Tag Archives: u.s.

Operation CoViD-19: USN Quarantine Ships

Video March 21, 2020 Hutchins AAron

The ‘main stream’ U.S. news media is doing a piss-poor job of showing what the U.S. Navy is doing during this Corona-Virus Disease 2019 pandemic. It’s as if they’re deliberately trying to make it look like there’s no government response.

Somewhere at sea, a Hospital Corpsman with the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet tests for diseases using a BioFire Film Array. The hi-tech machine can test for just short of 30 diseases at the same time. The pic was taken aboard the USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), 14MAR2020.

Medical supplies being loaded onto USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) in San Diego, California, 20MAR2020.

Infected people could be delivered to USNS Mercy via MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters.

Mercy is one of two hospital ships owned and operated by Military Sealift Command, and operates in the Pacific Ocean.

Video of USNS Mercy being loaded with medical supplies, in San Diego, in preparation for its mission as a quarantine ship:

Apparently they’re expecting to drink a lot of Red Bull?

The other hospital ship is the USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), which normally operates along the Atlantic coast, including providing taxpayer funded medical services to people in Central & South America, and the Caribbean.

A Ejército Mexicano medic, assigned to the USNS Comfort, helps a boy with a severely swollen head in Haiti, November 2019.

Throngs of Haitians line-up for help from the USNS Comfort, November 2019. Will the same thing happen at U.S. ports?

Coming for you? A view from inside a MH-60S Sea Hawk assigned to USNS Comfort.

OPERATION CoViD-19: HOT ZONE DAEGU

Kit Bashing, Technology

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

Video March 19, 2020 Hutchins AAron

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)

Technology

Robot Wars: A-I strips an A-10 naked!

Video March 19, 2020 Hutchins AAron

Personnel seal panel lines, rivets and any other ‘openings’ to prevent the stripping material from entering the aircraft. U.S Air Force photo by Todd Cromar, 04DEC2019.

In December 2019, a robot paint stripper at Hill Air Force Base (AFB), Utah, was used to strip an A-10 Thunderbolt-2 for the first time. Normally, it’s used on F-16s.

Corrosion control technicians seal up the seams and holes in the skin to prevent the blast media from entering the aircraft. USAF photo by Todd Cromar, 04DEC2019.

“There are going to be across-the-board improvements including a dramatic reduction in exposure to a Hexavalent Chromium dust environment. This is perhaps the greatest benefit to the robotic system. Savings will also be seen with reduced operating time and less power consumption, as well as reduced costs in material. We really haven’t found a downside to this system.”-Tim Randolph, 576th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

USAF photo by Todd Cromar.

Two robots, with four hose attachments each, move independently along both sides of the aircraft. The time to strip an A-10 is decreased from three days to 9-12 hours!

Sorry, they didn’t release any pics of the naked A-10.

This Davis-Monthan ‘Paint Barn’ video, released in January 2020, shows you how many humans are needed in order to paint an A-10:

Robot Wars:

Photo via Aerobotix.

A-I PAINTERS TO SAVE THE F-22 RAPTOR?

TEXAS TURNS TO ROBOTS TO WASH F-16

A-10 Thunderbolt-2: ANOTHER A-10C WITH INVASION STRIPES

THE OWL HAD A BLUE UMBRELLA!: HOW LANTIRN KILLED THE N/AW-10, AND, WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE TRUMPETER/HOBBY BOSS KITS?

Kit Bashing, Technology

How to assemble your 1:1 scale MQ-1 Predator

Video March 17, 2020 Hutchins AAron

“We have just won a war with a lot of heroes flying around in planes. The next war may be fought by airplanes with no men in them at all… It will be different from anything the world has ever seen.”-General Henry H. ‘Hap’ Arnold, U.S. Army Air Force, 1945

The first Predator flew a recon mission over Albania in July 1995, then it was known as RQ-1. Despite many official denials, back then, several RQ-1s were lost to ‘global warming climate change’ (bad weather) or shot down.

It was the Airmen who maintained the General Atomics RQ-1 who adapted helicopter weapon pylons to the giant remote control aircraft, as well as adding a turbocharger to the piston engine, finally proving its combat capability in October 2001. In 2002, the RQ-1 became MQ-1 (M for multi-role). In March 2018, the USAF officially retired the MQ-1.

On 03MAR2020, the Iowa Air National Guard got a massive model kit of the MQ-1 Predator. It’s actually a retired MQ-1 that will end up on static display at the Air National Guard Bureau in Washington DC. The Iowa Air Guard has the honor of assembling and painting it.

Unboxing the monster kit.

Who wouldn’t be happy about a kit this big?

You’ll need some jacks and jigs.

A bunch of people about to get bombed at the 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing HQ at Creech Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada, 06JUN2019.

On 03MAR2018, the MQ-1 took its official last flight in Nevada, being replaced by the MQ-9 Reaper.

Creech AFB MQ-1 retirement video report:

30NOV2017, removing the ‘brains’, the Primary Control Module, Creech AFB.

Removing the antenna. This was done prior to the MQ-1 being sent to United Kingdom to become a ‘gate guard’.

Final combat mission (undisclosed location) of 361st Expeditionary Attack Squadron’s MQ-1B, 01JUL2017.

MQ-1B Predator remote piloted aircraft with the 147th Air Reconnaissance Wing, Texas Air National Guard, on display at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Expedition, Malaysia, 21MAR2017.

Video report, being a Predator Pilot:

MQ-1 final flight at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, 27FEB2017.

Video report, Holloman AFB MQ-1 retirement, 2017:

Video, repairing and prepping the wing of a MQ-1 slated for gate guard duty at Holloman AFB, 2016:

Video, engine maintenance, Holloman AFB, June 2015:

Kit shopping list:

HOW TO BUILD A 1:1 SCALE U.S. ARMY ‘FAKE NEWS’ BMP-2

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

Technology

Robot Wars: A-I Painters to save the F-22 Raptor?

Video March 17, 2020 Hutchins AAron

An F-22 Raptor is masked-off for new paint, on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Hawaii Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier, 21AUG2020.

The F-22 Raptor is a hi-tech aircraft that has not resulted in making things easier for the U.S. Air Force (USAF). I’ve already written how the sensitive ‘skin’ of the aircraft is a nightmare for sheet metal shop personnel. Now the USAF admits that painting the aircraft is a pain-in-the-butt as well.

An F-22 gets its air intakes painstakingly ‘gap filled’ at Hill AFB, Utah. USAF photo by Alex R. Lloyd, 19NOV2020.

As of February 2020, the USAF has a new hi-tech tool that will supposedly solve one of the hi-tech aircraft’s skin problems; a robot designed specifically to paint the inside of the air intakes.

Hawaii Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier, 21AUG2020.

The company, Aerobotix, that makes the robot painter claims it’ll save U.S. taxpayers $28-million in labor costs to paint the F-22, and apparently it can be used on other aircraft.

Video report:

Photo via Aerobotix.

Update, 31AUG2022: Aerobotix Marks 40th Restoration of Air Inlet Ducts on F-22 Raptor Aircraft

VEHICLE I-D:F-22 RAPTOR

Robot Wars: A-I Strips an A-10 naked!

TEXAS TURNS TO ROBOTS TO WASH F-16

Influenza

Operation CoViD-19: Hot Zone Daegu

Video March 17, 2020 Hutchins AAron

On 13MAR2020, soldiers with the U.S. Army, and the Republic of Korea (RoK), took part in disinfection ops in the hot zone known as Daegu.

Video, U.S. Army Installation Clean Teams:

Video, U.S. Army Trace Teams, or how they can trace where an infected military members has been:

Operation CoViD-19: U.S. Border Patrol, 13MAR2020

Influenza, U.S.

Operation CoViD-19: U.S. Border Patrol

Image March 17, 2020 Hutchins AAron

CoViD-19=CoronaVirus Disease 2019

The following pics were taken at the Dulles International Airport, Virginia, 13MAR2020:

The following pics were taken at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Georgia, 13MAR2020:

Operation Jupiter: OPERATION COVID-19 IS FOR REAL

Influenza

Operation Jupiter: Operation CoViD-19 is for real

Video March 16, 2020 Hutchins AAron

CoViD-19=CoronaVirus Disease 2019

U.S. military updates as of 14-15MAR2020.

At Camp Pendleton, California, U.S. Marine Corps held a Installations West meeting to discuss scenarios for CoViD-19 response.

Marines onboard Camp Pendleton also built a quarantine site for anybody who test positive for the virus.

Video of U.S. Marines building a quarantine site on Camp Pendleton:

Official video announcement, USMC Camp Pendleton shuts down or reduces onboard services due to CoViD-19:

In the New Rochelle area of New York state, the Army National Guard began preparations for Operation CoViD-19.

Official video report, New York Army National Guard CoViD-19 Mobile Testing Center in Glenn Island Park:

Effective March 14, 2020, gate guards will no longer handle I-D cards, instead they’ll use a scanner. Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, video explainer:

Video, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, implements new CoViD-19 gate checks:

On 11 March, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, issues video explaining what you should do if you think you’re infected:

THE DAY AFTER MEDICAL-MARTIAL-LAW WAS DECLARED: SHOPPING MAYHEM AT POCATELLO WINCO!

Going Viral, 11-12 March 2020: “STOP SAYING IT’S A BAD FLU!”

OPERATION JUPITER: U.S. SOLDIER INFECTED, U.S. BASES PREPPING FOR EVACUATIONS!

International

Survive by eating giant Spiders?: Pacific Ring of Fire, 01-07 March 2020

Video March 16, 2020 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of links to seismic/natural disaster reports from around the Pacific Ring of Fire, days 01 to 07 of Gregorian March 2020.

It’s all about money as Earthquake Insurance Market analysts predict rapid sales growth thru-2025!

Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is Now Causing Earthquakes

AUSTRALIA: b ans travel from Korea over virus

CHINA: enlists A-I to speed up monitoring and prediction of earthquakes

INDONESIA: airport shutdown after Java volcano erupts

JAPAN: Ceremony marking 9 yrs since quake-tsunami canceled amid virus fears

quarantine visitors from China, Korea

Typhoons Faxai and Hagibis dumped more than 2-million tons of debris into the Pacific Ocean!

New Typhoon-proof wind turbine

Video of U.S.-Japan Tomodachi Rescue Exercise (which took place at the end of February):

KOREA: Releases 221 Foreigners From Coronavirus Quarantine

U.S. Air Force 51st Aerospace Medicine Squadron updates its CoViD-19 map, 04MAR2020, Osan Air Base. (CoViD-19=CoronaVirus Disease 2019)

MEXICO: 5.6 quake shakes U.S. border towns

THAILAND: Can you survive the jungle? Video not for the weak:

UNITED STATES: Cascadia Subduction Zone; Silent earthquakes are tied to changes in fluid deep below

Alaska; After two months of activity, Pavlof Volcano has been downgraded to a ‘normal’ alert level.

California; San Diego faces critical earthquake danger from fault long believed to be inactive

Utah; 3.1 quake Box Elder County

Wyoming; USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) recorded 222 earthquakes in the Yellowstone area

Pacific Ring of Fire, 23-29 February 2020: “HOSTILE WEATHER CONDITIONS”

Climate Change, 01-07 March 2020: TREES ARE MAXED OUT!

Kit Bashing, Technology

EC-135E Fire-Bird, 10329 comes back to life, again! Or, what to do with your extra KC-135 kit.

Image March 15, 2020 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Air Force photo by Greg L. Davis, 04OCT2019.

This rudderless and engine-less EC-135E has risen from the ashes of retirement not once, but twice.

USAF photo by Greg L. Davis, 04OCT2019.

An electronic warfare version of the venerable Boeing C-135 family of aircraft, EC-135E #61-0329 (tail code 10329) was first retired to Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, as a rudderless ‘battle damage’ repair trainer.