NAVAIR signs CH-53K LRIP Lot 4 contract for six rotorcraft Posted on October 28, 2020October 28, 2020 by alert5 Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has signed an approximately $550 million contract with Sikorsky Aircraft for six CH-53K helicopters under the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot 4 contract. The CH-53K King Stallion successfully plugs into a funnel-shaped drogue towed behind a KC-130J during aerial refueling wake testing over the Chesapeake Bay. Photo by Erik Hildebrandt. Continue reading “NAVAIR signs CH-53K LRIP Lot 4 contract for six rotorcraft”
U.S. Marines are using Ospreys to deploy oceanographic sensors Posted on October 22, 2020October 22, 2020 by alert5 This year’s Trident Warrior 20 exercise saw the U.S. Marine Corp deploy four oceanographic sensors from its MV-22Bs for the first time. U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, deploy an oceanographic sensor at the Pacific Ocean, Calif., Oct. 13, 2020. 3rd MAW builds capability, strength, trust, and resiliency in our Marine-Air-Ground-Task Force by providing the aviation command element for I Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Juan Anaya) Continue reading “U.S. Marines are using Ospreys to deploy oceanographic sensors”
VMA-311 to fly F-35C while VMA-214 will transition to F-35B from 2022 Posted on October 18, 2020 by alert5 VMA-311 will move to MCAS Miramar and fly the F-35C from spring of 2022, the unit conducted a sundown ceremony at MCAS Yuma on Oct. 15. U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Keith Bucklew, commanding officer of Marine Attack Squadron 311, taxis down the flightline in an AV-8B Harrier II assigned to VMA-311, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, during his last flight at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 14, 2020. The last flight is a significant event for every pilot and is celebrated by spraying the pilot and aircraft with water. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Julian Elliott-Drouin) Continue reading “VMA-311 to fly F-35C while VMA-214 will transition to F-35B from 2022”
Marines have started to remove parts of KC-130J that crash landed in Thermal Posted on October 11, 2020 by alert5 The wings and engines of the KC-130J, BuNo. 16-6765, that crash landed on a field in Thermal on Sept. 29 have been removed last week. Continue reading “Marines have started to remove parts of KC-130J that crash landed in Thermal”