BUFF

Happening in the UK too & no doubt elsewhere. XXV squadron goes in April & 43 (F) & 56® will merge shortly.

higher tempo of use. & better reporting ...

BEAUFORT - The pilot of an AV-8B Harrier jet walked away after his plane crashed due to engine failure, the Marine Corps said Wednesday. One of three Cherry Point-based aircraft on a training flight, the Harrier went down in Open Grounds Farm in eastern Carteret County at about 1 p.m. The pilot of the single-person aircraft ejected before the crash, Marine officials confirmed. "The pilot was safe. He was able to walk away," said Maj. Shawn Haney, director of public affairs at Cherry Point. Haney said the pilot - whom the military has not identified - was returned to the Marine Corps air station Wednesday afternoon. The Harriers were part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Haney said the other two planes landed safely at Cherry Point. Chris Fore, parts manager at Open Grounds Farm, witnessed the crash and said he was the first to reach the pilot. Fore identified him as Capt. Ian Stevens. "I let him use my cell phone. He called his wife to tell her he was OK," Fore said. "Then he called his captain and said, I'm down, but so is the plane.'' Fore said he saw Harriers flying over and one appeared to be laboring. Fore saw the pilot eject and saw his parachute open. The pilot landed in ground used for a corn field, about a half-mile from the main gate of the farm. Fore said the crash happened at 1:01 p.m. He said the jet struck the ground nose-down before catching fire. An HH-46D Sea Knight rescue helicopter arrived to return the pilot to Cherry Point. Another employee of the 50,000-acre farm, production manager Antonio Cintiluciani, said workers in a corn elevator did not hear the crash, but saw a plume of smoke afterward. "It's a good spot to crash because it was far from everything." He said. "We were lucky that nothing was going on in that place." Marine Corps officials are investigating what caused the plane to lose power, according to a news release from the Camp Lejeune-based II Marine Expeditionary Force. According to the National Weather Service in Newport, stronger storms earlier Wednesday had cleared the area by the time of the crash. Though gusts had reached 45 mph at Beaufort and 48 mph at Cherry Point Wednesday morning, Beaufort reported southwest winds at 20 mph and mostly cloudy conditions at 1 p.m. when the plane crashed. The pilot is attached to the 24th MEU, which is preparing for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. His identity and the name of the Cherry Point unit to which he was assigned have yet to be released by the Marine Corps. The Harrier jet is a light attack aircraft with a maximum speed of 630 mph, according to a U.S. Navy Web site. It is used for close support of ground troops and has the capability to take off and land vertically, similar to a helicopter. Records indicate the last Cherry Point Harrier crash happened in July 2006 when a Harrier assigned to the 24th MEU went down in the Mediterranean Sea during a training mission. The pilot ejected safely. For more information on this developing story, visit the Havelock News Web site at www.havenews.com. Corey Friedman and Ken Buday of the Havelock News contributed to this story, along with Freedom ENC reporters Jannette Pippin and Sue Book.

February 13, 2008 (by Maj.Paul Kirmis) - The 56th Fighter Wing commander officially announced the future deactivation of one of Luke's eight fighter squadrons Tuesday during a forum. . Gen. Tom Jones formally announced that the 63rd Fighter Squadron 'Panthers' will shut its doors with a closure ceremony tentatively scheduled in spring 2009. The general's decision was based solely on current United States Air Force Historical Heritage Points kept by the Air Force Historian in Washington, D.C. The squadron flag and historical memorabilia will be packaged, shipped and stored at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Base re-alignment and closure actions are ongoing in the U.S. military for more than a decade, and they continue to shape our forces to meet emerging technology and challenges of the future. In 2005, Congress signed the most recent BRAC recommendations into law. From that document Luke was tasked to distribute 37 F-16s, and re-align the 56th FW targeting pod repair facility in order to stand-up a combined intermediate repair facility at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The most recognizable BRAC action with greatest impact on the 56th FW mission is the retirement of 25 F-16 aircraft, loss of a fighter squadron and its associated aircraft maintenance unit, and reduction of some supporting positions throughout the wing. BRAC mandated that Luke would redistribute 37 F-16s; this includes the F-16s redistributed last year during the 302nd Fighter Squadron closure. Through BRAC and future force funding decisions, the 56th FW was left to reduce 25 block 25 aircraft in its inventory. Personnel reductions and unit closures go hand-in-hand with aircraft reduction, but General Jones reassured Luke Airmen during his commander's calls Jan. 28 through Feb. 1 that personnel will still continue to produce sorties until the last aircraft retires. Overall, the 56th FW will lose 425 positions: 364 from the 56th Maintenance Group, 31 from the 56th Operations Group and 30 from the 56th Mission Support Group and 56th FW staff agencies. These reductions in manpower will be realized over the next year and a half through normal permanent change of station cycles where Airmen are expected to PCS through attrition or be absorbed by other squadrons. The 63rd FS currently flies the block 42 F-16 and its jets will transfer to the 61st Fighter Squadron in the spring of 2009. The squadrons flying Block 42s in post-BRAC will be the 61st, 308th and 310th Fighter Squadrons. The 62nd and 309th Fighter Squadrons will continue to fly the Block 25 F-16. Personnel from the 63rd FS will be re-assigned to other flying or support squadrons on base. The 63rd FS operations building will be turned over to the wing facilities board for disposition. The remaining squadron maintenance organizations will perform minor relocations in order to optimize existing base facilities and geographical operations and maintenance efficiencies. In another BRAC decision, the U.S. General Accounting Office estimated that the transition from repairing the 56th FW's low altitude navigation and targeting infrared for night targeting pods locally to a CIRF at Hill AFB will save the Air Force $1.2 million annually. For the 56th Maintenance Group, this action involves the transfer of 25 positions from the 56th Component Maintenance Squadron to Hill AFB, along with all of their LANTIRN test and repair equipment. By May 2008, all 56th FW targeting pods will be transported to Hill AFB for repair, with a replacement pod shipped simultaneously to Luke to keep enough serviceable targeting pods on hand to support the wing's flying mission. The first F-16s are scheduled to depart Luke in November 2008, with a number of F-16s departing every month until the last of the retiring F-16s leave in early August 2009. All 25 of these F-16s are scheduled to be turned over to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group located at Davis-Monthan AFB. Courtesy of 56th Fighter Wing Chief of Plans

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 13, 2008 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today completed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification requirements for Japan’s first KC-767 Tanker, receiving the FAA stamp of approval in the form of a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). "The Japan Air Self-Defense Force asked us to complete passenger and main deck cargo certifications beyond what is normally performed on military aircraft, and we have received our FAA STC for those capabilities," said George Hildebrand, Boeing KC-767 Japan program manager. "Boeing is ready to deliver the first tankers in Japan’s history and the most advanced tanker in the world today." The FAA previously certified the KC-767 for everything except passengers and main deck cargo. Boeing used a combination of Japan and Italy KC-767 Tankers to complete the testing, clearing the way for Japan to receive its first two of four KC-767s with the convertible freighter configuration in the first quarter of 2008 as planned. The completed tests also will help Boeing obtain FAA certification for the Italy KC-767 followed by delivery of the country’s first two tankers later in 2008. In the past few months, the Japan and Italy tankers have completed several significant milestones. Boeing successfully completed all required pre-delivery air refueling tests of Japan’s KC-767 Tanker including night refueling with an F-15E; completed the second Japan KC-767; flight tested on the Italy KC-767 a newly designed pylon that attaches the Wing Air Refueling Pod to each tanker wing; and completed FAA certification for the mission control system. Boeing has built nearly 2,000 tankers in its history, and in addition to flight-testing the KC-767 for international customers, Boeing is offering the KC-767 Advanced Tanker for the U.S. Air Force’s KC-X Tanker competition.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23166344/

http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html release notes

Amid mounting tensions between Colombia and Venezuela, Colombian defense minister announces the purchase of 24 Israeli fighter jets. Colombia's Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos made the announcement after meeting with Israeli War Minister, Ehud Barak. "There is an agreement to buy 24 renovated Kfir fighter planes from Israel, whose construction has already started. And the planes will be delivered at the start of next year," Santos said. In his visit to Israel the Colombian minister also held meetings with senior military officials as well as Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert.

there is/was a torrent for 9.4. but it'll only cost you about $5 for a download pass from Gulf Knight's.

MOSCOW, February 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will deliver 12 Su-MKM fighters to Malaysia before the end of 2008, a spokesman for the Sukhoi aircraft manufacturer said on Wednesday. The Southeast Asian country will receive a total of 18 Su-30MKM fighters under a $900-million contract signed in 2003. The first six airplanes were delivered in 2007. The Su-30MKM is a multi-role Flanker version based on the Su-30MKI model and features a customized avionics package built to Malaysian specifications. The airplanes are being manufactured at Sukhoi's Irkutsk aircraft manufacturing plant in Siberia. Malaysia currently operates a mixed fighter fleet with the Russian MiG-29N Fulcrum and the U.S.-made F/A-18D Hornet and F-5 Tiger in service. According to some sources, the Malaysian Royal Air Force is considering a new Su-30MKM contract.

13-02-2008 A French Mirage jet crashed into the ocean after its pilot and navigator ejected from the plane when they noticed a technical problem, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday. The pilot and navigator were unharmed — one was picked up by a fishing boat while the other was taken in by coast guard officials, the ministry said in a statement. The two noticed a technical problem during a training flight Tuesday, and flew out over the Bay of Biscay off southwest France so the jet could crash without harming people or property, the ministry said. The Mirage 2000N was based in Luxeuil in the Burgundy region. The ministry said officials were to open an inquiry into what went wrong. International Herald Tribune

1) the potential variations that you get are huge - it's definitely not a case of 1 profile for a game suits everybody's preferences. I agree that they could use a few basic (as in get you started & then let you customise) profiles e.g. Il2, Falcon 4, LOMAC, MSFS & Thirdwire series. 2) consider how many different controllers Saitek make, how many games & therefore profiles that they would have to make (& bearing in mind the above). That's a lot of manhours (especially because in order to come up with a good profile you usually have to get reasonably proficient at the game). Given that proficient players should make the best profiles (but again not necessarily the easiest for a new player to use) the community coming up with & sharing profiles ought to be the best solution. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to have happened (SD6 has been around for almost a year now). there's a basic X52 Pro+pedals pr0 profile in http://www.saitekforum.com/showthread.php?t=11577 which again should be able to have the commands reassigned.

4 Sailors Rescued From Downed Aircraft In Stable Condition An EA6 Navy prowlercrashed in waters about 20 nautical miles north of Ritidian Point and Andersen Air Force Base. Four sailors were rescued and are in stable condition at the Naval Hospital Pacific News Center Staff Reporter 12.FEB.08 7:18 p.m. Guam - Four crew members are in stable condition at the Naval Hospital after they had to eject from their EA6 Navy prowler aircraft at around 4 p.m. Tuesday. According to Navy spokesperson Lt. Donnell Evans, the aircraft was on a routine training mission when it crashed about 20 nautical miles off the coast of Ritidian Point. U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson Lt. Marcus Hirschberg said all four crew members were pulled from the waters and taken to the Naval Hospital aboard two HSC-25 Navy helicopters. The EA6 prowler aircraft was part of Carrier Air Wing 5 from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Kitty Hawk. The air wing was reportedly conducting training in the area when the incident occurred. Meanwhile, Guam Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard have small boats at the scene. Parts of the aircraft were reportedly floating on the waters' surface. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Other nations are proud too but it seems unique to the US It almost comes across like an inferiority complex that they have to draw attention to/distinguish themselves. Very odd . Oh well, we'll leave it to the shrinks.

If you can't find 1 you should be able to take the X45 profile in the downloads section & just reassign the commands (assuming that the author labelled them properly).

OT but what is it with the US TV shows that they have to be American Dad, American Inventor, American Princess etc. etc.? We have very similar shows (often the formats are cross licenced) but there seems no need to stick British in the title & I suspect that Canadians don't stick Canadian in front or the French, French etc. .

SA-2F (1968->) has an optical backup. (So does SA-3)

I'm sure that the SA-2 has optical backup?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_bribery_scandals ...? The Luftwaffe was very keen on a Saunders Roe design & suddenly did a complete about face to the Starfighter.

iirc they won't sell those to individuals - there was quite a discussion over at Frugal's at one time (note the similarity to a TM Cougar).

another major site (70,000 members) that I'm a moderator on usually has literally 100s of search engine bots on it at any time.

I don't know that you can get USAF to work 100% glitch free on XP - there were always a few minor problems although there were workarounds for pretty much all of them. Probably your best bet is to go to Gulf Knight's forum though & ask there. http://www.gulfknight.net/

how many were search engine bots, though?

In many ways it may have been a bit of a dog but I've always had a soft spot for the Hun - but why do I have to pick just 1?!

the other good thing about the download is that TK gets all the cash from it which helps finance the next games.