Photos/Videos (NO DISCUSSION)

Probably venting, yeah. It's a pressure relief for the fuel tanks.

Very good stuff.

It looked like it could shoot lasers. It could not.

Even if it could not, it was a working helicopter. Not sure what problems kept it from being completed.

Stupid politicians: "Over the course of the Comanche's development, multiple government agencies would cut the number of helicopters to be ordered, especially on the basis that the Cold War had ended (the Peace Dividend), and this caused unit cost projections to rapidly climb, while led to the program encountering critics such as the Army Acquisition Executive James Ambrose, who had declared that the Army would not have an aircraft "costing a dollar over $7.5 million"

Unit cost of an apache ~ $20 million. :doh:

Rah-66 is one A/C I would be happy as a lark to see the Chinese copy.

Given the path that history has taken, canceling the Comanche program was an astonishingly wise move.

Besides, I'm curious to see what the Sikorsky S-97 Raider turns into.

Sikorsky S-67 Blackhawk crash

Having flown a total of 700 hours it was lost in a crash at Farborough on September 1, 1974, when it failed to complete an aerobatic maneuver. The co-pilot Stu Craig was killed instantly, the pilot Kurt Cannon died ten days later.

Sikorsky S-68 AARV project.

Piasecki 16H-1A Pathfinder II

Rafale pics

http://vanveken.blogspot.com/2011/09/rafale_27.html

Example

Night FAF Mirage.s. Suda AFB

If someone didn't see, look:

 

http://www.nmusafvirtualtour.com/full/tour-pkg.html

great tour, thank you for sharing !

Check out our fat lady at cold-war spot 76 :)

Leeuwarden 2011

http://vanveken.blogspot.com/2011/09/leeuwarden-2011.html

I have changed a photo album format, I hope, to all of you so it is more convenient.

Hunterfest 20.08.2011. some pics

http://vanveken.blogspot.com/2011/09/hawker-hunter-survivor-j-4086-hb-rvu.html

Example

IAF to receive 40 Advance Jet Trainers by 2016

Delivery of 40 Advance Jet Trainer (AJT) for Indian Air Force (IAF) and 17 for Indian Navy (IN) will begin from 2013 and is expected to be completed by 2016, government said Wednesday.

 

In his written reply to a question on purchase of AJTs in Rajya Sabha, Defence Minister A K Antony said, "In July 2010, government signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for procurement of additional 57 AJT. Of these, 40 are for IAF and 17 for Navy."

 

"Delivery of these aircraft will commence from 2013 and is expected to be completed by 2016," he said.

 

Informing the House on purchase of AJT from UK, Antony said, "In March 2004, government had signed a contract with BAE Systems and Rolls Royce Turbomeca UK for procurement of 24 Hawk AJTs and with HAL, Bengaluru for license manufacture of another 42 AJT under Transfer of Technology (ToT) for IAF."

 

All the 24 direct supply aircraft have been delivered by BAE Systems, while 28 out of 42 aircraft contracted with HAL have been delivered till July 2011.

 

Replying to a question on defence imports, Antony said, "Procurement of defence equipment is made from various indigenous as well as foreign sources to keep the forces in a state of readiness to meet any eventuality."

 

For more self-reliance in defence production, government announced Defence Production Policy (DPP) in Jan 2011 to ensure expeditious procurement of requirements of the forces in terms of capabilities sought and time-frame prescribed by optimal utilization of allocated budget, he said.

 

In his reply to a related question, Antony said between 2004 to 2011, Defence equipment have been imported from countries like US, Russia, Israel, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, South Africa, Ukraine, Italy, Singapore etc.

http://www.brahmand.com/news/IAF-to-receive-40-Advance-Jet-Trainers-by-2016/7784/1/10.html

US wants to honour Indian Air force Pilots for rescue of an American

US wants to honour Indian Air Force pilots of Leh based No. 114 Helicopter Unit (Siachen Pioneers), who had evacuated one American national Steven John Swenson from one of the most difficult glacier, named ‘Shupka Kunzang’ located at the base of Saser Kangri-II peak in the East Karakoram range of Ladakh region in India.

IAF spokesman said “US attache in New Delhi has sought permission to come to Leh to present a plaque to the 114 Helicopter Unit.”

We had reported the incident on 24 August 2011 in the report Indian Air Force evacuates American national from Shupka Kunzang glacier .

The rescue team comprised of Wg Cdr DC Tiwari, Flt Lt A Agrawal and Flt Lt A K Bharmoria, led by Wg Cdr S Srinivasan. The mission involved flying into unknown territory and landing at a density altitude of approximately 23000 ft over an inhospitable glacier. After assessing the landing site which was covered with snow and wide crevasses of the glacier, Wg Cdr S Srinivasan manoeuvered his helicopter to land in the restricted area with negligible reserve of power.

In a daring rescue mission, Indian Air Force pilots of Leh based No. 114 Helicopter Unit (Siachen Pioneers), evacuated one American national Steven John Swenson from one of the most difficult glacier, named ‘Shupka Kunzang’ located at the base of Saser Kangri-II peak in the East Karakoram range of Ladakh region in India.

On 26 Aug 11, an Indo-American team of mountaineers was braving the Saser Kangri-II peak, when one of the team members got seriously ill due to extremely high altitude. The team requested for an immediate air rescue through their organising agency & embassy.

HQ WAC pressed two helicopter rescue team of ‘Siachen Pioneers’ Squadron led by Wg Cdr S Srinivasan got airborne from Leh Air Force Base, within a matter of minutes. The rescue team which comprised Wg Cdr DC Tiwari, Flt Lt A Agrawal and Flt Lt A K Bharmoria, led by Wg Cdr S Srinivasan. The mission involved flying into unknown territory and landing at a density altitude of approximately 23000 ft over an inhospitable glacier. After assessing the landing site which was covered with snow and wide crevasses of the glacier, Wg Cdr S Srinivasan manoeuvered his helicopter to land in the restricted area with negligible reserve of power. Without wasting any time the

Air Commodore SP Wagle VM, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Leh on Tarmac after casualty evacuation of American national at Air Force Station Leh on August 26, 2011.

 

casualty was taken onboard while the second helicopter maintained a close vigil from the top. Mission leader described the criticality of mission; “in quickly locating casualty in the vast glaciated region and finding suitable landing spot close to the casualty are the most important”. He added “winds are peculiar in such regions and turbulence affects handling of the helicopter”.

 

In snow laden terrain and narrow confines of the valley, manoeuvering a helicopter is very challenging. High temperatures in the afternoon hours further increase difficulty level as air density reduces. All planned missions at such altitudes are undertaken at early hours of the day, when ambient temperatures are the lowest.

While the team of two helicopters was daring the glaciers, the Commanding Officer of Helicopter Unit monitored and guided his unit pilots throughout the mission ensuring that all necessary information and services worked in unison towards successful execution of this mission. Air Cmde S P Wagle VM, Air Officer Commanding Air Force Station Leh, personally supervised and coordinated the entire mission. He was on the tarmac as the two helicopters landed after the successful evacuation at 4:51PM. The casualty was transferred into a waiting ambulance, checked and stablised by the IAF medics and carried to General Hospital, Leh for further treatment. Mission Leader Wg Cdr S Srinivasan debriefed the crew in presence of the AOC and Commanding Officer – Wg Cdr UK Bhaduria. The AOC complimented the Commanding Officer and ‘boys’ for the job well done

P-8I Aircraft for Indian Navy Completes 1st Flight

29/09/2011

Boeing’s [NYSE: BA] first P-8I aircraft for the Indian Navy completed its initial flight today, taking off from Renton Field at 12:02 p.m. Pacific time and landing two hours and 31 minutes later at Boeing Field in Seattle.

During the flight, Boeing test pilots performed airborne systems checks including engine accelerations and decelerations and autopilot flight modes, and took the P-8I to a maximum altitude of 41,000 feet prior to landing. In the coming weeks Boeing will begin mission systems installation and checkout work on the aircraft at a company facility near Boeing Field.

“The P-8I program is progressing well and we are looking forward to this potent platform joining the Indian Navy as part of its fleet,” said Rear Adm. DM Sudan, assistant chief of Naval Staff (Air), Indian Navy.

 

P-8I Indian Navy B1.

 

“The P-8I will provide India with the necessary speed and reliability to satisfy the Indian Navy’s maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare requirements,” said Dinesh Keskar, Boeing India president.

 

Based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737 commercial airplane, the P-8I is the Indian Navy variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy. In order to efficiently design and build P-8 aircraft, the Boeing-led team is using a first-in-industry, in-line production process that draws on the company’s Next-Generation 737 production system.

“Flying the first P-8 for an international customer is a key milestone for our entire team,” said Leland Wight, Boeing P-8I program manager. “We have transitioned to P-8I production, and remain on track to deliver the first aircraft to the Indian Navy in 2013.”

The P-8I is the first of eight long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft Boeing is building for India as part of a contract awarded in January 2009. An option for four additional P-8I aircraft was included in the original contract.

The aircraft features open system architecture, advanced sensor and display technologies, and a worldwide base of suppliers, parts and support equipment.

Boeing is partnering with India’s leading technology and manufacturing companies to build a supply chain out of India. The company has opened a Research and Technology center in Bengaluru to collaborate with India’s technical talent for research in aero structures, materials and network systems. Boeing also has an Analysis & Experimentation Center (AEC) in Bangaluru, which in partnership with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) provides modeling, analysis capability and defense experimentation in support of the Indian Armed Forces.

Ecuadorian Dhruvs (Indian Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv)

Some pics of Libian crafts. Destroed by Rafale...

http://vanveken.blogspot.com/2011/09/blog-post_29.html

Peruvian Air Force

Chinese Z-9WZ

Some pics

http://vanveken.blogspot.com/2011/09/z-9wz.html

Example

IAF hopes to finalise M-MRCA deal, may induct Super Sukhois

Indian Air Force on Thursday said the commercial bids of two short listed vendors in the M-MRCA tender would be opened by middle of next month. Speaking at a function in New Delhi, Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne said, a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council will be held on October 7th where some of the issues are going to be discussed.

He said once those issued are cleared, hopefully by the middle of October, IAF should be in a position to open the bids. He was asked to comment on the acquisition schedule of these aircraft which are expected to be inducted in the IAF by 2014.

India is also expected to induct Super Sukhois or Stealth SU-30 MKI’s. The newer version may equip the existing orders of the SU-30 MKI which has been placed with Russia. The Super Sukhois are expected to be a counter to Chinese J-20, which is still in works. If inducted, the Super Sukhois will be deployed along the Chinese border

Is the z-9wz a licensed dolphin or an original design?

Also two of those collided not too long ago killing an important government official; rumor has it that she was a supporter of the terrorist group farc

PAGE 666.... AHHHHHHH!

PAGE 666.... AHHHHHHH!

See but it's cool on a Hawg. Rains down hell. hehe