26 Daytona 500 Flyover

MARCH

17 MCAS Yuma, AZ

24-25 Undecided

Mar. 31 - Apr. 1 Sun Ôn Fun, Lakeland, FL

APRIL

14-15 Davis Monthan AFB, AZ

21-22 Barksdale AFB, LA

28-29 Fort Lauderdale, FL

MAY

5-6 Shaw AFB, SC

12-13 JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ

19-20 March ARB, CA

23 USAF Academy, CO

26-27 Hill AFB, UT

JUNE

2-3 Rockford, IL

9-10 Ocean City, MD

16-17 North Kingstown, RI

23-24 Indianapolis, IN

June 30 - July 1 Battle Creek, MI

JULY

7-8 Gary, IN

21-22 JB Lewis-McChord, WA

25 Cheyenne, WY

28-29 JB Elmendorf-Richardson, AK

AUGUST

4-5 Hillsboro, OR

11-12 Abbotsford, ON

17 Atlantic City, NJ

25-26 Brunswick, ME

SEPTEMBER

1-2 Davenport, IA

8-9 Sacramento, CA

15-16 Scott AFB, IL

22-23 Salinas, CA

29-30 McConnell AFB, KS

OCTOBER

6-7 Fort Worth, TX

13-14 Daytona Beach, FL

20-21 El Paso, TX

NOVEMBER

10-11: Aviation Nation, Nellis AFB, Nev.

MARCH

10 NAF El Centro

17-18 Thunder Over Utah, St. George

24-25 Fla. IntÕl Airshow, Punta Gorda

31 Tuscaloosa Air Show, Al.

APRIL

01 Tuscaloosa Air Show, Al.

14-15 Wings Over South Texas, NAS Kingsville

21-22 NAS New Orleans

28-29 Warner Robins AFB, Ga.

MAY

5-6 MCAS Cherry Point, NC

12-13 Great Tenn. Air Show, New Smyrna

19-20 Andrew AFB, Md.

21-23 Hudson River, NY

26-27 Jones Beach, NY

29 USNA (Academy) Graduation

JUNE

02-03 Virginia Beach, Va.

09-10 Mankato, Mn.

16-17 Baltimore, Md.

23-24 Latrobe, Penn.

30 Boston Portsmouth Airshow, NH

JULY

01 Boston Portsmouth Airshow, NH

04 Boston Harbor, Ma. Flyover

07-08 Dayton, Ohio Air Show

14 Pensacola Beach, Fla. Air Show

21-22 Sioux Falls, SD Air Show

28-29 Twin Falls, Ida. Air Show

AUGUST

04-05 Seafair Air Show, Seattle

18-19 Chicago Air and Water Show

25-26 Atlantic IntÕl Airshow, Prince Edward Isl.

SEPTEMBER

01-03 Cleveland, Ohio National Airshow

08-09 Thunder Over The Rock, Ark. (LRAFB)

15-16 NAS Oceana

22-23 Grand Junction, Colo. Air Show

29-30 Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii (MCAS) Air Show

OCTOBER

06-07 Fleet Week, San Francisco

12-14 MCAS Miramar Air Show, San Diego

20-21 Jacksonville, Fla.

27-28 Wings Over Houston Air Show

NOVEMBER

02-03 NAS Pensacola, Fla. Air Show

Project Manager/Aircraft Maintenance

They want a "dynamic volunteer to lead projects in on-going aircraft maintenance for our static displays of historic aircraft," said Laurie Switzer, director of Volunteer Programs.

The Applicant must have leadership skills and aircraft maintenance/restoration background.

A knowledge of Navy and Marine Corps aircraft corrosion control procedures in accordance with NA-01-1A-509, aircraft safety, and HazMat is a plus.

Responsibilities include supervision/coordination of volunteer staff and on-going maintenance for the 24 aircraft on display on the ship.

"Coordinating/delegating volunteer staff for a variety of tasks and projects including (but not limited to) upholstery repair, aircraft relocation" is expect. The position requires at least three days or 20 hours per week commitment, early morning shifts,preferably Tuesday, Friday and Saturday availability.

Volunteer Airwing Material Coordinator

The museum is also looking for a volunteer to serve as Material Coordinator for aircraft restoration and maintenance.

Duties include maintaining an adequate supply of tools, parts and consumables necessary to complete on-going projects in accordance with hazardous materials storage regulations and identifying suppliers for vintage aircraft maintenance and restoration.

A time commitment of 20-30 hours per week is requested but the schedule is flexible.

For more information or to volunteer contact Laurie C. Switzer, director of Volunteer Programs, at (619) 398-8222.

Tell her Pacific Flyer sent you

This one was Cmdr. Jonathan Jackson, commander of an EA-6B Prowler squadron based at Whidbey Island, Wash.

The Navy said he was relieved of command following an administrative hearing on charges of conduct unbecoming an officer and the harassment violation.

Jackson was also accused of a pattern of making inappropriate and derogatory remarks toward subordinates, according to Cmdr. Pauline Storum, a spokeswoman for the Naval Air Command at NAS North Island.

The Navy relieved 17 officers in 2010 for allegedly committing inappropriate acts, harassment or creating a hostile work environment, usually following complaints by female subordinates.

The highest year on record was 2003 when 26 were fired, compared to the usual number of 12 to 14, a Navy spokesman said.

Jackson was on board the USS Carl Vinson, which departed Nov. 30 on a six month deployment, when he was called to task.

Jackson is a University of Michigan graduate with a degree in aerospace engineering. He has flown some 4,000 hours in the EA-6B, an electronic warfare aircraft that jams enemy radars among other tasks, and had more than 1,000 successful carrier landings.

He received an "administrative punishment," which was not revealed, but losing his command means the end of his Navy career, most likely.

The deal would provide 21 conventional models for the Air Force (F-35A), six carrier variants for the Navy (F-35C) and three short-takeoff and vertical landing versions for the Marine Corps (F-35B), a notice in the Pentagon's daily contract digest said.

Details of the deal have not been worked out, said Michael Rein, a company spokesman, referring to the government announcement as an "undefinitized contract action" subject to further negotiation, whatever that means.

The Pentagon currently plans to buy more than 2,440 F-35 aircraft in three separate models for the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force, once they get all the bugs worked out. So far, the airplane is about four years behind schedule and the cost has more than doubled.

It is the costliest Pentagon purchase in history, at a projected cost of $382.5 billion through 2035. The F-35 has been developed with eight foreign partners to replace at least 13 types of aircraft, including Lockheed's F-16, for 11 nations initially. It will also replace the F/A-18 Hornet and the AV-8 Harrier.

The Defense Department already has restructured the F-35 program twice in recent years. The fifth production batch fell to 30 from a previously planned 42 because more retrofits and changes have been required than had been projected.

The department and Lockheed will share modification costs tied to certain required fixes that may emerge during work on the fifth batch, the contract announcement said without spelling out the cost split.

The Pentagon's F-35 program director said in an interview published last month that the military should slow purchases of the F-35 because of the number of airframe cracks and "hot spots" turning up in testing and analysis.

Hot spots are potential structural flaws "that reveal a durability or damage tolerance shortfall below the 8,000 flight hour or 30-year service life goal of the F-35," said Kyra Hawn, a spokeswoman for the Pentagon F-35 program office.

By Ron Darcey
And Douglas Kerr

The United States Coast Guard is unique among the services by having an inherent force capability comprised entirely of uniformed civilian volunteers who serve most every Coast Guard operational mission excepting law enforcement and combat - the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

During the aftermath of 9/11, 2001 and for the first time since World War II, the Auxiliary provided major operational support to the Coast Guard, local and state agencies helping secure the Port of New York, assuming radio watch at Coast Guard stations, conducting 24/7 security patrols and flying hours of observation missions.

Since 9/11 Auxiliarists have been trained and qualified in the FEMA Incident Command System (ICS) and in the wake of 9/11, given greater operational responsibility to protect U.S. cities, coastlines, ports, harbors and thousands of miles of inland waterways and lakes.

Auxiliary Aviation

An aviation capability has always been a primary branch of Coast Guard operations and implementation of airplanes flown by Auxiliary aviators complements that capability.

The relatively slow speed of the typical Auxiliary aircraft ideally suits them for a wide range of operations that include recreational boating safety, reconnaissance, marine environmental protection, search and rescue and, since 9/11 and an evolving Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) mission.

At one or two thousand feet Auxiliary flight crews patrol ports and harbors, bridges and causeways, stand guard over migrant interdiction and monitor large vessel traffic transiting littoral waters and steaming through inland shipping channels.

Squadron 11N in Northern California

Auxiliary aviation in Northern California, Coast Guard District 11North, has a considerable area of responsibility (AOR). Extending from the California/Oregon border south to San Luis Obispo, into San Francisco Bay, throughout the San Joaquin Delta's complex 1000 miles of navigable inland waterways and deep water shipping channels to the Ports of Sacramento and Stockton, AuxAir flight crews are present.

Off Northern California's coast, Squadron aircraft fly MDA missions that increase vigilance in the maritime environment, alert to vessels or persons in distress and normal and abnormal maritime situations.

The MDA mission also supports National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) protection of living marine resources and sanctuaries along the coast, inland rivers and estuaries.

Occasional assignments include aerial photography of vessel traffic, navigational hazards, pollution and air support during boating activities and regattas.

Whatever missions are assigned, AuxAir in Northern California constantly strives to be ready-responsive and always prepared to provide an invaluable air support capability whenever needed.

Fly as an Auxiliary Pilot

Today, AuxAir is increasing its ranks in Northern California, welcoming pilot/owners interested in joining the Auxiliary and flying Coast Guard operations. To fly as an Auxiliary pilot you need to be an Auxiliary member, FAA-certified, current with a minimum of 500 PIC hours.

Auxiliary aircraft must meet manufacturer's engine (12 years) and propeller (five years) calendar TBO; be equipped with shoulder harness, GPS, marine radio, external marine band antenna and first aid equipment.

Personal protective equipment for Auxiliary aviators: flight suit, life vests and survival gear is issued by the Coast Guard. AuxAir pilot/owners are reimbursed for fuel, oil and maintenance when flying Coast Guard operations.

Once becoming Auxiliarists, aviation candidates receive their training with three days of ground school at Livermore Airport.

Training covers communications, observation technique, aerial photography, search and rescue, mission management, flight planning and Coast Guard operations. Following ground school, candidates continue with 10 hours of flight training on routine operations demonstrating ability and honing skills.

Earn Your Wings

Once qualified, pilots are awarded the silver, blue and gold wings of an Auxiliary aviator.

Within a year of qualification, pilots attend crew resource management (CRM) and spatial disorientation training at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla.

Every two years, pilots fly standardized Coast Guard flight and SAR check rides and annually recertify in swim, cockpit egress and attend aviation safety workshops conducted at Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento and Coast Guard Island, Alameda.

Flying as a Coast Guard Auxiliary pilot, you will increase your flight skills, capability and proficiency while supporting Coast Guard operations in Northern California.

"A Proud Tradition, A Worthy Mission."

For more information to join and fly with AuxAir squadron 11N contact the Aviation Training Officer at (510) 727-1263.

The final F-22 Raptor to be built for the U.S. Air Force rolled off the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics assembly line Dec. 13 at the company's Marietta, Ga. plant on Dobbins Air Reserve Base.

The jet, tail number 4195, is the last of 187 F-22s produced. In 1991, the Air Force planned to buy 650 of the supercruising stealth aircraft.

The jet was placed on the assembly line in 1995 and then first rolled out in 1997. The $150 million (each) flyaway price tag of the aircraft, a lack of clear air-to-air combat missions because of delays in the Russian and Chinese fifth-generation fighter programs, a U.S. ban on Raptor exports, and the ongoing development of the planned cheaper (now questionable) and more versatile F-35 resulted in calls to end F-22 production.

The U.S. spent $66.7 billion on the program which was officially ceased in 2009.

Lockheed Martin's Aeronautics division employs about 2,000 people for the F-22 program at its Marietta facility.

Although Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is the prime contractor and is responsible for the majority of the airframe, weapon systems and final assembly of the F-22, program partner Boeing Defense, Space and Security provides the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration and training systems.

The jet has had a checkered past, with numerous technical problems, restructuring of its mission and, the latest, an unresolved problem with its onboard oxygen regenerating system.

The jet was grounded for more than four months earlier this year while the Air Force investigated the cause of 12 other separate, similar incidents since 2008.

For a while, it was restricted to flying below 25,000 feet.

Nearly six months since the original grounding, the Air Force admits it still does not know why some of its pilots, on relatively rare occasions, showed different "hypoxia-like symptoms," ABC news reported.

"It's not just that 'the problem' wasn't identified - there was no conclusive cause or group of causes," Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. John Haynes told ABC News. "In different situations, there were different types of symptoms at different times.

There was no common thread they [investigators] found to link all these together."

There were several crashes due to malfunctions and the latest, in Alaska, killed the pilot.

An investigation concluded that the pilot had also lost his oxygen system, allowing the plane to go out of control while he tried to find a way to breathe, but the crash was his fault for not paying closer attention. (See our editorial, page 6, January 2012 edition.)

The last jet is the 195th F-22 to roll off the line and into the Air Force fleet. Eight of those jets were built for developmental purposes.

The F-22 combines stealth, advanced sensors and advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons that makes it possible for the aircraft to cruise faster than the speed of sound without being detected.

While the ceremony marked the end of an era for the F-22, the shutdown of the production line also signified the beginning of a new chapter of sustaining and upgrading the Raptor.

The final Raptor will enter a series of company and government flight tests, according to Lockheed Martin officials. Tail No. 4195 will then be delivered in May to the 3rd Wing's 525th Fighter Squadron, commanded by Lt. Col. Paul Moga, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

The freeze, preceded by hiring controls, was one of several measures implemented in 2011 to bring manning down to mandated 2010 levels. In addition, voluntary separation incentives were recently offered, with employees expected to separate by Dec. 31.

Since the spring, nearly 9,000 positions have been trimmed from Air Force manning levels, but an additional 4,500 are necessary to reach required levels.

Many of the positions identified for elimination are already vacant, and the hiring freeze resulted in more vacant positions, which will help the Air Force reach its goals, Michelle LoweSolis, the AFPC civilian force integration director, said.

"A second round of voluntary separation measures is anticipated in January (2012)," she added.

The second-ranking officer on the Norfolk-based amphibious transport dock "New York" has been relieved for having an unduly familiar relationship with a female member of the shipÕs crew, the Navy revealed Dec. 27.

Cmdr. John Pethel, the New York's executive officer, received a punitive letter of reprimand, a nonjudicial punishment, for a violation of military law known as fraternization, the Navy said.

He has been reassigned to the staff of the commander of Naval Surface Force, Atlantic, but his career is pretty well over.

Pethel was removed from his position Nov. 21 by Capt. Mark Scovill, commander of Amphibious Squadron 8, during an investigation into allegations of misconduct, the Navy said.

Pethel had been executive officer of the New York since January. Lt. Cmdr. Ethan Mitchell has taken over the position. The female involved was not prosecuted, apparently.

The New York has a crew of 360 and can carry up to 700 Marines.

The ship is notable for using steel that was salvaged from the World Trade Center, after it was destroyed in the September 11 attacks.

A female sailor bought a raffle ticket to plant her "first kiss" upon return from 80 days of sea duty and won. When her ship docked, she openly kissed her lesbian companion, another female sailor.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta of Placerville, Calif. descended from the USS Oak Hill amphibious landing ship and shared a quick kiss with her partner, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell of Los Angeles.

Both women, ages 22 and 23 respectively, are fire controlmen in the Navy. They met at training school and have been dating for two years.

Navy officials said it was the first time on record that a same-sex couple was "chosen" to kiss first upon a ship's return. Sailors and their loved ones bought $1 raffle tickets for the opportunity.

Gaeta said she bought $50 of tickets.

The Navy said the money would be used to host a Christmas party for the children of sailors, which is kind of ironic.

The ship returned to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story following an 80-day deployment to Central America.