From 1953 to 1963 the Wyoming Air National Guard used the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star to train-up pilots for the F-80 Shooting Star and North American F-86 Sabre.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo, 23OCT2016.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo, 24OCT2016.
In October 2016, the Wyoming Air National Guard 153rd Airlift Wing’s Structural Maintenance Section spent two weeks restoring a T-33 ‘gate guard’.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo, 23OCT2016.
Notice that the tail number was at first masked-off to read 36661.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo, 24OCT2016.
By November 2016, the restored T-33 was ready for display in Building 16 Hanger.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Major Tom Blackburn, 09NOV2016.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Major Tom Blackburn, 09NOV2016.
Notice that the tail number now reads 63661.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Major Tom Blackburn, 09NOV2016.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jon Alderman, 25OCT2019.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jon Alderman, 25OCT2019.
On 25OCT2019, T-33 #63661 was moved to its new ‘gate guard’ job at the Wyoming Military Museum in Cheyenne.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jon Alderman, 25OCT2019.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jon Alderman, 25OCT2019.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jon Alderman, 25OCT2019.
Wyoming Air National Guard T-33 move explainer video, October 2019:
Time lapse music video by Technical Sergeant Jacqueline Marshall:
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jon Alderman, 25OCT2019.
U.S. Navy explainer video, from Bureau of Medicine and Surgery at Naval Medical Center San Diego, insists CoViD vaccines are voluntary because they are still considered experimental/emergency use only:
U.S. Navy explainer video, from Bureau of Medicine and Surgery at Naval Medical Center San Diego, stating that CoViD vaccines are not for children because vaccine testing did not include children, and the FDA did not approve the vaccines for use in children:
U.S. Army National Guard photo by Captain Michael Fedner.
Maryland’s gov’na toured the state’s first mass-vax site in the parking lot of Six Flags in Bowie, 05FEB2021.
Mississippi:
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer First Class Caine Storino.
In Gulfport, on 08FEB2021, U.S. Navy SeaBees (construction engineers) built what is being called a “CoViD Vaccine Administration Camp”.
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer First Class Caine Storino.
It was a ‘proof of concept’ build to see if such vaccine administration camps were feasible.
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer First Class Caine Storino.
The small camps are intended to issue 250 vaccines per day, and could also be used for ‘humanitarian assistance’ around the globe.
Missouri:
Photo by Chad Ashe.
On Fort Leonard Wood (my Army Basic & Advanced Training alma mater), Nutter Field House was used to hold a mass vaccination event for military personnel on 05-06FEB2021.
U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Barry Riley.
14FEB2021, U.S. Army Urban Augmentation Medical Task Force-531, out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, began assisting FEMA’s mass vaccination ops in Somerset.
U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Barry Riley.
13FEB2021, Department of Defense’s Task Force North East arrived at FEMA Region 2’s Operations Center, in Earle, for what’s being called “whole-of-government CoViD-19 response”.
U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Barry Riley.
13FEB2021, at New Jersey National Guard headquarters in Sea Girt, U.S. Army Urban Augmentation Medical Task Force-531 goes through FEMA orientation for mass-vaccination operations.
New York:
U.S. Air Force Reserve photo by Staff Sergeant Christopher S. Muncy.
The National Guard helped to open a mass-vaccination site at Yankee Stadium, 05FEB2021.
North Carolina:
U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Corporal Isaiah Gomez.
On U.S. Marine Corps’ Camp Lejeune, the Wallace Creek Fitness Center is now a mass-vaccination site for military personnel.
Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant John Hughel.
More than 150 National Guard personnel are operating four mass-vaccination sites in Spokane, Kennewick, Wenatchee and Ridgefield. Also, the National Guard is conducting a mobile vaccination operation targeting nursing home residents.
But don’t get too excited for the economy, Garcia’s is opening in the former Chili’s location, which shutdown without warning, or explanation, towards the end of last year.
In Pocatello, the iconic and beloved Chang’s Garden shutdown without warning last October, just confusing signs reading “Sorry we are closed” and “Hiring server” on the door.
Photo by AAron Hutchins, October 2020.
It was known to loyal Chang’s fans that the husband and wife owners had been wanting to retire for several years, and they apparently used the pandemic as an excuse to sell the location to New Yorkers who created Tokyo Belly Sushi (they chose Idaho because New York is too expensive to start a restaurant). I don’t like fish.
Photo by AAron Hutchins, February 2013.
Chang’s opened in1994, and I had been eating there since 1997, 20-plus years of awesome General Tao (not Tso!) Chicken and Hot & Sour Soup, and occasionally Honey Walnut Shrimp.
After 29-thousand-985 flight hours, and 25 years of service, the U.S. Coast Guard retired HC-130H #1503 on 21JUN2019. Its final flight was from Clearwater, Florida, to Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Video of final take-off, by Petty Officer Second Class David Micallef:
Then, on 10FEB2021, it was revealed that 1503 had been saved from certain death in the scrapyard!
Photo by Aviation Technical Training Center (ATTC), Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
According to the MyCG (Coast Guard) report, in December 2020 the Avionics Electrical Technician (AET) School located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, acquired 1503 for hands-on avionics training: “Thanks to the coordination between our AET School Chief, our Training Delivery Branch, and our partners at the Aviation Logistics Center, we were able to save this aircraft from demolition and repurpose it as a valuable training aid.”-Captain Brian P. Hopkins, ATTC commanding officer
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Sara Romero.
In September 2018, 1503 deployed to Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, in response to Hurricane Florence.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Sara Romero.
1503 was loaded with hurricane relief supplies, which included parts for a MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter.
USCG video, 1503 taxis out for Hurricane Michael, October 2018:
U.S. Coast Guard photo.
August 2017, Hurricane Harvey response in Texas. Notice that ‘1503’ is painted in gold, that’s because 1503 became the oldest active HC-130H in USCG inventory in 2017.
U.S. Coast Guard photo.
U.S. Coast Guard photo.
1503 preps for take-off to conduct Hurricane Matthew damage assessment, October 2016. You can better see the FLIR pod hanging from its nose like a grey booger.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Michael De Nyse.
October 2016, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Hurricane Matthew response.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Michael De Nyse.
U.S. Coast Guard photo.
In November 1998, while operating out of Kodiak, Alaska, 1503 crashed during bad weather.
The 1500 though 1504 series of USCG HC-130Hs were originally ordered under a U.S. Air Force (USAF) contract. 1503’s USAF # was 73-0844. Over the decades, 1503 has been based in North Carolina (1994-2010) and then Florida in 2011, but operated where ever needed.
The Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) program (aka Boeing Phantom Works X-53) sought to determine the advantages of twisting flexible wings for primary maneuvering roll control at transonic and supersonic speeds, with traditional control surfaces such as ailerons and leading-edge flaps used to aerodynamically induce the twist. The idea is to design lighter, more flexible high aspect-ratio wings for future high-performance aircraft, which could translate to more economical operation or greater payload capability.
NASA photo, February 2003.
Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) F/A-18A (acquired in 1999 from the U.S. Navy) undergoes wing torsion testing at NASA’s Flight Loads Laboratory, Edwards Air Force Base, March-April 2001.
NASA photo, March 2001.
NASA Photo by Tom Tschida, April 2001.
Official NASA video:
NASA says the AAW program actually began in 1996, on paper. Wings from NASA’s retired F/A-18 #840, formerly used in the High-Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV) project, were modified and installed on #853.
NASA photo, October 2001.
New paint-job, October 2001.
NASA photo by Tony Landis, 24OCT2001.
NASA Photo by Tom Tschida, 21MAR2002.
Before the official public unveiling, Centennial of Flight Commission decals were place on both sides of AAW 853, below the aft portion of the cockpit. NASA says the AAW program was influenced by the fact that the Wright Brothers twisted the wings of their Wright Flyer to get it to turn.
NASA Photo by Tom Tschida, 21MAR2002.
NASA photo by Tony Landis, 27MAR2002.
In March 2002, NASA officially unveiled the modified AAW F/A-18A.
NASA Photo by Tom Tschida, 21MAR2002.
NASA photo, August 2002.
More wing torsion/vibration testing, August 2002.
NASA photo, August 2002.
NASA Photo by Tom Tschida, 22AUG2002.
15NOV2002, NASA photo by Tony Landis.
First flight of AAW F/A-18A #853 was 15NOV2002.
NASA photo by Carla Thomas, 15NOV2002.
During early flights it was determined that some of the original F/A-18 wings panels were too flexible at high speeds to create the desired roll rate. The leading edge flap was divided into individually controlled sections, which seemed to solve the problem.
07FEB2003, NASA photo by Jim Ross.
February 2003.
07FEB2003, NASA photo by Jim Ross.
25JUN2003, NASA photo by Jim Ross.
Chased by another NASA F/A-18A, June 2003.
Official NASA video, 2003:
NASA photo, December 2004.
Flying over the U.S. Borax mine, near the Rogers Dry Lake, December 2004.
15DEC2004, NASA photo by Carla Thomas.
Official NASA video:
Official NASA video, March 2005:
The AAW program was officially completed in 2005. The total cost of the AAW testing is estimated at $45-million.
NASA photo by Tony Landis, 18JUN2009.
In June 2009, the AAW #853 got a new lease on life, replacing an older NF-15B Integrated Resilient Aircraft Controls (IRAC) test aircraft, becoming the IRAC F/A-18A.
06APR2010, NASA photo by Tony Landis.
By April 2010, the tail flash/stripe was changed from reading AAW, to FAST (Full-scale Advanced Systems Testbed).
Official NASA video, 853 first flight as IRAC, April 2010:
06APR2010, NASA photo by Tony Landis.
06APR2010, NASA photo by Tony Landis.
One of the side benefits of aircraft testing is the creation of new computer systems which can be applied to other aircraft, military and civilian.
Once again, Toyota is involved with supplying vehicles for military forces, and this time they’re openly being paid for by U.S. taxpayers!
U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Armando Vasquez.
On 26JAN2021, almost U.S.$1-million worth of militarized Toyota four-by-fours were given to Iraqi ‘security’ forces, paid for through the U.S. Al Asad Air Base Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund (CTEF) program.
U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Armando Vasquez.
The Toyotas were part of a total package of $6.6-million worth of vehicles, that included HMMWVs, “divested” to the Iraqi security forces!
U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Armando Vasquez.
U.S. taxpayers have a long history of supplying Iraq with vehicles.
U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Roger Jackson.
Divestment of U.S. HMMWVs to Iraq, 29JUN2019.
U.S. Army photo by Master Sergeant Horace Murray.
A U.S. purchased Mercedes truck being staged for ‘divestment’ to Iraqi security forces at the Besmaya Range Complex, 20JAN2018.
U.S. Army photo by Specialist Travis Jones.
U.S. supplies Iraqi security forces with Toyota 4X4s, at Camp Al Asad, 26DEC2017.
U.S. Army photo by Corporal Tracy McKithern.
U.S. funded vehicles divested to Iraqi security forces at the Besmaya Range Complex, 03AUG2017.
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jacqueline Romero.
This U.S. supplied Iraqi HMMWV was nicknamed Project One because it was the first to be overhauled by an Iraqi maintenance crew at Taji.
Photo by Specialist Sarah De Boise.
In April 2008, U.S. and Iraqi military leaders met in Mosul to discuss supplying Iraqi security forces with new vehicles. It was believed that by providing U.S. taxpayer funded vehicles to Iraq, that Iraq would be able to take care of its security concerns and the U.S. could draw-down its military forces.
U.S. Army photo by Specialist Joshua R. Ford.
In September 2006, the U.S. military gave the Iraqi city of Bayji $670-thousand worth of sewage trucks, trash trucks and a 25-ton crane. None of them made in the U.S.
For several years the United States, other NATO members as well as the European Union, have been spending their taxpayer’s money on building up Georgia’s border police.
U.S. Coast Guard captured illegally fished halibuts west of Cape Barnabas, 04FEB2021. The fish were turned over to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Photo by Petty Officer Third Class Jose Hernandez.
On 04FEB2021, the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Campbell (WMEC 909) off-loaded about 7-thousand-250 pounds (3289 kilos) of cocaine at Port Everglades.
Stop buying your damned Valentine’s Day flowers from other countries! U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Branch (did they intend the pun?) Chief Abel Serrano, Miami operations (90% of foreign grown flowers and 61% of foreign grown produce go through Miami), explains why:
Photo by Petty Officer Third Class Jose Hernandez.
The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane (WMEC-903) off-loaded about 11-thousand-8-hundred pounds (50712 kilos) of captured cocaine and marijuana at Port Everglades, 08FEB2021.
U.S. Coast Guard photo.The U.S. Coast Guard, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, captured a boat with eight illegals from Cuba in it, off the Florida Keys, 08FEB2021.
RF-84F THUNDERFLASH & YRF-84F
