RSSMarch 31: USS Missouri (BB-63) Decommissioned
Mar 31
In the year 1992 of this day, the last active US Navy Battleship — USS Missouri (BB-63) was decommissioned for the last time in
The BB-63, also known as “
Airmen Honored by President George Bush
Mar 31
President George Bush delivered a 40-minute opening remark at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The president’s remarks focused on the importance of the United States continuing its military and economic aid to Iraq to liberate the Iraqi people and remove a regime threatening free nations.
“The Air Force was critical in liberating the people of Afghanistan, the people of Iraq and taking the fight to the enemy overseas so we do not have to face them here at home.”
Air Force One touched down on the flightline here at 9:40 a.m. The president was met by General Bruce Carlson, commander of Air Force Materiel Command. President Bush presented the President’s Volunteer Service. During his speech at the museum, President Bush said Airmen are adding to the tradition of the great aviators honored by the museum. He also noted that military achievements in Iraq have been accompanied by a political transformation.
“It can feel like distant history, but it was only five years ago that Iraq was one of the most brutal dictatorships on Earth, a totalitarian nightmare where any nightmare where any election was a sham and dissenters often found themselves buried in mass graves. In a matter of 15 months, the Iraqi people reclaimed their sovereignty. They went on to choose an interim government and to ratify the most democratic constitution in the Arab world. And in December 2005, 12 million Iraqis elected a government under that constitution, a display of courage that defied the terrorists, disproved the critics and should always inspire the world.”
“This partnership would help assure Iraqis that political, economic and security cooperation between our nations will endure. This partnership would also ensure protections for American troops when the United Nations mandate for Multi-National Forces in Iraq expires in December.”
“This partnership would not bind future presidents to specific troop levels. This partnership would not establish permanent bases in Iraq. It would be similar to partnerships that we have with
Afghanistan and other free nations around the world. My administration will work to complete this strategic partnership in the coming months. The Iraqi people have chosen to stand with
America against our common enemies. And it’s in our interest that we stand with them.”
President Bush said in his closing remarks: Airmen are among the many patriots who uphold America’s highest ideals.
Musical Chairs at Heathrow
Mar 31
As BA transfers more than 70% of its London Heathrow Airport operations to Heathrow’s new Terminal 5 (T5) on March 27, a giant game of musical chairs begins. Some 50 of the more than 90 airlines serving the airport will move terminals over the next 10 months.
The changes will be intensified by the transfer of some BA and all American Airlines services from Gatwick Airport to Heathrow as the Open Skies treaty between the US and the European Union comes into effect on 30th of March. Only a few carriers could fly between the US and Heathrow.
The airport is being re-organized largely around the three major global alliances of airlines. Most of the airlines serving Heathrow belong to one or other of these alliances. When completed, this co-location will allow alliance members to offer smoother connections and to reduce costs and share facilities such as check-in and lounges.
The demolition of T2 later this year will allow room to build the initial phase of a new facility, Heathrow East, for the Star Alliance in time for the London 2012 Olympic Games. After the initial phase of Heathrow East is complete, T1 will be demolished to make room for a second phase.
So, for passengers not traveling through the T5, the next few years will be testing and unpleasant as BA’s competitors try to run operations in old, dingy terminals alongside major building sites.
F-15 escort Russian bombers off Alaska coast
Mar 27
Two Russian Bear long-range bombers were escorted by two USAF F-15 Eagles out of an air exclusion zone off the coast of Alaska, U.S. military officials yesterday. U.S. radar picked up the Russian turbo-prop Tupolev-95 planes about 500 miles off the Alaska coast. The U.S. fighters from Elmendorf Air Force Base were dispatched to meet the bombers and escorted them out of the region without incident, the officials said.
The United States maintains the air exclusion zone off the coast of Alaska, barring unidentified aircraft or aircraft that don’t file flight plans inside that area.
The last case of Russian aircraft approaching the U.S. coastline or ships in the Pacific was in February. Then, four Bear bombers flew near the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, with one of them flying about 2,000 feet from the Nimitz’s deck. Russia’s Defense Ministry said at the time there was no violation of flight regulations during the incident. A ministry official described the flights as standard operating procedure for air force training.
Meanwhile, U.S. military officials stated the incidents are not a concern. They say it’s the Russian military flexing its ability and presence.
Piece of US Airways jet wing falls in Maryland
Mar 25
A piece of aluminum from the wing of a US Airways plane fell off at about 9 am on Saturday. The aircraft was headed to Philadelphia from Orlando, Florida .
Airline officials have contacted at least three fire departments in Maryland and said that the 5-foot by 7-foot piece is believed to have landed in Anne Arundel, Prince George’s or Queen Anne’s counties.
The plane, carrying 174 passengers, landed safely in Philadelphia and has been taken out of service. No injuries were reported.
Air Force’s Aircraft Uses Synthetic Fuel
Mar 24
Air Force officials plan to use synthetic fuel blends by 2011 which is made up of 50/50 blend of synthetic and petroleum gases.
The Air Force program aims to help the environment and to use a fuel produced domestically. Air Force officials are still in the process of evaluating and certifying the alternative fuel derived from natural gas using the Fischer-Tropsch process and it will be enforced for use on every Air Force aircraft. Air Force officials have previously tested the fuel blend in the B-52 Stratofortress and the C-17 Globemaster III, which were one of the first aircraft to use the synthetic fuel. A B-1B Lancer from the 9th Bomb Squadron became the first Air Force aircraft to fly at supersonic speed using an alternate fuel which flew over Texas and New Mexico on March 19, 2008.
The Air Force is the single largest user of aviation fuel, with an estimated use of 3 billion gallons per year. Synthetic fuel created using the FT process costs an estimated $30 to $50 less per barrel than its petroleum counterpart. Alternative fuels can be produced from domestically available hydrocarbon products like natural gas, coal and shale and then gasified and converted into any number of liquid fuel products. The use of synthetic fuel is not only cost efficient and that, this innovative domestically-produced fuel will also help alleviate our dependence on foreign energy sources. These alternative fuels also burn cleaner which reduces combustion-related emissions and particulates in the air, without compromising performance.
Top 10 War Planes of All Time
Mar 24
The world wars are one of the reasons why fighter planes and war planes were built and here’s a list of undefeated fighter aircrafts of all time.
10. Fokker D. VII Biplane – Best German aircraft of the First World War.
9. Mitsubishi Zero – Japan’s long-range fighter. Became the cornerstone of Japan’s “kamikaze” squadrons.
8. Messerschmitt Bf109 – The German-made aircraft that became the Royal Air Force’s dreadful foe during the Second World War.
7. Supermarine Spitfire – Best known for its iconic status as the plane that won the Second World War and in the Battle of Britain.
6. North American P-51D Mustang – Entered the World War scene later but American pilots registered more kills than they did with any other aircraft in the Second World War.
5. North American F-86 Sabre – Though production began after the Second World War, it was just in time for the Korean War.
4. Mikoyan MiG-21 – The MiG-21 is the definitive symbol of Communism and the Cold War.
3. Boeing F-18 Hornet – Variants of the popular all-purpose jets have been patronized by the US Navy and the US Marine Corps since the early 80s and saw action in the First Gulf War and in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
2. Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber – The technology has been used for high-value target missions during the recent Middle Eastern wars.
1. UCAV – The soon to be used military aircraft by the US forces.