http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/f18/ en-us Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:11:41 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2273316/posts House defense authorizers are pressing Defense Secretary Robert Gates to consider buying existing fighter jets instead of the next-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to curtail a severe fighter jet shortfall in the Air Force National Guard. During a House Armed Services Committee markup of the 2010 defense authorization bill on Tuesday, lawmakers raised alarm that aircraft shortfalls could present significant challenges to the Air Force’s ability to protect domestic airspace. At press time, lawmakers had included an amendment sponsored by Reps. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.) and Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) that would force Gates to consider buying F-15, F-16 and F-18 aircraft... The Hill http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2273316/posts#comment Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:11:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2177030/posts Northrop Grumman has delivered its 400th fuselage section for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the U.S. Navy's combat-proven multi-role strike fighter. The fuselage "shipset," measuring nearly 30 feet long and 18 feet high, consists of the aircraft's center and aft fuselage sections, twin vertical tails and all associated subsystems. It was shipped earlier this month to The Boeing Company's F/A-18 production center in St. Louis, Mo., for final assembly and delivery to the Navy. As principal F/A-18E/F subcontractor to Boeing, Northrop Grumman is responsible for design and production of the entire center and aft fuselage as well as subsystems integration and... SpaceWar http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2177030/posts#comment Tue, 3 Feb 2009 00:24:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2146363/posts The man who on Monday lost his wife, two daughters and mother-in-law in the San Diego jet fighter crash says he doesn't blame the pilot, who "did everything he could" to avoid the disaster. Don Yoon, 37, yesterday visited the remains of his home in the suburb of University City. His Cather Avenue house was completely destroyed when a F/A-18D Hornet lost power in both engines while trying to land at nearby Miramar Marine Corps Air Station. The pilot - named as Lt Dan Neubauer of Marine Corps Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 - ejected safely, suffering only minor injuries... The Register (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2146363/posts#comment Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:05:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2145932/posts SAN DIEGO - A Korean immigrant who lost his wife, two children and mother-in-law when a Marine Corps jet slammed into the family's house said Tuesday he did not blame the pilot, who ejected and survived. "Please pray for him not to suffer from this accident," a distraught Dong Yun Yoon told reporters gathered near the site of Monday's crash of an F/A-18D jet in San Diego's University City community. "He is one of our treasures for the country," Yoon said in accented English punctuated by long pauses while he tried to maintain his composure. "I don't blame him. I... CNN.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2145932/posts#comment Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:32:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2145084/posts (CBS/AP) An F-18 military jet crashed in a San Diego neighborhood on Monday, sparking at least one house fire. It wasn't immediately clear whether anyone was injured, said Maurice Luque, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. Television news footage showed one house and two cars on fire. Fire crews were at the scene of the crash, which occurred near Interstate 805, reports CBS affiliate KFMB in San Diego. The plane crashed shortly before noon Monday as it prepared to land at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, said Ian Gregor, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman. The crash occurred two... (CBS/AP) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2145084/posts#comment Mon, 8 Dec 2008 21:11:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2128821/posts Ten F/A-18 Hornet fighter-attack jets have been grounded after inspections of the wings revealed cracks near a critical flight control surface, The Virginian-Pilot reported Saturday. Two of the planes were among the 112 deployed overseas, Lt. Clay Doss, a Navy spokesman, told the newspaper. The report didn’t specify where the Hornets are assigned. Of the 476 planes inspected, 10 had defects serious enough to force their grounding, the Navy said. Another 20 planes will remain in service pending repairs, but their use would be limited. According to the newspaper, the cracked surfaces were found in hinges that control the movement... Stars and Stripes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2128821/posts#comment Sun, 9 Nov 2008 17:13:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030884/posts FALLON, Nev. — A pilot was missing after two U.S. Navy jets flying a routine training mission collided Friday over northern Nevada's high desert about 50 miles east of the Fallon Naval Air Station. Two pilots safely ejected from an F-5 Tiger and were rescued, but the pilot of an F/A-18C Hornet was missing, said Zip Upham, public affairs officer for the base. The two aircraft collided about noon Friday near the town of Middlegate, some 110 miles east of Reno, Upham said. The cause of the crash was under investigation, he said. The pilots in the two-seater F-5 Tiger... FoxNews.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030884/posts#comment Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:10:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2025270/posts 1st week in May 2008, Western Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Guam, USA -- Two USN F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets intercept the low flying USAF B-52 Stratofortress heavy bomber as it performs a rigging maneuver to identify the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68).Large, medium, and the above smaller photo via http://ChamorroBible.org/gpw/gpw-20050822.htm (photo 5). The Story Navy, Air Force train together to showcase capabilities By Staff Sgt. Stephen Teel, 36th Wing Public Affairs, Andersen AFB, Guam, USA http://www.GuamPDN.com/guampublishing/pacificedge/data/EkEkEFulppeoOcKtLi.htm ChamorroBible.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2025270/posts#comment Tue, 3 Jun 2008 12:43:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2021790/posts ILA 2008: Indian bids add spice With India prominently labelled as the show’s ‘official partner country’, the importance of the Indian market, and the growing power of India’s aerospace industry is being underlined and highlighted at Schoenefeld. Jon Lake reports With the recent, long awaited release of a $10 billion request for proposals (RFP), India’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition is hotting up, and the main contenders are all present at Berlin, doubtless hoping to impress and persuade India that theirs is the best choice as India’s next fighter. Originally launched as the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) requirement, the... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2021790/posts#comment Tue, 27 May 2008 07:55:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2015584/posts Now Navy wants Super Hornets too It Is now sufficiently clear that the Indian Navy wants to be able to use the air force’s assets of war. In a revelation so far kept under wraps, the Navy has asked Boeing a contender for India’s $10-billion tender for 126 air force fighters if the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet can operate off the INS Vikramaditya, the rechristened Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov currently being refurbished in Russia for the Indian Navy. None of the fighters in the IAF’s existing fleet have the capability to operate from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Boeing’s... The Hindustan Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2015584/posts#comment Wed, 14 May 2008 01:29:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013049/posts It was particularly memorable, Craig Williams said, the night he almost died.Williams, 44, is a Concord resident, and, among many other accomplishments, is a former federal prosecutor and the endorsed Republican candidate for the 7th Congressional seat, U.S. Congress, House of Representatives. The year of his near death was 1991, it was the dead of winter and he was flying across the icy North Atlantic with his squadron, the VMFA(AW)-121 Green Knights. He was a first lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, flying as a Weapons and Sensor Officer in the back seat of a two-seater F/A-18D Hornet, on... Press Newspapers http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013049/posts#comment Thu, 8 May 2008 15:11:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2007903/posts NEW DELHI: US civil and defence aerospace major Boeing has decided to outsource two critical components of the F-18 Super Hornet combat aircraft to India and the order for one of them could go to the Tatas. Lt Gen Jeffrey B. Kohler, Boeing vice president for international strategy, told the India Strategic defence magazine that as a “responsible world player in aerospace, Boeing wanted a long-term, trusted partnership with India and that the orders for these two components are being placed now irrespective of whether or not the company wins the tender for 126 Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA).” Both... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2007903/posts#comment Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:11:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1986898/posts Australia drops threat to cancel US jet fighter contract The Associated Press Monday, March 17, 2008 CANBERRA, Australia: Australia's government Monday withdrew its threat to cancel a $4.6 billion contract to buy 24 U.S.-manufactured Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters, after accusing the previous administration of entering the deal for political reasons. Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon announced the sale would go ahead after a review by Australian officials of the plane's capability. ... "The new government is satisfied that the Super Hornet is an aircraft with significant capability and more than capable of meeting all of Australia's defense needs," Fitzgibbon told... International Herald Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1986898/posts#comment Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:28:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1968808/posts 2/11/2008 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Feb. 10, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs conducted shows of force over an enemy compound near Sangin and over a coalition-forces convoy in the vicinity of Tarin Kowt. The shows of force were conducted in order to deter enemy activities in the areas. The missions were declared successful by the on-scene joint terminal attack controller. In Bari Kowt, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles conducted... Air Force Link http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1968808/posts#comment Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:48:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1949758/posts WASHINGTON (AP) - Two U.S. Navy fighter jets plunged into the Persian Gulf Monday, after what initial reports suggest was a mid-air collision, a defense official said. All three pilots ejected safely from the planes and were headed back to the USS Harry Truman, the aircraft carrier they were operating from, according to the official, who requested anonymity because the information was preliminary and not yet released publicly. No other details or the crash were released. One of the F-18 jets that crashed held two pilots, the other held just one. The crash occurred at about 1 p.m. EST. AP via Breitbart http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1949758/posts#comment Mon, 7 Jan 2008 19:20:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1935973/posts U.S. fighter bids for India hit tech-transfer snag Thu Dec 6, 2007 2:06pm EST By Jim Wolf WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A split in the Pentagon over how much cutting-edge technology to share with India is complicating bids by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Boeing Co (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) for a potential $10 billion fighter jet contract. At issue, among other things, is advanced radar know-how India wants as part of any deal for the 126 new fighter jets it plans to buy from one of six global aerospace powerhouses, say current and former Pentagon officials. Detailed... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1935973/posts#comment Fri, 7 Dec 2007 04:10:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1922281/posts A training bomb fell accidentally from a Navy plane in California on the same day one dropped near a busy road in Virginia Beach, Navy officials confirmed Tuesday. Both incidents involved F/A-18 Hornets and an inert, 10-pound bomb called BDU-48. The bomb, which releases only smoke on impact, fell into a commercial area along London Bridge Road. No one was injured, and there was little damage. The plane was returning to Oceana Naval Air Station from a North Carolina bombing range. That same day - Oct. 30 - a BDU-48 fell off a Hornet based at Lemoore Naval Air Station... The Virginian-Pilot http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1922281/posts#comment Wed, 7 Nov 2007 16:12:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1921444/posts WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A mandatory grounding of Air Force F-15s has been expanded to cover those flying combat missions over Afghanistan after a crash in Missouri last week, Air Force officials said Monday. The F-15Es in Afghanistan can fly only in emergency situations to protect U.S. and coalition troops in a battle, according to Maj. John Elolf, a spokesman for the U.S. Air Force Central Command. Maj. Cristin Marposon, an Air Force spokeswoman, told The Associated Press the country's fleet of 676 F-15s, including mission critical jets, was grounded on November 3 for "airworthiness concerns" after the crash of an... cnn.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1921444/posts#comment Tue, 6 Nov 2007 01:46:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1918580/posts VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The Navy said a small, inert training bomb fell Tuesday from an F/A-18C Hornet fighter jet that was heading to Oceana Naval Air Station. No one was hurt. The Navy said in a statement that the bomb hit a wall adjacent to a warehouse in the resort city of Virginia Beach. Minimal damage was reported. The aircraft was returning to Oceana following a training mission at the Navy's bombing range in Dare County, N.C., when it dropped the bomb. The jet landed safely at Oceana. -snip- News Observer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1918580/posts#comment Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:08:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1899419/posts Australia 'cracked US codes' By Don Woolford September 20, 2007 04:23pm KIM Beazley has told how Australia cracked top-secret American combat aircraft codes while he was defence minister in the 1980s. "We spied on them and we extracted the codes," Mr Beazley told Parliament during his valedictory speech today. Mr Beazley, who was defence minister from 1984 to 1990, said that when he took over the job he soon learned that the radar on Australia's Hornets could not identify most potentially hostile aircraft in the region. In other words, Australia's frontline fighter could not shoot down enemies in the region.... news.com.au http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1899419/posts#comment Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:05:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1892951/posts Front PageIAF Jaguars ‘sink’ USS Nimitz, F-18s return the favour to INS Viraat Manu Pubby Posted online: Saturday, September 08, 2007 at 0000 hrs Malabar Exercise: From tracking nuclear submarines to managing 200 aircraft and taking on deep-sea terror threat, five Navies cover sweeping range of maritime operations ON BOARD USS Kitty Hawk (150 miles west of Port Blair), September 7: As the small green dots approached closer on the radar screen, the Indian officer sitting deep inside USS Nimitz knew it was too late to save the ship. Jaguar maritime fighters of the Indian Air Force (IAF), operating from... The Indian Express http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1892951/posts#comment Sat, 8 Sep 2007 04:12:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1889912/posts http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a04_1188112290 liveleak http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1889912/posts#comment Sat, 1 Sep 2007 18:03:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1843393/posts The term "joint operations" in todays military is thought of American service members carrying out missions with service members from different branches of the U.S. military or coalition partners working together. For two units, one in Japan and the other in the Republic of Korea, joint operations went in a different direction as the mission wasn't against one adversary force but against each other. Marine Corps aviators stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan flew simulated combat mission against opposing forces, commonly referred to as Red Air, pilots from 80th Fighter Squadron here. The 80th FS deployed to Iwakuni... f-16.net http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1843393/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jun 2007 23:50:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1838531/posts Ever wondered what happens when a fast jet has a blow out on landing? Here's one less pilot who can stop wondering, as this video shows him doing just that, complete with a classy skid to bring things to a close. flightglobal.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1838531/posts#comment Wed, 23 May 2007 17:26:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1829403/posts My son was able to attend the Air and Sea show today in Ft. Lauderdale FL. The link is to the Flikr slideshow containing his pictures. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1829403/posts#comment Mon, 7 May 2007 02:52:45 GMT