENCE UPON FOREIGN FOOD!)

U.S. Army photo by Specialist Tianna Isreal, 28APR2020.

Taiwan’s (Republic of China) EVA (Evergreen Airways) Air Cargo Boeing 777F unloads, 28APR2020.

FEMA photo by Alexis Hall, 28APR2020.

China Southern Boeing 777F, 28APR2020.

Video, off-loading United Arab Emirates (UAE) Etihad cargo plane at O’Hare International Airport, Illinois, 20APR2020:

FEMA photo by Alexis Hall, 19APR2020.

China Airlines’ Boeing 747-400(409F), 19APR2020.

FEMA photo by Alexis Hall, 18APR2020.

New York based Atlas Air Boeing 747-47U(F),  Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Illinois, 18APR2020.

FEMA photo by Alexis Hall, 17APR2020.

FedEx MD-11 returns to Chicago with yet another load of medical supplies, 17APR2020.

FEMA photo by Dominick Del Vecchio, 14APR2020.

Ukraine’s Antonov 124 arrived at Rockford International Airport, Illinois, loaded with medical supplies, 14APR2020.  (Antonov 124 in U.S. service)

FEMA photo by Alexis Hall, 11APR2020.

Florida based Western Global’s MD-11 unloading at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, 11APR2020.

FEMA photo by K.C Wilsey, 11APR2020.

From Taiwan to New York’s John F. Kennedy airport, EVA Boeing 777-300 (36N[ER]), 11APR2020.

AirCargoWorld: FEMA Airbridge expanded to Pennsylvania

Operation CoViD-19: PROJECT AIR-BRIDGE, 747S, MD-11S, BREAKING AIRLIFT RECORDS!

FEMA says worst is yet to come BUILDING MASSIVE ISLAND HOSPITAL?

HOSPITAL SHORTAGE? DON’T BLAME PANDEMIC, BLAME OBAMACARE!

CLIMATE CHANGE = COVID-19?

Technology

Indian Air Power, 2021

Video

Incomplete images of India’s current state of Air Power.

Indian C-17 on Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, 20NOV2020. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail.

Indian Air Force promo:

Indian Navy Harrier

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Hannen, 30JUL2007.

Jaguar/Shamsher

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Matthew Hannen, 30JUL2007.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Shawn Nickel, 29APR2016.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Joshua Turner, 02MAY2016.

(INDIA DEVELOPS RARE EARTH ALLOY TO EXTEND LIFE OF COLD WAR STRIKE AIRCRAFT!)

Radar equipped Shamsher leads U.S. Super Hornets and Indian Su-30MKIs. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Brandie Nuzzi, 28MAR2021.

Shamsher, MiG-29KUB and Su-30MKI, 23JUN2021, USN photo.

In the above photo notice the Indian two seat MiG-29KUBs are not simple trainers, but have full combat radar system and a different cockpit area.

Link to video of MiG-29K and Harrier fly by:

https://youtu.be/nHI0blqggFI

2010, Indian Naval Station Hansa in Goa, India.

MiG-29K overflies USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in the Bay of Bengal during Exercise Malabar 2017.

Flying with U.S. Navy Super Hornets, 2017.

Indian Navy Aérospatiale Alouette-3 (Chetak) over Goa, August 2017.

Chetak (Aérospatiale Alouette-3). USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Brandie Nuzzi, 28MAR2021.

Onboard USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52).

Indian CH-47F, first flight July 2018:

(INDIAN HERCULES APPEARS IN NORTH DAKOTA, 2018)

In 2018, Indian P-8A Poseidon (militarized Boeing 737) took part in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

HAL license built Dornier 228 and Hawk-i, and HAL HTT-40, airshow Aero India 2019.

Video, HAL Tejas:

Su-30MKI and HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) Tejas,  airshow Aero India 2019.

Su-30MKI, RED FLAG-Alaska, May 2016.

Video, Su-30 leads integrated flight of Jaguar, Mirage 2000 and U.S. F-15s:

Video, Su-30MKI bombing run:

(VEHICLE I-D: SUKHOI 27/30)

HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) attack helicopter, airshow Aero India 2019.

HAL Dhruv helicopter demo team, airshow Aero India 2019.

Mil 8, airshow Aero India 2019, Air Force Station Yelahanka, Bengaluru.

(CH-47 CHINOOK COLLECTS MIL 8 ‘HIP’ BONES)

Indian Navy Mil 17(171), November 2019, exercise Tiger TRIUMPH in Kakinada.

Indian Navy Sikorsky UH-3H Sea King, November 2019, exercise Tiger TRIUMPH in Kakinada.

Video, Sea King Helicopter lands on the flight deck of the USS Germantown (LSD 42), exercise Tiger TRIUMPH:

MiG-21, Defense Expo 2020.

Video, MiG-21 ‘Night Fighter’:

Video, Alouette ‘Cheetah’ part-1:

Video, Cheetah part-2:

Video promo, IAF Mirage 2000 fighters:

Technology

CH-47 Chinook collects Mil 8 ‘Hip’ bones

Video

U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Patrick Jubrey, 06AUG2019.

Surrounded, finders keepers! NATO reporting name for the Soviet era Mil 8 is Hip.

USA photo by Sergeant Patrick Jubrey, 06AUG2019.

USA photo by Sergeant Patrick Jubrey, 06AUG2019.

USA photo by Sergeant Patrick Jubrey, 06AUG2019.

USA photo by Sergeant Patrick Jubrey, 06AUG2019.

CH-47 anticipating sling loading Mil 8, Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, August 2019.

Video explainer, CH-47 sling loads Hip bones in Germany, June 2019:

USA photo by Charles Rosemond, 12MAR2019.

Note that the tail boom, main rotors, landing gear and other loose ‘Hip’ bones are shoved into the fuselage.  Storck Barracks, Illesheim, Germany, 12MAR2019.

USA photo by Charles Rosemond, 12MAR2019.

USA photo by Charles Rosemond, 12MAR2019.

Video explainer, using Hip bones for sling load training in Germany:

Prepping a Mil 8 for use as a sling load trainer, Hohenfels, Germany, 12MAR2019.

USA photo by Charles Rosemond, 12MAR2019.

USA photo by Charles Rosemond, 12MAR2019.

Video, CH-47 Chinook recovers junk Mil 8 in Afghanistan, November 2017:

 

USMC photo by Corporal Ursula V. Smith, 25SEP2019.

RECOVERING UH-1 SKELETONS

VEHICLE I-D: MIL 24 HIND ‘SATAN’S CHARIOTS’

Influenza, Technology

Operation CoViD-19: Project Air Bridge, 747s, MD-11s, breaking airlift records!

Video

According to some sources, the largest military airlift to aid silly-vilians (civilians) was the Berlin Airlift from 1948 to 1949.  The largest silly-vilian operated airlift was known as Joint Church Aid (unofficially Jesus Christ Airlines), also known as Biafrian Airlift, from 1967 to 1970.  Launched towards the end of March, Project Air Bridge, in the United States, using both military and civilian aircraft, in my opinion might set a new airlift record.

Pics and video from FEMA.

U.S. based (Florida) SkyLease Cargo’s 747-428ERF #N904AR arrived at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on 06APR2020, packed full of N-95 respirators, surgical masks, gloves and gowns.

On 07APR2020, U.S. based (Florida) SkyLease Cargo’s 747-428ERF  flew all the way from Malaysia, delivering more than 20-million surgical gloves to Chicago O’Hare Airport.

This is what the other side of SkyLease Cargo’s 747 # N903AR looks like.

Luxembourg based Cargolux 747-8F, O’Hare International Airport, 07APR2020.

Video, off-load of Cargolux and SkyLease Cargo 747s, 07APR2020:

Federal Emergency Management Agency says that just on the 7th of April more than 45-million surgical masks, as well as other medical PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), were delivered to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, to be distributed across the U.S.!

Video, off-load of FedEx MD-11 at O’Hare International Airport, Illinois, 08APR2020:

According to FEMA, the MD-11 arrived from China with more than 8-million surgical masks and more than 190-thousand surgical gowns!

Operation CoViD-19: FEMA’S EMERGENCY AIRLIFT REVEALED!

MAFFS BIRD FLIES COVID VENTILATORS TO NEW YORK AND ALL POINTS EAST

DOES THE ‘C’ IN C-130 STAND FOR COVID?

BARE METAL: NASA’S MD-11 EXPERIMENTAL

WILD FIRES 2019: DC-10, IDAHO’S 911

Technology

Dreamlifter, and other 747 cargo planes

Video
British Airway’s BOAC 747-400 at United Kingdom’s Royal International Air Tattoo, July 2019.

.

Michigan Air National Guard’s 127 Wing deploys on a 747-400 people hauler, April 2019.

.
.
.

   Video, 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard load-up contracted 747 (for their first time) with cargo for Guam, March 2019:

.
.
.
.
Michigan Air National Guard load-up a Atlas Air 747 cargo hauler, January 2019.
.
Boeing offers Dreamlifter, 3D-printing machines for COVID-19
.
In November 2013, an Atlas Air operated 747-400 Dreamlifter flew to McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, to pick-up parts for construction of 787 Dreamliners from a nearby manufacturer.
.
Official USAF reports say the pilot of the Boeing Dreamlifter mistakenly landed at Colonel James Jabara Airport!
.
Boeing claims its Dreamlifter can haul more cargo by volume than any aircraft in the world.

.

Video, South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing contracted 747 cargo plane for deployment to ‘undisclosed location’ in Southwest Asia, 2018:

.

Video, South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing contracted 747 cargo plane for their deployment to Korea, July 2016:

 

Kadena Air Base, Japan. The Missouri Air National Guard off-loaded the 747, one of three early model 747s operated by Kalitta Air.

Misawa Air Base, Japan, 2016.

National Air Cargo 747-400 tail number N949CA lands at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, February 2012.N949CA crashed in Afghanistan, April 2013, killing the seven crew.

Contracted 747 cargo haulers sit in Romania, waiting to be loaded up with supplies for troops in Afghanistan, July 2013.

Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, 2012.

A National 747 at Tinian International Airport, Northern Mariana Islands, during Exercise Forager Fury 2012.

Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, April 2011.

Travis AFB, California, April 2009.

KC-135 STRATOTANKER BATH

Kit Bashing, Technology

Bare Metal: KC-135R gets stripped

Video

Ohio Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Wendy Kuhn, 02MAR2015.

Ohio Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Wendy Kuhn, 04MAR2015.

Every five years, KC-135 Stratotankers undergo depot maintenance by the 564th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

Ohio Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Wendy Kuhn, 04MAR2015.

The process includes stripping off an aircraft’s paint, removing the engines, dropping the boom, removing and replacing deficient parts, and any upgrades as necessary.  It takes an average of 125 days.

USAF photo by Kelly White, 28APR2015.

Video, part one KC-135R depot work:

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Kiaundra Miller, 23NOV2019.

Tennessee Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Kendra Owenby, 19JAN2017.

Video, part two KC-135R depot work (no audio on slo-mo parts of the video):

Tennessee Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Kendra Owenby, 19JAN2017.

Video, part three KC-135R depot work:

BARE METAL: NASA’S MD-11 EXPERIMENTAL

 C-130 PAINT PREP, OR THE EMPEROR GETS SOME NEW CLOTHES

C-17 STRIPPED

 B-1B & B-52H

Technology

KC-135 Stratotanker bath

Video

121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, June 2018.

I don’t think this has anything to do with washing-up, but apparently the Airmen with 92nd Maintenance Group think break-dancing helps. Fairchild Air Force Base (AFB), Washington, January 2018.

Video interview, with funky music, 100th Maintenance Group washes KC-135, RAF Mildenhall in United Kingdom, 2017:

Washing the main-gear doors, 168th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska, December 2017.

Kadena Air Base, Japan, 2016.  The wash-rack (aka Bird-Bath, officially Aircraft Rinse System) takes 90 seconds to wash the salty sea air off the skin of the Stratotanker.

KC-135R passes through wash rack on Andersen AFB, Guam, 2014.

Hand washing KC-135R, Altus AFB, Oklahoma, 2014.

Washing the front landing gear of a KC-135R.

According to the Altus AFB info, it takes eight hours to wash your KC-135.

Every 120 days KC-135 get a scrub-down.

Video explainer, washing KC-135 at McDill AFB, Florida, 2013:

EC-135E FIRE-BIRD, 10329 COMES BACK TO LIFE, AGAIN! OR, WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR EXTRA KC-135 KIT.

WASH YOUR HAWK!

Kit Bashing, Technology

How to paint your 1:1 scale B-17 Memphis Belle with ‘period correct’ paint

Video

U.S. Department of Defense photo by Lisa Ferdinando, 03OCT2019.

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper gets a ‘walk around’ of the Memphis Belle at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), Ohio, 03OCT2019.

After 13 years of rebuilding, the B-17F Memphis Belle was ready for unveiling in 2018.  Part of the restoration included painting the World War Two Boeing Flying Fortress with period correct paint.

U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock, 13FEB2018.

Painting the bomb bay.

Boeing B-17F “Memphis Belle” rests inside a hangar at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 01FEB2018. USAF photo by J.M. Eddins Junior.

U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez, official unveiling 16MAY2018.

Official video report about the ‘period correct’ painting process, January 2018:

Official video report explaining the confusion over what are ‘correct’ markings for the Memphis Belle (even as a beginning kit builder in the 1970s I heard/read many arguments between ‘adult’ builders as to what the correct markings were), includes lots of color war-time film:

Dramatic music video, how to paint and install your B-17 propellers:

Official video report, installing the tail gunner station into a ‘naked’ Memphis Belle, 2017:

Dramatic music video of completed Memphis Belle being moved in early 2018 to new location, just think how lucky the tow-truck driver is:

Here’s almost 13 minutes of silent color wartime footage of the Memphis Belle:

New York Air National Guard Photo by Staff Sergeant Christopher S. Muncy, 17SEP2017

This B-17F ‘Memphis Belle’ is owned by the Liberty Foundation, the pic was taken in 2017.  It is not painted correctly, can you see the boo-boo?  Compare it to the pic at the top of the article.  (clue: Blue on the driver’s left, red on the driver’s right)

Photo dated 1943.

In 1978 Revell tried to compete with Monogram’s excellent 1:48 scale B-17G, by issuing a 1:48 B-17F.  Dimensionally it was about the same size as Monogram’s but lacked the awesome detailing. It’s still periodically re-issued.

In 1962, Revell issued a 1:72 scale B-17F Memphis Belle.  As a child in the early 1970s, Revell’s 1972 rebox was the first World War Two bomber kit I built.

Hasegawa issued a 1:72 Memphis Belle in 2009, however, it is not a new tooling.  It’s their old 1976 kit with new decals.

Academy’s 1:72 Memphis Belle is much nicer than the ancient Revell, and the old Hasegawa, kits.

B-25 PANCHITO

VEHICLE I-D: C-47 DAKOTA/SKYTRAIN, DOUGLAS COMMERCIAL-3, R4D GOONIES! (with long kit shopping list)