Combat Aircraft Monthly - September 2015 UK

100 Pages·2015·23.38 MB·English

US Navy
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SPECIAL OOPPSS
retires THE Prowler
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PHANTOMS
Turkish F-4E on ‘Anatolian Eagle’
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IN THE
NEWS:

F-35b Latest
developments
EAGLES
ON GUARD
INSIDE THE BONEYARD — Massachusetts SEPTEMBER 2015 UK £4.40
‘Black knights’ tomcats AMARG THROUGH THE YEARS Air National Guard
MiG-21 LanCER — Romania’s rocket ship • SO LONG SH-60B SEAHAWK
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Produced by the Combat Aircraft team; the US
Navy and Marine Corps Air Power Yearbook is the
ultimate guide to these two powerful air arms.
Introduced by two senior officers, it is packed
with features on latest aircraft capabilities,
famous squadrons and the personnel that fly and
maintain the various types, plus a detailed unit
and aircraft air power review.
This 100 page publication is a must-have for any
US Navy or Marine Corps aviation fans.
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
IN 2015
Interview with Lt Gen Jon Davis
The Marine Corps may be the smallest of the US military
services, but its air component is admired around the world.
James Deboer talks with Lt Gen Jon Davis, the US Marine
Corps air chief.
KING STALLION
Jamie Hunter looks ahead to a milestone for 2015: the
maiden flight of the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion, which is
set to revolutionize Marine battle field heavy-lift.
ADVANCED HAWKEYE ON
MAIDEN CRUISE
The US Navy deployed its brand new E-2D Advanced
Hawkeye for the first time in 2015. Jamie Hunter and
Giovanni Colla outline how Carrier Air Wings are moving into
the latest generation of airborne early warning and control
And much more!
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September 2015 • Vol 16 • No 9
34Alexander Golz and Dietmar Fenners provide images
from exercise ‘Anatolian Eagle’
IN THE NEWS 26 DEFENDERS OF THE STATES 76 THE TURKISH TRAINER
The Massachusetts Air National Guard is a proud Cristian Schrik visits 2’nci Ana Jet
fl yer of the F-15C Eagle. As well as deploying Üs Komutanlığı (2nd Main Jet Base
06 Headline News
around the world, it is heavily committed to Command) at Izmir-Çiğli, home to 122
F-35B completes readiness checks defending the homeland. Jamie Hunter reports, Filo ‘Akrepler’ (122 Squadron ‘Scorpions’)
ahead of initial operating capability, with images by Jim Haseltine
Dassault delivers fi rst Rafales
to Egypt
08 US News
New bomber decision delayed, EA-6B
Prowler retired by US Navy and all the
latest unit news
18 Europe News 80 LANCERS IN
A400M deliveries resume, Belgium TRANSYLVANIA
completes Middle East mission
Daniele Faccioli, Alberto Celsan and
22 World News Giovanni Colla report on Romanian
LanceR operations at Câmpia Turzii
First Iraqi F-16s delivered to Balad, plus
all the latest military losses
40 UNIT REPORT: THE
QUIET PROFESSIONALS
The 352nd Special Operations Wing is US
Air Force Special Operations Command’s
European airborne hub. Jamie Hunter 70
fl ies with the units that support all kinds
FAREWELL
of clandestine missions and short-notice
BRAVO SEAHAWK!
calls to action
Over the past three decades
52 INSIDE AMARG the Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk
Known by several diff erent names has been a true anti-submarine
over the past half-century, the Tucson workhorse for the US Navy.
desert adjacent to the runway at Ted Carlson/Fotodynamics joins its
Davis-Monthan AFB has long been last US Navy operators —
recognized around the world as a place HSL-60 ‘Jaguars’
of fascination for aviation enthusiasts
and history buff s alike. Jake Melampy
explores this incredible boneyard
64 AIR POWER REVIEW:
UKRAINIAN AIR FORCE
AT WAR
Earlier this year the Ukrainian Air Force
opened its doors to a small group of
journalists and photographers from
across Europe for a briefi ng on the
current status of the air arm. Alexander
Golz and Stefan Fax were among the
chosen few allowed exclusive access PLUS SSSSSSUUUBBBAAASSSCCCRRRVVVIIIBBBEEE AAAEEENNNDDD
88 GLORY DAYS:
‘BLACK KNIGHTS’ RULE News Report on the F-35 ‘dogfi ght story’
In the fi rst of a two-part feature, Tony and Robert F. Dorr’s Front Line column
Holmes details the work of veteran F-14 Subscribe to Combat
squadron VF-154 ‘Black Knights’ during Aircraft Monthly and
Operation ‘Iraqi Freedom’ in 2003 ON THE COVER: make great savings on
A Turkish Air Force F-4E 2020 tucks
cover price.
96 CUTTING EDGE
away its undercarriage as it launches
Combat Aircraft’s monthly column for a mission during the recent exercise See pages
reporting from the front line of ‘Anatolian Eagle’. Alexander Golz
38 and 39 for details.
aerospace technology, by David Axe
www.combataircraft.net September 2015 3
COMBAT EDGE
This photo: A Kawasaki P-1
goes through its paces at the
Royal International Air Tattoo.
Jamie Hunter
ON
PATROL
4 September 2015 www.combataircraft.net
FIND US ON
CONTRIBUTOR PROFILE
Back in the game
TONY HOLMES
A IT ISN’T OFTEN that one sees an all-new world’. He added: ‘The P-1 has been developed
aircraft type for the fi rst time. So, the especially for Japan’s national security
appearance of two Kawasaki P-1s at July’s environment, with a magnetic anomaly detector
Western Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF [for tracking submarines].’
Australian by Fairford, UK, was extremely welcome. The UK maintains Project ‘Seedcorn’, with
birth, Tony The Japan Maritime Self-Defense numerous personnel embedded in exchange
Holmes was a Force (JMSDF) rarely ventures abroad, but the postings with allied MPA communities,
published invitation to come to the UK comes at a time notably with the growing US Navy P-8
aviation when all eyes are on the potential for Britain to Poseidon fl eet. It is easy to see how most
author by the acquire a new maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). would view the Boeing platform as a natural
age of 20. There have been regular recent reports of choice for the UK; however, a competition is
Moving to NATO MPAs being called upon to help patrol highly likely, and hopefully all contenders,
England in 1988 to further his UK waters to react to potential submarine including the charismatic P-1, will be
career, he has run the aviation book incursions. With such high levels of attention judged on merit and potential for this very
list for Osprey Publishing ever being placed on the current air policing and important mission.
since. Aside from being a regular quick reaction alert missions, it is easy to see
contributor to numerous aviation why there is renewed emphasis on the MPA
journals across the globe, Tony has role around the UK’s shores.
also written more than 50 books and The RAF retired its last Nimrod maritime
edited a further 300 in the past two patrol aircraft in 2010, leaving a gaping
decades. A veteran of 25 aircraft ccaappaabbiilliittyy ggaapp.. FFiivvee yyeeaarrss oonn,, tthhee ppaarrttiicciippaattiioonn
carrier embarks across the globe, he ooff tthhee PP--11ss iinn bbootthh tthhee ssttaattiicc aanndd flfl yyiinngg ddiissppllaayyss
was presented with the Contributor aatt FFaaiirrffoorrdd wwaass nnoo ccooiinncciiddeennccee.. JJMMSSDDFF VVAADDMM
Jamie Hunter,
of the Year award for 2004-05 by the Makoto Sato is quoted as saying, ‘we hope
US Navy’s Tailhook association — we can show the P-1’s high manoeuvrability Editor
he is the only non-American to have and low-level capabilities to Europe and the E-mail: [email protected]
received this prestigious prize.
www.combataircraft.net September 2015 5
NEWS
Headlines
F-35B hits milestones
Latest testing ahead of operational declaration
M
ARINE FIGHTER inert and high-explosive munitions in
ATTACK Squadron Restricted Area 2507 in south-eastern
(VMFA) 121 ‘Green California. In total, 18 500lb (227kg)
Knights’ passed GBU-12s and 12 1,000lb (454kg) GBU-32s
an operational were dropped.
readiness inspection The Marine Corps Deputy Commandant
(ORI) during the week of July 13-17 for Aviation, Lt Gen Jon Davis, has
This photo: Test squadron VX-23 conducted the
as the fi nal hurdle for the eagerly- confi rmed that VMFA-121 will re-locate
fi rst weapons separation test of the Paveway
awaited declaration of initial operating to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, in January
IV precision-guided bomb from an F-35B over
capability (IOC) for the F-35B Lightning the Atlantic Test Ranges on June 12. The test 2017. The ‘Green Knights’ will operate 16
II. Conducted by personnel from fl ight was conducted by RAF Sqn Ldr Andy F-35Bs including six that will make the
Headquarters US Marine Corps, Marine Edgell, who dropped two inert Paveway IVs fi rst deployment in support of a Marine
Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron from test aircraft BF-03. Lockheed Martin Expeditionary Unit (MEU).
(MAWTS) 1, and Marine Fighter Attack Speaking in the week of the ORI, Lt Gen
Below left to right: The F-35 Integrated Test
Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501, the Davis noted that his main concern over the
Force and VX-23 conducted the fi rst ski-jump
ORI assed all phases of the squadron’s take-off of an F-35B on June 19. The test, fl own F-35B relates to the availability of spares.
operations, maintenance and training. by BAE Systems test pilot Peter Wilson, was ‘Do we have the depth in supply to support
It followed the last few ‘box-ticking’ fl ight 298 for test aircraft BF-04. a combat deployment?’, he queried. He also
exercises conducted by the Marine Lockheed Martin/Andy Wolfe noted that his threshold for recommending
Corps, which included the fi rst F-35B an IOC declaration is: ‘Could we take this
F-35B BuNo 168730 completes a check fl ight
operational ordnance deliveries from at Hill AFB, Utah, on June 18, following fi nal squadron and go over to the Middle East
June 22-26. During the missions, IOC modifi cations at the Ogden Air Logistics tomorrow after Gen Dunford declares IOC
pilots fl ying six F-35Bs employed both Complex. USAF/Alex Lloyd — yes or no?’
6 September 2015 www.combataircraft.net
n
Having 10 aircraft in IOC confi guration is o
the key requirement for VMFA-121; this is viati
eGsrsoeunpti a1l lsyta Bnldoacrkd 2.B software confi guration, ault A
s
In another recent milestone for the F-35B, s
a
BAE Systems test pilot Pete ‘Wizzer’ Wilson D
completed a fi rst ski-jump launch in the
Lightning II. It took place at NAS Patuxent
River, Maryland, on June 19, using a land-
based ski-jump replicating that used on the
UK’s new Queen Elizabeth-class carriers.
The launch by aircraft BF-04 began a two-
week initial test phase for the F-35B on the
ski jump. Phase II trials are due during the
third quarter of the year.
Meanwhile, ‘sister’ aircraft BF-03
has completed the fi rst release of a UK
Paveway IV bomb from an F-35 with the
Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (ITF).
On June 12, Royal Air Force test pilot
Sqn Ldr Andy Edgell released two inert
500lb dual-mode Paveway IVs from BF-03
over the Atlantic Test Ranges. This fi rst
weapons separation test of the Paveway
IV conducted by the Lightning II ITF saw
the inert bombs separate safely from the
internal weapons bay. The test work was
Egyptian Rafales
conducted by the Pax River ITF joint
team, which is assigned to Air Test and
Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 at Pax. The
weapon launch was part of the multi-
phase testing of the F-35 Block 3F, which
are delivered
includes the UK-unique Paveway IV.
However, the F-35B was dealt a blow
by Australia’s recent decision not to
procure the short take-off and vertical
landing version of the jet. Australian
Prime Minister Tony Abbott had First export deliveries for French fi ghter
considered acquiring up to 12 F-35Bs as
a complement to the Royal Australian
Air Force’s 72-strong F-35A fl eet, together Almost 41 years after the fi rst French- BA118 Mont-de-Marsan for training with
with appropriate modifi cations to the made fi ghters entered Egyptian Air Force ETR 2/92 ‘Aquitaine’ and EC 2/30
two Canberra-class assault ships. The service, the air arm has received its fi rst ‘Normandie-Niemen’ respectively. The
decision was made during preparation of three Dassault Rafale DMs as part of a pilot training course at the Rafale Training
a forthcoming defense white paper, after contract for 16 two-seat Rafale DMs and Center (CFR) at BA118 lasted one month,
studies showed that re-working the two eight single-seat Rafale EMs signed while the technicians’ maintenance course
ships for fi xed-wing operations would be between Egypt and France in February. consists of up to three months with
too costly and technically prohibitive. In 2014, Egypt decided to search for a Technical Support Aviation Squadron
capable multi-role fi ghter to replace its (ESTA) 2E/118 ‘Chalosse’. The pilots were
troublesome and expensive fl eet of Mirage subsequently sent to BA113 for a
2000s and aging Mirage 5s. It fi rst requested complementary fl ight and gunnery
that France sell the Rafale in 2014. training course during June.
In January 2015, a French delegation The fi rst three Rafale DMs for the EAF
arrived in Cairo to start negotiations with performed their fi nal test fl ights at
the Egyptian government. After these Bordeaux-Mérignac before being ferried to
initial talks, another delegation of Egyptian Egypt, where they arrived on July 21. They
government representatives and armed had all received EAF markings and serial
forces commanders visited Paris to resume numbers: 9251 (c/n DM-01/B352), 9252
negotiations regarding procurement of (c/n DM-02/B353) and 9253 (c/n DM-03/
military equipment, later reported as 24 B354).
Rafales and a FREMM multi-purpose Dassault has now completed a vital
frigate with a total value of $5.3 billion. phase in delivering its fi rst Rafales to an
Later, in February, Saudi Arabia fi nanced international customer, marking a
15 per cent of the total cost of the arms milestone after 20 years of export sales
deal. Fifty per cent of the remaining cost effort. Babak Taghvaee
was scheduled to be covered by a loan
guarantee by the French government. The ALSO THIS MONTH...
contract for procurement of 24 Rafales and
a FREMM frigate was duly signed. US Air Force delays LRS-B decision
Delivery of the frigate and fi rst batch of Competition announcement now set for
three Rafales was scheduled for August September. See US News
2015.
In May 2015 a group of ex-Mirage 2000
Iraqi ‘Vipers’ delivered
technicians and pilots were sent to the
First aircraft arrive at Balad. See World News
Armée de l’Air’s BA113 Saint-Dizier and
www.combataircraft.net September 2015 7
NEWS
United States
n
a
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m
u
Gr
p
o
hr
ort
N
LRS-B decision delayed
US Air Force bomber unveiling moves back
T
HE EAGERLY ANTICIPATED already aggressive time schedule. Northrop weapons, and could eventually be
$55-billion contract award for Grumman is up against a team comprised optionally manned. Much of the funding
the development of the US of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and the associated with the bomber’s development
Air Force’s new Long-Range USAF is understood to be taking its time has been contained in classifi ed budgets,
Strike — Bomber (LRS-B), over the decision in order to avoid the and many speculate that the compressed
which was originally possibility of a protest from the losing schedule towards service points to a
expected last spring, could be delayed bidder. project already well into development.
until September, according to Secretary The Air Force has released very little It is considered highly likely that both
of the Air Force Deborah Lee James. The information regarding the new bomber competing parties have already fl own
USAF plans to fi eld 80-100 new bombers but has said it will have stealth features, demonstrator aircraft as they fi ght to win
beginning in 2020 and is compressing an will carry both nuclear and conventional the lucrative contract.
New sensors
UH-1Y tests Intrepid Tiger II
planned for
Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21 completed the fi rst test fl ight with ‘a
developmental electronic warfare pod’ installed on a UH-1Y helicopter at NAS Patuxent
River, Maryland on June 8, 2015. Imagery shows what appears to be an Intrepid Tiger II pod, Global Hawk
which is a planned capability development for the UH-1Y and the AH-1Z. Intrepid Tiger II
(IT II) is already carried by the AV-8B and provides a precision EW communications jamming
capability. US Navy
Northrop Grumman and the USAF are
nearing an agreement regarding the terms
of a co-operative research and development
agreement, under which the contractor
would modify two Global Hawks to
carry the United Technologies Aerospace
Systems’ Optical Bar Camera (OBC) and
Senior Year Electro-optical Reconnaissance
System (SYERS-2C). Those systems are
currently only capable of being carried
by the U-2S intelligence, surveillance,
and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft. The
contractor’s internally-developed universal
payload adapter will also allow the Global
Hawk to carry the E-8C’s high-resolution
Goodrich MS-177 multispectral camera. A
demonstration of the installations aboard the
RQ-4C will likely take place in 2016. If this
proves successful, it will likely infl uence any
decision to retire the U-2.
8 September 2015 www.combataircraft.net
Strike Eagle HC-130H air tanker enters service
delivers B61-12 The US Forest Service formally placed and contractor pilot and maintenance
its fi rst HC-130H air tanker in service at crew training was carried out. A second
The US Air Force and National Nuclear Forest Service Air Station McClellan in HC-130H is scheduled to arrive in
Security Administration (NNSA) Sacramento, California, on July 10. The Sacramento by October and tail number
recently conducted the fi rst fl ight test Hercules, which carries the US Coast 1708 will serve as a training aircraft,
of the B61-12 guided nuclear weapon, Guard tail number 1721, now wears tanker although it is also capable of carrying the
which was employed by an F-15E number 118 on its tail. MAFFS II system. All seven HC-130H air
from the 422nd Test and Evaluation In mid-June, Tanker 118 arrived at tankers are expected to be overhauled,
Squadron on July 1. The Strike Eagle Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento modifi ed, equipped with a 3,500-gallon
dropped the inert B61-12 on a target where it underwent maintenance; its gravity-fed retardant delivery system and
at the Tonopah Test Range north- newly installed Modular Airborne Fire transferred to Forest Service ownership
west of Las Vegas, Nevada, ‘under Fighting System II (MAFFS) was tested by 2019.
representative delivery conditions’. The
jointly developed weapon couples a King Air modifi cations planned
refurbished B61 bomb with a Boeing-
designed tail kit.
Engineering and manufacturing The US Army is planning to modify a Once modifi cations are complete, the LPA
development (EMD) of the B61-12 number of Beechcraft King Air 350ER will be re-designated as the EMARSS —
Life Extension Program (LEP) began aircraft to Enhanced Medium-Altitude Multi-intelligence (EMARSS-M) and the
in February 2012 and the store will Reconnaissance and Surveillance System CH-A and TACOP-LiDAR aircraft as the
become the primary tactical nuclear (EMARSS) confi guration. The Enhanced EMARSS — GEO-Intelligence (EMARSS-G).
weapon carried by US and NATO Medium-Altitude Reconnaissance and The project will initially modify up
aircraft when it enters service in the Surveillance System — Follow-on Variant to seven aircraft to the EMARSS-M or
early 2020s. It will replace the current Modifi cations (EMARSS-FVM) project will EMARSS-G confi guration. The work will
inventory of B61-3, -4, -7, and -10 initially modify up to 13 government-owned be carried out by L-3 Communications
weapons but not the penetrating B61-11 Quick Reaction Capability (QRC) King Airs Corporation’s Mission Integration Division
‘bunker-busting’ variant, which entered comprising Liberty Project Aircraft (LPA), in Greenville, Texas. In March 2015 the
service in 1997. Two additional tests Constant Hawk — Afghanistan (CH-A) Army issued a $31.8-million contract
are planned for this calendar year. The examples, and Tactical Operations — Light for the conversion of one LPA aircraft
weapon will eventually be integrated Detection and Ranging (TACOP-LiDAR) to the EMARSS-M confi guration to L-3
with the Block 4 version of the F-35A aircraft. Communications.
Joint Strike Fighter, the F-16C, B-2A,
and the Tornado strike aircraft. Lockheed Martin has teamed with
Raytheon and Bombardier to bid for the
Joint STARS ‘recap’ program, off ering the
Global 6000. Lockheed Martin
DEPLOYMENT NEWS
Oregon Guard deployed to Romania
F-15Cs operated by the Oregon Air National
Guard’s 142nd Fighter Wing arrived at
Câmpia Turzii, Romania, on July 6. Personnel,
assigned to the 123rd Expeditionary Fighter
Squadron, will train with their Romanian
Air Force counterparts as part of a theater
security package (TSP) deployment to Europe
in support of Operation ‘Atlantic Resolve’. The
123rd assumed its role as the lead unit of the
TSP at Câmpia Turzii from the Florida ANG’s
Joint STARS replacement moves forward
159th EFS, which had been deployed since
March.
The USAF expects to select up to three plans to issue up to three 16-month ‘pre-
contractors to move forward with pre- EMD’ contracts and will hold an open
24th MEU completes deployment
development technology maturation and competition for the full EMD effort in 2017.
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which
risk-reduction efforts associated with its Three contractor/teams have been
had been deployed aboard the three ships
Joint Surveillance Targeting and Attack identifi ed and submitted proposals.
that make up the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7)
Radar System (Joint STARS) recapitalization Lockheed Martin has teamed with Raytheon
Amphibious Ready Group, returned to the
program in late August or early September. and Bombardier — its design will utilize
US east coast on July 14. The ARG had been
According to the USAF, the airborne the latter’s Global 6000 business jet as
deployed since December 2014 and spent
command and control, intelligence, the platform. Northrop Grumman’s team
much of the past seven months supporting
surveillance and reconnaissance (C2ISR) includes L-3 Aerospace Systems and
the 5th Fleet in the Middle East and south-
program has been fully funded in Fiscal Gulfstream Aerospace, which will produce
west Asia. It departed the 5th Fleet area
2015 and 2016, and $2.4 billion has been a G550-based aircraft. Boeing has not yet
of operations on June 21. Marine Medium
budgeted for it over the following fi ve years. created a team but has determined that it
Tilt-rotor Squadron (VMM) 365 (Reinforced)
Currently installed on Boeing 707/E-8C will offer its 737-700BBJ1 airframe. Also
served as the MEU’s Aviation Combat
airframes, the program is intended to install known as the 737-700 Increased Gross
Element. In addition to the squadron’s own
the Joint STARS synthetic aperture radar Weight model, this combines the 737-700
MV-22Bs it was responsible for elements of
(SAR)/ground moving target indicator fuselage with the 737-800 wing to provide
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH)
(GMTI) mission area capability on a increased range and maximum gross take-off
461, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron
signifi cantly smaller and more effi cient weight. The winner of the fi nal EMD contract
(HMLA) 269, and Marine Attack Squadron
airframe. It will utilize open systems will deliver three test aircraft. The Air Force
(VMA) 231, which deployed with CH-53E,
architecture to ensure future competition expects the new type to achieve initial
UH-1Y and AH-1W helicopters and AV-8B
and enable new capabilities to be added operational capability in 2023 and plans to
Harrier IIs.
more quickly and affordably. The USAF procure a total of 17 aircraft.
www.combataircraft.net September 2015 9
NEWS
United States
So long, Prowler Museum, BuNo 161884 for Seattle’s
Museum of Flight, and the last fl yer, BuNo
163890, to NBVC Point Mugu, California.
VAQ-134 commanding offi cer CDR Chris
Jason said: ‘That’s the Prowler story: doesn’t
US Navy retires its last EA-6B get a lot of glory, doesn’t always get the
fanfare, just does the job because it needs to,
it does it right, and then it just fi nishes out
T
HE US NAVY formally ‘Garudas’ completed the type’s fi nal cruise strong, and that’s how we did it.’
retired the Northrop EA-6B last November and all fi ve of the unit’s A small number of US Navy Prowlers will
Prowler electronic attack aircraft have now been gifted for public still conduct test and evaluation work at
aircraft from its operational display: BuNo 164036 for the Castle Air NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, and NAWS
inventory at NAS Whidbey Museum, BuNo 163386 for Denver’s Wings China Lake, California, in support of the
Island, Washington, on June Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, Marine Corps, which will continue to fl y
27. Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 134 BuNo 163030 for the Palm Springs Air the EA-6B until 2019. Joe A. Kunzler
EA-6B BuNo 163890 operated by VAQ-134
lifts off from NAS Whidbey Island at the start
of its fi nal fl ight on June 27.
Northrop Grumman/Edgar Mills
King Stallion fi rst
Skytruck retirement under way
fl ight delayed
Although the C-145A fl eet was the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and
consolidated at Duke Field, Florida, Regeneration Group. The center will retain As news broke of Lockheed Martin’s plans
following the transfer of the last aircraft the remaining C-145As for its Aviation to acquire Sikorsky Aircraft in an $8-billion
from the 27th Special Operations Wing Foreign Internal Defense (AvFID) mission deal, the helicopter manufacturer announced
at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, in March to ensure its pilots remain ‘current in that it has delayed the fi rst fl ight of the new
2013, the Air Force Special Operations Air an aircraft’, according to the AFSOC CH-53K. Citing the need for additional
Warfare Center is reducing the fl eet of 16 commander. Ultimately the command testing, the maiden fl ight of the initial
Skytrucks to just fi ve. Jointly operated by plans to lease aircraft that are more tailored YCH-53K will, according to the US Navy,
the 6th Special Operations Squadron and to the specifi c capacity-building needs of occur ‘prior to the end of this calendar year,
Air Force Reserve Command’s 5th Special partner air forces being trained. The fi rst fall of 2015’. Originally planned for summer
Operations Squadron, the majority of the of the retired Skytrucks arrived at Davis- 2014, the event has been delayed several
aircraft will be fl own to Davis-Monthan Monthan when C-145A serial 08-0310 times due to development problems. The
AFB, Arizona, by August for storage with touched down on May 28. most recent hold-ups are the result of a re-
design of the aircraft’s gearbox.
C-145A serial 10-0322 is towed on Qualifi cation testing of the gearbox is
the 309th AMARG fl ight line at Davis- scheduled to begin in August and should be
Monthan AFB, Arizona, shortly after completed in late September or early October.
arriving for storage in July 2015. It will subsequently undergo 175 hours of
309th AMARG
testing in the ground test vehicle before it
is cleared for fl ight. Sikorsky indicates that
the CH-53K’s initial fl ight will take place
in October or November. According to the
Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for
Aviation, the King Stallion remains on track
to reach initial operational capability in 2019.
A Government Accountability Offi ce report
indicates that the CH-53K development cost
has increased by 44 per cent, and the cost of a
single aircraft by 13 per cent since work began.
10 September 2015 www.combataircraft.net