All Entries in the "Military" Category

Russian Stealth Fighter Unveiled

By Sanford Hughes
Military Affairs

Russia's first stealth fighter prototype, the T-50, successfully completed its long-delayed maiden flight last month and government officials said they hope it will become a centerpiece for what is an aging air fleet.
The fact that the plane, designed roughly to match America's F-22 stealth fighter, did not crash or do anything unusual [...]

Want To See Your World Explode?

Special to Pacific Flyer

On a blistering hot day in the jungles of Southeast Asia many years ago, my Navy unit received a message that we should stay away from certain grid coordinates - well away - the next day.

In fact, if we could get to Saigon, it would be better.

“What’s up?” our grizzled [...]

Ever Hear Of A Plane Called The Crazy Hawk?

The US military has planes like the F-22A stealth fighter and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that make a lot of news.
But it also has planes that draw very little attention, even though they play key roles in a number of conflicts around the world. One example is the RC-7B/EO-5B "Crazy Hawk"/Airborne Reconnaissance Low aircraft.
Its [...]

China Ticked Off Over Arms Sales To Taiwan

A package of arms will be sold to Taiwan in a move by the Obama administration that is expected to be met with an angry response from China, the Washington Times reports.
The  package will include offers of sales of UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopters and additional Patriot PAC-3 missile defenses, but not additional F-16 jets [...]

EADS Will Supply US With New Military Helos

EAD's, the European consortium that also builds Airbus, has scored a major sale with the U.S.
Their EC145 will serve as the USA's future Light Utility Helicopter, replacing existing UH-1s and OH-58s in a 345 helicopter, $3+ billion program between 2006-2015, the Pentagon announced.
In 2006, while the rest of EADS was  targeted for divestment and  beginning [...]

Air Force Academy Okays Witches, Warlocks and Pagans

Okay, we thought this was a joke, too, but it came from the Associated Press and was confirmed by other sources.
The United States Air Force Academy is now officially setting aside outdoor worship areas for “pagans, Wiccans, Druids and other Earth-centered believers,” the academy officials announced Feb. 1.
One of the academy’s chaplains said designating the [...]

Show Schedules For Military Jet Teams

Here are the upcoming airshow schedules for the USAF Thunderbirds, the USN Blue Angels and the Canadian Snowbirds.
THUNDERBIRDS
March
20 and 21: Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz.
27 and 28: Maxwell AFB, Ala.
April
10 and 11: Eglin AFB, Fla.
17 and 18: Lakeland, Fla.
24 and 25: Barksdale AFB, La.
May
1: Dyess AFB, Texas
2: Altus AFB, Okla.
8 and 9: Shaw AFB, S.C.
15 and [...]

Hurricane Crash Cause

British aviation authorities have finally concluded a two-year investigation into the fatal crash on Sept. 15, 2007 of a World War II Hawker Hurricane fighter.

Brian Brown, an experienced pilot from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was flying the Hurricane when it crashed into a field about one-mile north of the Shoreham Airshow. The accident "was probably caused [...]

Barbers Pt Museum – What To Do In Hawaii

By Greg Estvander
Major, USMCR
Special To Pacific Flyer
Looking for something new and different to do with your family in Hawaii?
Maybe you want to attempt to spark an interest in aviation or the military in your kids, and you thought taking them to a museum might do the trick. But the bar is set high as far [...]

Knights Hike Prices

Want to have the Army's crack parachute team, the Golden Knights, at your airshow?

Prepare to pony up an extra $1,000 per day.

In response to the increased costs of operating the team and budgetary challenges in the coming year, the team recently announced that they have increased their show fee from $3,000 per day to $4,000 [...]