A 1^st Cavalry Division AH-64D Longbow Apache pilot was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross at the Fort Hood Catering and Conference Center a year later on January 28, 2008 after facing an unknown enemy force and risking his own life to save his two friends.

 Chief Warrant Officer 3 Zachary Johnson, pilot in charge and unit commander from 4^th Battalion, 227^th Aviation Regiment, was commended for his role in the battle as he worked with Iraqi army troops, U.S. special operation forces and U.S. Air Force joint terminal attack controllers, determining the location of friendly and enemy forces while protecting the site of the crash that took the lives of his friends, Capt. Mark Resh and Chief Warrant Officer Cornell Chao. Division Commander Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil Jr. said, “The odds were against us,” noting the enemy had around 600 soldiers in well-fortified, dug-in positions.  A fierce ground battle was underway and the Iraqi and US Soldiers on the ground needed air support and that role was tasked to Johnson and his crew. 

In eight minutes, Johnson led his team from Forward Operating Base Kalsu to the battlefield.  He said,

“Those were the longest eight minutes of my life.”  “There was sadness because I just lost some of my friends.  I was worried about my friends who were still there.  I was scared.”

Johnson led an hour of organized attacks before completely running out of ammunition.  His team flew back to FOB Kalsu, re-armed and went back again into the fight. 

Fil, after watching Johnson’s performance on screen at Johnson’s award ceremony, he said,

“He had nerves of steel.”  “He was calm, reasonable and making sound decisions.”

Though, Johnson stated that he wasn’t calm at all.  “I thought my voice was shaking, and I was thinking about a million things at once.”  He denotes “But like the movie ‘Black Hawk Down’, when the bullets are flying, you just do your job.  I tried to stay level headed and cool under the pressure.” The enemy had dug trenches that were 12 to 15 feet deep in a zigzag pattern, preventing air support from firing in a straight line all the way through.  Fil said the insurgents were well-equipped and organized with supplies and medical stations, but the enemy was virtually destroyed, thanks to the skills and professionalism of Johnson and his team.  “I have never been associated with anyone more deserving of the Distinguished Flying Cross than Chief Warrant Officer 3 Johnson,” he said.   

It is never too late to save the Earth. At least that’s another way to look at it.

British billionaire, Sir Richard Branson plans to undertake a $400M project in Virgin Fuels to produce environment friendly Ethanol fuel in United States. Sir Branson plans to test a Boeing 747, without passengers, on a renewable fuel that they developed earlier this year. Virgin head Branson collaborates with Boeing Company and engine-maker General Electric Aviation to come up with the eco friendly ethanol biofuel.

Problems arose that Ethanol is the most common biofuel, made from corn in the US and sugarcane in Brazil, but Ethanol freezes at an altitude of 15,000 and is corrosive in nature. While Butanol, a similar but less corrosive fuel made from biomass could also become successful in aviation.

On the other hand, NASA scientist Dennis Bushnell is confident that commercial aircrafts could be powered using Halophyte, a biofuel that is derived from saltwater plants. Bushnell said that aside from using it as a bio fuel, it can be also used by existing infrastructure used by the oil companies and can be available sooner than hydrogen. However, it will take time to cultivate and harvest these desert-grown, salt water plants.

Either way, hopefully before the year ends and the next decade comes; eco friendly biofuel produced by the aviation giants will be available not only for aircrafts but cars, buses and trains as well.

Niki Luftfahrt GmbH announced last 1^st of February a follow-on order for additional nine A320 Family aircraft. The order will now increase Niki’s fleet to 20 A320 Family aircraft. The Airbus A320 Family comprises the following: A318, A319, A320 and A321. The successful Vienna-based low cost carrier Niki will employ the new Airbus jets on routes to European cities and holiday destinations. Founded in 2003, the airline operates in partnership with Air Berlin, which is another major Airbus customer.

The new cabin was transported to Niki effectively presented the most modern design and technological innovations derived from the A380. New smooth lines not only create an ambient atmosphere but also give more space at shoulder level. Increased Overhead Stowage offers 15 per cent more volume. The state of the art design gives a measurable noise reduction, while also decreasing the weight of the aircraft and thus making it more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.

We placed this additional order after four years of successful Airbus aircraft operations. The additional A320 Family aircraft will substantially increase our low-cost services out of Vienna”, says Niki Lauda, President of Niki.

The new cabin was transported to Niki effectively presented the most modern design and technological innovations derived from the A380. New smooth lines not only create an ambient atmosphere but also give more space at shoulder level. Increased Overhead Stowage offers 15 per cent more volume. The state of the art design gives a measurable noise reduction, while also decreasing the weight of the aircraft and thus making it more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.

***Source & Photo by Airbus

Here’s a short yet cool video of the F-15 Eagle and the F-16 Fighting Falcon in action, recorded during Red Flag by an IMAX high definition camera. Keep your eyes peeled for the wingtip vortices!

About the F-15
The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It possesses an unequaled combination of performance, firepower and avionics. First flown in July 1972, the USAF plans to keep the F-15 in service until 2025.

About the F-16
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, single-engined jet fighter aircraft developed for the USAF. Though designed as a lightweight fighter, it has evolved into a successful multirole aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven its worth in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. The Falcon is the largest Western fighter program with over 4,000 aircraft built since its production in 1976.

About Red Flag
Red Flag is an advanced aerial combat training exercise hosted at Nellis AFB, Nevada and Eielson AFB, Alaska. Conducted in four-to-six cycles a year by the 414th Combat Training Squadron of the 57th Wing, the exercises are very realistic aerial war games. Red Flag trains pilots from the United States, NATO, and other allied countries for real combat situations. Since 1975, air crew from the USAF and other US military branches and allies take part in the exercises.