VFA-204 F/A-18 crashed at NAS Fallon

An F/A-18A Hornet crashed while trying to land at the Fallon Naval Air Station in Nevada, early Tuesday. Luckily, the pilot ejected safely and suffered only minor injuries. No other casualties were reported.

According to the base report, the pilot was completing a mission as an adversary aircraft when the he crashed the F/A-18 fighter jet at about 1:10 a.m. The F-18 Hornet was operated by the New Orleans-based Strike Fighter Attack Squadron Two Zero Four. It veered off the runway and crashed on Navy property just east of the field, the Navy reported in a statement.

The F/A-18 “Hornet” is a single- and two-seat, twin engine, multi-mission fighter/attack aircraft that can operate from either aircraft carriers or land bases. It has proven to be an ideal component of the carrier based tactical aviation equation over its 15 years of operational experience. The only F/A-18 characteristic found to be marginally adequate by battle group commanders, outside experts, and even the men who fly the Hornet, is its range when flown on certain strike mission profiles. However, the inadequacy is managed well with organic and joint tanking assets.

The other aircraft involved were forced to divert to Reno-Tahoe International Airport and Lemoore Naval Air Station in Northern California.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Source: RGJ.com, FAS.org

JSF Delay concerns Australia and Canada

Australia and Canada share a common concern that the new Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) will be delayed, possibly requiring acquisition of an expensive interim air combat capability.

To present a united front, Australia and Canada will now conduct top level talks on procurement and capability issues of mutual concern.

As well as JSF, that will also touch on submarines, with both Australia and Canada experiencing big problems on maintaining submarine capability.

Visiting Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Canada wasn’t backing away from plans to acquire 65 JSF aircraft but shared all of the same concerns as Australia.

He said the good news was that the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant of JSF, to be acquired by both Canada and Australia, was progressing well, unlike the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) and carrier variants.

“We are purchasing them at a time when they will be in peak production around 2014-15. Our fleet of F-18 Hornets will have to be taken out of use in 2017,” he told reporters.

“So there is a degree of urgency for us when it comes to this procurement being on time and being on cost.”

Australia is considering acquiring up to 100 JSF aircraft but has so far contracted to buy just 14, with the first to be delivered in 2015. Decision time on the next tranche of 58 will come in 2012-13.

The JSF has faced steady criticism that it will be late and too expensive and won’t deliver the promised level of capability.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said he and Mr MacKay had agreed to conduct a regular strategic dialogue on shared procurement, acquisition, capability issues.

He said he was very concerned that delay in JSF meant it was rubbing up against the Australian schedule for retiring older F/A-18 Hornets around the end of the decade.

“I have always been of the view that this project will get up because the US is absolutely committed to the capability,” he said.

“But the risk for Australia and other partners like Canada is on the delivery side, on the schedule side and also on the cost side.”

Mr Smith said an an exhaustive risk assessment would be conducted next year.

“If I am concerned or worried or not dissuaded there won’t be a gap in terms of delivery of the JSF, then an obvious option for us is more Super Hornets,” he said.

“The last things I will allow to occur with our procurement of the JSF is a gap in capability.”

 

-au.news.yahoo.com

Blue Angel to Perform Flight Demonstration in Biofuel Aircraft

Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, is slated to perform their flight demonstration with every aircraft powered by a biofuel blend at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River Air Expo Sept. 2-4.

Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus said the Navy and Marine Corps’ use of alternative energy sources addresses critical vulnerabilities and ultimately serves to improve our war fighting capability, while also increasing our energy efficiency and helping lead the nation toward a clean energy economy.

“Changing the kinds of fuels we use and the way we use them is critical to assuring the Navy and Marine Corps remain the most formidable expeditionary fighting force the world has ever known,” said Mabus. “

One objective in successfully testing alternative energy sources is to ensure there is no difference in performance between the biofuel blend and standard petroleum-based JP-5. McWherter, who flew a legacy F/A-18 test flight Aug. 17, said there were no noticeable differences from the cockpit.

The Blue Angels Labor Day weekend performance will be yet another visible demonstration of the Department of the Navy’s commitment to reducing fossil fuel use without compromising capability. All six F/A-18 legacy Hornets will be powered by a 50/50 blend of conventional JP-5 jet fuel and a camelina-based biofuel.

The Labor Day performance is the ultimate demonstration to date of the Department of the Navy’s commitment to reducing dependence on foreign oil, as well as safeguarding our environment through the incorporation cleaner, more sustainable and renewable energy sources.

Source: U.S. Navy

Nearby residents complains about noise in MCAS Beaufort

A full complement of F-18 Hornet squadrons at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort has caused a recent uptick in noise complaints, air station officials say.

For the first time in more than a year, all six of the air station’s F-18 squadrons are home and vying for flight time in the skies over Beaufort, those officials said. The increased activity at the base’s airfield has generated more noise complaints from nearby residents.

Lt. Sharon Hyland, base spokeswoman, said the air station’s public affairs office typically fields one or two noise complaints a month The office has been averaging 5 or 6 complaints a month this summer, she said.

“It’s been a really long time since we’ve had all of our squadrons back on deck,” said Hyland. “For the longest time, we’ve always had one or two of them doing something. All of the squadrons are back, though they won’t be for long. We’ll have some squadrons deploying soon. During the short time that they’re all here, they’re fighting for that flight time out there.”

While jet noise may be jarring to some area residents, Hyland said the flight training it generates is essential.

“Our training is never done in vain,” Hyland said. “A lot of times people forget that the noise you hear is directly associated with our training and our training is directly associated with how successfully we’re able to complete our mission.”

Hyland said the base tries to mitigate the effects of F-18 jet noise on nearby neighborhood by flying earlier in the day though that task becomes harder in the summer.

“We have to train during the day and during the night,” Hyland said. “When the sun goes down, we don’t land our jets. Not everything bad happens during the day time. It does make it harder in the summer because the sun goes down a lot later and we have to wait until later to start that night training.”

-islandpacket.com

RAAF Hornet successfully fired JASSM

A RAAF F/A-18 Hornet successfully fired a Joint Air to Surface Stand-off Missile (JASSM) at the Woomera test range last week.

The Joint Air to Surface Stand-off Missile has a range of more than 200 kilometres and was selected in 2006 by the former Howard government to equip the F/A-18 Hornet fleet pending the retirement of the F-111 fleet.

The JASSM has been listed on the federal government’s “projects of concern” watch list, but makers Lockheed Martin are optimistic the successful Woomera test will mean its removal.

“A second successful firing of the JASSM baseline missile off a RAAF F/A-18 Hornet was achieved at the Woomera test range in South Australia last week,” a Lockheed Martin spokesman told The Australian.

JASSM is in service with four other air forces including the US Air Force which has ordered more than 3000 of the semi-stealthy cruise missiles each worth about $700,000. Experts say JASSM will give RAAF a leading weapons capability edge within the Asian region.

Source: The Australian National Affairs

F-35 JSF Makes First Air Show Appearance

The F-35C Joint Strike Fighter made its first public appearance at an air show last May 21st.

The flight commemorated 100 years of naval aviation by highlighting the future of tactical air power for the U.S. Navy.

Piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Eric “Magic” Buus, the F-35C made a single pass down the show line at the Joint Service Open House at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

The F-35C variant of the joint strike fighter is distinct from the F-35A and F-35B versions with its larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear for greater control in the demanding carrier take-off and landing environment.

The flyover originated from the F-35C‘s primary test site at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. and was executed in the same manner as any controlled test sortie. The aircraft, CF-2, flew within its approved flight envelope and was accompanied by an F-18 Hornet flying chase.

The F-35C is the Navy’s first stealth aircraft. The internal structure of the US Navy variant is strengthened to handle the loads associated with catapult launches and arrested landings. A larger wingspan provides increased range and improves low-speed handling characteristics for the Navy aircraft. Like the US Marine Corps variant, the US Navy variant carries a refueling probe on the right side of the forward fuselage. Range and payload are superior to legacy strike fighters. Weapon loads, cockpit layout, countermeasures, radar, and other features are common with the other variants.

Source: Air-Attack, Global Security

Marine Squadron Completed Sorties in F-16s

 

Marine aviators of the F-35B Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 completed four sorties this week in F-16 Fighting Falcons, beginning a familiarization process to ensure readiness and efficiency in the transition to the Department of Defense’s fifth generation fighter.

Lt. Col. James Wellons, Warlords commander, said “It’s a tremendous opportunity to fly (these sorties). This is the first time a VMFAT-501 pilot has flown here at our new home.”

Officials elected to bring the F-16s from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., to the 33rd Fighter Wing, because of its similarity to its descendant, the F-35. Its flying characteristics are similar to the F-35, so the training and mindset pilots will have in a single-engine fighter transitions from the F-16 into the F-35.

The Marines, who’d only flown in Marine and Naval fighters, discovered vast similarities to the Air Force F-16 and their Harriers, Hornets and Prowlers.

This familiarization is doubly beneficial to the Marines, not just to understand an aircraft style similar to the F-35, but to also experience Eglin’s runway and flightline operations, maintenance procedures and airspace.

“This is a major milestone for VMFAT-501,” said the commander. “Every time a Marine flies an aircraft here, it’s one step closer to putting F-35s in the air.”

The Marine variant of JSF, the F-35B, contains a STOVL (Short Take Off and Vertical Landing) engine. The STOVL variant will replace the Marine Corps inventory of F-18 and AV-8s.

 

Source: Air-Attack.com

Boeing to unveil stealthier Super Hornet

 

 

Boeing's Super Hornet

 

A mocked up version of Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet will be among the many metal birds to debut at the upcoming Aero India 2011.

Boeing, which is one of the contenders for the $10 billion medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contract, will unveil a stealthier version of the F/A-18 at the air show to be held at the Air Force Station Yelahanka between February 9 and 13.

Boeing’s vice-president for defense, space and security, Vivek Lall, said that one of the two F/A-18s which will be performing at the bi-annual show will be configured with conformal fuel tanks, enhanced performance engines, spherical missile laser warning, enclosed weapons pad, next generation cockpit and internal infrared search and tracking system.

The mocked up aircraft, which will be unveiled at the Aero India will be the first F/A-18 to be developed as part of the ‘International Super Hornet Roadmap’ programme which was announced by the US-based aerospace company at last year’s Farnborough Air Show in the UK.

Labelled as the next evolution of Block II Super Hornet, the aircraft is said to have features “which increase survivability, situational awareness, and performance for customers”.

- dnaindia.com

Wikileaks: Brazilian Air Force First Choice was F-18 jets

Brazil’s Air Force commander, Brigadier Juniti Saito, told the U.S. ambassador that his service preferred the Boeing Super Hornet as its next fighter, revealed by WikiLeaks Sunday.

Question regarding the U.S. government’s commitment to technology transfer to accompany Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter remain “a significant political barrier,” Saito is reported to have told the U.S. ambassador to Brazil, Clifford Sobel.

Sobel wrote a cable July 31, 2009, outlining his talk with Saito, according to WikiLeaks.

While a decision has been delayed for months, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is widely expected to pick the winning bid before his second term ends January 1. Brazilian press has reported that the Rafale warplane, produced by France’s Dassault Aviation SA (AM.FR), is heavily favored by Lula, while the third competitor is Sweden’s Gripen NG by Saab AB (SAAB-B.SK).

The value of the contract to supply 36 jet fighters hasn’t been revealed, but it’s estimated at between $4 billion and $10 billion, depending on the final choice, maintenance costs and armaments.

In the cable, Sobel reported that Saito said “there was no question from a technical point of view that the F-18 was the superior aircraft.“

Saito is reported to have told the ambassador that “the French can’t complain as they just signed a $14 billion deal with Brazil” for submarines and helicopters, according to the cable.

Earlier that year, in May, U.S. Deputy Chief of the United States Mission in Brazil, Lisa Kubiske, had also sent a cable highlighting the political concerns.

The U.S. Embassy in Brasilia couldn’t be reached for comment by telephone, and didn’t respond to an emailed request for comment. A spokesman for the Brazilian Defense Ministry didn’t respond to an emailed request for comment.

- NASDAQ

Boeing Proposes Partnership with Embraer on Super Hornet

Boeing Company is seeking a partnership with Brazilian planemaker Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA to strengthen its bid to make 36 fighter jets for the country’s airforce, Valor Economico recently reported.

F/A-18E Super Hornet flying at sunset

Boeing has offered to partner with Embraer on 10 projects, including construction of a plant in Brazil, which would supply parts for the U.S. plane maker’s F-18 Super Hornets. The factory would probably be in Sao Jose dos Campos, where Embraer is based, Valor said.

Boeing also wants to join up with Embraer to make KC-390 cargo planes.

Boeing hasn’t been in contact with Brazil’s airforce since January and the government still hasn’t decided which aircraft it will buy, according to the report, citing Joseph T. McAndrew, Boeing’s vice president for Europe, Israel and America.

Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a twin-engine 4.5 generatio carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft. It has an internal 20 mm gun and can carry air-to-air missiles and air-to-surface weapons. Additional fuel can be carried with up to five external fuel tanks and the aircraft can be configured as an airborne tanker by adding an external air refueling system.

- Bloomberg -
- Wikipedia -