#Air Demonstration Squadron

[nocternalrandomness]

Winter practice over the New Mexico desertFighting Falcon

[eyestothe-skies]

Embraer A-29 Super Tucano, Smoke Squadron

Source: Johnson Barros

[eiiskonigin]

so, the local aerobatics squadron is in town, preparing for the airshows and I love these guys, super cool aerial tricks in F-18's, fun stuff.

The problem is that this team is called the Snowbirds and I keep having to laugh about it.

[alex--max]

PRIDE IN THE SKY!

SAIL! 😤🔃

The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the AF Thunderbirds, perform precision aerial maneuvers demonstrating the maximum capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon to people throughout the world.

#usaf #f16 #fightingfalcon #airforce #thunderbirds #tbirds #ReadyAF #airshow #airdemonstrationsquadron #militaryaviation #airpower #aircombatcommand #soloperforms #fighterpilot #fighterjet #pride #precision #professionalism #milavgeek

[usnatarchives]

The Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP): Soaring Through Gender Barriers 🛩🐝

During World War II, while the world battled on various fronts, a quieter revolution took flight in the United States. The Women's Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP, were a pioneering group of female aviators who defied traditional gender norms, proving that women could excel in roles historically reserved for men.

Origins of the WASP

With many American men serving overseas, the country faced a need to tap into underutilized domestic resources. The WASP program, initiated in 1943, merged two existing women's flying programs: the Women's Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) and the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS). These women, under the guidance of aviators like Jacqueline Cochran and Nancy Love, would play a critical role in the war effort.

Duties and Contributions

The WASPs were trained pilots who contributed in non-combat roles. They ferried military aircraft across the country, tested planes, instructed male pilots, and even towed targets for live anti-aircraft artillery practice. They fulfilled the non-combat roles formerly occupied by male pilots, so more male pilots were available for combat roles. Women were not allowed to fly combat missions until [many years later, in 1993.. By the end of the war, WASPs had flown every type of military aircraft, logged over 60 million miles, and transported nearly 12,650 aircraft of 78 different types.

Challenges and Gender Biases

Despite their significant contributions, WASPs constantly faced skepticism and discrimination. They weren’t considered members of the military but were seen as civil service employees. They had to pay for their own uniforms, lodging, and sometimes even their way home after the end of their service. If a WASP pilot died during service, her burial costs fell on her family or fellow pilots.

Recognition and Legacy

In 1977, after years of advocacy by WASP veterans, President Jimmy Carter signed legislation granting WASP pilots veteran status. Later, in 2009, they were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their service, sacrifice, and pioneering spirit. The legacy of the WASP program not only paved the way for women's integration into the U.S. Air Force but also demonstrated the capabilities of women in high-pressure, technical roles.

[cherrycola27]

Red, White, and Rooster

Series Warnings: Language, alcohol consumption. Frenemies to lovers, relationship of convenience. Political situations. Allegations of affairs, military and political inaccuracies. Smut. 18+ Minors DNI. Banner Credit: @thedroneranger

Series Masterlist Previous Part Next Part

...........................................

Chapter 11: Mrs. Americana & The Heartthrob Prez

"Bradley—are you sure this is safe?" You ask him as he fiddles with your safety equipment.

"Totally safe. I mean, this was my job for fifteen years before I retired." He tells you as he gives you one last look over.

You can't believe you agreed to this. You and Bradley and Jake and Jaycee were in San Diego celebrating the Fourth of July at the Naval base that he used to call home. His entire former squadron, along with him and Jake, were going to do a flyover demonstration and an air show for the holiday. He had been practicing for two weeks with them, and at the last minute, he had conned you into flying with him. Jake had tried to get Jaycee to fly with him, but she quickly told him that he was out of his mind.

Bradley secured a helmet he had specially made for you to your head. It bore the call sign he'd given you, "Mrs. Americana" on it with a red white and blue theme. The flight suit you had on also had the name stitched on a patch on the front of it.

When you'd asked him about it, he said every pilot and WSO had one. He told you that he picked yours because of your "undying love for Taylor Swift and the fact that you were the First Lady." You laughed at him, but thought it was sweet.

You stood across from him as he secured his helmet. You'd couldn't deny how handsome he looked in his flight suit. You felt honored to get to see him in his element. The two of you walked hand in hand towards the F-18 two-seater that you would be flying in today. The press was going crazy over the two of you.

You stopped to pose for a few pictures and answer a couple of questions before Bradley helped you into the jet and made sure you were secure. After that, he climbed in the cockpit and wet over his preflight checks. Soon, it was almost time for take off.

You could hear the chatter of the other pilots. You looked over to your right and saw Jake in his plane. He looked over and saluted at the two of you.

"Hey, Hangman. You look good." Bradley said as he waved to Jake. "I am good, Rooster. I'm very good." Jake shot back. You laughed at the interaction. It was strange hearing them use each other's call signs.

"Hey, Ja—Hangman" you began. Jake's eyes shifted to you. "How do I look?" You asked him with a laugh. "You look too good to be true, Mrs. Americana." Jake replied. You couldn't see his whole face because of the oxygen mask he was wearing, but you knew he was smirking under it.

Moments later, Bradley was heading down the taxiway to the runway. You were nervous but excited for this flight.

"This is Rooster to range control, Dagger Two confirming green range." Rooster spoke. "Rooster, range is green, have a safe flight Mr. President and Mrs. First Lady." The range officer spoke.

Your heart dropped as the two of you took off. You'd flown plenty of times, but nothing like this. You truly felt like you were one with the clouds. It was a magical day in the sky, and you loved sharing it with Bradley.

"This is amazing!" You stated as he inverted his jet. You had the biggest grin plastered across your face the entire time. When it came time to land and leave the plane, you were a little disappointed, but Bradley promised he'd find another way to take you back up again.

July faded into August, and August slipped away into a moment in time. Soon, September and come and gone, and the two of you had made it to October.

You couldn't believe that you and Bradley were getting ready to celebrate your first wedding anniversary. And the two of you were truly going to celebrate it. It wasn't going to be some gala thrown to look good for the cameras. It was going to be a true way to honor the love you had for each other.

It also didn't hurt that the media was head over heels for your two. The summer service tour the two of you had went on stayed on the front pages. People were comparing you to the Kennedys and the Prince and Princess of Wales, stating that America hasn't seen a more handsome or service driven first couple in decades. It made you smile every time you read something positive about the two of you. What started out as a means to survive had truly become something beautiful.

On the morning of October nineteenth, you'd hoped to spend a somewhat lazy and restful Sunday morning in bed with your husband, but Bradley seemed to have other ideas.

It was early. You knew that for sure, and your body was still more asleep than awake. You sighed and settled into your pillows, blindly reaching for Bradley, but unable to find him. You ignored it and tried to drift off, but something was keeping you from fully going back to sleep.

You felt warm all over, a heat building within you. You also felt an ache between your thighs and in your lower belly. You shifted, trying to relieve some of the tension, but something held you firmly in place.

You sighed, deciding to let the feeling take over your body rather than fight it. As you began to wake up more, you felt it, the scruff of Bradley's mustache against you, the drag of his tongue through your wetness, the grip of his hands on your thighs.

"Bra—" you gasped as he sucked on your clit. "G'morning," he whispered, pausing for just a moment to greet you before resuming his work.

He lapped at your core slowly but with a purpose. One of your hands tangled in his hair while the other gripped the sheet. You could feel yourself closing in on an orgasm when there was a sudden knock at the door.

"Bradley! Stop!" You gasped, trying to push him away. His head whipped towards the door, then back at you. "No." He said calmly before doubling down on his efforts. You let out a whine. You were helpless when it came to him.

The knock came again, this time with a voice. "Mr. President, I've got the breakfast you requested." One of the kitchen staff called in. Bradley groaned against your center before pulling off of you.

"Just leave it, I'll get it in a minute." He yelled. You snorted a laugh before he licked you again. "I'd like to finish my dessert before I get to breakfast." He said as he lips wrapped around your clit.

His tongue moved skillfully through your folds, bringing you to a mind-blowing orgasm before eight in the morning. When he was satisfied with his work, he retrieved the breakfast, and the two of you enjoyed it together, before another turn in the sheets. If you had it your way, you would have kept Bradley in bed all day, naked and against you. However, he claimed he had something important to take care of and he would be back in a few hours.

That left you to your own devices. You spent the afternoon catching up on emails and reading your new book, then you took to social media where an article caught your eye.

"Love, Marriage, but no Baby Carriage: When Will We See a Presidental Baby?" The title made your eyes go wide. You clicked on it and read about how people were wondering why a First Baby wasn't on the way yet. It talked about how you and Bradley seemed to be so in love but had nothing to show for it yet. It further speculated that maybe the two of you weren't the perfect couple like everyone thought.

After a quick Google search, you found several other articles all about the same thing. You closed your computer after the seventh one and sighed. You really did love Bradley, and everything was going well between the two of you. It wasn't time for a reelection campaign yet, and his ratings were through the roof. There wasn't necessarily a perfect time to start trying for a baby, but right now seemed pretty good. You decided that after dinner, you'd talk with him about it.

That evening, Bradley had managed to surprise you with a flower arrangement he'd personally went and gotten you as well as a new bracelet and some of your favorite pastries. All in all, it was a wonderful anniversary.

That night, as the two of you lay in bed, you dropped the bomb on him.

"Bradley, what if we had a baby?" You asked him. He stiffened. You could tell your words caught him off guard. "What do you mean, Sweetheart?" He asked you. "I mean, what if we started trying. Like, what if I stopped taking my birth control." You told him.

"What brought this on?" Bradley asked you. "Well—I was reading some news articles—" you began. "Honey, what do you always tell me about reading them." He interjects. "I know, I know, but they really got me thinking. We are in a good place right now. This would be the perfect time to start trying." You tell him.

Bradley sits up and looks at you. He studies your face. "You're serious right now? You want to have a baby with me?" He asks you. "I do, Bradley. Our marriage has been anything but traditional. I want this to be the one thing we choose." You tell him earnestly.

An ear splitting grin breaks out across his face.

"Okay." He tells you. "Okay?" You ask eagerly.

"Yeah, fuck—let's have a baby, Sweetheart." Bradley confirms before crashing his lips to yours.

Everybody stay calm, it's happening!

Also, thank you for all the love and support on this series!

Taglist: @daggerspare-standingby @shanimallina87 @teacupsandtopgun @hecate-steps-on-me @roosterscock @roosterbruiser @roosterforme @seresinsbabe @startrekfangirl2233 @soulmates8 @xoxabs88xox @avengersfan25 @blackwidownat2814 @loveforaugust @mak-32 @cottagecori @amysteryspot @heyimmadisonn @princess76179 @bradshawseresinbabe @sunlightmurdock @lewmagoo @cassiemitchell @die-cunt @mj-l4 @shipinabluebottle @malindacath @violyn20 @imawkwardlysoc @books-for-summer @blackroseboulevard @recordblues @desert-fern @luckyladycreator2 @katieshook02 @samhapner6 @sebsxphia @roosters-girl @diorrfairy @je-suis-prest-rachel @mizzzpink @a-linabean @amklibrary @gretagerwigsmuse @jstarr86 @actuallyazriel @krismdavis @bradshawsbaby @wkndwlff

[thatsrightice]

Iceman would have been a perfect fit for the VF-101 Grim Reapers. One of the coolest squadrons of F-14 Tomcats, VF-101 was stationed in Oceana, Virginia. They traveled around the country performing air show demonstrations of what the F-14 was capable of. The demonstration routine must be flown a specific way with little room for errors or creativity liberty. Iceman is ice-cold, no mistakes. He’s calm, calculated, disciplined, and every other quality that is necessary to fly airshows perfectly (and safely).

Maverick is not.

Maverick is an amazing pilot but he is dangerous. He is reckless, unpredictable, and has a looooong history of disobeying orders. Never in a million years would they let him fly airshows, regardless of how many MiGs he’s taken down. At an air show you can’t go off script or you’ll be putting everyone’s lives at risk.

But Iceman? He’s perfect. With him and Slider, they’d be the ultimate recruiting force. You’ve got the pilot and RIO who are so fucking cool and funny and know they’re the best. Everyone wants to be them.

VF-101 doesn’t just fly air shows though. It’s a collateral duty. They’re a replacement squadron who fills in gaps at aircraft carriers temporarily or train crews in carrier operations on carriers in extreme situations when necessary. The crews in VF-101 deploy at sea with their other squadrons and the when they’re not deployed they’re demo pilots and FRS instructors. That’s what makes it a perfect fit for Iceman and Slider. They’re still being deployed and serving their country but when they’re back on land they get to have a little fun.

[usafphantom2]

IMAGES: Swedish and F-35 Danish Gripen perform first inter-ally exercises of 5ª generation

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 15/03/2024 - 18:16in Military

For the first time as NATO Allies, Danish F-35 fighters and Swedish JAS39 Gripen fighters flew air combat training exercises in Danish airspace on March 11 and 13.

The training missions showed close military cooperation between the Danish and Swedish air forces and also demonstrated efforts to integrate and interact with different generations of fighters in the Nordic countries. The exercises were mainly conducted in separate training areas on the waters of Kattegat. They consisted of one-on-one fighter maneuvers and coordinated flight of Danish F-35s from the Skrydstrup Fighter Wing and two JAS39 Gripen from 'Blekinge Flygflottilj' in Ronneby, near Karlskrona, in southern Sweden.

Cooperation is based on a mutual interest of the two nations through the Oresund, making use of experience and skills to strengthen the combined power of air warfare.

"Because we are neighbors and close allies, using each other's capabilities not only provides great training value for pilots and personnel, but is also visible proof of the ambition to be able to operate effectively together," says Major General of the Danish Air Force, Jan Dam.

The training exercises involving the JAS39 produced by Sweden and the F-35 produced by the United States highlight the need to ensure that existing and new combat aircraft fleets are able to cooperate and interact on the modern battlefield.

"The Gripen and F-35 belong to two different generations of combat aircraft and therefore have different characteristics to contribute to the battlefield. As a fifth-generation combat aircraft, the F-35 has the special ability to collect and process huge amounts of data, which it can later share with other allies and actors," explains Lieutenant-Colonel Casper Borge Nielsen, head of the Combat Flight Department of the Allied Air Command.

He went on to say that the integration between the F-35 and the Gripen increases the combined operational capabilities, because the F-35 is able to generate and share an unprecedented situational image, from which the Gripen can also benefit. On the other hand, the Gripen represents an advanced combat aircraft that brings more firepower to combat. This will benefit both fifth and fourth generation combat aircraft and, in a broader perspective, will give land and naval forces the opportunity to operate with more freedom and efficiency.

"Performing this type of exercise flying with another type of aircraft provides different challenges and experiences than when it is normally practiced against our own units," said Lieutenant-Colonel Erik Almquist, Commander of the 172º Swedish Air Force Fighter Squadron. “Cooperation with Danish pilots has been very easy and uncomplicated. The biggest challenge was to decide whether we should speak English or Danish/Swedish on the phone during the briefing and debriefing,” he said, adding that on the air, radio communications are made, of course, in English. "This week's exercises were the beginning of an increased cooperation where the proximity of the divisions in Skrydstrup and the simplicity of the cooperation provide good conditions for us to develop and strengthen our ability to fight together as a 'Nordic Air Force'," he concluded.

"We found our Swedish colleagues in Danish airspace to fly Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM), also known as 1-on-1 air combat training," says TRI, one of the Danish F-35 pilots of the Skrydstrup Fighter Wing in southern Jutland. He added that this creates different requirements and challenges when training against an unknown opponent. "Most of the time, we fly BFM against our own F-35 pilots. The Gripen and the Swedish pilots fly differently, so a 1-on-1 match against them is a professional challenge. We can test elements of our own tactics that we don't normally do. It's amazing! And of course it's great to meet the Swedes in Denmark," concluded TRI.

In the fall of 2023, Denmark received the first four F-35 fighters on Danish soil, while six aircraft are still located in the US for training flights. In total, Denmark has invested in 27 F-35 fighters, of which the remaining 17 are expected to be delivered in the coming years.

Tags: Military AviationF-35 Lightning IIFlygvapnet - Swedish Air ForceJAS39 GripenNATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Sharing

tweet

Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

Related news

HELICOPTERS

Indian government signs contract with HAL to buy 34 Dhruv light helicopters

15/03/2024 - 16:00

MILITARY

Shield AI will integrate Artificial Intelligence pilot in the Kratos BQM-177A drone.

15/03/2024 - 14:00

AIR SHOWS

It's less than a month before FIDAE 2024 opens its doors to the world

15/03/2024 - 13:00

MILITARY

Canadian Air Force received its first CE-145C Vigilance

15/03/2024 - 11:30

BRAZIL

Brazilian Air Force starts study to activate a second squadron of F-39 Gripen fighters: the "Pacau"

14/03/2024 - 21:30

EMBRAER

Embraer and ST Engineering sign agreement on the C-390 aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region and South America

14/03/2024 - 19:59

[nocternalrandomness]

USAF Thunderbirds and USN Blue Angels perform the "Super Delta" at NAF El Centro, California

[footprintsinthesxnd]

USAAF Flight Nurses

So as I’m currently collabing with @major-mads on a fic where our two ocs are flight nurses I thought I do a little post about them as they aren’t well know. I’ve also had a passion for ww2 nurses, including flight nurses and so I’ve really enjoyed sharing my flight nurse knowledge with Mads as we have written our fic. These woman were truly amazing, like many woman during ww2, so I thought I do a little factual post about them.

Before World War II, the U.S. military showed little interest in using aircraft and flight nurses to evacuate wounded soldiers to rear areas. However, the global war forced the US to revolutionise military medical care through the development of air evacuation, which was later known as aeromedical evacuation and flight nurses.

With the rapid expansion of USAAF air transport routes around the world it was made possible to fly wounded and sick servicemen quickly to hospitals far from the front lines. This helped save the lives of many wounded men, and the introduction of flight nurses helped make it possible.

Due to a pressing need for this service, the USAAF created medical air evacuation squadrons and started a rush training program for flight surgeons, medics and flight nurses at Bowman Field, near Louisville, Kentucky.

The increasing need for flight nurses became critical after the Allied invasion of North Africa in November 1942, however many of the nurses at Bowman Field had not finished their training. Nevertheless, the USAAF sent these nurses to North Africa on Christmas Day.

On Feb. 18, 1943, the U.S. Army Nurse Corps' first class of flight nurses formally graduated at Bowman Field.

Due to the C47s used as air evacuation also transported military supplies, they could not display the Red Cross. This meant that without any markings to indicate their non-combat status, these evacuation flights were vulnerable to enemy attacks. For this reason, flight nurses and medical technicians were volunteers.

To prepare for any emergency, flight nurses learned crash procedures, received survival training, and studied the effects of high altitude on various types of patients. They also had to be in top physical condition to care for patients during these rigorous flights.

Eventually, about 500 Army nurses served as members of 31 medical air evacuation transport squadrons operating worldwide. It is a tribute to their skill that of the 1,176,048 patients air evacuated throughout the war, only 46 died en route. Seventeen flight nurses lost their lives during the war.

The Flight Nurses Creed

I will summon every resource to prevent the triumph of death over life. I will stand guard over the medicines and equipment entrusted to my care and ensure their proper use. I will be untiring in the performances of my duties and I will remember that, upon my disposition and spirit, will in large measure depend the morale of my patients. I will be faithful to my training and to the wisdom handed down to me by those who have gone before me.I have taken a nurse's oath, reverent in man's mind because of the spirit and work of its creator, Florence Nightingale. She, I remember, was called the "Lady with the Lamp." It is now my privilege to lift this lamp of hope and faith and courage in my profession to heights not known by her in her time. Together with the help of flight surgeons and surgical technicians, I can set the very skies ablaze with life and promise for the sick, injured, and wounded who are my sacred charges. ...This I will do. I will not falter in war or in peace.

Here are a few of the real flight nurses from ww2 from left upper: Second Lieutenant Elsie S. Ott, upper right: first Lieutenant Suella Bernard.

Elsie S. Ott - As the flight nurse on the first intercontinental air evacuation flight, she demonstrated the potential of air evacuation in January 1943. She was an Army nurse who had never flown in an airplane and had no air evacuation training, she successfully oversaw the movement of five seriously ill patients from India to Washington, D.C. This six-day trip would have normally taken three months by ship and ground transportation. For her actions on this historic flight, Ott received the first Air Medal presented to a woman, and she also received formal flight nurse training.

Suella Bernard - On March 22, 1945, two CG-4A gliders landed in a clearing near the bridgehead at Remagen, Germany, to evacuate 25 severely injured American and German casualties. Once the gliders were loaded, C-47 transports successfully snatched them from their landing site and towed them to a military hospital in France. In the second glider, Suella who had volunteered for the mission, cared for the wounded en route. One of the first two nurses to fly into Normandy after the D-Day invasion, Bernard became the only nurse known to have participated in a glider combat mission during World War II. For this mission, she received the Air Medal.

Upper left: first Lieutenant Aleda E.Lutz Upper right: first Lieutenant Mary L. Hawkins

Aleda E. Lutz - One of the most celebrated flight nurses of World War II, she flew 196 missions and evacuated over 3,500 men. In November 1944, during an evacuation flight from the front lines near Lyon, France, her C-47 crashed killing all aboard. Aleda was awarded the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Mary L. Hawkins - On Sept. 24, 1944, she was evacuating 24 patients from the fighting at Palau to Guadalcanal when the C-47 ran low on fuel. The pilot made a forced landing in a small clearing on Bellona Island. During the landing, a propeller tore through the fuselage and severed the trachea of one patient. Hawkins made a suction tube from various items including the inflation tube from a "Mae West." With this, she kept the man's throat clear of blood until aid arrived 19 hours later. All of her patients survived. For her actions, Hawkins received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

I hope you’ve all found this interesting and now have a greater understanding of flight nurses. If you’d like to read a fic on flight nurses please check out my fic ‘On a Wing and a Prayer’ and @major-mads fic ‘A Pair of Silver Wings’ a Masters of the Air collab.

[pinturas-sgm-aviacion]

1939 06 27 Nomonhan, Mitsubishi Ki-21 bombers raid on Tamsk airfield - Masao Stake

Translated from the original Japanese caption:

In the early morning of June 27, 1939, during the Second Nomonhan Incident, the 61st Fighter Squadron's Type 97 Model 1 heavy bombers bombed the Tamsk airfield on the Soviet side. On that day, 77 Type 97 fighters from the 1st, 11th, and 24th Fighter Squadrons, a dozen Type 97 heavy bombers from the 12th Squadron, six Type 97 light bombers from the 10th Squadron, and nine Type 97 heavy bombers from the 61st Squadron took off, and a large formation of over 100 fighter-bombers launched an aerial annihilation battle at Tamsk airfield deep in the border. In this Tamsk aerial annihilation battle, the bomber squadron destroyed dozens of aircraft on the ground, inflicting heavy damage on facilities, and the Type 97 fighter also recorded shooting down 98 enemy aircraft, demonstrating the full power of the Army Air Forces.

[spacenutspod]

Flight Engineer Joe Acaba holds a children’s book that he is reading from as part of the Story Time From Space program. Astronauts read aloud from a STEM-related children’s book while being videotaped and demonstrate simple science concepts and experiments aboard the International Space Station. Stories open up new worlds and spark curiosity in readers of all ages – and NASA is using the power of storytelling to encourage the Artemis Generation to explore STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Through the below list of reading resources – books, comics, and graphic novels written and illustrated by NASA experts, and video read-alongs by astronauts – students will find themselves exploring the Moon, piloting a cutting-edge aircraft, searching for life among the stars, and more. Come along with NASA on a journey of discovery! Story Time With NASA Astronauts (Grades Pre-K to 4) Take your reading adventure out of this world! In this video playlist, astronauts read storybooks aloud from aboard the International Space Station and other locations around NASA. Kids Club Picture Show (Grades Pre-K to 4) View cool pictures from NASA missions and more! This curated collection of fascinating photos introduces young explorers to a variety of topics across NASA. Each photo includes a short description with the option to hear it read aloud. Astro-Not-Yet Storybooks (Grades K-4) These storybooks follow along as an ambitious classroom of students learn about the International Space Station, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, and important STEM concepts such as microgravity and sound waves. The books are available in English and Spanish. The Adventures of Kennedy and Duke Storybook (Grades K-4) This book follows the experiences of Kennedy, a fictional young girl who discovers an amateur radio during a visit to her grandfather’s farm. While learning to use the radio, she communicates with Duke, an astronaut living and working aboard the International Space Station. Also available in Spanish. You Are Going, illustrated by former NASA intern Shane Tolentino, shares a glimpse into future Artemis missions. You Are Going (Grades K-4 and 5-8) Through “You Are Going,” readers get a glimpse into NASA’s Artemis campaign. Learn about NASA’s powerful megarocket, the SLS (Space Launch System), as well as the Orion spacecraft, the Gateway, and other important elements that will help make these pioneering flights possible. Also available in Spanish and French. Hooray For SLS (Grades K-4) NASA is working to send humans back to the Moon to live, learn, and explore through the Artemis campaign – and as members of the Artemis Generation, today’s students are invited to be part of the story. “Hooray for SLS!” is the first in a series of children’s books introducing young explorers ages 3 to 8 to the SLS rocket and other components of the Artemis missions. The Adventures of Commander Moonikin Campos and Friends Comics (Grades K-4 and 5-8) Although no astronauts flew around the Moon on the Artemis I mission, the mission included a crew of manikins – Commander Moonikin Campos and two identical manikin torsos – outfitted with sensors to capture data during the flight. This webcomic explains what the manikins experienced on the Artemis I mission around the Moon. Also available in Spanish. During World War II the United States Army Air Corps created the first fighter squadron in its history made up of Black military pilots. They became known as the Tuskegee Airmen. Their success in war overseas, and challenges faced at home, helped light the path toward equal rights for all. Aeronautics Leveled Readers (Grades K-4, 5-8, and 9-12) The history of American aviation comes to life through these stories written at elementary, middle school, and high school levels. Students will read about important figures in aviation such as Amelia Earhart and the Tuskegee Airmen, as well as mini biographies of NASA employees Danielle Koch, Maria Cabellero, and Red Jensen. Ruby Flottum reads the first issue of NASA’s “First Woman” graphic novel, entitled “Dream to Reality,” on Monday, July 25, 2022 at AirVenture at Oshkosh. First Woman Graphic Novels (Grades 5-8, 9-12, and Higher Education) This graphic novel series takes readers into the world of fictional astronaut Callie Rodriguez, the first woman to explore the Moon. Build on the story’s lessons with the accompanying hands-on activities and videos designed for use in K-12 informal education settings. Also available in Spanish. Astrobiology Graphic Novels (Grades 5-12) Produced within NASA’s Astrobiology Program, “Astrobiology” is a graphic novel series that explores the many facets of astrobiology: the study of the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe. Some novels are also available in Japanese, Korean, or Spanish editions.  Explore Further There’s more to explore! Check out NASA’s STEM Search for additional resources for each grade level, including hands-on activities, games, educator guides, and more. Visit NASA’s Learning Resources for the latest news and resources from the agency’s Office of STEM Engagement. Keep Exploring Discover More STEM Topics From NASA Outside the Classroom For Educators For Kids and Students NASA EXPRESS Newsletter Sign-up

[pinturasdeguerra-1945-1985]

1952 08 Sabre vs MiG dogfight - Darryl Legg

F-86 Sabre FU-834 Jolley Roger the mount of Korean war ace Captain Clifford D. Jolley. He was to score seven Korean War victories, flying with the 335th Fighter-Interceptor Sqn, part of the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing. e 18th jet ace of the Korean War, and the first Air National Guard "ace" of the war from the (Utah Air National Guard).Captain Jolley shot down seven Soviet-made MiG-15 aircraft, earning his ace status.He joined the USAAF in 1941. Jolley learned to fly in 1942. He flew P-40s and P-38s with the 18th Fighter Squadron, 343rd Fighter Group, 11th Air Force in the Aleutians. He shot down 3 enemy planes during WWII.He first began flying P-51 Mustangs with the California Air Guard in San Bernardino in 1947.He transitioned to jets in 1948 at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., and joined the Utah Air National Guard in 1949.During 1951, he toured the country with his Guard unit, putting on firepower demonstrations. Late that year, he attended Jet Gunnery School at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas. He and many Guardsmen were activated from the Utah unit and assigned to a regular Air Force unit in Korea in 1952.Jolley flew with the 335th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, "The Chiefs," of the 4th Fighter Interceptor Group from Kimpo Air Base, South Korea. The squadron flew four kinds of missions in Korea: MiG sweeps, cover flights for bombers, cover flights for photo recon planes, and weather searches.He was shot down over Cho-Do by a MiG-15 on 2 July 1952, managed to eject. He was briefly captured, and subsequently rescued by the crew of an H-5 of the 3rd Air Rescue Service.While flying his F-86E (#51-2769), he downed his first MiG on his 31st birthday, the second on the Fourth of July, the third and fourth on August 7, the fifth on August 8 (becoming the 18th jet ace of the Korean War), and the 6th and 7th later that month. He is credited with having at least 13 probables.

[67-romeo]

#Repost @82ndcab

...

Look out below!

Over the past two weeks, the 1-17 Air Cavalry Squadron has been actively involved in intensive training events during their field training exercise (FTX). These exercises have provided valuable hands-on experience, enhancing the squadron's operational readiness. Moreover, our dedicated pilots have successfully obtained certification in Table 6 during their aerial gunnery sessions, mastering complex maneuvers and precision targeting. This accomplishment signifies the pinnacle of aviation skill and training. We take immense pride in the commitment and perseverance demonstrated by the 1-17 ACS Pegasus team members as they work diligently to uphold our standards of excellence.

SABER!

@taskforcesaber

#WingsoftheAirborne #AATW

[opencommunion]

"Since October 7, more than 1,300 Palestinians in Gaza have died; more than 8,000 have been injured; more than 340,000 have been displaced; and thousands of buildings, including homes, universities and hospitals, were destroyed. Al-Alam and Press TV journalists have been assassinated, and several media centres in Gaza have been destroyed. Eleven UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNWRA) staff members also lost their lives in the shelling. Some died in their homes with their families.

The notorious Israeli intelligence often thwarted resistance well before it started, and/or the perpetrators were swiftly captured or assassinated. The sophistication of Operation al-Aqsa Flood, which has succeeded in roping multiple Palestinian forces, has resulted in groundbreaking sustainability of resistance. The aggression is being rivalled to such measures that after 48 hours of battle, all flights to and from Israel had to be stopped.

The US could have chosen to be a peace broker by empathising with the conditions that led to the large-scale resistance. Instead, President Joe Biden deviated from his stance that he had in his younger years and vehemently denounced the rights of Palestinians to resist. While ironically emphasising apartheid Israel’s right to self-defence, implying that Palestinians’ lives were less important, he pledged more military assistance for Israel, which already receives $3.8 billion a year in US military aid.

Demonstrating this commitment, a plane carrying ammunition and equipment to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome arrived in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. Furthermore, the US navy dispatched the USS Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean. The strike group is comprised of the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN-78), with its eight squadrons of attack and support aircraft, the Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers (DDG 51), USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Carney (DDG 64), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), and thousands of soldiers. The carrier group is being augmented with the Air Force F-35 in addition to the F-15, F-16 and A-10 fighter aircraft and the approximately 30,000 troops already in the region. A second carrier stands ready to be deployed.

This exaggerated show of force by the US in the region is cause for concern. Hamas’s offensive is asymmetrical. Unlike Israel, it has no air force, navy or military.

The blatant, excessive US presence is unjustifiable and prompts the question of why? The Biden administration has put much effort into influencing dynamics in the region. They shifted from the overt, post-9/11 militaristic approach of the Obama and Trump administrations. The withdrawal from Afghanistan and the initial engagements with Iran around its nuclear programme are demonstrations of this shift in tactics. However, protecting their primary ally in the region remained essential. Therefore, they prioritised building on Trump’s Abraham Accord and focusing on normalising diplomatic relations between Israel and Arab states, namely Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Morocco.

... Even as the Biden administration sought to shift its approach to the Middle East from militaristic to being more developmental, it retained a presence in Iraq and Syria.

In addition, it continued to engage in joint military exercises with Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain in the Red Sea. January saw the second iteration of Red Sands training exercises between the US and Saudi Arabia, which included employing various kinetic and non-kinetic techniques to destroy or disable Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). From August 31 to September 14, the US Central Command and Egypt facilitated Bright Star 2023, the oldest multilateral military exercise in the Middle East and Africa, having first occurred in 1980.

Despite US efforts, they have not been able to gain control over the region. Relations between Jordan, the UAE and Saudi Arabia have been re-established with Syria. In May this year, Syria was readmitted into the Arab League. In August, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were invited to form part of BRICS plus. Operation al-Aqsa Flood makes a mockery of their interventions related to Israel. And within the broader geopolitical sphere, the US-Nato-Ukraine-proxy war is a failure. The emergence of a multi-polar world order is becoming increasingly probable, thereby increasing the volatility and desperation of the US.

It is feared that Operation al-Aqsa Flood might provide the US with the long-desired opportunity to deal with the “Axis of resistance” once and for all. Any such aggression will definitely ignite a conflict of global proportions.

Already, there are efforts to provoke Lebanon and Syria into joining the conflict. Biden’s warning about external interference and the heavy presence of the US military imply that they will intervene should Lebanon and Syria come to the assistance of Palestine. The Nato defence ministers, through Jens Stoltenberg, have also pledged that Israel will not stand alone, inferring a willingness to engage in military combat.

The millions of corpses in the region testify to the devastation that the US-Israeli-Nato alliance can sow. Therefore, Hezbollah has been careful in its response to date, only acting within occupied Lebanese territory. Likewise, Syria has primarily relied on its air defence to manage the Israeli attacks from occupied Golan, including the bombing of Damascus and Aleppo airports this month. Neither country wants to be drawn into further war.

However, both have vigorously defended the right of the people of Palestine to resist and indicated a preparedness to fight should the US enter the conflict more prominently.

The primary target of the US and Israel, namely Iran, also wishes to avoid a war in the region. However, it is already participating in plans for an emergency session for the heads of the councils of member states of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation. The meeting will discuss the repercussions of the apartheid-Israel aggression on Gaza and how best to provide humanitarian support. ... We have witnessed the human, social and economic costs of the Ukraine-Russian conflict. An extension thereof is undesirable. We, particularly the world’s leaders, must wake up to what the US is dragging us into and make greater efforts to resist it."