CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M.- The pilot of an F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 27th Fighter Wing died when his aircraft crashed approximately 50 miles west of the base Sept. 9. The pilot, from the 522nd Fighter Squadron here,was on a training mission at the time of the crash.

NAVAL AIR STATION KEFLAVIK, Iceland-An HH-60 Pave Hawk crew from the 56th Rescue Squadron here prepares to rescue two men from their damaged boat in the North Atlantic, 300 miles out to sea, Sept. 6. Two HH-60 helicopters were sent to rescue the crew from a 30-foot American-registered yacht, which rolled over in heavy seas and lost its mast. One of the sailors was injured but is expected to make a full recovery.

From U.S. Naval Forces Central Command NORTH ARABIAN GULF(NNS)- A civilian TV cameraman was killed and four U.S. Navy Sailors were injured today in a helicopter crash in the Arabian Gulf. The cameraman, from KCBS-TV in Los Angeles, was filming a news story on the U.S. Navy. The helicopter, an SH-60 from the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG53), was flying in support of maritime interdiction operations when the accident occurred. The cause of the crash is under investigation. For the latest breaking news about the Navy, visit the Navy NewsStand at www.news.navy.mil.

NORFOLK, Va.(NNS) -- Search and rescue efforts continue for a U.S. Navy S-3B Viking aircraft operating from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) that was reported missing shortly on Sept. 10. The S-3B Viking was participating in a sea-control exercise in the southern Puerto Rico Operating Area (PROA), serving as an in-flight refueling aircraft as part of a battle group training program. The plane is one of eight aircraft assigned to VS-22 Checkmates operating from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). The squadron is based out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville and is one of eight squadrons that make up Carrier Air Wing Three. The Harry S. Truman Battle Group is currently conducting training exercises as part of a Composite Unit Training Exercise(COMPTUEX).

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFPN) -- After seven months of alert in the central Philippines, the 17th Special Operations Squadron is returning home to Kadena Air Base, Japan. Members of the unit will tell you their tour was far from boring. Besides medical evacuation standby, troops from the 17th SOS flew more than 180 MC-130P Combat Shadow missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines. These missions included airdrops, airlift of ground troops, helicopter air refuelings, search and rescue missions and repatriations.

MONTGOMERY, Ala.(AFPN)- An F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, assigned to the Alabama National Guard's 187th Fighter Wing in Montgomery, crashed near the Bobby Chain Airport in Hattiesburg, Miss.,on Sept. 11. The single-seat aircraft impacted in a clear area near the airport. The pilot ejected safely. An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the crash.

EDWARDS AFB, Calif. (AFPN)-- The Air Force's CV-22 tiltrotor aircraft resumed flight tests in the skies over Edwards Sept.11. The aircraft's successful return to flight comes after meeting the recommendations of several independent investigations and military review panels. All CV-22 flight tests were halted after a December 2000 crash of a Marine MV-22 Osprey grounded the entire V-22 fleet.This resulted in a series of reviews including the Defense Department's blue ribbon panel of defense and industry experts. Today, there are two CV-22 aircraft at Edwards AFB participating in the engineering and manufacturing development stage. AF procurement plans call for two additional production representative test vehicles to be delivered in fiscal year 2005 with initial operational test and evaluation to follow at Edwards. The return to flight and testing will assist senior defense leaders in making a final determination about the system's viability and procurement.

LEMOORE, Calif.(NNS)- Two F-18F "Super Hornets" assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41 based at Lemoore Naval Air Station, Calif., crashed at sea approximately 80 miles southwest of Monterey, Calif. The U.S. Coast Guard has launched a search and rescue operation for the four aviators.The aircraft were operating with six other aircraft from the same squadron and were conducting routine training. They did not have any weapons on board. The cause of the accident is under investigation. VFA-41 was formerly an F-14 "Tomcat" squadron, having made the transition to the F/A-18F "Super Hornet" this summer. The "F" model is the two-seat variant of the Navy's newest strike fighter. This is the first crash of a Super Hornet. There are currently three operational Super Hornet squadrons: VFA-41, VFA-14, and VFA-115. VFA-115 is the first Super Hornet squa. to deploy, and is currently embarked aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). For the latest Navy News, visit www.news.navy.mil.

PATUXENT RIVER, Md.(NNS)-- An improved Super HHornet had its first flight in August, ahead of schedule, and with a long list of upgraded or new features. A team of NAVAIR aand Boeing personnel have brought the fleet the foundation for significant warfighting mimprovements. F/A-18E/F aircrews will aappreciate the new suite of state-of-the-aart displays, but the biggest benefit to tthe fleet is the increased software and hardware capacity. These improvements will allow the Super Hornet to easily incorporate future warfighting improvements like the Active Electronically Scanned Array and the Advanced Crew Station. Thanks to Higher Order Language, Operational Flight Programs software upgrades can be incorporated with ease.The delivery of the Lot 25 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet was two months ahead of production schedule in spite of the challenges the team had to overcome.

PATUXENT RIVER, Md.(NNS)-- An improved Super HHornet had its first flight in August, ahead of schedule, and with a long list of upgraded or new features. A team of NAVAIR aand Boeing personnel have brought the fleet the foundation for significant warfighting mimprovements. F/A-18E/F aircrews will appreciate the new suite of state-of-the-art displays, but the biggest benefit to the fleet is the increased software and hardware capacity. These improvements will allow the Super Hornet to easily incorporate future warfighting improvements like the Active Electronically Scanned Array and the Advanced Crew Station. Thanks to Higher Order Language, Operational Flight Programs software upgrades can be incorporated with ease.The delivery of the Lot 25 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet was two months ahead of production schedule in spite of the challenges the team had to overcome.

LANGLEY AFB,Va.-Air Force investigators have determined that a design flaw in a high-frequency antenna assembly caused $5 million in damages to an E-4B aircraft May 13.The E-4B serves as the National Airborne Operations Center for the president and secretary of defense. A boom operator refueling the aircraft from a KC-135 Stratotanker observed the antenna lashing the rear portion of the fuselage. The crew returned immediately to Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., without further incident. The aircraft sustained extensive damage to the tail, crown skin panels and windows. No one was injured in the accident. According to a report released Oct. 23, the mishap was caused by an unsupportable high-frequency antenna design. Also, two other factors were considered contributing factors to the mishap:unreported similar accidents in 1998 and 1999, and lack of a follow-up plan to assess the success of previously implemented solutions to the antenna failure problem.

WASHINGTON(AFPN)-Coalition aircraft struck at an Iraqi integrated air defense site in the northern no-fly zone Oct. 22, said Air Force Maj. Scott Covode,a spokesman for the combined task force. Both U.S. and British aircraft took part in the attack. While Covode would not specify the planes used, he did say the British primarily provide refuelers and reconnaissance aircraft. The planes struck a site near Mosul in response to Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery fire on Operation Northern Watch patrol aircraft. The response was immediate,Covode said. "We respond when attacked," he said. He would not say whether coalition retaliation was launched against the attacking Iraqi site or some other.The coalition aircraft are based at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Officials withheld their unit assignments,citing force protection issues. The response was the second in the Operation Northern Watch area this month.Operation Southern Watch patrols have responded six times in their area this month.

PATUXENT RIVER,Md.(NNS)--The last of the H-1 upgrade program test aircraft took its first leap out of the nest here Oct. 4 when it flew a 1.5-hour shakedown flight. To date, the H-1 integrated test team has approximately 480 hours of flight test time accumulated in both the UH-1Y and AH-1Z test aircraft. The H-1 Upgrade Program here is upgrading the Marine Corps' aging fleet of combat utility and attack helicopters by remanufacturing UH-1N Hueys and AH-1W Super Cobras to share a common drive train, rotor head, tail boom, avionics, software and controls for 84 percent commonality between the two aircraft. Over the 30-year expected lifespan of the aircraft, this commonality is projected to save the Marine Corps approximately $3 billion in operating and support costs.For more information about the Naval Air Systems Command,go to www.navair.navy.mil.