Israeli forces operating in southern Syria have recovered a key component of an Israeli Air Force (IAF) helicopter that crashed more than half a century ago. The discovery, announced on Dec. 23, brings a sense of closure to a tragic incident from the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The recovered part is the rotor head of an SA 321 Super Frelon helicopter, known in the IAF as the “Wasp”. This particular aircraft, designated number 17 in the IAF’s 114th Squadron, was involved in a deadly crash on Apr. 27, 1974, during a rescue mission.
Photo: Israel Defense Forces
Continue reading “Israeli troops in Syria recover rotor head of 1974 crash”
Category: Air Force
Ebbing ANGB welcomes first Polish F-35s, kicking off multinational training program
Poland’s first two Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs aircraft arrived at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on Dec. 23. This event initiates a new chapter in the F-35 Foreign Military Sales training program.
aircraft at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort SMith, Arkansas on December 23, 2024. This marks a significant milestone in the Foreign Military Sales training program and highlights the strong partnership between the U.S. and Poland. The aircraft’s arrival will kickstart Polish pilot training at Ebbing ANGB, beginning in January 2025. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by A1C Miles Chrisman)
Continue reading “Ebbing ANGB welcomes first Polish F-35s, kicking off multinational training program”
Breitling Jet Team L-39s find new life training fighter pilots
Babcock International Group has acquired 11 Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros jet trainers from Apache Aviation to support a new fighter pilot training academy in Dijon, France. The academy will offer several programs, including training for aspiring fighter pilots, certification of L-39 pilot instructors, retraining for already qualified fighter pilots, and training for pilots and advanced controllers in close air support missions.
Photo: Babcock
Continue reading “Breitling Jet Team L-39s find new life training fighter pilots”
Canopy open: USAF restarts competition for F-16 escape system
The U.S. Air Force is restarting the competition to select a new ejection seat for its F-16 fighter fleet. This unexpected move comes after the service initially awarded a sole-source contract for the Next-Generation Ejection Seat (NGES) program to Collins Aerospace in 2020.
Continue reading “Canopy open: USAF restarts competition for F-16 escape system”
Legend” lands for good: Instructor pilot retires with 10,000 hours
Lt. Col. Bob Volpe, call sign “Legend,” retired from active duty on Apr. 12, after an extraordinary U.S. Air Force career. Volpe’s career was marked by an incredibly rare achievement: he logged over 10,000 flight hours. This milestone, seldom reached by pilots in the Air Force, solidifies Volpe’s place in aviation history.
Continue reading “Legend” lands for good: Instructor pilot retires with 10,000 hours”