In June 2019, a C-130J in Japan was proclaimed to have achieved Black Letter proficiency; no maintenance problems!
In the official video report, USAF 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chiefs explain just how hard it is to get the rare Black Letter:
Here’s official Ramstein Black Letter C-130J video report from May 2018:
VEHICLE I-D: LAST ‘SPOOKY’ DAYS OF THE AC-130U GUNSHIP?
Official ‘facts & prep’ video put out by U.S. Air Force’s 2nd Bomb Wing in Louisiana, May 2019:
Tornado hit near Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, 27MAY2019.
On 08JUL2019, some of the last AC-130U ‘Spooky’ with the 4th Special Operations Squadron returned from a recent deployment.
AC-130Us have been on constant deployment since 2001, but are supposed to soon be replaced by the new AC-130J Ghostrider.
U.S. Air Force video report by Staff Sergeant Marleah Cabano:
A Spooky sight at Hurlburt Field, Florida, 08JUL2019.
Here’s a cool video of the homecoming:
Welcome home!
Big Daddy AC-130U: 
On 02JUL2019, a ‘Normady’ striped USAF C-130J paid a visit to Belgium, to give some firefighters a ride.
The 37th Airlift Squadron, 86th Airlift Wing, landed on Chièvres Air Base, to help U.S. Air Force 424th Air Base Squadron firefighters train-up, and asked the Belgians if they wanted to tag-along.
Plastic space ship cockpit of C-130J Super Hercules.
Not sure what the firefighting training was as the USAF didn’t provide any pics of that. I think it was actually a covert joy-ride.
There were several C-130 in Invasion Stripes attending the D-Day Anniversary, like this C-130J from Little Rock, Arkansas.
Back in May 2019, a C-130H got striped, a Kentucky Guard bird scheduled to take part in this year’s D-Day Anniversary.
KENTUCKY DOG TRAINS TO RESCUE ALASKANS FROM A HC-130J!
Over the July 4th, 2019, weekend California’s ‘seismic drought’ came to an end with two 6+ quakes. Interestingly, Vandenberg Air Force Base had just conducted an earthquake drill exactly one month prior.
The scenario was held on 05JUN2019, to test if the base could continue operations during a natural disaster.
Interestingly the observers were made up of personnel from the 30th Space Wing Inspector General judge advocate of military justice, in other word’s Air Force lawyers and legal assistants.
30th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters practiced drilling through concrete to rescue victims.
The 30th Medical Group was tasked to prove it could relocate and continue providing medical care if the base hospital was destroyed.
U.S. Air Force stated that disaster drills at all its bases are ongoing yearly events.
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!
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
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 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.
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
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.
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
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 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