XBradTC

Everyone has their own name for the series of conflicts spinning off from the waxing of the most radical interpretation of Sunni Islamic Extremism, but with each passing incident, I become more and more comfortable with “The Long War.”

At its core, this is a religious war, and those wars last the longest time as you are not fighting primarily for land, resources, power, or ego – but for ideas and the pursuit of a home for your immortal soul. Many are not comfortable with that concept, but they need to get over it. Regardless of what your motivations are, if any; if you are being attacked by someone motivated by a religion, then you are part of a religious war.

via blog.usni.org

As always, read the whole thing.

And like the pros they are, stay completely calm. 

A historic airplane has returned to the skies as Columbine II, a 1948 Lockheed C-121A Constellation that holds the claim to fame of being the very first airplane to be called Air Force One, took off yesterday from the Marana Regional Airport in Marana, Arizona, where it has been parked since 2003.

After being available for sale for several years, the airplane was purchased last year by Bridgewater, Virginia-based Dynamic Aviation. The company, with help from Mid America Flight Museum, has brought Columbine II back to life.

via www.flyingmag.com

A fantastic achievement bringing the VC-121 back to life.

Well done!

Comedian Eddie Izzard has today completed his amazing 700-mile Sport Relief challenge and described running 27 marathons in 27 days as the 'hardest thing he's ever done'.

The 54-year-old finished his gruelling challenge under a giant statue of Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa, this afternoon after completing a whopping two marathons in one day.

After crossing the line to cheers, applause and chants of 'Eddie, Eddie, Eddie', the comic swigged champagne from the bottle in celebration at completing the 707-mile challenge in blistering heat.

via www.dailymail.co.uk

I'm no particular fan of Izzard, but this is a rather stunning accomplishment. And raising something like 1.6 million dollars for charity.

Seriously, I'd get tired driving 26 miles a day.

ALBUQUERQUE, March 24 (UPI) — Raytheon has received a U.S Air Force contract to update an electronic warfare payload for cruise missiles.

The system is a non-kinetic package known as CHAMP — Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile — which will disrupt enemy electronic systems and will be carried by Conventional Air-Launched Cruise Missiles, or CALCMs.

via www.upi.com

This would appear to be a technology demonstration contract, rather than a contract for an operational weapon.

The first thought that pops into my head is that an EMP weapon would make a fine Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) tool. If you can shut down the radars and information networks of an enemy Integrated Air Defense System (IADS), you're way ahead of the game. Heck, just degrading them a little gives you a lot of options.

Ever since I built a model of the Grumman F7F Tigercat way back in junior high, I've thought it was one of the sexiest airplanes ever. 

I've been to the fantastic Palm Springs Air Museum probably a half a dozen times over the last few years, and finally decided to volunteer there. As the very nice lady conducting my interview showed me around, I happened to notice they have a small display tucked to one side of various types of ammunition. 

Of course, they have the usual suspects, such as .30cal belts, and .50cal of course, and even 20mm. What was a tad surprising to find was a complete collection of 25mm ammo, including TP-T, TPDS-T, HEI-T, and APFSDS-T. 

Now, I suspect they've been demilled (at least I sure hope the HEI-T has been), but let's face it, 25mm is a bit odd to find in an air museum. 

The 40mm made a bit more sense (even if it was for the 40mm/70 rather than the more common WWII 40mm/60).

The F-35 remains understandably controversial and you can get a lot of opinions in the negative about it. Those critics seem to be jusst about everywhere in the mainstream and defenders seem to be on the fringes. Chief amongst those are Pierre Sprey. An outspoken critic of the F-35, Mr Sprey, portends to be a "designer" of the F-16 and F-15, but we'll leave aside for now.

Most of the F-35s problems are taken out of context by people that don't understand the nature of air combat or for that matter how fighter aircraft performance is measured. Most that understand it are seen as shills for LMTAS or the USAF or whoever. I've been in quite a few of these debates and was told that evidently I'm a paid shill for the F-35 myself. Good to know because I've been waiting a while for my check from both the DoD and LMTAS.

Anyway someone took sometime to rebut Mr Sprey and discuss the history of the F-35 Program.

Most of the issues the author tackles I've already discussed in numerous Facebook forums, other blogs etc. The video is an excellent sensible analysis of the program and provides a detailed history of the program till about the late 2015 timeframe.

Enjoy