The PROPELLER INFLATER

Link: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123112564

(U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson)


8/27/2008 - JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq (AFPN) -- Airmen employed a guided bomb unit-54 laser joint directed attack munition Aug. 12 against a moving enemy vehicle in the Diyala province to support a combined Iraqi army and U.S. Marine operation.

The GBU-54 is the Air Force's newest 500-pound precision weapon, equipped with a special targeting system that uses a combination of Global Positioning System and laser guidance to accurately engage and destroy moving targets.

F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron deployed the munitions.

"This employment first represents a great step in our Air Force's ability to deliver precise effects across the spectrum of combat," said Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, the U.S. Air Forces Central commander and U.S. Central Commands Combined Force Air Component commander. "The first combat employment of this weapon is the validation of the exacting hard work of an entire team of professionals who developed, tested and fielded this weapon on an extremely short timeline, based on an urgent needs request we established in the combat zone."

Identified as an urgent operational need in early 2007, the Air Force completed the GBU-54's development and testing cycle in less than 17 months, fielding it aboard 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing aircraft in May.

"We have consistently used precision-guided weapons to engage stationary threats with superb combat effects," said Brig. Gen. Brian T. Bishop, the 332nd AEW commander. "This weapon allows our combat pilots to engage a broad range of moving targets with dramatically increased capabilities and it increases our ability to strike the enemy throughout a much, much broader engagement envelope."

Teamwork in all aspects from development to the actual weapon employment was crucial.

"Teamwork was the name of the game to accomplish this," General North said. "From the experts in our Air Force Materiel Command who shaped our requirements, then developed, tested and fielded the weapon, to our aircraft maintainers, our munitions Airmen, and weapons loaders ... and everyone in between ... they made the operational employment of this weapon possible.

"At end game, on Aug. 12, the team of the joint terminal attack controller, alongside his ground unit commander in this event, ensured all criteria were met for the first combat delivery of the (laser joint directed attack munition). And finally, our F-16 pilot accurately and precisely delivered and guided the weapon to desired weapons effects, the disabling and destruction of an enemy vehicle and personnel," General North said.

AIR FORCE LINK courtesy, please visit www.af.mil

Link: http://prepaplsanglais.canalblog.com/archives/2008/08/26/10359966.html

The sixth and final Formidable-class frigate, derived from the French La Fayette-class, has been delivered by DCNS and ST Marine to the Singapore navy. (US Navy photo)
Source : Defense-aerospace

Link: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123111838

by Amanda Creel
78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

8/21/2008 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) -- An aviation first was accomplished when an F-15E Strike Eagle flew here Aug. 19 using an alternative fuel.

Engineers from the 830th Aircraft Sustainment Group, maintainers with the 561st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and pilots from the 339th Flight Test Squadron joined with the Air Force Alternative Fuels Certification office for the first airborne test of the F-15 using a 50-50 mix of JP-8 jet fuel and a natural gas-based synthetic fuel.

According to Maj. Dan Badia, one of the pilots for the test flight, it was just another day at the office.

"You could have had JP-8 in there and I wouldn't have known the difference," the major said.

Ryan Mead, an F-15 fuels engineer, said he was pleased with the flight test because for all practical purposes the aircraft functioned in the same range it would have with the JP-8 jet fuel. Mr. Mead said he expects the jet to be certified on the fuel as a result of the test flights.

Jeff Braun, director of the Air Force Alternative Fuels Certification office, said the accomplishment demonstrates that the fuel is safe for operational use and does not decrease performance of a high-performance aircraft.

The test was done as part of a direction from the Secretary of the Air Force to certify the entire Air Force fleet on synthetic fuel by 2011.

Thanks to AIR FORCE LINK

Link: http://prepaplsanglais.canalblog.com/archives/2008/08/21/10293158.html

A KC-10 Extender refuels a Royal Air Force Tornado GR-4 so that it can sustain airborne operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The KC-10 is with the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Wing. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Ruby Zarzyczny)

INTRODUCTION

1. Mission description. The mission or objective of Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) is to enhance mission effectiveness by extending the range, payload or endurance of receiver aircraft by the in-flight transfer of fuel between the tanker and receiver aircraft. ATP-56(A) or AJP 3.3.4.2 is the AAR document used by NATO forces. Non-NATO air forces seeking more detailed information than is contained in this chapter should refer to ATP-56(A) or AJP 3.3.4.2 for guidance.

2. There are two basic AAR systems. These systems are not compatible and are quite distinct.

a. Boom and Receptacle System. The boom is basically a telescoping pipe that extends from the aft portion of some tanker aircraft. The end of the pipe is configured with a nozzle that couples into the receptacle of suitably equipped receiver aircraft. The nozzle end of the pipe is equipped with two air foils which allow the operator to “fly” the nozzle end of the pipe into the receptacle of the receiver. The nozzle is then latched into place. Once the nozzle is latched into the receptacle, the tanker crew can begin the fuel offload process. This system permits offloads in excess of 6000lbs of fuel per minute. The actual offload rate is adjusted to accommodate the receivers optimum onload rate.

b. Probe and Drogue. There are two types of drogue systems. The Hose and Reel system and the Boom / Drogue Adapter (BDA). The probe coupling is contained within the cone-shaped drogue. The position of the drogue cannot be directed by the tanker crew. It is therefore incumbent upon the receiver crew to fly to the drogue and make the contact. Contact is made by the receiver crew flying the probe into the cone-shaped drogue and maintaining forward pressure on the drogue to sustain the contact. Generally, the maximum possible offload rate with this system is approximately 4,800lbs of fuel per minute.

(1). The Hose And Reel System. This system consists of a soft collapsible drogue that is fitted on the end of a flexible hose. The hose is attached to a reel system that takes-up any slack in the hose. This keeps the hose to the optimum length.

(2). The BDA System. This system consists of a length of hose (with a hard non-collapsible drogue attached) that is fitted to the telescoping portion of the boom. The telescoping portion of the boom is kept fully extended while the BDA is in use. This system has no excess hose “take up” feature. This means that the receiver aircraft have to continually adjust their position to ensure proper flow of fuel. Refueler_drogue_maintenance

Tech. Sgt. Christopher Walls (left) and Staff Sgt. Chris Wietecha use a breakaway force tester March 25 on a KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling drogue. The sergeants are with the 452nd Maintenance Squadron's aircraft pneudraulics systems shop at March Air Reserve Base, Calif. March ARB, located in Southern California, is home to the largest air mobility wing in the Air Force Reserve Command. (U.S. Air Force photo/Val Gempis)

AAR FUNCTIONS

3. AAR can serve three main functions as a force extender, a force multiplier and/or a force requirement.

a. As a force extender, AAR can add significantly to the overall effectiveness and flexibility of operations by the extension of range, endurance or payload, allowing long range / endurance missions and enhancing the deployment of Forces.

b. AAR can act as a force multiplier by allowing the air commander to accomplish many missions with fewer assets(i.e., aircrews, aircraft, logistic effort). For defensive air operations, which are reactive in nature, AAR allows a sustained airborne alert posture, enhancing the capability to react quickly to the unforeseen development of critical situations. This immediate, sustainable availability of defensive assets can markedly reduce reaction time and enhance the air commander’s flexibility for the employment of the available assets.

c. Range from base to target or combat air patrol position, or takeoff weight restrictions, can make AAR a force requirement. Similarly, AAR for air transport support can become a force requirement to allow maximum payload, avoid intermediate refuelling stop-overs, and allow routing around sensitive areas. Furthermore, a requirement exists for AAR of scarce command and control, intelligence and reconnaissance assets.

Thanks to LTC Rene SONNTAG (Luftwaffe LNO for the French AF Academy) who provided this part of a public-release Nato document) and thanks to Air Force Link: www.af.mil

(U.S. Air Force photos/Senior Airman Larry E. Reid Jr.)

by Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher
Air Combat Command Public Affairs

8/19/2008 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- The MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft system surpassed 400,000 flight hours during a mission in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Aug. 18. Members of the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron, part of the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., flew the milestone mission in support of continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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