Erik

Russian hellish fires completely destroyed naval base outside Moscow: 200 aircraft burnt down The forest fire has destroyed a large Russian naval base outside Moscow. Its occurred on July 29, but became known only on August 3. A Russian news agency, Life News, was the first to report about the incident: according to its data, 200 aircraft with the value of about $ 670 million had been reduced to ashes outside Moscow. The very base of 100 hectares was completely burnt down, the agency reported citing its source. Other sources confirm the report. "Initial inquiry is being conducted on a fire on the naval base", the military investigations department at the Moscow military district commented on the information, giving neither the number of military aircraft, nor the damages caused fires. Later, the ITAR-TASS news agency issued a statement by the defense ministry: indeed, "the upstream fire spread to the territory of one of the units in the Kolomna district on July 29". "The fire spread over to a secret unit of the area of 100 hectares in 10 minutes", a source of Life News said. At the same time, it said, it is not only from an emergency situation from that the servicemen suffered. "One building in the storage area of the Navy was also burnt down. The damage there is several times less - about $ 33 million", the source added. Official spokesman for Investigations Committee, Vladimir Markin, confirmed that an initial inquiry into the fire is being conducted by the military investigations department. The fire occurred on Thursday 29 July. It took place at about 04:00 pm on the storage base of aviation and technical equipment belonging to the Russian Navy, which is located near the town of Kolomna, Moscow Region, Markin said to the Moscow Interfax news agency. He said nothing about 200 jets and helicopters and $ 670 million damage, but pointed out that the HQ, a financial unit, a club, two buildings of the car park, 13 storage facilities with different aircraft, 17 open storage areas for equipment with cars on them, were burnt down. "On July 30, the hotbeds of fire were localized. No one was suffered as a result", claims Markin. According to unofficial data, the Central Aerotechnical Base (CAB) of the Russian Navy Air Force and Air Defense is located on the outskirts of the town of Kolomna (Shurovo District in Moscow Region). The main tasks of the military unit are receiving, storing and processing aerial, hydrographic and navigating equipment coming from industrial enterprises, aviation and technical units, military schools and repair facilities of the Navy. Russian Northern Fleet, Pacific Fleet, Baltic Fleet, Black Sea Fleet, the Caspian flotilla, the St. Petersburg Naval Base, units of the Russian Navy Air Forces, received maintenance at the CAB for 60 years. No more. The fire completely destroyed this largest military base of the Russian Navy. Department of Monitoring Kavkaz Center

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the Russian Air Force will hold their first-ever joint air defense exercise on August 8-11, NORAD said. The exercise, dubbed VIGILANT EAGLE, involves Russian, Canadian and U.S. Air Force personnel operating from command centers at the Elmendorf airbase in Alaska, and in Khabarovsk, Russia. "Airborne warning and control aircraft [AWACS E-3B and A-50] from Russia and the United States will be involved along with fighter-interceptor aircraft and refueling aircraft from both countries," NORAD said in a statement on Tuesday. The exercise scenario, put together by NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, will create a situation that requires both the Russian Air Force and NORAD to launch or divert fighter aircraft to investigate and follow a U.S. flagged commercial air carrier on an international flight that has been taken over by terrorists. The exercise will be carried out under a cooperative military agreement between Russia and the United States, which tasks NORAD, the bi-national U.S. and Canadian command, and the Russian Air Force to conduct a live-fly exercise for up to five days. RIA NOVOSTI

Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo will become the training base for the F-16 and will acquire 48 F-16 fighter jets by 2013 Gov. Bill Richardson said the U.S. Air Force will remove two squadrons of F-22 aircraft from Holloman. But he added that state officials expect that the new mission will have a bigger economic impact than the other two squadrons. The Air Force has “robust plans” to use F-16 fighter jets and their training mission through 2030, Richardson said. The decision to locate the F-16s at the base is evidence that the Department of Defense sees Holloman as a strong base that can support diverse military missions, the governor added. New Mexico Business Weekly

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force has contracted six aircraft for the special forces for $1 billion without military-grade secure equipment because Washington denied the technology after New Delhi refused to sign a communications secrecy pact. The air force is now in the process of contracting another 10 very heavy strategic airlifters under the same technology-denial regime for an estimated $3 billion. India contracted six C-130J Super Hercules in 2007 and the first of these aircraft is likely to be delivered by January 2010 ahead of schedule by its maker, Lockheed Martin, under a government-to-government foreign military sales programme. One of the scenarios in which the Hercules (“Hercs” for short) is to be used involves inserting special airborne troops (paratroopers) by flying into hostile territory where an adversary can try to intercept and/or jam electronic communication. “We are aware that some of the equipment we desire may not be available. But it is up to us to use the platform the way we want to with modifications once we have it,” a senior air force officer told The Telegraph. A US defence official told this newspaper “anything that requires encryption, which includes military-grade global positioning systems (GPS)” will not be mounted on the C-130J or the C-17 Globemaster III (made by Boeing) because India has not yet signed the Communications Inter-Operability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA). The CISMOA was proposed by the Pentagon to the Indian defence ministry in 2006. A standard text for another crucial agreement, the End-User Monitoring Arrangement, was agreed last year after more than three years of negotiations. A secure GPS is indispensable for mobile military platforms that are designed to track targets in all-weather and all-time circumstances. “The military GPS system is encrypted and thus not available without a communications agreement,” the US defence official said. He claimed that “US military equipment is designed utilising the best systems available, such as military-grade GPS, which is more accurate and less likely to be spoofed (intercepted) than civilian GPS”. Asked if there was any way India could access the equipment without signing the CISMOA, he replied “there is no way around this”. He said the CISMOA would apply to the proposed sale of the C-17 also. Trials for the aircraft were completed last month and the Indian Air Force has decided to buy it. The four-engine turbo-prop Hercs — a workhorse for the US military — is a “tactical airlifter” with a payload capacity of 20 tonnes or about 120 fully-equipped airborne troops capable of landing on dirt strips and with short take-off and landing capability. The giant C-17 jet is also rugged but capable of flying much longer distances with much heavier payloads. The Indian Air Force has projected a dire need for these two different classes of aircraft because its Russian/Soviet-origin aircraft are outdated. The air force is set to order six more Hercs in addition to the six already contracted. The Coast Guard and the Border Security Force are also in line to acquire two Hercs each. The Hercs are to be based at Hindon, just east of Delhi, where the Indian Air Force base is being refurbished. The Hercs for India have been modified for special missions and are equipped with an infrared detection set for low-level flying in adverse conditions. Although the communications systems would not have the desired level of security for the Indian Air Force, an official said that India was getting the Hercs with the configuration it wants. They will have self-protection and mid-air refuelling ability. The Hercs is in service in 10 countries. Telegraph India

The EC665 Tiger HAP (combat support) helicopter operated by the French Army's 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment, has now logged more than 1,000 flight hours in Afghanistan in less than a year. With an availability rate of 90% in extremely harsh operating conditions, the Tiger has once again demonstrated excellent performance and operability levels for both reconnaissance missions and combat support operations for joint tactical groups (GTIA), which have been unanimous in their praise. A key to this success has been the excellent cooperation between the French Army, the French Armament Procurement Agency (DGA), the OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armaments Co-operation) and Eurocopter, which has deployed a dedicated work structure since the beginning of the operations. In this framework, Eurocopter has been providing the French Army with nonstop support to meet the specific operational needs of the Afghan theater and guarantee the required availability levels. A team of Eurocopter technicians is on assignment in Afghanistan to assist the mechanics of the French Army Air Corps (ALAT). In addition, a customized logistics support service has been set up to respond at any time to any request and to quickly supply any necessary spare parts. Arabian Aerospace

Boeing P-8A Poseidon Aircraft T3 Enters Flight Test SEATTLE, Aug. 2, 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] P-8A Poseidon aircraft T3 successfully completed its first flight test in Seattle on July 29. T3 is the P-8A program's mission-system and weapon-certification aircraft. During the two-hour and 48-minute flight from Boeing Field, Boeing and U.S. Navy test pilots performed airborne systems checks including engine accelerations and decelerations, autopilot flight modes, and auxiliary power unit and engine shutdowns and starts. In the coming weeks, T3 will join the two P-8A test aircraft currently at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., and complete additional ground and flight tests. "At Pax River, the Boeing and Navy team will use some of the ground test data we've gathered in Seattle for in-flight separation and delivery accuracy tests that will occur later this year," said Chris Ahsmann, P-8A chief engineer for Boeing. T3 is one of six flight-test aircraft that are being assembled and tested as part of the U.S. Navy System Development and Demonstration contract Boeing received in 2004. Airworthiness-test aircraft T1 entered flight test in October 2009 and arrived at the Navy's Patuxent River facility in April of this year. T2, the primary mission-system test aircraft, arrived at Pax River in June. The Navy plans to purchase 117 P-8A anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to replace its P-3 fleet. Initial operational capability is planned for 2013. A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide. Boeing

Yep. Practicing for an air show a recently upgraded CF18 was lost. An investigation of the crash is currently underway. Regardless it's an expensive way to EOL your aging fleet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfiCyVKnSSw

Canadian aircraft intercept Russian bombers Canadian fighter jets have scrambled to repel Russian bombers that intruded into Canadian airspace. The Russian Tupolev-95 is a long-range bomber capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Canadian defence minister Peter MacKay says CF-18s were sent to intercept two of the bombers that made several attempts to enter Canadian airspace. Military officials say there was no advance warning and Mr MacKay says all such incursions will be met with a swift response. Intelligence analysts say the frequency of these attempts has been increasing, especially as Canada and Russia are in a race to lay claim to huge sections of the Arctic seabed believed to hold vast reserves of oil and gas. The incursions also come during the debate over whether Canada needs a new generation of high-tech military fighter jets. ABC News

Four killed in Air Force plane crash in Alaska ANCHORAGE Alaska (Reuters) - All four crew members were killed in a U.S. Air Force cargo plane that crashed in flames while practicing for an aviation show at Elmendorf Air Force Base, the Air Force said Thursday. The C-17 Globemaster went down Wednesday evening in a wooded area near an airfield in Anchorage shortly after taking off, the military said. The accident is believed to be the first crash of a C-17, manufactured by Boeing, since the massive jet joined the Air Force fleet in 1995 as its newest cargo plane. "We are confirming four dead," said Lieutenant-Colonel Karen Platt, an Air Force spokeswoman. A fireball and plume of smoke over the area were visible to nearby residents shortly after the crash. Some eyewitnesses said the plane appeared to be making a strange turn while flying low over the area just before it crashed. Three of the dead were members of the Alaska Air National Guard, and the fourth was on active duty at Elmendorf, the base said in a statement. The plane was assigned to the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf, a unit consisting of 6,000 Air Force personnel who fly fighter jets and other military aircraft. The base said a board of officers would investigate the crash. The names of the dead were being withheld pending notification of next of kin, base spokesman Bob Hall said. Lieutenant General Dana Atkins told a new conference on Wednesday the plane was "doing a practice demonstration profile" it was to perform at the annual Arctic Thunder air show this weekend when it crashed. In light of the accident, Atkins said, the military was considering whether to go on with the aviation show, which also features precision flying demonstrations by the Navy's Blue Angels and the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. The crash occurred during damp, cloudy weather. Elmendorf's worst air crash was in September 1995 when several geese were sucked into the engine of an AWACS plane just after takeoff. That plane was on a training mission as well. All 24 crew members were killed. The first C-17 squadron went into operation in 1995. The aircraft is 174 feet long, has a wingspan of nearly 170 feet and can carry up to 170,900 pounds (77,500 kg), according to the Air Force. Aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group said Boeing has built about 200 of the planes, most of which went to the Air Force. He said the Elmendorf accident was the only crash he knew of involving the plane since it went into service. "It's got a very good reputation," Aboulafia said. July 30, 2010 Reuters

AZ, FL, UT, VT to get Air Force's new F-35 fighter PHOENIX — The U.S. Air Force has chosen bases in Arizona, Florida, Utah and Vermont as homes for the military's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, prompting applause from officials banking on the pricey new combat jets to supercharge their communities' economies. Operational missions of the single-engine jets would go to Hill Air Force Base in Utah and the Burlington Air Guard Station in Vermont, the Air Force said Thursday. For training, the Air Force recommended Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The Air Force also announced Wednesday that 59 F-35 jets would be stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The announcement of these bases as "preferred alternatives" is a disappointment for seven bases passed over during this round of selections, including sites in Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico, Florida and South Carolina. But U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., was jubilant at the inclusion of Luke, located in Phoenix suburbs. Military backers there have waged a vocal campaign to win the jets, as have groups in other states where bases are trying to preserve their relevance as fleets of aging F-15 and F-16 fighters edge toward the scrap yard. "The unparalleled capabilities inherent to Arizona — from the Barry M. Goldwater Range, to great flying weather, and strong support from state and local governments and communities — serve to provide the best environment and the finest quality of life for our military personnel training in the Air Force's next generation fighter," McCain said. The Department of Defense said Thursday's basing decision includes 250 to 300 F-35 aircraft. According to McCain, three squadrons with dozens of aircraft would be based at Luke if the Air Force finalizes its decision. So far, Lockheed Martin Corp. has built just a few of roughly 2,400 F-35s that the United States says it wants to buy, but the plane's cost already has more than doubled to some $113 million apiece. Other bases under consideration included Mountain Home Air Force Base and Gowen Field in Idaho, Tucson International Airport in Arizona, Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, Jacksonville Air Guard Station in Florida, and Shaw Air Force Base and McEntire Air Guard Base in South Carolina. Military officials said Thursday's announcement isn't cast in stone. Kathleen Ferguson, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, said the other sites — she called them "reasonable alternatives" — will continue to be evaluated as part of environmental studies. Maj. Gen. Stanhope Spears, the adjutant general for South Carolina, said he was disappointed with the announcement, but the McEntire base is still in the running. "Right now, we don't have specifics on when additional candidate bases will be announced," Spears said. "We currently have the newest and most capable F-16s in the United States Air Force and will continue to be an elite fighting force." In Idaho, officials counting on a $1 billion boost to the state's economy from up to 3,000 new personnel and 144 planes at two sites were taking heart in the military's plans to eventually buy thousands of F-35s. "Given the number of F-35s our nation is going to be building, this isn't the end of the story," said John Revere, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho. "Congressman Simpson firmly believes Gowen Field and Mountain Home remain strong contenders for future siting decisions." Gowen got some consolation when it was named a finalist for a C-27J Spartan cargo plane operational mission, the Defense Department said. The other operational-mission finalist for the twin-engine plane is Great Falls, Mont. The Air Force also announced Thursday that Holloman, in New Mexico, was being transitioned to an F-16 training mission, with the capacity to take on two squadrons. Associated Press Article

Are you serious? Wow, the gear and prop feather / flutter during landing was in short, impressive!

The Subaru Ad - The guy who looses his sun glasses in his hoodie. He's lucky he's with his girl / wife 'cause he deserves a tune-up for that dumb stunt. The DirectTV Ad - The Russian guy who kisses his miniature giraffe in his golden opulent palace. I mean really, owning and kissing a cute pet? Someone needs to punch a couple holes in his man-card. I'm sure you have some to share too.

I've had my "green big egg" cooker for a couple maybe three years now. I've cooked just about everything in it and I'm getting to be quite good if I do say so myself. This morning during my ritual man chores I head off to the local Safeway. The butcher who runs the meat department there brings his "A" game to work and he's always there Sunday morning early so it shouldn't be considered coincidence that's when I go. Anyway we get to talking a bit this morning when he tells me to hang on and disappears into the back. Emerging from the back like it's a hunter's trophy room he's holding some ribs and tells me that's what he's getting ready to put out on special for the day. One look and I'm all in like I'm holding a royal flush. I get home and set up the egg to get it settled into a nice low two hundred smolder. I prep and dry rub the ribs and put them on. They've been smoking ever since and in a couple more hours I'll be ready to sauce 'em up. I can't wait. I've attached some smoker smell to this post enjoy it with an ice cold beer!

The site is dynamic but it is also dependent on your settings, both the view setting in FireFox and the resolution of your monitor. Does the site appear that way in IE or just FireFox?

https://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/ Use the above link to check your plugins for firefox. I suspect your flashplayer that is installed is not working correctly or is disabled. In firefox your plugins are in Tools > Add Ons > Plugins Tab

It has long been a standing rule here at CombatACE that we simply do not allow political discussions on our boards. Over the past year or so we've become a little more relaxed on this policy because of the ever changing climate and events. It was considered by some a topic of discussion that we'd like to see available to those who were interested in participating. As a result we've tried a few variations where we've selectively allowed discussions to continue here in The Pub and more recently in The Arena, since removed. We feel that allowing the public access to these discussions without their ability to opt-out was in poor taste and disregarded our mission statement to provide an open and clean community for everyone to enjoy. As of this post we'd like to make the following changes and affirmations. 1. Political, religious, government leadership type discussions either in topic or reply form will not be allowed in our general community, anywhere. This is an affirmation of our mission statement concerning our general audience. Posts that are deemed to fall under these topics will be moved or removed as appropriate. 2. We have created a private discussion board for those who want to post or read the political and highly polarized discussions that our community wishes to participate in. This private forum will be by opt-in participation only. This means that if you wish to join the discussions or have access to them you must reply to this post with an acknowledgment to opt-in. We will then, as time permits, grant access to that forum on a per-member basis. We feel this arrangement will allow the best of both worlds to exist while keeping in focus our goals and objectives. We hope you understand and can appreciate the often difficult positions we can encounter in a global community like this. The political topics will be a more loosely moderated discussion board. The premise is to allow open communication and view points without the need to feel moderated. A further list of benefits and guidelines is available after joining. Reply with "Include Me" in your post. Those who do NOT want to be included do not need to do anything. By default these discussions are hidden from the general membership.