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Archive Avia Events May_June 2002

FORT DRUM, N.Y.(AFPN)- A Louisiana-based AF fighter unit is the world's top close-air support unit after competing against 17 teams from the Air National Guard, Air Force and Air Force Reserve. The four-member team from the Air Force Reserve Command's 47th FS at Barksdale AFB, La., took home the trophy and the honor as the world's best overall A-10 team. Dozens of A-10 Thunderbolt II jets converged here May 16 and 17 for the worldwide A-10 competition known as Hawgsmoke,which was hosted by the previous winning team from the Connecticut ANG. Sixty-two A-10 aircraft,commonly called "warthogs," represented all but one of the world's A-10 units. Crews from as far away as Germany and Korea competed.

SIGONELLA, Sicily (NNS)- "Tradition" and "excellence," terms synonymous with the Navy, and Patrol Squadron (VP) 10. The "Red Lancers" of VP-10 recently received recognition from Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet,for having more than 29 years of mishap-free aircraft operations.

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE,Germany(AFPN)As times change, so too does the Air Force and the way it handles its business. The 606th Air Control Squadron here recently practiced some of the changes that affect what they do for a living. Exercise Silent Liberty, held in Kemel,Germany,about 140 miles from Spangdahlem AB,tested a new concept for the squadron, the ability to deploy one unit to two separate sites.

AIR FORCE STATION AGRA, India (AFPN)-USAF and Army troops are battling a grueling schedule and soaring temperatures during exchange training here. The training is the first major event between the Indian and U.S. armed forces in nearly five years.

PATUXENT RIVER, Md.(NNS)-The MV-22 Osprey took to the skies here May 29 for the first time since being grounded following a tragic mishap 17 months ago. The first MV-22 test aircraft to resume flying has improvements in its hydraulic and flight control software systems that make it practically a brand new aircraft and the safest Osprey yet,according to V-22 program officials.

PATUXENT RIVER,Md.(NNS)As two Marines climbed
back into the MV-22 on June 4 after nearly 18 months, "ooh-rahs" echoed throughout Hangar 109, home of the V-22 Integrated Test Team. Maj. Paul Ryan,MV-22 government flight test director and Staff Sgt. Denis Oliverio, V-22 developmental test crew chief, are the first Marines to get re-qualified in the Osprey since it was grounded following the Dec. 11, 2000, mishap.

CHINA LAKE,Calif.(NNS)-A Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) test team and its industry partner,Raytheon Company,conducted yet another successful test of its AGM-154C Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) program this week at the NAVAIR Western Test Range Complex.This event marked the third successful free-flight demonstration of the JSOW Unitary (JSOW-C) warhead variant using waypoint navigation and autonomous target acquisition (ATA)capability. An F/A-18C/D pilot of test squadron VX-31 released the AGM-154C while flying at 14,000 feet and 0.75 Mach.

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.(AFPN)- After successfully reaching the 2,000-hour mark in the skies above Edwards on June 7, the F-22 Raptor flight-test program is pushing ahead toward the start of operational testing. The 2,000th flight hour came with two Raptors in the sky and two more in preparation for flight tests later that day. Raptor 4006 was airborne on an avionics electronic warfare mission with Col. Chris Seat, F-22 Combined Test Force director, at the controls, while Boeing F-22 test pilot Randy Neville was in the air with Raptor 4003 flying an envelope expansion mission.

CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD STATION, Calif. (AFPN) -- The California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing here has been activated to help fight wildfires burning throughout southern California using its aerial firefighting capabilities.

OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (AFPN)- After talking for a few minutes with a C-130 Hercules pilot assigned to the Spanish det. at a forward-deployed location in Kyrgyzstan,any casual observer would be extremely impressed with how well he speaks English. Although he wears a Spanish air force flight suit and speaks fluent Spanish
with his fellow detachment members. The 10-year veteran is an exchange US pilot with the Spanish det. of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing. The detachment flies C-130 cargo missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

BLAINE COUNTY, Mont. Air Force officials announced plans to build an air-to-ground combat training range near the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation here. The decision is a win-win for the Air Force and the local community, said project manager from the Montana Air National Guard's 120th Fighter Wing, as it will provide new jobs for the Fort Belknap economy, as well as provide valuable training for military fighter pilots.

PATUXENT RIVER,Md.(NNS)- The Chief of Naval Operations(CNO)joined an audience of fleet operators, Navy F/A-18 program leadership, Boeing executives and production line personnel, to celebrate the 100th delivery of an F/A-18 Super Hornet. The airplane, a two-seat "F" model, was delivered during a ceremony on June 14 at Boeing in St. Louis.

PATUXENT RIVER,Md.(NNS)- The Chief of Naval Operations(CNO)joined an audience of fleet operators, Navy F/A-18 program leadership, Boeing executives and production line personnel, to celebrate the 100th delivery of an F/A-18 Super Hornet. The airplane, a two-seat "F" model, was delivered during a ceremony on June 14 at Boeing in St. Louis.

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va.(AFPN)- For the third time in less than 10 years, the 71st Fighter Squadron's "Ironmen" proved they are No.1 in air defense when officials announced the winner of the 2001 Raytheon Hughes Achievement Award.Started in 1953 by Hughes Aircraft Company,the award is given annually to the top air-superiority or air-defense squadron in the Air Force. This is the fourth time a 1st Fighter Wing unit has taken the honor. The 71st also received the award in 1993 and in 1998. The 27th Fighter Squadron here was the 1995 recipient. Also, the 71st Fighter Interceptor Squadron,the 71st's predecessor, won the award in 1969.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE,Colo.(AFPN)--People from the AF Reserve and ANG are continuing their fight against the nation's largest wildfire near Colorado Springs, Colo. Crews from the AF Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing here and the North Carolina ANG's 145th AW were activated June 14 to help fight the fire using Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems belonging to the US.Forest Service. As of June 19, C-130 crewmembers have flown 82 sorties and dropped 216,000 gallons of fire retardant.

MONTEREY,Calif.AFPN -Global power projection in the US took a giant step forward with the dedication recently of a Navy/Air Force research laboratory focused on developing technology for a revolutionary new satellite able to receive and re-target laser beams anywhere on Earth.The jointly sponsored lab will be located at the Naval Postgraduate School and is part of a long-term agreement between NPS and the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland AFB, N.M., to coordinate research and accelerate the development of new spacecraft.

COLD LAKE, Alberta (AFPN)- An international cast of airmen is taking part in Maple Flag 2002, a huge air combat exercise sometimes called the "Red Flag" of the north. More than 4,500 airmen from 13 countries are taking part in the annual training, which started May 12 and lasts through June 22. 12st Air Force active-duty, Guard and Reserve units are taking part. Lt. Col. Mike Fantini, director of operations for the 510th Fighter Squadron, deployed from Aviano AB,Italy, said the large number of people and aircraft participating is a bonus, as is the remoteness of the training area. Aviano brought 15 F-16 Fighting Falcons to Cold Lake. Besides U.S. and Canadian forces, there are airmen and aircraft from Denmark, England, France, Sweden, Germany, Singapore, the Netherlands and New Zealand at Cold Lake. Austria, Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Turkey sent observers.

MONTEREY,Calif.(NNS)-U.S.global power projection took a giant leap forward with the dedication of a groundbreaking Navy/AF research laboratory aimed at developing technology for a revolutionary new satellite able to receive and re-target laser beams anywhere on earth. The jointly-sponsored lab at the Naval Postgraduate School(NPS) is part of a long-term agreement between NPS and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to coordinate research and accelerate the development of new spacecraft.