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Aviation News

Category: Air Force

Two C-17s were assigned as search-and-rescue aircraft for SpaceX’s manned mission

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Two C-17s were fitted with the Lightweight Airborne Radio System (LARS), a radio to locate and recover personnel in denied territory, during SpaceX’s manned mission to the International Space Station.

U.S. Space Force Capt. Richard Burges, Task Force 45 Support Operations Center training officer and military liaison, connects a Lightweight Airborne Radio System to a C-17 Globemaster III November 13, 2020, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The aircraft was prepped for a contingency rescue operation, ready to rescue the first full crew of astronauts as they traveled to the International Space Station through NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier)

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MC-130J ferries HIMARS to Romania for live-firing exercise within same day

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A HIMARS Rapid Infiltration (HIRAIN) took place in Romania on Nov. 19 which saw two M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) with 2 launcher crews being deployed from Germany with help from 352nd Special Operations Wing.

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania — A Soldier from 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade inspects a M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) that was just off loaded from a C-130 during Exercise Rapid Falcon Nov. 19, 2020. This was 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment’s second live fire event since reactivation just 90 days ago and was the first time U.S. forces ever fired HIMARS from land into the Black Sea in cooperation with Romanian allies.

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Laughlin AFB testing 3K commercial refuelers

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A 90-day beta test has been running at Laughlin Air Force Base since October to assess the feasibility of using a 3K commercial refueler on the flight line.

Rudy Losoya, 47th Logistics Readiness Flight aircraft services, operates a 3K commercial refueler on the flight line, on Nov. 9, 2020, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. This vehicle saves up to a minute on the fueling process per plane. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David Phaff)
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Final class of Afghan A-29 pilots in U.S. graduates

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The final class of Afghan A-29 students pilots at Moody Air Force Base has graduated on Nov. 13.

Afghan Air Force student pilots assigned to the 81st Fighter Squadron watch a graduation ceremony Nov. 13, 2020, at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The 81st FS graduated its last class of Afghan A-29 Super Tucano student pilots. During a five-year span, the 81st FS has graduated more than 30 Afghan pilots and 70 Afghan maintenance technicians who have successfully completed the 13-month syllabus of the program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taryn Butler)

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