Two Wyoming Air National Guard C-130s are flying fire-suppression missions to help firefighters battle blazes in Idaho and Montana. The crews, assigned to the 153rd Airlift Wing based in Cheyenne, have flown two airdrops and discharged about 3,000 gallons of retardant at the Hard Creek fire in Idaho, four airdrops of about 9,000 gallons of retardant at the Thompson River fire in Montana and four airdrops of about 3,000 gallons of retardant at the Warland fire in Montana, according to the American Forces Press Service. Since July 20, Defense Department aircraft have flown 65 airdrops and dropped more than 114,300 gallons…
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Last night, HBO host John Oliver delivered a harsh takedown of issues in the nuclear missile community on “Last Week Tonight.” The segment focused on the cheating scandal, former 20th Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Michael Carey and other problems, including outdated and broken launch control centers. The 15-minute clip included references to past mistakes and mishaps, including the 2007 incident in which a B-52 mistakenly flew with a nuclear payload. Oliver, however, did not mention changes in the Air Force since the cheating scandal broke, which includes overhauling the testing system for missileers, new money for launch control centers and other…
Public affairs crews at multiple bases and major commands are doing what they can to keep airmen safe, notably uploading a series of awkward public safety announcements to YouTube. PA folks at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., have produced a series of great safety videos, with very high production and puppet value, called “Awkward Puppet Moments.” The one above reminds airmen to drink enough water while exercising in the Nevada heat. I recommend watching all of their videos. The videos focus on the typical summer safety issues: hydration, bicycle safety, water safety, etc. Air Combat Command’s entry, posted today, is…
The Thunderbirds returned to the Major League Baseball All Star Game in Minneapolis last night, after missing last year’s midsummer classic. Twin Cities station KFAN posted this time lapse video, which included the national anthem and the flyover demonstration before the game. Last year, the demonstration team did not perform in New York City because of limits on flight hours due to sequestration.
Videographer Jaron Schneider posted this video telling the story of Staff Sgt. Larry Reid, Jr. Reid is the official photographer for the Thunderbirds. Reid is one of two photographers for the team, responsible for taking some of the crazy photographs that depict the official demonstration team in action. In the video, he describes how he uses his gear in the back of an F-16D to get the photos. The Thunderbirds are in the middle of their demonstration season. Here’s the schedule.
Maj. Robert Sides had a surprise in store for his son earlier this week at Kauffmann Stadium in Kansas City. His son, Austin, was selected to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Sides put on a uniform and full catcher’s gear to catch the ball, and then surprised his son. “I almost lost it myself. I grew up a pitcher, throwing with my dad and to be able to do this with my son after being gone all year, Facetime only goes so far. You need the contact and I miss that so much,” Sides said, according to Cut4. Sides…
A group of six pilots and loadmasters with the Afghan Air Force flew the first C-130 mission by an all Afghan aircrew this week. On June 16, the aircrew flew cargo, 120 personnel and two casualty evacuation patients from Kabul to Kandahar and back. “With the use of the C-130, we have the ability to do so much more,” Afghan Air Force 1st Lt. Khail Shinwar, C-130 Hercules pilot, said in a news release on the mission. “We’ve supported the elections, our Afghan National Army soldiers, senior leadership and transport the injured on CASEVAC missions with this aircraft.” Air Force…
YouTube user Joe Cole uploaded this video today from inside the Air Force graduation, providing an awesome glimpse at the singing of the Air Force song, the famous hat toss and the Thunderbirds flyover. If you missed it, Vice President Joe Biden spoke to the class of 2014, telling the new officers they need to adapt to the changing military.
NBC News has the story of Sonic, the trusty Border Collie assigned to MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., to protect the base’s aircraft from flocks of birds. The rescue dog patrols the flight line every day chasing birds. The base does use cannons, but those can be predictable and birds get used to them, Sonic’s trainer Lindsey Garven told NBC. “I’m basically the chauffeur, and when I find the birds … I get as close as possible to them … and she goes after them,” Garven said. Check out the video to see Sonic in action.
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/91663177] Hangar 30, a video production firm that specializes in work for the Defense Department, just released this “trailer” on the A-10 budget battles in Congress, asking the question: Will Bacon be Fried? The latest on the fight: A group of lawmakers this week vowed to craft amendments to the defense authorization bill to prevent the Air Force from cutting the Warthog.
