WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War! 001073. F-16 demonstration accident report released LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- The pilot of an F-16 had insufficient altitude and excessive airspeed, preventing him from completing a maneuver during an aerial demonstration at the Kingsville Naval Air Station, Texas, air show, resulting in a fatal crash March 19. The pilot, Maj. Brison B. Phillips of the 78th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., was killed in the accident. Accident investigators concluded Phillips focused too much attention on ground references, leading him to begin what is known as the Split-S maneuver from a position in which it could not be safely completed. The crash occurred six minutes into the demonstration. Strong winds and a complex and unfamiliar ground environment were likely contributing factors, according to the Accident Investigation Board report released today. Strong winds required Phillips to adjust parameters to prevent being shifted away from the show line. Additionally, investigators believe it may have been difficult for him to remain oriented to the show line at the Kingsville airfield with its multiple and crossing runways. These factors contributed to Phillips' intense focus on ground references and his failure to note his altitude before beginning the Split-S, concluded investigating officials. According to the accident report, Phillips was a highly experienced pilot with more than 1,898 hours in the F-16 and 339.9 hours of combat time. He was highly qualified and an excellent pilot and instructor who demonstrated exceptional maturity and professionalism. He was current and qualified in all areas of the demonstration mission. (Courtesy of ACC News Service) 001076. Heed warnings, Cohen urges troops in Japan, Korea by Linda D. Kozaryn American Forces Press Service SYDNEY, Australia, (AFPN) -- Defense Secretary William S. Cohen urged U.S. military personnel in Okinawa, Japan and South Korea to heed warnings regarding local anti-American sentiments. Cohen said tensions are high in Okinawa due to an incident involving the alleged molestation of a schoolgirl by a U.S. Marine and the coming G-8 summit." "I think there are likely to be more rallies and so forth to try to impress upon the G-8 leaders the concerns of the Okinawan people," he said. The world's top economic powers, the Group of Eight meet July 21 in Okinawa. Member nations are the United States, France, Britain, Japan, Canada, Germany, Russia and Italy. Cohen noted that there have been no indications of violence in connection with the anti-American protests in Okinawa. But, he said, defense officials are watching the situation closely. Anti-Americanism is not a widespread sentiment in Korea, Cohen said. President Kim Dae-jung has already indicated U.S. troops will remain indefinitely, even if there is some kind of a unification or association" between North and South, he said. "During these times when there are fundamental changes under way, there are likely to be political sentiments expressed, and we just have to be cautious about them," Cohen said. U.S. troops deployed in Okinawa and in South Korea are fulfilling U.S. national security needs, he stressed. "This is fundamental to our forward-deployment strategy of helping to shape events so it's a national security issue for us." U.S. troops are also supporting the objectives of the host nation, he said. "We are there at the invitation and the will of the sovereign governments of Japan and South Korea and we intend to remain there." 001074. Reserve units pick up support of AEF 8 ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) -- Fighter pilots and air refuelers returned home and others took their places as Air Force Reserve Command continues to help enforce the no-fly zone over northern Iraq this summer. In mid-July, reservists from the 419th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and the 301st FW, Fort Worth, Texas, returned home from Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, with a combined force of eight F-16 fighter aircraft. At about the same time, air refueling crews and support people from the 927th Air Refueling Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., and the 940th ARW, Beale AFB, Calif., also wrapped up their Aerospace Expeditionary Force 8 deployment to Turkey. This was the first time these units participated in an AEF deployment, although all of them have been to Incirlik before in support of Operation Northern Watch. It was, however, the first time Reserve F-16s deployed with the LITENING II precision attack targeting system. With the new targeting pods, pilots are able to identify targets at long-range and drop extremely accurate, laser-guided weapons under a variety of conditions. "When we deployed (in May) half of our pods were LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night ) and half were LITENING," said Lt. Col. Steve Arthur, deputy commander of the 301st FW's operations group. "We felt like we had drawn the lucky straw if we got to fly with the LITENTING system. It has more capability than the LANTIRN and makes it easier to find targets." During the second week of July, the 944th FW, Luke AFB, Ariz., and the 482nd FW, Homestead Air Reserve Station, Fla., each deployed four F-16 fighters, along with pilots, aircraft maintainers and support people to Incirlik. Unlike their Hill and Fort Worth predecessors, these F-16 pilots get to use the LITENING system exclusively. The 301st FW was the first Reserve unit to receive the pods in February, which are being purchased jointly with the Air National Guard. "Our maintenance effectiveness rate was high because the pods are new," said Arthur, commenting on his unit's deployment to Turkey. "It was fun to be the first in theater with the LITENING II's." Replacing the Selfridge and Beale reservists were five aircrews and support people from the 434th ARW, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind. They deployed in mid-July with three KC-135R aircraft to take the place of two Selfridge KC-135E's and one Beale KC-135E. The 513th Air Control Group, an associate unit that shares E-3 Sentry aircraft with an active-duty unit at Tinker AFB, Okla., deployed one of the airborne warning and control system aircraft and a crew to Incirlik in mid-July. Most of the F-16, KC-135 and E-3 unit members will remain overseas in two-week increments, with their units concluding their AEF 8 commitment in late August or early September. With more than 20 aircraft and hundreds of reservists deployed throughout the 90-day period, AEF 8 is the Reserve's most extensive operational support of the Expeditionary Aerospace Force program to date. (Courtesy of AFRC News Service) 001075. Virtual reality keeps combat controllers ready for mission by Tech. Sgt. Ginger Schreitmueller Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFPN) -- One of the primary missions of Air Force combat controllers is to survey and secure air drop or landing zones under the most difficult, and often hostile, conditions. These "Red Berets" function as air traffic controllers to safely guide military aircraft into and out of some of the most austere "runways" anywhere in the world. Without the luxury of a control tower, combat controllers are responsible for ensuring aircraft carrying troops and supplies can land safely to refuel or rearm, and get back airborne as quick as possible. Before the battle begins, before the signal goes up to seize an airfield, combat controllers have to be ready to handle the airflow. To keep their air traffic control skills proficient, Air Force Special Operations Command controllers can step into a virtual airfield. Located in a back room at the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, is the ultimate virtual-airfield system, and it is helping ensure controllers are ready for any airfield operation. The entire back wall of the room is filled with a tri-screen display that can reflect a peripheral image of virtually any airfield in the world. "The simulator can produce about 30 different scenarios with a combination of conventional air traffic control tasks and airfield tactics," said Tom Dorgan, the Lockheed Martin contract operator of the simulator. According to Dorgan, the simulator uses a combination of voice and visual image cues to give combat controllers as near-real world training as possible. "The images projected are as realistic as possible," he said. "Nearly every aircraft in the U.S. military inventory is programmed into the software, including the V-22 (Osprey). The program provides details down to the aircraft's shadow on the runway." The simulator can project a photographic or a three-dimensional polygonal image of an airfield. Along with the visual effects, there are equally realistic audio cues that help to immerse the controller into a realistic scenario. "The software and hardware is designed to translate voice commands from the controller into actions on the screen. The controller makes things happen, not the computer," he said. He explained that when the controller gives an aircrew a specific control instruction, he expects to hear certain voice responses. The control tower simulator system ensures the voice the controller hears in his headset is responding as any aircrew would. The system can simulate more than 60 different aircraft and crew voices at any one time. Normally, a single simulation will have up to 14 aircraft. Dorgan monitors the training scenarios and ensures commands the controller provides the computer-generated aircrews are reflected in the aircraft movement on screen. The entire package provides a solid, realistic mental and visual picture for the controller. "When a controller first walks into the room, he sees a big screen and may have a sense disbelief about the program. By projecting a seamless visual reality and adding true-to-life voice responses, the program lowers the threshold of disbelief for the controller. What he sees and hears is what he would expect in a real-world situation -- it's not a video game. "This is a virtual training tool for combat controllers. Air traffic control is a perishable core skill; if you don't work it every day bad things can happen when you need those skills. This ensures the controllers can stay current on those skills," he said. The Air Force's air traffic control technical school at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., uses a high-end version of the simulator built by Wesson International in Austin, Texas. The system at the 23rd STS is complemented by two others located at the 22nd STS at McChord AFB, Wash., and the 21st and 24th Special Tactics Squadrons at Pope AFB, N.C. These AFSOC-owned simulators are the only ones of their kind in the Air Force outside of the tech school environment. Since it can help controllers stay current on their ATC skills, the simulator receives a great deal of use throughout AFSOC, said Dorgan. "Controllers from across the command come here to use the simulator. We even provide training time for conventional air traffic controllers from Duke Field and Hurlburt Field's tower," he said. Combat controllers assigned to the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, schedule their 2-week active duty time to come to Hurlburt Field and train on the simulator. The exposure to a full-spectrum of air traffic control scenarios is a definite asset, according to the noncommissioned officer in charge of logistics for the 123rd STS. "From a personal perspective, the simulator is by far the best ATC experience," said Master Sgt. Bob VanAssen. "Most of the time out on a landing zone you don't get near as much air traffic as you do with the simulator. They can plug in a variety of emergency procedures and tactics that you can't get on day-to-day operations. It helps ensure that in a real-world event we're ready to handle what comes our way." VanAssen said the 123rd STS tries to get each of its 18 combat controllers to Hurlburt Field twice a year to get time on the simulator. Providing controllers a large variety of scenarios is one training benefit of the simulator. Along with the ability to project eight primary airfields on screen, an additional mission benefit is the ability to program in any airfield to the system. "With the right maps, we can plot any airfield in the world into the system in a matter of hours," said Dorgan. "This could provide the perfect pre-mission training for a controller. He'd be able to sit down in front of the simulator and familiarize himself with an airfield before he even arrives there. It can give a controller a greater knowledge level of a potential landing zone before he arrives at the real location. They can train to the airfield and train to the tactical mission without leaving Hurlburt Field." Controllers with varying skill levels are put to the test on the simulator, said Dorgan, though there is no pass or fail score. "This is not a rated training program. It's designed to enhance training; it provides controllers a greater sense of the scope of their responsibilities and allows them to see how well they can handle the pressures all within the safety of the simulator," he said. The simulator software was originally developed for the FAA. "If a controller gives a bad command, the simulator lets it happen. But, then we can stop the program and talk about what went wrong. The end result is that the controllers are provided a sense of confidence in their skills, an affirmation of their abilities and direction for improvements, if needed," said Dorgan. 001075a.gif and 001075a.jpg The air traffic control simulator has three large screens projecting near-real images to produce highly realistic scenarios of air traffic control tasks and airfield tactics. (Photo by Senior Airman Neil Lynch) 001075a.gif and 001075a.jpg Staff Sgt. Richard Driggers, a combat controller assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla., hones his air traffic control skills on the ATC simulator. The simulator is one of three owned by Air Force Special Operations Command and they are the only ATC simulators in the Air Force outside of technical training school environment. (Photo by Senior Airman Neil Lynch) 001077. Thomas McGuire, Buzz Aldrin enshrined in National Aviation Hall of Fame by Staff Sgt. Michael O'Connor 305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. (AFPN) -- Maj. Thomas McGuire Jr. and astronaut Buzz Aldrin were recognized July 15 in Dayton, Ohio, for their achievements and contributions to air and space at the 39th National Aviation Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony. McGuire and Aldrin, both former Air Force pilots and natives of New Jersey, will join a prestigious list of pilots, teachers, scientists, engineers, inventors and others already enshrined into the NAHF. The NAHF, established in 1962, has enshrined 166 aviation pioneers and was incorporated as a national entity by an act of Congress in 1964. President Lyndon Johnson signed the act into law on July 14 that same year, formally granting the NAHF a national charter. Some of those aviation pioneers include: Orville and Wilbur Wright, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, James Doolittle, Chuck Yeager and Alan Sheppard. It's been nearly 97 years since Orville Wright flew the first heavier-than-air, machine powered flight in the history of the world, said Gerald White, 305th Air Mobility Wing historian. Millions of Americans have come and gone since then -- designing, building and flying all types of aircraft and spacecraft. "McGuire's enshrinement into the NAHF is very important," said the historian. "This puts him up there with aviation giants like Curtis LeMay, John Glenn, Donald Douglas and Burt Rutan, who've expanded the boundaries of what aviation can do in service to America and mankind. To be one of only 170 men and women to receive this honor makes it even rarer than those who've received the Medal of Honor." McGuire, a native of Ridgewood, whose memory was preserved by the naming of McGuire Air Force Base in September 1949, earned his wings in February 1942 after leaving Georgia Tech University to enlist in the Army Air Corps. After completing a tour in Alaska, he transferred to the P-38 equipped 475th Fighter Group in the Pacific combat theater. While striving to overtake fellow 475th ace Dick Bong for the most victories in aerial combat at 40, McGuire achieved 38 victories, making him the second leading ace in Air Force history. McGuire was killed in combat in January 1945, posthumously receiving the Medal of Honor for his valor. Aldrin, a native of Montclair, an Air Force Sabre Jet combat pilot in Korea and a Military Institute of Technology graduate, is best known for his contributions to space exploration since becoming a NASA astronaut in 1963. One notable mission was Gemini 12 with James Lovell in 1966 when they linked up with an Agena satellite. Aldrin performed a record 5.5-hour space walk. He also flew on Apollo 11 with crewmates Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins. Aldrin became the second man to step foot on the moon. Eugene Cernan of Illinois and Laurence Craigie of New Hampshire join McGuire and Aldrin in the "Class of 2000" to be enshrined for their numerous achievements and contributions to flight. For more information, photos, or details about the NAHF, visit http://www.nationalaviation.org/. (Courtesy of AMC News Service) *COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] Want to be on our lists? 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