Full Tilt Boogie!

What do you do when you are piloting a brand spanking new multi-million dollar MV-22 Osprey and the winds begin to gust in excess of 40 mph?



You try and ride it out ... going nowhere fast...



...and when the gusts are beyond limits you put it down quickly - somewhere -- anywhere!



Once safely down you then check your instruments - and your shorts ... wait for the gusts to subside ...

... take back off ...




... and land it on the runway alongside the F-18 jockeys who you hope didn't see what you almost just did.




-Steve

Aggressors In Amarillo

Out at the airport (Rick Husband/Amarillo Int.) today there was a free air show - of sorts. The pattern was filled with military aircraft, including two F-18s on their way to Red Flag - two V-22 Ospreys doing test work ( with one of them almost loosing it in the high winds) several assorted KC-135 tankers from Altus AFB, OK and even a Navy E-6 (TACAMO) doomsday aircraft.

Here are a couple shots of a Navy Aggressor FA/18 from VFC-12 NAS Oceana all decked out in a Russian paint scheme. These guys play the bad guys at Red Flag, and true to form he flipped me the bird when he saw me taking pictures of him!

I had a great day none-the-less. I'll post more later.

-Steve

New CASA ELT Rules Take Effect Soon

New CASA ELT Rules Take Effect Soon: "

Emergency locator transmitters that operate on frequencies 121.5 and 243 MHz can't be used in Australia after Feb. 1, according to a notice of final rulemaking issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The rule took effect Feb. 1, meaning that all ELTs used in Australia soon must operate on 406 and 121.5 MHz.

''''''''''' ELTs, essentially distress beacons, become activated after an accident either automatically by embedded electronics or manually by a pilot or other person. Active beacons are detected via satellite or by other aircraft. CASA explains its satellite-based ELT monitoring service provider, Cospas-Sarsat, will cease processing the 121.5/243 MHz signals.

''''''''''' As another new requirement, CASA mandates the 406/121.5 MHz ELTs be registered with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).

''''''''''' Click to view the new rule: NFRM 406 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs)—Amendments to Civil Aviation Regulation 1988 (CAR) 252A and Civil Aviation Order (CAO) 20.11'''''''''''

"

(Via MRO Blog.)

6 bases considered for Global Strike Command

6 bases considered for Global Strike Command: "The Air Force announced Wednesday the six bases where officials are considering stationing the permanent headquarters of Global Strike Command:"

(Via Air Force Times - News.)

N. Korea claims to have 'weaponized' plutonium

N. Korea claims to have 'weaponized' plutonium: "Senior North Korean officials say the communist regime has 'weaponized' its stockpile of plutonium, according to a U.S. scholar, in a move suggesting that North Korea may have significantly hardened its stance on nuclear negotiations.

"

(Via CNN.com.)