Tag Archives: taxes

Is the combat proven A-10C being replaced by a crop-duster on steroids?

Video April 5, 2025 Hutchins AAron

The use of crop-duster aircraft as combat aircraft is nothing new, and it seems the United States is simply following a global trend, because the agricultural aircraft are relatively cheap and easy to maintain.

U.S. Air Force (USAF) Special Operations Command (SOC) loves its latest crop-duster, the OA-1K, which is actually based on the Air Tractor (based in Olney, Texas) crop-duster and fire-fighting aircraft. The USAF boasts that its new Skyraider-2 is “cost effective”. Air Tractor calls their combat crop-duster the AT-802U Sky Warden (the AT-802 first flew in 1990).

In January 2025, the finalized version of the crop-duster on steroids arrived on Hurlburt Field, Florida. In February, USAF-SOC christened the OA-1K the “Skyraider-2”.

On 03APR2025, the USAF-SOC officially accepted its first OA-1K during a ceremony on Hurlburt Field: “Skyraider-2 represents not just a new platform, but a modular solution to our national security needs. It will redefine how we approach joint campaigning, crisis response and the evolving landscape of modern warfare.”-Lieutenant General Michael Conley, SOC commander.

I edited this together from two USAF promotional videos:

The Skyraider-2 is already being offered for sale to Central American and Caribbean countries. On 27AUG2024, the OA-1K was flown to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, being presented during the Industry Day/Air Chiefs conference for the air forces of those countries.

Actually, most A-10C units are turning in their Thunderbolt-2s for the F-35 Lightning-2. The OA-1K Skyraider-2 is specifically a ‘special operations’ aircraft, the crew are known as Air Commandos.

This is the AT-802U trainer version.

Training on the OA-1K will officially take place on Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, in Oklahoma. Interestingly, the training version has been arriving on Will Rogers Air National Guard Base since July 2024, months before the official acceptance of the OA-1K.

The A-10C:

Belly landings becoming common place?

Idaho’s heritage A-10C ‘8N’

Afghan Phase Inspection

Idaho shows A-10C Pride with City Nose Art

Technology

Vehicle I-D: M88A2 HERCULES (another tool of the British empire?)

Video April 5, 2025 Hutchins AAron

Development of the M88A2 was started in 1991, after it was realized the A1 version could not tow the M1 Abrams by itself; it required two M88A1s to tow the 70-ton battle-tank. The first M88A2 went into service in July 1997. Only the A2 is called the HERCULES, which stands for Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lifting Extraction System.

U.S. Marine Corps HERCULES near Al-Karmah, Iraq.

In May 2010, the U.S. Army’s 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment was on the National Training Center (Fort Irwin, California) preparing for deployment to Iraq. Here’s a quick explanation of what the M88A2 can do:

U.S. Marine Corps HERCULES lifts a battle damaged French Mirage 2000D, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

(See more of the Mirage 2000D crash by clicking here.)

From 1961 to 1994 the M88 was built by a company originally called Bowen & McLaughlin. Here is some confusion; Bowen & McLaughlin supposedly started in Phoenix, Arizona, during World War Two. However, by 1950 Bowen & McLaughlin apparently setup shop in York, Pennsylvania, changing their name to Bowen McLaughlin York (BMY). BMY became a division of U.S. based Harsco Corporation, which ‘went public’ in 1956. In 1994, Harsco and FMC (Food Machinery Corporation) joined forces and created United Defense. Harsco still exists today, but changed its name to Enviri Corporation.

U.S. Marine Corps HERCULES pulls the ‘power pack’ (turbine-transmission combo) of an M1 Abrams, on Combat Outpost Shir Gazay, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

More confusion; from 1994-2005, M88 production was done by United Defense and Anniston Army Depot. In 2005, BAE Systems took-over United Defense. BAE Systems was created in 1999 when the Italian Marconi Electronic Systems merged with the United Kingdom’s British Aerospace. Since 2005 production is officially done by BAE Systems. The estimated cost of each M88A2 HERCULES is a little more than $2-million (as of the year 2000).

U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) video of their M88A2 crushing a car on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 24APR2014:

The ‘A2’ is larger and heavier than the previous versions. A more powerful Diesel piston motor, and efficient transmission, allows the use of only one recovery vehicle to tow the M1 Abrams.

U.S. Army HERCULES about to lift a Cold War era M47 range target on Hohenfels, Germany.

In 2017, the U.S. Army requested that eleven M88A2s be modified with even more powerful power-packs (engine/transmission combo), a hydro-pneumatic suspension and a seventh roadwheel (per side), for a cost of $28-million.

USMC HERCULES lifts a bulldozer onto a trailer, on Twentynine Palms, California.

Vehicle I-D: M88A1 ‘mud-bug’

Yankee tools of the British empire: National Guard, older than the United States itself!

A-M-P-V making profits off U.S. taxpayers, for the British Empire!

BAE’s M109A7, DON’T CALL IT A PALADIN!

M777 artillery, more proof the Yankees are the Tools of the Red Coats!

U.S.

Uncle Sam preps for War, 1941: Going Airborne!

Video April 1, 2025 Hutchins AAron

Although the first official United States Army (USA) Airborne unit was created in 1943 (82nd Airborne Division), the USA had been experimenting with the idea of having Soldiers jump out of perfectly good aircraft since the end of World War One.

Most of the early Airborne training took place on Fort Benning (recently called Fort Moore, previously known as Fort Benning [a different Benning than the current Benning]), Georgia, with the Airborne Test Platoon (ATP) becoming the first to drop on Lawson Field, 16AUG1940. The ATP consisted of 48 ‘volunteers’. The 16th of August is now officially National Airborne Day in the U.S.

I edited together this video, taken from 1941 U.S. Army Air Corps/Forces (USAAC/USAAF) newsreels about the U.S. Army’s paratroop training:

Here are some more USAAC/USAAF Airborne newsreels from 1941:

Paratroopers have their own official National Airborne Day! Video shows you why!

Uncle Sam preps for War, 1941: Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

Jumping out of a perfectly good C-130, over Morocco: African Lion 2023

U.S.

LDS connection to new military training center in Utah!?

Video March 31, 2025 Hutchins AAron

The federal U.S. Army Reserve is having a new training center built on the Utah Army National Guard’s Camp Williams. Army Reserve training personnel will be redeploying from their home on Fort Douglas, Utah, to Camp Williams.

Fort Douglas was one of many locations, during World War One, where German prisoners of war (PoW) were held. This photo purports to show German PoWs building model ships.

Fort Douglas was established during The War Between the States, in 1862.

In the 1960s, the Army deployed a mobile recruiting post out of Fort Douglas. The photo was made by J. Hargreaves in Murray, Utah, 12OCT1965.

The Civil War era base was officially shutdown in 1991, at least for active duty (Regular Army) use as the federal Army Reserve continued to conduct their training on the now historic site.

The project would not be possible without direct help from the University of Utah and the people of Utah: According to the Army Reserve’s 358th Public Affairs Detachment, the taxpayers of Utah will spend “…$17 million to purchase the land and an additional $100 million to build the new Army Reserve Center and a maintenance facility.”

Construction is being done by a contractor (Jacobsen Construction) who builds/renovates temples for the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS). Video report via Specialist Ronald D. Bell, 06MAR2025:

The Army Reserve expects to move onto Camp Williams by Spring 2026.

Soldiers on Fort Douglas taking a University of Utah carpentry course in 1917, during World War One.

The University of Utah has a long history of cooperation with Fort Douglas and will takeover the remaining 50 acres of the historic site.

August 2023: Utah State Militia

2022: Utah’s new FEMA Region 8 Urban Disaster Training Site

2014: Utah, home base for massive NSA data center, training National Guard to spy on you using LLVI!

Utah not only home to massive NSA data centers, but to massive military intelligence wargames aimed at you?

2013: ebay, Dell, HP, federal & state governments build World’s largest data collection spy center system in Utah! Real time data stream monitoring!

2012: Utah National Guard base to become site of largest personal data center in the U.S. You are the target!

International, Technology, U.S.

Like Riceburners? Join the U.S. Air Force, see Japan!

Video March 27, 2025 Hutchins AAron

To boost lagging recruitment (and apparent lack of desire to deploy to Japan), the U.S. Air Force is promoting its Auto Hobby Shop on Yokota Air Base. It is open seven days per week, with six self-service lift bays, an oil-change pit, and they provide the tools!

U.S. Armed Forces Network video report released 17MAR2025:

Cold War to Near Peer Threats:Japan’s ‘lowrider’ Type 74, finally retired?

Idaho: British Austin + Japanese Suzuki = The Duke!?

Idaho’s Bold Tigers invade Japan?

Technology, U.S.

Saving Private Boeing, with a ‘Top Secret’ price tag?

Video March 24, 2025 Hutchins AAron

On 21MAR2025, U.S. President Donald John Trump announced the purchase of a top secret fighter jet for the U.S. Air Force (USAF), called the F-47. He also revealed that the cost of the aircraft is ‘top secret’, ostensibly claiming that revealing the cost would also reveal the latest and greatest ‘top secret’ technologies used by the ‘6th Generation’ fighter:

A USAF news release revealed that “Over the past five years, in strong partnership between the Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, X-planes have been laying the foundation for the F-47.”

The USAF news release also points out that the contract for the F-47 is for only “a small number of test aircraft”, a price for production aircraft is still up-in-the-air.

Education Revolution: Idaho among several states praised by Trump for the Education Revolution!

Idaho, U.S.

Idaho among several states praised by Trump for Education Revolution!

Video March 22, 2025 Hutchins AAron

On 20MAR2025, United States President Donald John Trump issued Executive Order “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities.”

The purpose of the order is to reduce taxpayer funding of a system that has failed to meet even international standards (for decades) by returning direct control of public education to each State (prior to 1979 there was no federal-level Department of Education). Continued federal taxpayer funding (via the U.S. Secretary of Education) for schools can be terminated if ‘DEI’ programs are still in effect.

In a press conference conducted on 21MAR2025, President Trump added that the Small Business Administration will take over Student Loans, and Health and Human Services will take over Special Needs and nutrition programs:

Trump’s Wall War: February 2025.

U.S.

Trump’s Wall War! February 2025.

Video March 3, 2025 Hutchins AAron

Again, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP, aka Border Patrol) truck, manned by U.S. Army Soldiers, parked behind a sign marking the border between the U.S. and Mexico, near Mount Cristo Ray-Sunland Park, New Mexico, 20FEB2025.

Operation Southern Guard; the initial deployment of more than 1-thousand-6-hundred active-duty military personnel brings the total military Title 10 forces along the border to nearly 4-thousand personnel.

U.S CBP agent captured an illegal after notification from U.S. Soldiers/National Guard patrolling nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico, 01FEB2025.

Boeing P-8A Poseidon border patrol operations, I edited from a video via Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Jacquelin Frost, 18FEB2025:

Officers with U.S. Northern Command (USNorthCom) discuss national security concerns, including border enforcement, with Mexico’s Secretariat of the Navy (Marina), Admiral Raymundo Morales Angeles, on 07FEB2025.

ARIZONA

The U.S. Army’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion-10th Mountain Division arrive on Libby Army Airfield (a joint military/civilian operation with Sierra Vista Municipal Airport) at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, 11FEB2025. I edited video recorded by Specialist Jerron Bruce:

CALIFORNIA

On 19FEB2025, crew from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Haddock captures 20 illegals approximately 21 miles west of Point Loma, then handed them over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Border Patrol) in San Diego:

U.S. Marines with 7th Engineer Support Battalion-1st Marine Logistics Group, in support of 1st Combat Engineer Battalion-1st Marine Division, deploy concertina wire along the southern wall near San Ysidro, 13FEB2025. I edited a video via Lance Corporal Diego Berumen:

Is FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) USACE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) hiring migrant workers to tackle the ‘HazMat’ fire clean-up in California? In one section of this FEMA video (via Kevin Nha) you can hear instructions being giving to the workers in ‘Mexican’ Spanish, for debris removal at Loma Alta School/Oak Knoll Montessori in Altadena, 02FEB2025:

CUBA, GUANTANAMO BAY

On 25FEB2025, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visits Naval Station Guantánamo Bay during an illegal migrant holding operation as a part of Operation Southern Guard. I edited this from video via Corporal Cassidy Shepherd:

On 04FEB2025, ‘high-threat’ illegals began arriving on U.S. Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, via C-17 Globemaster-3. Video via Chad McNeeley:

FLORIDA

On 18FEB2025, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) reported capturing a human smuggler, and returning the 23 illegals being smuggled to the Bahamas.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conduct arrests of illegals in West Palm Beach, 11FEB2025. Video by Corey Bullard:

MARYLAND

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Middletown, Maryland, 13FEB2025. Video by John Blackburn:

NORTH CAROLINA

On Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Marines with 1st Battalion-6th Marine regiment-2nd Marine Division deploy to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, onboard a KC-130J Super Hercules, as part of President Trump’s plan to use Guantanamo to house violent illegals captured in the U.S., video via Sergeant Rowdy Vanskike, 02FEB2025:

On Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Marines with 1st Battalion-6th Marine regiment-2nd Marine Division deploy to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, onboard a U.S. Navy C-40A ‘Clipper’ (Boeing 737), video via Lance Corporal Landon Lingle, 03FEB2025:

TEXAS

Riverine operations of the never ending Operation Lone Star, video report via Master Sergeant Amber Monio and Staff Sergeant Derek Gutierrez, 23FEB2025:

About 1-hundred Texas National Guard personnel with Operation Lone Star went through U.S. Customs and Border Protection training from 18-20FEB2025, in McAllen. Video report via Master Sergeant Amber Monio:

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) arrested a ship captain for employing illegals, among other crimes, near South Padre Island.

California and Texas National Guard patrol along the southern borders of New Mexico and Texas, video report via Sergeant First Class Christy Van Drunen, recorded between 25JAN-05FEB2025, released on 13FEB2025:

Georgia Army National Guard inspect a train entering the U.S. near Uvalde, 12FEB2025.

Captured illegals are put aboard a U.S. Air Force C-130 on Biggs Army Airfield, Fort Bliss, 12FEB2025. Video by Corporal Adaris Cole:

This U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) video, via Todd Packard, claims to show “routine daily” arrest operations in El Paso, on 03FEB2025:

The USCG captured 11 Mexicans illegally fishing in U.S. territorial water. They had illegally fished approximately 1,595 pounds of red snapper along with nine sharks!

USCG HC-130J Super Hercules, deportation operations on Biggs Army Airfield, Fort Bliss, Texas, 02FEB2025.

VIRGINIA

U.S. ICE video, via John Blackburn, recorded during early morning of 04FEB2025:

January 2025: New Year, New President, same war on drugs & illegals?

Check out my ‘Border War U.S.A.’ playlist on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkZrLGwZbnj8cKlJz-MWvlTazK36w4b4O

International, Technology

No more NATO-România MiG-21 ‘Fishbed/Lancer’!

Video March 1, 2025 Hutchins AAron

Romania retired its last active Cold War era Mikoyan & Gurevich (MiG) 21s on 15MAY2023, officially replacing them with new versions of the Cold War era General Dynamics F-16s: “Decommissioning of the MiG-21 LanceR aircraft and the accelerated transition to the operation of the F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Force.”–Forțele Aeriene Române

Romanian Ministerul Apararii Nationale retirement video report:

Romanian F-16s; I edited this from a NATO video, non-disclosed location over Europe, released July 2023:

I edited together several NATO ‘walk-around’ videos (mostly silent videos) recorded between 2016 and 2020:

Serbian Armed Forces video from September 2018’s International Air Tactical Exercise Air Solution (involving Ohio National Guard, Romania and Serbia):