 | Middle Northwich Sickle Sickle was built in 1936 by W.J. Yarwood and Sons of Northwich as one of eight full length all steel motors. She was shortened by the Ministry Of War Transport in 1942 for use as an icebreaker. She was then condemned by BW and has now been restored. |
 | Wanni Operation - Sri Lanka Military Situation on 26/07/2008 Two ITN journalists reporting security news injured in mortar attack ITN's two journalists, who were providing reports on military operations in the Wanni battlefront have come under an LTTE attack, despite a unilateral truce declared by them ITN's News Editor Anura Dorakumbura and the Cameraman of the Newsroom Suranga Basnayake came under a mortar attack. Suranga Basnayake was critically injured. The gallant soldiers risking their lives on this occasion carried the two ITN journalists swiftly to a secure place. ITN salutes the war heroes and senior officers providing them leadership for this noble task. Driver G.G.Gunasena's dedication to promptly transport Suranga Basnayake to the Anuradhapura General Hospital is noteworthy. He drove the vehicle at a high speed on rugged roads in the Mullaitivu thick jungles with the intention of immediately transporting them to the Anuradhapura Hospital. The services discharged by the gallant soldiers on behalf of the ITN personnel deserve accolades. Gratitude should be expressed for the cooperation extended by the entire staff and the Director of the Anuradhapura Hospital. Soon after hearing about the incident, Minister Duminda Dissanayake and former North Central Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake visited the ITN personnel and inquired into their welfare. Expressing views on the incident, Anura Dorakumbura said on this particular day the troops had planned a strike on a major LTTE bunker and they wanted to get video footage of the attack. However, a Corporal instructed them to evacuate when the attacks were serious. While attempting to vacate the place, they came under a mortar attack and the Cameraman was seriously injured. Anura Dorakumbura vowed to continue the media task with the support of the soldiers, until terrorism was obliterated. |
 | Archangel 2005 Airshow The Hellenic Air Force or HAF (Greek: Πολεμική Αεροπορία) is the air force of Greece. Its mission is to guard and protect the Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the Hellenic Army and the Hellenic Navy as well as humanitarian aid (upon request) in Greece and around the world.In 1911 the Greek Government appointed French specialists to form the Hellenic Aviation Service. Six Greek officers were sent to France for training, while the first four "Farman" type aircraft were ordered. The first Greek aviator was Emmanuel Argyropoulos, who flew in a Nieuport IV.G "Alcuin" fighter, on February 8, 1912. The first military flight was made on 13 May of that year by Lieutenant Demetrios Kamberos. In June, Kamberos, flew with the "Daedalus", a Farman Aviation Works aircraft that had been converted into a seaplane, setting the foundations of the Naval Aviation. That September, the Greek Army fielded its first squadron, the Aviators Company (Λόχος Αεροπόρων).The Hellenic Air Force participated in the Balkan Wars, World War I, the Asia Minor Campaign, and World War II. Initially it consisted of the separate Army Aviation and Naval Aviation, but in 1930 the Aviation Ministry was founded, establishing the Air Force as the third branch of the Hellenic Armed Forces. In 1931, the Air Force Academy, the Scholi Ikaron was founded. During the Second World War, it successfully resisted the Italian invasion in 1940, but practically the entire force was destroyed by the Germans in April 1941. The Air Force was rebuilt in the Middle East as part of the Royal Air Force, flying Spitfires, Hurricanes and Martin Baltimores. After Greece's liberation in 1944, it returned home and subsequently participated in the Greek Civil War. In the 1950s, the force was rebuilt and organized according to NATO standards. The Greek Air Force participated in the Korean War with a transport flight unit. Greece participated in NATO nuclear weapons sharing until 2001, using A-7 Corsair IIs to deploy U.S. tactical B61 nuclear bombs from Araxos Air Base.Until the late 1980s the Air Force deployed Nike-Hercules Missiles armed with U.S. nuclear warheads. As a result of Greco-Turkish tensions around the 1974 Turkish invasion in Cyprus, the U.S. removed its nuclear weapons from Greek and Turkish alert units to storage. Greece saw this as another pro-Turkish move by NATO and withdrew its forces from NATO's military command structure from 1974 to 1980.In 1988 the first 3rd generation fighters were introduced, marking the beginning of a new era: The first Mirrage 2000 EG/BG aircraft were delivered to the 114th Combat Wing and equipped the 331 and 332 squadrons. In January 1989, the first F-16C/D Block 30 arrived in Nea Anchialos (111th Combat Wing) and were allocated between the 330 and 346 squadrons. In March 29, 1991 the RF-84F were retired from service after 34 years and 7 months of operational life. In November 1992 more RF-4E were delivered to the 348 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. In 1997 the reception of third generation aircraft continued. In July, delivery of forty F-16 Block 50 begun. The new aircraft, equipped with the (LANTIRN) navigation and targeting pod as well as AMRAAM and HARM missiles, were allocated to the 341 and 347 squadrons.In 2005, Greece was among the first countries to add the F-16 Block 52+ to its inventory. Sixty of these aircraft were acquired and another thirty are currently in order. This advanced F-16 type is an improved version of the Block 50 featuring a more powerful radar, better communications systems and an upgraded engine. The Hellenic Air Force's Block 52+ belong to the 337, 340 and 343 Squadrons with call signs "Ghost", "Fox" and "Star" respectively. 337 SQ is based at Larissa Air Force Base (110 Combat Wing) and the other two in Souda AB (115 CW).Today, the Hellenic Air Force has a total fighter fleet of 275 modern, upgraded or under upgrade aircraft and due to retirement of some fighter units that have ended their circle of operation,HAF is looking forward to acquiring new 3rd and 4th generation fighters in order to reach a total number of 300 modern fighters, according to the "2007 Supreme Air Force Council Momentum" published in 2007. Such goal is to be gradually reached until 2015. Prime candidates for a 4th generation aircraft, of which acquisition is considered certain, are the Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35 Lightning II (JSF) and Dassault Rafale.The camo extensively used is the Aegean Ghost theme (Φάντασμα του Αιγαίου). Note that Greece has placed an order for 20 additional F-16C Block 52+ and 10 F-16D Block 52+ aircraft. Also, the purchase of modern fourth generation fighters is likely to follow due to the A-7 Corsairs being gradually retired from service. |
 | HAF HAF(Hellenic Air Force) history:The first Aviation Service was established in 1911, with help from the French. Six Greek officers were sent to France for training, while the first four "Farman"-type aircraft were ordered. The first Greek aviator was Emmanuel Argyropoulos, who flew in a Nieuport IV.G "Alcuin" fighter, on February 8, 1912. The first military flight was made on 13 May of that year by Lieutenant Demetrios Kamberos. In June, Kamberos, flew with the "Daedalus", a Farman Aviation Works aircraft that had been converted into a seaplane, setting the foundations of the Naval Aviation. That September, the Greek Army fielded its first squadron, the Aviators Company (Λόχος Αεροπόρων).The Hellenic Air Force participated in the Balkan Wars, World War I, the Asia Minor Campaign, and World War II. Initially it consisted of the separate Army Aviation and Naval Aviation, but in 1930 the Aviation Ministry was founded, establishing the Air Force as the third branch of the Hellenic Armed Forces. In 1931, the Air Force Academy, the Scholi Ikaron was founded. During the Second World War, it successfully resisted the Italian invasion in 1940, but practically the entire force was destroyed by the Germans in April 1941. The Air Force was rebuilt in the Middle East as part of the Royal Air Force, flying Spitfires,Hurricanes and Martin Baltimores. After Greece's liberation in 1944, it returned home and subsequently participated in the Greek Civil War. In the 1950s, the force was rebuilt and organized according to NATO standards. The Greek Air Force participated in the Korean War with a transport flight. Greece participated in NATO nuclear weapons sharing until 2001, using A-7 Corsair IIs to deploy U.S. tactical B61 nuclear bombs from Araxos Air Base. Until the late 1980s the Air Force deployed Nike-Hercules Missiles armed with U.S. nuclear warheadsTactical fighters. Current inventory: * F-16C/D Block 52+: 60 + 30 on order * F-16C/D Block 50D: 40 * F-16C/D Block 30: 40 (F-16.net - will see all information relating to the F-16) * Mirage 2000-5 Mk2: 40 * Mirage 2000EGM/BGM: 21 (to be updated in order to reach the -5 Mk2 level) * F-4E Peace Icarus II: 35 * RF-4E: 23 * A-7H: 41 (to be retired) * A-7E: 45 (to be retired) Transports * C-130 Hercules: 15 * C-27J Spartan: 12 Trainers * T-2 Buckeye: 40 * T-6 Texan II: 45 * T-41 Mescalero: 20 Reconnaissance - AWACS * EMB-145 Erieye: 4 Helicopters * AS-332C1 Super Puma: 6 * AB 205: 11 * AB 212: 4 General purporse * CL-415: 10 * CL-215: 14 Anti-aircraft Artillery * MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3: 6 * S-300 PMU-2: 2 1 * Crotale NG: 12 * 9K331 TOR M1:4 fire units (for close range protection of the S-300) * Skyguard I: 12 (updated to level III) 1 - Property of Cyprus. Transferred to Greece (Crete) due to political reasons. Equipment * AIM-120 AMRAAM: 350 * MBDA MICA: 200 + 100 options under delivery * IRIS-T: 350 * AIM-9M: 165 * AIM-9L: 1047 * AIM-9P4: 995 (upgraded P3 and J Sidewinder) * Magic 2: 399 * AGM-88B Block IIIA: 84 * MBDA Scalp EG: 90 * AFDS: 100 * AM-39 Exocet Block 2: 40 * AGM-65G: 200 * AGM-65A & B: 284 (Proposal to be upgraded at H standard) * GBU-8B HOBOS: 96 * GBU-24 Paveway III: 200 * GBU-27 Paveway III: 250 (Not certain) * GBU-12 Paveway II: 600 * GBU-16 Paveway II: 562 Historical aircraft * Hurricane * Spitfire * C-47 Skytrain * T-33 Shooting Star * F-86 Sabre * F-104 Starfight |
 | Short S.40 Shetland II Flying Boat The Short Shetland was a British high-speed, long-range, four-engined flying-boat built by Short Brothers at Rochester, Kent for use in the Second World War. It was designed to meet an Air Ministry requirement (defined in Specification R.14/40) for a very-long range reconnaissance flying boat. The design used the company's experience with large scale production of the Short Sunderland. Design and development Specification R.14/40 replaced an earlier specification R.5/39 which was an up-armed revision of specification R.3/38 for a faster flying boat than the Short Sunderland. Shorts, among others, had tendered a design for R.5/39 but the Ministry had changed their minds about the need for an immediate replacement for the Sunderland. R.5/39 had considered a maximum weight up to 84,000 lb - R14/40 allowed for a maximum takeoff of nearly 100,000 lb (45 tonnes) with a bomb load of 20,000 lb. The projected engines were the Bristol Centaurus radial or the Napier Sabre inline. Shorts and the other British manufacturer of big flying boats, Saunders-Roe (Saro), were involved in the competitive tender for R.14/40; Saro proposed the Saunders-Roe S.41. Rather than selecting either company's design, the Air Ministry asked the companies to submit a combined project, stipulating the terms under which the work was to be shared between them. The detailed design was performed by Saro, their experience with the "Shrimp" contributing to the hull shape, as well as building the wing. Shorts built the hull and tail and did the final assembly. Variants Short S.35 Shetland I The first prototype and what was to be the only Shetland I (Serial Number DX166) first flew on 14 December 1944, piloted by Shorts' Chief Test Pilot John Lankester Parker as captain and Geoffrey Tyson as co-pilot. The aircraft flew without gun turrets (its role having been revised to that of unarmed transport before its maiden flight; it was delivered to the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment (MAEE) at Felixstowe in October 1945. Testing indicated satisfactory water handling but the stabilising floats were mounted too low and did not offer sufficient clearance for takeoffs with maximum load. Flight testing revealed problems with the harmonization of controls and marginal longitudinal stability. Before the trials were complete, the aircraft burnt out at its moorings on 28 January 1946 as a result of a galley fire. Short S.40 Shetland II With the end of the war, the second prototype (Serial Number DX171) was completed as a civil transport and designated Shetland II. It was designed to carry 70 passengers but only 40 seats were fitted. Registered "G-AGVD," the Shetland II's first flight took place on 17 September 1947. After trials, it was delivered to Short's factory at Belfast, but no orders were forthcoming and it performed only limited flight trials before being scrapped in 1951. General characteristics Crew: 11 Capacity: 70 Length: 110 ft (33.5 m) Wingspan: 150 ft 4 in (46.75 m) Height: 38 ft 8in (11.7 m) Wing area: 2,636 sq ft (244.9 m2) Empty weight: 75,860 lb (34,410 kg) Loaded weight: 120,000 lb (54,431 kg) Max takeoff weight: 125,000 lb (56,700 kg) Powerplant: 4× Bristol Centaurus VII radial piston, 2,500 hp () each Performance Maximum speed: 263 mph at 6,500 ft (424 km/h) Range: 4,410 miles (3,835 nmi) (7,100 km) Service ceiling: 17,000 ft (5,180 m) |
 | Antonov An-70 (MAKS 2003) The Antonov An-70 is a next-generation four-engine medium-distance transport aircraft, and the first large aircraft to be powered by propfan engines. Developed by the Antonov design bureau to replace the obsolete An-12 military transport, work on the An-70 began in the early 1990s. Maiden flight of the first prototype took place on December 16, 1994 in Kiev, Ukraine.Russia and Ukraine had as of 2002 agreed on a 50-50 risk-sharing deal on production. Particularly, there were plans to establish serial production of the model in both Kiev and Samara, Russia, guaranteeing employment of about 80,000 people in two countries. The Russian government had shown interest in purchasing 160 planes for its military.The first prototype was lost in 1995 in a mid-air collision with an Antonov 72 chase aircraft. The second prototype suffered damage in a 2001 emergency landing during cold weather testing in Russia, but was repaired. Soon after the first crash, Russian authorities started to question the An-70's abilities and demanded further development. In May 2005, senior officials of Russian Air Force claimed that bilateral development and further testing of the plane continue, though inside sources (Piort Butowski) reported that the An-70 was rapidly losing ground to the upgraded IL-76MF, with the Tu-330 and IL-214 coming up strongly on the outside. In November 2005, Ukraine's Defence Ministry announced plans to buy five AN-70s for the Ukrainian Air Force. In December 2005, Antonov maintained that production of the aircraft remains a priority. In April 2006, Russia announced its complete withdrawal from the project. The head of the Russian Air Force, Vladimir Mikhailov, claimed that the An-70 has grown into a heavy, expensive cargo plane. The military plans to use the Ilyushin Il-76MF, which reportedly costs half as much as the An-70. After the Orange Revolution in late 2004, and with Ukraine openly aiming for NATO membership, political will for the project evaporated. Russia has provided around 60 per cent of the estimated USD 5 billion invested in the project to date.Fully fly-by-wire, the An-70 features a glass cockpit and uses composite materials throughout. It is powered by four Progress D-27 Propfans, each turning a pair of contra-rotating Scimitar propeller propfans, and reaches 90% efficiency (claimed) in cruise at jet speeds. |
 | The war agenda SOME of America's most senior military commanders are prepared to resign if the White House orders a military strike against Iran, according to highly placed defence and intelligence sources. Tension in the Gulf region has raised fears that an attack on Iran is becoming increasingly likely before President George Bush leaves office. The Sunday Times has learnt that up to five generals and admirals are willing to resign rather than approve what they consider would be a reckless attack. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1434540.ece On June 22, 2006, U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant Ehren K. Watada stepped forward as the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse deployment to the Iraq War and occupation. He faces court martial and up to 6 years imprisonment for refusing to deploy and for speaking out against a war that he believes is illegal. http://www.thankyoult.org http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=9647 Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday that he hopes military ties between the countries will strengthen. Chavez, who is currently on an official visit to Russia, discussed political, economic and defense cooperation with the premier at Putin's residence near Moscow. "We have recently been strengthening the legal base for our cooperation, searching for ways to diversify our relations through new cooperation areas, namely transport, space, high-tech production, and of course military and technical cooperation," Putin said. During the meeting, Putin accepted an invitation from Chavez to visit Venezuela. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met with Chavez earlier in the day for talks focusing on arms and energy deals. On arriving in Moscow, Chavez called for Russia and Venezuela to become strategic partners in oil and defense, something he said would "guarantee Venezuela's sovereignty, which is currently being threatened by the United States." Michel Chossudovsky in war and Globalization http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3117338213439292490 |
 | Brazilian Air Force http://www.aviationlive.org Online Aviation Pics,Videos and Forum The Brazilian Air Force (Portuguese: Força Aérea Brasileira, FAB) is the aerial warfare branch of the Brazilian armed forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces". Both air branches transferred their equipments, installations and personnel to the new armed force. The FAB is the largest air force in Latin America, with about 700 manned aircraft in service, and as of July 8, 2005, had 66,020 personnel on active duty. An additional 7,500 civilian personnel are employed by the Air Force The first public manifest to create an integrated military air service came up in 1928 when an army Major called Lysias Rodrigues wrote an article called "An urgent need: The Ministry of the Air" ("Uma premente necessidade: o Ministério do Ar"). Two years later the French Military Mission, working for the Brazilian Army, set the very first steps to organize a national air arm. The idea got more supporters when a group of Brazilian airmen came from Italy in 1934 and explained the advantages of having a military aviation unified. Also, the Spanish Revolution and the first movements of World War II at the end of the thirties showed the importance of Air power for military strategies. One of the main supporters of the plan to create an independent air arm was the then-president Getúlio Vargas. He organized a study group early in 1940 and the whole structure of the Ministry of Aeronautics (Ministério da Aeronáutica) was established the end of that year. This new governmental agency was responsible for the all aspects of the civil and military aviation including infrastructure, regulation and organization. Formally, the Ministry of Aeronautics was founded on January 20, 1941 and so it's military branch called "National Air Forces", changed to "Brazilian Air Force" (Força Aérea Brasileira - FAB) on May, 22. The Army ("Aviação Militar") and Navy ("Aviação Naval") air branches were extinguished and all personnel, aircraft, installations and other related equipments were transferred to FAB. Equipped with American airplanes, mainly the P-47 Thunderbolt, the FAB saw action on the Italian front, earning respect for its high number of sorties flown and the hard work of both pilots and support personnel. Their work was recognized by a Presidential Unit Citation issued on April 26th, 1986--one of only four non-US squadrons to receive such a citation. After the war, the FAB began flying the British Gloster Meteor jet fighter. The jets were purchased from the British for 15,000 tons of crude cotton, as Brazil had no foreign currency reserves to spare. The jet was operated by the FAB until the 1970s, when it was replaced by the F-80C and TF-33A, which were later replaced by the F-5 and Mirage III jets. Cold War During the Cold War, the Brazilian Republic was aligned with the United States and NATO. This meant that the F-5 could be bought cheaply from the United States, who practically sponsored this jet as the "Freedom Fighter". Many other countries, such as Mexico, also benefited from this policy. The former competitors were the General Dynamics F-16, the Dassault-Embraer Mirage 2000-BR, the SAAB-BAE Gripen, and the Sukhoi Su-35. On July 15, 2005 one agreement was set with the French government for the transfer of twelve Dassault Mirage 2000s (ten "C" and two "B" versions) second-hand ex-Armée de L'Air. Known as F-2000s in Brazil, the first two aircraft arrived at Anápolis Air Base on September 4, 2006 Other programs, however, were successfully completed and included the following (as of May 2007): * ALX (Light Attack Aircraft) Program - 99 Super Tucano aircraft. Currently being delivered. * F-5BR Program - Upgrade of Northrop F-5 to F-5BR standard. Include new radar, avionics and weapons systems. Currently being delivered. * CL-X (Medium Transport Aircraft) - Replacement of DHC-5 Buffalo aircraft. 12 CASA C-295 aircraft acquired. Currently being delivered. * P-X (Maritime Patrol) Program- Replacement of EMB-111A aircraft for modernized P-3 airframes with EADS avionics. Currently being implemented. * Interim Mirage 2000C purchase. Currently being delivered. * Acquisition of presidential transport aircraft, known as FAB 001. An Airbus ACJ was bought and delivered in 2005. Pending Programs: * CT-X (Light Transport Aircraft) Program- To replace the C-95 Bandeirante. CASA C-212-400 Aviocar is the likely choice. |
 | Short Stirling Bomber (better quality footage) The Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. Built by Short Brothers, it was to have a relatively short operational career. Throughout the 1930s, the Royal Air Force was interested primarily in twin-engine bombers and invested heavily in development of huge engines in the 2,000 horsepower (1,500 kW) class in order to improve performance. In the U.S. and USSR were developing bombers with four smaller engines, which proved to have excellent range and fair lifting capacity, so in 1936 the RAF also decided to investigate the feasibility of the four-engined bomber. The Air Ministry Specification B.12/36 had a mixture of requirements.[citation needed] In addition to a 14,000 lb (6,350 kg) bombload carried to a range of 3,000 miles (4,800 km) (incredibly demanding for the era), the aircraft should also be able to be used as a troop transport for 24 soldiers. The idea was that it would fly troops to far corners of the British Empire and then support them with bombing. To help with this task as well as ease production, it needed to be able to be broken down into parts for transport by train. Since it could be operating from limited "back country" airfields, it needed to lift off from a 500 ft (150 m) runway and able to clear 50 ft (15 m) trees at the end, a specification most small aircraft would have a problem with today. The wingspan was limited to 100 ft (30 m) so the aircraft would fit into existing hangars. The wingspan limit was also imposed in an unsuccessful attempt to ensure the Stirling's weight was kept down. Operational status wasn't reached until January 1941 by No. 7 Squadron RAF. The first three Stirlings flew a mission on 10 February 1941 over fuel storage tanks in Rotterdam, and from spring of 1942 it started to be used in greater numbers. From May 1943, air raids on Germany started with over a hundred Stirlings at once. Despite the "disappointing performance" at maximum altitude, Stirling pilots were delighted to discover that, due to the thick wing, they could out-turn the Ju 88 and Me 110 nightfighters they faced. Its handling was much better than that of the Halifax and some preferred it to the Lancaster. Based on its flight characteristics, Pilot Murray Peden of No. 214 RAF Squadron flatly described the Stirling as "one of the finest aircraft ever built." Another consequence of the thick wing however was a low ceiling and many missions were flown as low as 12,000 ft (4,000 m). This was a disadvantage on many raids, notably if crews were attacking Italy and had to fly through (rather than "over") the Alps. When Stirlings were on combined operations with other RAF bombers which could fly at higher altitudes, the Luftwaffe concentrated on the low-flying Stirlings. Within five months of being introduced, 67 out of the 84 aircraft delivered had been lost to enemy action or written off after crashes. The Stirling's huge maximum bomb load was only able to be carried for relatively short distances of around 590 miles. On typical missions deep into Germany or Italy a smaller 3,500 lb (1,590 kg) load was carried, consisting of seven 500 lb (227 kg) bombs. This was the sort of load being carried by the RAF's medium bombers such as the Vickers Wellington and, by 1944, by the de Havilland Mosquito. Perhaps the biggest problem with the design was that the bomb bay had two structural dividers running down the middle, limiting it to carrying nothing larger than the 2,000 lb (907 kg) bomb. As the RAF started using the 4000 lb (1,815 kg) "cookies" and even larger "specials," the Stirling became less useful. In 1943, it was decided to withdraw Stirlings to secondary tasks. By December 1943, Stirlings were being withdrawn from frontline service as a bomber, increasingly being used for deploying mines outside German ports, electronic countermeasures and dropping spies deep behind enemy lines at night (through the now unused ventral turret ring). General characteristics Crew: 7 Length: 87 ft 3 in (26.6 m) Wingspan: 99 ft 1 in (30.2 m) Height: 28 ft 10 in (8.8 m) Wing area: 1,322 ft² (122.8 m²) Empty weight: 44,000 lb (19,950 kg) Loaded weight: 59,400 lb (26,940 kg) Max takeoff weight: 70,000 lb (31,750 kg) Powerplant: 4× Bristol Hercules II radial engines, 1,375 hp (1,030 kW) each Performance Maximum speed: 255 mph (410 km/h) at 21,000 ft (6,400 m) Range: 2,330 mi (3,750 km) Service ceiling: 16,500 ft (5,030 m) Rate of climb: 800 ft/min (4 m/s) Wing loading: 44.9 lb/ft² (219.4 kg/m²) Power/mass: 0.093 hp/lb (0.153 kW/kg) Armament 8 x 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns: 2 in the nose, 4 in the tail, 2 dorsal Up to 18,000 lb (8,164 kg) of bombs |
 | Brasil Air Force (FAB) http://www.aviationlive.org Online Aviation Pics,Videos and Forum The Brazilian Air Force (Portuguese: Força Aérea Brasileira, FAB) is the aerial warfare branch of the Brazilian armed forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces". Both air branches transferred their equipments, installations and personnel to the new armed force. The FAB is the largest air force in Latin America, with about 700 manned aircraft in service, and as of July 8, 2005, had 66,020 personnel on active duty. An additional 7,500 civilian personnel are employed by the Air Force The first public manifest to create an integrated military air service came up in 1928 when an army Major called Lysias Rodrigues wrote an article called "An urgent need: The Ministry of the Air" ("Uma premente necessidade: o Ministério do Ar"). Two years later the French Military Mission, working for the Brazilian Army, set the very first steps to organize a national air arm. The idea got more supporters when a group of Brazilian airmen came from Italy in 1934 and explained the advantages of having a military aviation unified. Also, the Spanish Revolution and the first movements of World War II at the end of the thirties showed the importance of Air power for military strategies. One of the main supporters of the plan to create an independent air arm was the then-president Getúlio Vargas. He organized a study group early in 1940 and the whole structure of the Ministry of Aeronautics (Ministério da Aeronáutica) was established the end of that year. This new governmental agency was responsible for the all aspects of the civil and military aviation including infrastructure, regulation and organization. Formally, the Ministry of Aeronautics was founded on January 20, 1941 and so it's military branch called "National Air Forces", changed to "Brazilian Air Force" (Força Aérea Brasileira - FAB) on May, 22. The Army ("Aviação Militar") and Navy ("Aviação Naval") air branches were extinguished and all personnel, aircraft, installations and other related equipments were transferred to FAB. Equipped with American airplanes, mainly the P-47 Thunderbolt, the FAB saw action on the Italian front, earning respect for its high number of sorties flown and the hard work of both pilots and support personnel. Their work was recognized by a Presidential Unit Citation issued on April 26th, 1986--one of only four non-US squadrons to receive such a citation. After the war, the FAB began flying the British Gloster Meteor jet fighter. The jets were purchased from the British for 15,000 tons of crude cotton, as Brazil had no foreign currency reserves to spare. The jet was operated by the FAB until the 1970s, when it was replaced by the F-80C and TF-33A, which were later replaced by the F-5 and Mirage III jets. Cold War During the Cold War, the Brazilian Republic was aligned with the United States and NATO. This meant that the F-5 could be bought cheaply from the United States, who practically sponsored this jet as the "Freedom Fighter". Many other countries, such as Mexico, also benefited from this policy. The former competitors were the General Dynamics F-16, the Dassault-Embraer Mirage 2000-BR, the SAAB-BAE Gripen, and the Sukhoi Su-35. On July 15, 2005 one agreement was set with the French government for the transfer of twelve Dassault Mirage 2000s (ten "C" and two "B" versions) second-hand ex-Armée de L'Air. Known as F-2000s in Brazil, the first two aircraft arrived at Anápolis Air Base on September 4, 2006 Other programs, however, were successfully completed and included the following (as of May 2007): * ALX (Light Attack Aircraft) Program - 99 Super Tucano aircraft. Currently being delivered. * F-5BR Program - Upgrade of Northrop F-5 to F-5BR standard. Include new radar, avionics and weapons systems. Currently being delivered. * CL-X (Medium Transport Aircraft) - Replacement of DHC-5 Buffalo aircraft. 12 CASA C-295 aircraft acquired. Currently being delivered. * P-X (Maritime Patrol) Program- Replacement of EMB-111A aircraft for modernized P-3 airframes with EADS avionics. Currently being implemented. * Interim Mirage 2000C purchase. Currently being delivered. * Acquisition of presidential transport aircraft, known as FAB 001. An Airbus ACJ was bought and delivered in 2005. Pending Programs: * CT-X (Light Transport Aircraft) Program- To replace the C-95 Bandeirante. CASA C-212-400 Aviocar is the likely choice. |
 | Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornets :::READ THIS BEFORE POSTING::: Sub to me and I will sub back Pictures http://www.Defencetalk.com The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF began in March 1914 as the Australian Flying Corps and became a fully independent Air Force in March 1921. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts including both World Wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. More recently the RAAF participated in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The motto on the RAAF's coat of arms is the Latin phrase Per Ardua ad Up to 100 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II (CTOL variant) — are scheduled to be delivered from 2013. 24 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets. On March 6, 2007, Defence Minister Brendon Nelson announced that the Australian Government had purchased 24 F/A-18F aircraft to reduce the risk of a gap in strike capability, between the retirement of the F-111 in 2010 and delivery of the F-35A. .[3] Six Boeing Project Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft, including another single aircraft optioned. Five Airbus KC-30B Multi-Role Tanker Transports — to replace the dated Boeing 707s in aerial refueling and strategic transport roles. Maritime patrol aircraft to replace AP-3C Orions. Australia is participating in the development of the P-8 Poseidon to fill this role, but has not committed to purchase the aircraft. No. 1 Squadron - General Dynamics F-111 (Ground Attack) No. 2 Squadron - Boeing Wedgetail (AEW&C) (operational 2009) No. 3 Squadron - McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (Air Defence) No. 6 Squadron - General Dynamics F-111 (Training/Ground Attack) No. 10 Squadron - Lockheed P-3C Orion (Maritime Patrol) No. 11 Squadron - Lockheed P-3C Orion (Maritime Patrol) No. 32 Squadron - Beechcraft B300 King Air 350 (School of Air Navigation) No. 33 Squadron - Boeing 707 (AAR) No. 34 Squadron - Boeing 737, Bombardier Challenger 604 (Transport) No. 36 Squadron - Boeing Globemaster III (Transport) No. 37 Squadron - Lockheed C-130H/C-130J-30 Hercules (Transport) No. 38 Squadron - De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou (Transport) No. 75 Squadron - McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (Air Defence) No. 76 Squadron - BAE Systems Hawk 127 (Advanced Training/Close Support) No. 77 Squadron - McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (Air Defence) No. 79 Squadron - BAE Systems Hawk 127 (Advanced Training/Close Support) No. 292 Squadron - Lockheed P-3C Orion (Training/Maritime Patrol) No. 2 OCU - McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (Training & Type Conversion) |
 | Percival Proctor III The Percival Proctor was a British radio trainer and communications aircraft of the Second World War. The Proctor was a single-engine, low-wing monoplane with seating for three or four, depending on the model. The Proctor was developed from the Percival Vega Gull in response to Air Ministry Specification 20/38 for a radio trainer and communications aircraft. The prototype first flew on 8 October 1939 [1] and the type was put into production for the RAF and RN. While the prototype was tested as an emergency bomber during 1940, plans for use of the Proctor as a bomber were abandoned as the invasion threat receded. The Proctor was initially employed as a three-seat communications aircraft (Proctor I). This was followed by the Proctor II and Proctor III three-seat radio trainers. In 1941, the Air Ministry issued Specification T.9/41 for a four-seat radio trainer. The P.31 - originally known as the "Preceptor" but finally redesignated the Proctor IV - was developed for this requirement with an enlarged fuselage. One Proctor IV was fitted with a 250-hp (157-kW) Gipsy Queen engine. This was used as a personal transport by AVM Sir Ralph Sorley but production models retained the 210-hp (157-kW) motor of earlier marks. At the end of the war, many Proctors of the early marks were sold onto the civil market. The Mk IV soldiered on until the last was withdrawn in 1955. In 1945, a civil model derived from the Proctor IV was put into production as the Proctor 5. The RAF purchased four of these for use by air attachés. The final model of the line was the solitary Proctor 6 floatplane sold to the Hudson's Bay Company in 1946. |
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