Jun 07
JobelleAir Force, News Anderson Air Force Base, Boeing, Boeing F-15K, f-15, F-15 family, F-15E, f-15K, F-15K Slam Eagle, F-15K Slam Eagle aircraft, f15, F15K, Hickam Air Force Base, Korea Air Force, Nellis Air Force Base, Next Fighter II contract, Roger Besancenez, ROKAF
Boeing delivered two F-15K Slam Eagle aircraft — designated F-15K49 and F-15K50 — to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) at Daegu Air Base on May 30. The aircraft departed the Boeing St. Louis facility on May 25 and made stops in Palmdale, Calif., Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, and Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, before arriving in Korea.
“Boeing has now delivered 10 F-15Ks to the Republic of Korea under the Next Fighter II contract,” said Roger Besancenez, Boeing F-15 Program vice president. “We remain laser focused on providing first time quality on every F-15K we deliver to this important customer. We are proud that the F-15K is a cost-certain, schedule-certain solution for the Republic of Korea.”
The F-15K strike fighter is the newest variant of the combat-proven F-15E. Equipped with the latest technological upgrades, it is more lethal, survivable, and maintainable than its predecessor.The F-15 family has a combat record of 101 victories and zero losses, and the F-15E predecessor flew thousands of combat missions during Operation Desert Storm and in the Balkans.
Boeing delivered the first six of 21 F-15Ks it is producing under the Next Fighter II contract in 2010 and two more in April. The remaining 11 aircraft will be delivered through April 2012. Six of the new F-15K Slam Eagles are scheduled to participate in an advanced aerial combat training exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., in early 2012.
Source: Boeing, AIR-ATTACK
Apr 28
Jobelle 48th Fighter Wing, Capt. Tyler Stark, F-15 pilot, F-15E, F-15E Strike Eagle, f15, F15 in Libya, Maj. Kenneth Harney, MV-22 Osprey, Royal Air Force
For the first time since their F-15E crashed on March 21 in Libya, U.S. Air Force Maj. Kenneth Harney of Lexington, Kentucky, and Capt. Tyler Stark of Littleton, Colorado, spoke publicly to a small group of friends , family and Air Force personnel.
“You feel the weight of not only the Air Force, but the entire military, focusing on you, making sure you get home,” Stark said recently in a video prepared by the Air Force.
The Air Force public affairs office posted pictures and video of the event on its official website, even after U.S. military public affairs officers involved in Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya told CNN their names would never be made public.
The men were part of a the 48th Fighter Wing normally based at RAF Lakenheath, a Royal Air Force base that has hosted U.S. Air Force units for years in Suffolk, England. But on March 21 they took off from the U.S. air base in Aviano, Italy, in support of the no-fly zone enforcement over Libya.
After the ejection, Harney — “Meso” to his fellow fliers — and “Mask” Stark became separated.
“When you find yourself alone, and you’re isolated, in a country where there’s hostiles, you are scared,” said Harney, a veteran of both the Afghan and Iraq wars.
Stark was found by Libyan civilians who protected him from possible retaliation by forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, and eventually he was taken safely back to Europe. Details of how he was taken out of Libya have yet to be disclosed.
Harney’s rescue came more quickly. He stayed in communications with another F-15 pilot still in the air over Libya. Eventually an MV-22 Osprey carrying Marines who were part of a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel, or TRAP, team landed near his position.
“As that back door opened, I see a group of young Marine recon units jump out, and that was probably the best feeling I’ve ever felt in my entire life,” Harney said.
Source: CNN, U.S. Air Force
Sep 02
NinaBlog Articles F-15E, F-15E model plane, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle model plane, F15E model plane, F15E Strike Eagle
Airmen from the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron accomplished a major combat milestone here when they go beyond 8,000 combat hours in the F-15E Strike Eagle while providing security to coalition forces.
The aircrew for the mission included Capt. Jaina Donberg, F-15E pilot and a native of Arlington, Va., as well as Capt. Nick Foster, an F-15E weapons system officer and a native of Martinsburg, W.V. Launching the mission was F-15E crew chief, Senior Airman John Yates, a native of Pawtucket, R.I., and six-year veteran of the F-15 C and E family.
The aircrews provided security for a helicopter re-supply point that night and also coordinated communications between the helicopters and coalition forces on the ground due the area’s harsh terrain, according to Captain Foster.
“This re-supply was important because the only way to re-supply was via air because the roads were too hostile and rugged to move a convoy,” said Captain Foster.
“Everything went smooth,” said Airman Yates, who is just three years older than this airplane. He said he just wanted to launch the mission and help save lives. “We try to give the aircrew a jet they don’t have to worry about; they need to focus on the mission and save the lives of our people on the ground.”
Other F-15E Strike Eagle missions here consist of providing close air support for coalition forces on the ground in contact with the enemy, to supporting the recent Afghan elections Aug. 20.
***Get a F-15E Strike Eagle model plane for a special price of $129.95 from Warplanes.com***
Jun 05
NinaBlog Articles A-10, A-10 Thunderbolt II, A-10 Thunderbolt II model plane, c-130, c-130 hercules, C-130 Hercules model plane, C-17, C-17 Globemaster III, C-17 Globemaster III model plane, F-15E, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle model plane, F/A-18F Super Hornet, f18-c hornet, f18C Hornet, F18c hornet model plane
SOUTHWEST ASIA – Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 3, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
In Afghanistan, a flight of Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs hunted enemy snipers near Shahidan. Using smoke rounds to verify targets followed up with 30mm cannon strafes of each hostile position, the aircraft ended the sniper’s attack on Afghan and coalition forces.
Near Asadabad, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and A-10s engaged during two anti-Afghan forces attacks on Afghan and coalition personnel. The F-15s used guided bomb unit-31s and a GBU-38 to take out a group of heavy grenade launchers manned by enemy personnel, then escorted a convoy with a damaged vehicle back to base. Nearby, A-10s dropped a series of GBU-38s to strike enemy forces in fighting positions along a treeline. The A-10 also performed a show of force to deter a second attack.
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