Tag Archives: nato

Kentucky dog trains to rescue Alaskans from a HC-130J!

Video July 1, 2019 Hutchins AAron

Tennessee Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Darby Arnold, 25JUN2019.

K9 Callie and her handler, Technical Sergeant Rudy Parsons, a para-rescueman (aka Para-Jumper, PJ) with the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, wait to jump into the icy water off Alaska, 25JUN2019.

Tennessee Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Darby Arnold, 25JUN2019.

Video (by SSgt Darby Arnold) of people jumping out of a perfectly good Alaskan National Guard HC-130J Combat King-2 (I think the dog was just along for the ride on this one):

Tennessee Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Darby Arnold, 25JUN2019.

K9 Callie, a Dutch Shepherd, trained for search and rescue, sits on the ramp of an HC-130J aircraft awaiting training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, 25JUN2019.

VEHICLE I-D: ALASKA MILITIA GETS NEW HC-130J

THAT’S NOT A C-130J, IT’S STILL THE OLD C-130H!

Technology

Vehicle I-D: U.S. military(?) Ferrari and Lamborghini

Image June 29, 2019 Hutchins AAron

USAF photo by Airman First Class Gage Daniel, 26MAY2018.

MiG-17 races a ‘Navy’ Ferrari at Cannon AFB, May 2018.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Gage Daniel, 27MAY2018.

Racing the USN Ferrari, from the cockpit of the challenging USAF Lamborghini, Cannon AFB, May 2018.

Whiskey Papa races a Ferrari during the 42nd Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force – Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day, May, 2018.

For some reason there were a lot of Ferraris at the 42nd Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force – Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day.

And they’re off! 2016 Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day.

For some reason the USAF is now using Lambos to attract potential recruits during Eglin AFB, Florida, ‘resiliency’ events.

Lamborghini Gallardo speeds along the flight line during the Arctic Thunder Open House at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July, 2018.

Lamborghini accelerates past a BT-13, June 2018. “Sunday driver!” yelled the BT-13 pilot.

POKEY AIRPORT, 2012 & 2014: VULTEE BT-13, stripped

Technology

World War 3(?): Soviet MiG 17 vs U.S. Navy Ferrari, only in ‘Amerika’

Video June 29, 2019 Hutchins AAron

MiG 17, NATO reporting name Fresco.

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Maxwell Daigle, 17MAY2019.

USAF video, by Staff Sergeant Philip Bryant, MiG-17F attacks Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, 17MAY2019.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Damon Kasberg, 17MAY2019.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 15JUN2019.

MiG-17F taxis on Whiteman AFB, Missouri, June 2019.

This Soviet made MiG 17 has a U.S. made ejection seat. USAF photo by Senior Airman Lane T. Plummer, 26MAY2018.

MiG-17 at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, May 2018.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Lane T. Plummer, 26MAY2018.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Gage Daniel, 26MAY2018.

MiG-17 races a ‘Navy’ Ferrari at Cannon AFB, May 2018.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Gage Daniel, 27MAY2018.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Vernon R. Walter the Third, 27MAY2018.

(U.S. military[?] Ferraris & Lamborghinis)

Polish MiG 17PF ‘invades’ New York? USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Ryan Campbell, 18JUL2015.

MiG-17PF over Niagara Falls, New York, July 2015.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Ryan Campbell, 18JUL2015.

POKEY AIRPORT 02 AUGUST 2014: MIG-15 UTI & MIG-17

U.S.

F-86H Hog gate guards

Video June 29, 2019 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Air Force photo by Jerry Saslav, 12DEC2022.

U.S. Air Force photo by Jerry Saslav, 09AUG2022.

F-86H Sabre Hog static display at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, 09AUG2022.

USAF photo by Jerry Saslav, 09AUG2022.

The Hog has been on Hanscom AFB ‘gate guard’ duty since 24APR1980!

Massachusetts Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Kerri Spero, 08JUN2019.

A North American F-86H Sabre static display was dedicated at Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts, 08JUN2019.

Massachusetts Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Kerri Spero, 08JUN2019.

Massachusetts Air National Guard photo by Timothy Sandland, 13DEC2018.

In December 2018, the same F-86H was moved across the street, video by Staff Sergeant Thomas Swanson:

Massachusetts Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Kerri Cole, 16JUL2013.

In 2013, the same Hog was in bad shape.

A new home for an old Hog. USAF photo by Ashley Williamson, 17MAR2016.

U.S. Air Force photo by Aaron J. Jenne, 06OCT2015.

In October 2015, the F-86H gate guard was ‘stolen’ from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.

USAF photo by Aaron J. Jenne, 06OCT2015.

Supposedly the F-86H was being returned to the original owner; the city of Goldsboro.

Maryland Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Gareth Buckand, 09JUL2014.

In 2014, the Maryland Air National Guard used their Hog gate guard for aircraft recovery training.

More gate guards: F-100 SUPER SABER

Kit Bashing

New F-16 Digital Ghost?

Video June 29, 2019 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Air Force photo by William R. Lewis, 28JAN2021.

F-16C Falcon with digital ghost paint scheme, Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada, 28JAN2021.

U.S. Air Force photo by Ronald Nial Bradshaw, 03JUN2020.

In 2020, Hill AFB, Utah, painted an F-16 in ‘digital ghost’ style.

USAF photo by Ronald Nial Bradshaw, 03JUN2020.

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Bryan Guthrie, 01MAY2019.

In May 2019, at Nellis AFB in Nevada, F-16 ‘aggressors’ underwent extensive re-paint to become digital ghost fighters.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Bryan Guthrie, 08MAY2019.

Time lapse video of paint stripping:

USAF photo by Airman First Class Bryan Guthrie, 16MAY2019.

Time lapse video (with overly dramatic music) of the painting process:

USAF photo by Airman First Class Bryan Guthrie, 23MAY2019.

First flight video (more overly dramatic music included):

VEHICLE I-D: ‘NEW’ F-16 VISTA

International, U.S.

F-100 Super Saber gate guards

Video June 29, 2019 Hutchins AAron

Saber=U.S. English spelling

Sabre=Queen’s English spelling (and also the spelling accepted by North American and USAF)

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Matthew Seefeldt, 07JAN2019.

An F-100 Super Sabre on display at Kadena Air Base, Japan, January 2019.

New Jersey Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Andrew J. Merlock, 27JUL2017.

New Jersey Air National Guard personnel cleanup the 177 Fighter Wing’s F-100F gate guard in Egg Harbor, July 2017. Note the bird spikes mounted on the top of the fin.

Ohio Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Ralph Branson, 17NOV2017.

In November 2017, retired Major John Bartine traveled from Texas to Ohio to visit an old friend, the F-100 he flew on 336 missions in Viet Nam.

June 2017 video report of Warner Robins Museum dedication, and interview with F-100 pilot responsible for the restoration project who discovered what a small world it was (during Vietnam) when his crew chief turned out to be from the same city he was from, Ogden, Utah:

Ohio Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Joe Harwood, 20DEC2016.

Frost bitten 179 Airlift Wing’s F-100 gate guard, December 2016.

Indiana Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Lonnie Wiram, 03DEC2016.

December 2016, Stanley Richardson, a former Crew Chief in the Indiana Air National Guard reminisces about keeping his aircraft airborne.

Maryland Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant John Hillier, 08AUG2016.

In August 2016, this F-100F took one last flight to the top of a giant display stand at the Air National Guard Readiness Center on Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, in dedication to all the Guard pilots that flew it.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Diana Quinlan, 30OCT2014.

This F-100F landed in Hangar 79 of the Pacific Aviation Museum (PAM) Pearl Harbor on Ford Island, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, October 2014.

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Stacey Jeanpaul, 29JUN2004.

Washing a F-100 gate-guard on Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath, England in United Kingdom, June 2004.

USAF photo by Airman Garizaldy Paterson, 22OCT1997.

Thor’s Hammer used to be an Italian Aeronautica Militare F-100, but it was given to the USAF. It was assigned gate-guard duty on Aviano Air Base, in October 1997.

January 1979, Hill AFB, Utah.

In January 1979, a retired F-100 took its last flight via a CH-54 Skycrane, to its new post as a gate-guard on Hill Air Force Base, in Utah.

Drone Wars: QF-100 SUPER SABRE

1:72 F-100 SUPER SABER KIT KLASH, OR MORE REASONS WHY YOU CAN’T TRUST SCALE DRAWINGS

Kit Bashing, Technology, U.S.

Repairing 1/1 scale T-38 Talon and other Whiteman Gate Guards (and a reduced scale B-2 bomber)

Video June 28, 2019 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 18JUN2019.

During the middle of June, 2019, 509th Maintenance Squadron ‘low-observable maintenance’ Airmen began work to restore Whiteman Air Force Base’s (in Missouri) T-38 gate guard named Spirit of Heartland.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 18JUN2019.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 06AUG2019.

The T-38 is one of several 509th Bomb Wing static displays on base which also includes the B-29 Superfortress, B-47 Stratojet, B-52 Stratofortress and the FB-111A Aardvark.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 06AUG2019.

In May 2018, the B-29 The Great Artiste was restored. According to the official report “…the original aircraft was lost during a crash landing at Goose Bay Air Base, in Labrador, Canada, in 1949. So, another B-29 was painted as a replica for static display. The static display was eventually moved to Whiteman AFB from Pease AFB when the New Hampshire base closed in 1991.”

USAF photo by Airman Michaela Slanchik, 10AUG2017.

In August 2017, a reduced scale B-2 Spirit was donated by Northrop-Grumman. The B-2 replica weighs 600 pounds and is 22 feet in length compared to the actual B-2’s true length of 172 feet. It is one of 50 donated by Northrop Grumman.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Joel Pfiester, 13SEP2016.

In September 2016, the FB-111A gate guard underwent corrosion prevention painting, some calling it operation Dark Vark.

In 2015, the Missouri Air National Guard 131st Bomb Wing moved to Whiteman AFB, and brought their F-4, F-15 and F-100 gate guards with them. Missouri Air National Guard video by Technical Sergeant Elise Rich, June 2015:

Guam: 1/1 SCALE F-4 PHANTOM-2 MODEL

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Charles Delano.

Down in the mud, shot-up, Wyoming SLUF

International, U.S.

F-105 Thunderchief Gate Guards

Image June 27, 2019 Hutchins AAron

Kadena Air Base, Japan. The F-105 flew out of Kadena AB from 1962 to 1972.

U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, 19JUN2017.

A-10C Thunderbolt-2s over-fly a weathered F-105 at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Arizona, 18SEP2015.

Repairs being made to the F-105B gate guard at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, 01MAY2017.

1:48 F-105G WILD WEASEL SHOWDOWN, HOBBYBOSS VS MONOGRAM

Technology

USAF A-7 Corsairs, whatever happened to?

Video June 26, 2019 Hutchins AAron

Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, George W. Bush Air Park video history tour of the A-7D, 21JUN2020:

Ling-Tempco-Vaught A-7D Corsair-2, April 1982, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. Photo via Tinker Air Force Base History Office.

LTV A-7D Corsair II, isochronical maintenance at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 1982.

Apparently the USAF version of the A-7 Corsair-2 is one of the most loved ground attack aircraft, especially by the folks in Oklahoma; from November 1966, when Tinker AFB’s Oklahoma City Air Materiel Area was assigned all logistics management responsibility for the A-7D, to its final days with the Oklahoma Air National Guard in 1993 (to be replaced by the F-16).

125th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 138th Tactical Fighter Group, Oklahoma Air National Guard in 1992. Photo via Greg L. Davis.

Oklahoma ANG A-7D ‘Tulsa’, during training in 1992.

Oklahoma Air National Guard A-7D on display in the Charles B. Hall Memorial Air Park, 2017. U.S. Air Force photo by Greg L. Davis.

Oklahoma isn’t the only National Guard unit to fly the A-7 during its official last days, and even some National Guard units are still using their A-7s for other training.

198th Fighter Squadron, 156th Fighter Group, Puerto Rico Air National Guard, 1992. Photo via Greg L. Davis.

Four A-7D Corsair IIs of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, over the Caribbean in 1992. Puerto Rico’s Air National Guard used A-7Ds up-till 1993.

Iowa Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot.

Three happy Iowa National Guard pilots pose in front of an A-7D ‘gate guard’, 17MAR2017. Mike Maier, Jim Walker and Larry Christensen were the last of Iowa’s A-7 pilots that, as of 2017, were still serving with Iowa Air National Guard.

Iowa Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot, 17MAR2017.

Freshly painted gate guard, A-7D ‘Sioux City’ of the Iowa Air National Guard.

Iowa Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot.

In 2013 the Iowa Air and Army National Guard decided to sling-load a two seat A-7 gate guard with a CH-47F Chinook.

Iowa Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot.

At the beginning of the video is a boring press conference, then the sling load, and then somehow some old film of an A-7 (BAT 12) strafing a tank on a USAF bombing range:

Wisconsin Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Meghan Skrepenski, 13JUN2017.

The Wisconsin Air National Guard used this ‘gate guard’ to practice ‘downed aircraft recovery’ in June 2017. Note that the recovery vehicle is an old John Deere 4020 that (according to the press info) is three years older than the 1969 issue A-7. Apparently the scenario involved a military aircraft that crashed in Wausau: “Planning this movement took approximately two years from initial concept to movement completion. This movement provided a chance to deal with something that we wouldn’t normally be able to do…”-Master Sergeant Michael J. Schmidt, 115th Fighter Wing

Wisconsin Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Meghan Skrepenski, 13JUN2017.

Note the U.S. Navy refuel probe on the nose of the A-7 painted in USAF/National Guard colors. Apparently the only USAF A-7 that had the USN refueling probe was the prototype YA-7D, which served at Edwards Air Force Base until retired to AMARC in 1992. So is this a USN A-7 acquired for Air National Guard gate guard duty, or is it one of two YA-7D prototypes?

New Jersey Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Nicholas Young.

In March 2017, New Jersey Air National Guard TACPs (Tactical Air Control Party )used a shot-up A-7 during a training event with Maryland Air Guard’s A-10 Thunderbolt-2s, at Warren Grove Gunnery Range.

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Charles Delano.

In May 2017, Wyoming Air National Guard conducted aircraft recovery training with this shot-up A-7D that was literally ‘down in the mud’.

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Charles Delano, 11MAY2017.

They had to use airbags to raise the SLUF and use PSP/Martson Mat style steel plank to get it rolling out of the mud: “This was the first time for me doing recovery training. My job was to help set up air bags and operate the manifold. My normal job always has some sort of data and you are going to follow the book. When a plane crashes or runs off the runway into mud, you don’t always respond in the same way.”-Senior Airman Dakota Difrancesco, 153rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Charles Delano, 11MAY2017.

I believe the U.S. taxpayers got their money’s worth out of the A-7.

1/48 SCALE COMPARISON A-7 CORSAIR-2: AURORA, REVELL-MONOGRAM, ESCI, HASEGAWA & HOBBY BOSS.

1/72 REVISED COMPARISON A-7 CORSAIR-2: FUJIMI, ESCI, AIRFIX, HASEGAWA, MATCHBOX, REVELL & HOBBY BOSS. MORE REASON NOT TO TRUST SCALE DRAWINGS?

U.S.

‘Traveling Terrorists’: U.S. Immigrant invasion, May 2019

Video June 20, 2019 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete (tip-o-the iceberg) list of global immigrant/border operations affecting the United States taxpayers, May 2019.

During the week of 13 May, U.S. tax dollars were spent conducting the ‘Securing our Borders against Traveling Terrorists’ symposium in the resort town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. It was touted as the first collaborative global counterterrorism alumni workshop.

Here’s an official U.S. Army Corps (pronounced -core-, not -corps-) of Engineers video proving the border wall construction started under the Obama regime, not Trump! In the video it’s stated the military was asked to help build a border wall (called Border Barrier Project) starting in “fiscal 2017”. Fiscal 2017 began in July 2016 while Barack Obama was President: