Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Sunday, September 28, 2025
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Space Force HQ to move to Alabama.
The United States Space Force, the most junior, least needed, and most stupid branch of the American military, is moving to Huntsville, Alabama, in part because Donald Trump is demented vengeful twit.
Trump is responsible for the Space Farce in the first place, creating a new branch of the military for no sensible reason, by taking the Air Force Strategic Command, which did make sense, and making it its own branch of the military. At least initially, it's enlisted members were reassigned from the Air Force to the Farce. Officers may have been as well, but those officers in this role above the very senior level would have had little choice in any event.
The relocation from Colorado Springs will be expensive and may impair the ability of the Farce to perform its mission for a time.
President Biden really missed his chance and should have reassigned the Space Farce to the Air Force. Frankly, if I was President, at this point I'd reassign it to the Coast Guard and put the Coast Guard back in the Department of the Treasury, where it belongs. After commissioned Space Cadets resigned I might move it back to the Air Force.
Above the plains, under the clouds
Above the plains, under the clouds: A reporter and his pilot friend flew over southeastern Wyoming, above landmarks and empty quarters.
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Sunday, August 24, 2025
UFO's and Military Disinformation. You heard it here first.
Last year, the Defense Department released a report of its investigation of decades of claims that Washington was hiding what it knew about extraterrestrial life. The report found allegations of a coverup to be baseless.
In fact, a Wall Street Journal investigation reveals, the report itself amounted to a coverup—but not in the way the UFO conspiracy industry would have people believe.
The public disclosure left out the truth behind some of the foundational myths about UFOs: The Pentagon itself sometimes deliberately fanned the flames, in what amounted to the U.S. government targeting its own citizens with disinformation.
Wall Street Journal.
My guess is a that large majority of the recent reports fit into this category.
Monday, August 18, 2025
Lex Anteinternet: Saturday, August 18, 1945. The last American KIA ...
Lex Anteinternet: Saturday, August 18, 1945. The last American KIA ...:
Saturday, August 18, 1945. The last American KIA of World War Two. Anthony J. Marchione.
Sukarno became the first President of Indonesia.
A B-32, an obscure bomber that was a competitor of the B-29.
B-32 crewman Anthony J. Marchione became the last American to die in WWII when the B-32 he was flying in over Tokyo in a photography mission was attacked by Japanese fighter aircraft in spite of the Japanese surrender. The attack on the two B-32s followed an attack the prior day on B-32s in the same locality, which the bombers were investigating. Staff Sergeant Joseph Lacharite was severely wounded and would take years to recover from his injuries.
The plane he was on was named "Hobo Queen"
The Consolidated B-32 Dominator is an almost forgotten World War Two aircraft. A competitor with the B-29, it was produced as a fallback to the B-29, and plans to replace B-17s and B-24s with the Dominator were cancelled due to production delays. 118 were built.
Indian nationalist, who sided with the Japanese during the war, died at age 48 in an airplane crash in Formosa.
The Soviets invaded the Kuril Islands, which was certainly a questionable act given the Japanese having announced their surrender. The resulting Battle of Shumshu was the last battle of the Second World War.
On the other hand, Japanese forces on the Asian mainland continued to resist Soviet advances there, albeit ineffectively.
The Japanese government was clearly having trouble getting some forces to stand down.
Last edition:
Friday, August 17, 1945. The long trip of the U-977.
The Aerodrome: Union reps defy order, flights cancelled.
The Aerodrome: The Aerodrome: Canadian government intervenes in A...: The Aerodrome: Air Canada cancels flights (August 15) due to labo... : Air Canada is facing a flight attendants strike and is basically star...
Strike back on.
Sunday, August 17, 2025
The Aerodrome: Canadian government intervenes in Air Canada strike.
The Aerodrome: Air Canada cancels flights (August 15) due to labo...: Air Canada is facing a flight attendants strike and is basically starting to shut down.
The Canadian government forced the parties back to work.
Friday, August 15, 2025
Air Canada cancels flights (August 15) due to labor trouble.
Air Canada is facing a flight attendants strike and is basically starting to shut down.
Saturday, August 9, 2025
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Lex Anteinternet: Sunday, August 5, 1945. Enola Gay and Necessary Evil
Lex Anteinternet: Sunday, August 5, 1945. Enola Gay and Necessary E...:
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Sunday, August 5, 1945. Enola Gay and Necessary Evil.
The 20th Air Force dropped 720,000 leaflets over twelve Japanese cities. Conventional bombing raids continued.
Gen. LeMay officially confirmed the atomic mission for the next day.
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Paul Tibbets named the lead plane in the Hiroshima bombing mission the Enola Gay, after his mother. This was done over the objection of the planes normal designated pilot, Robert Lewis, who wanted to name the plane "The Pearl Harbor," "The Avenger," or "The USS Indianapolis". Lewis also wasn't happy about being moved to the co-pilot's seat for the mission.
Lewis would return to civilian life after the war, and died in 1983 at age 65.
The B-29 that would take photos on the mission would be named Necessary Evil. It featured, as many plans did, a buxom woman, albeit one clothed in a bikini, as nose art.
The Chinese 13th Army captured the town of Tanchuk. The Chinese 58th Division took Hsinning (Changchun).
Paul Ferdonet, the "Radio Traitor" of Stuttgart, was executed in France.
His pro Nazi broadcast had actually dwindled after 1942.
Oddly enough, today would have been Loni Anderson' birthday. She passed away yesterday.
Last edition:
Saturday, August 4, 1945. Tibbets briefs his crew.
Friday, August 1, 2025
Lex Anteinternet: Sunday, August 1, 1915. Max Immelmann shot down h...
Lex Anteinternet: Sunday, August 1, 1915. Max Immelmann shot down h...:
Sunday, August 1, 1915. Max Immelmann shot down his first aircraft.
Max Immelmann shot down his first aircraft.
Like most of the famous aces, he didn't survive the war.
Irish nationalist Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa was buried at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin. Patrick Pearse delivered a graveside speech including the phrase "Ireland unfree shall never be at peace".
The Endurance broke up.
Last edition:
Saturday, July 31, 1915. The Russians.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Roads to the Great War: Our Favorite World War One Aviation Novels
Roads to the Great War: Our Favorite World War One Aviation Novels: From the Staff and Contributors of Roads to the Great War Order * HERE Order * Here Order * HERE Order HERE Order HERE Order HERE Order ...
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Lex Anteinternet: Thursday, July 1, 1915. Synchronization Gear.
Lex Anteinternet: Thursday, July 1, 1915. Synchronization Gear.:
Thursday, July 1, 1915. Synchronization Gear.
South African forces under Louis Botha defeated German colonial forces at the Battle of Otavi in German South West Africa with assistance from Canada, Great Britain, Portugal and Portuguese Angola.
The Battle of Gully Ravine started at Gallipoli. Two Victoria Cross awards would occur due to today's actions.
German fighter pilot Kurt Wintgens became the first person to shoot down a plane using a machine gun equipped with synchronization gear, starting the "Fokker Scourge".
Of the event, he wrote:
Dear Karl:
Unfortunately I gave you the wrong address last time, for during my voyage to Mühlhausen I got a different destination and for the time being I am with the Bavarian (unit) Abteilung 6b. Up to now nothing of real interest happened. In Mannheim I had tested the machine and then from Strasbourg by air to the Front, where lately a (Morane) Parasol fighter monoplane à la Garros had made its presence felt.
I had flown to the Front a couple of times without seeing an opponent, until yesterday evening when the big moment came. Time: 6:00 o'clock. Place: east of Lunéville. Altitude: between 2,000 and 2,500 m. Suddenly I notice a monoplane in front of me, about 300 m higher. And at the same moment he had already dived in front of me, fiercely firing his machine gun decently. But as I, at once, dived in an opposite direction under him, he missed wildly. After four attacks I reached his altitude in a large turn, and now my machine gun did some talking. I attacked at such a close distance that we looked each other into the face.
After my third attack he did the most stupid thing that he could do – he fled. I turned the crate on the spot and had him at once, beautifully, in my (gun)sight. Rapid fire for about four seconds, and down went his nose. I could follow him until 500 meters, then, unfortunately, I was fired upon from the ground too hotly; the fight (now) being far over the French lines. Hopefully, I'll soon meet a biplane.
Cordial greetings and so long,
Your friend,
— Kurt"
He'd be killed in action in September, 1916.
The US Navy started the Office of Naval Aeronautics.
The United States Forest Service combined the Jemez National Forest and Pecos National Forest in northern New Mexico to establish the Santa Fe National Forest, which luckily for us today was not hacked up to be sold by Sen. Mike Lee.
The Moapa National Forest was absorbed into the Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada, which fortunately Mike Lee has to keep his hands off of for the time being.
New York City established in the Child Welfare Board.
Blues great Willie Dixon was born.
Last edition:
Wednesday, June 30, 1915. Armenian massacre.
Lex Anteinternet: Monday, June 30, 1975. Changes in the Service.
Lex Anteinternet: Monday, June 30, 1975. Changes in the Service.:
Monday, June 30, 1975. Changes in the Service.
Women could no longer be involuntarily discharged from the United States Armed Forces as a result of pregnancy, by orders of the U.S. Secretary of Defense.
30 June 1975: The last operational Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport in service with the United States Air Force, 43-49507, was retired and flown to the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
This Day In Aviation.
Last edition:
June 28, 1975. Death of Rod Serling.
Labels: 1970s, 1975, Health, In Memoriam, Paratroopers, Personalities, Smoking, television, The written word, tobacco, World War Two
Thursday, June 26, 2025
WSGS Releases Public Information Circular on Airborne Geophysics in Wyoming
Wyoming State Geological Survey
June 26, 2025
******FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE******
Media Contact:
Bryce Tugwell, Media and
Communications Manager
bryce.tugwell@wyo.gov
Wyoming State Geological Survey
Office: (307) 745-2236
Cell: (307) 703-0761
WSGS Releases Public Information
Circular on Airborne Geophysics in Wyoming
LARAMIE, Wyo. — A new publication from the Wyoming State Geological Survey
(WSGS) discusses recent acquisition of airborne magnetic, radiometric, and
electromagnetic surveys in Wyoming. Geophysical surveys are key tools for
geological mapping, mineral exploration, evaluating geological hazards, and
better understanding the distribution of groundwater in the subsurface.
“I can’t emphasize enough the
importance of these baseline, high-quality, publicly available geophysical
data,” says WSGS Director and State Geologist Dr. Erin Campbell. “With the
completion of these surveys, approximately 20 percent of Wyoming will be covered
by Rank 1 data that will allow for interpretation of the framework geology,
furthering our understanding of the geologic structure and mineralogic
composition of Wyoming.”
The
majority of the recent geophysical surveys in Wyoming involve the simultaneous
collection of magnetic and radiometric data. These magnetic and radiometric
datasets are particularly useful for locating certain types of critical mineral
deposits. The airborne geophysical surveys discussed in this publication are
either completed, currently being flown, or will be flown in the near future.
“Collection
of these data has been a productive collaboration between the USGS and the
WSGS,” added Campbell. “Our geoscientists are working together to identify the
highest-priority areas in Wyoming in need of Rank 1 geophysical data. We are
pleased to see that the mineral industry is already using the datasets for
exploration.”
Airborne
geophysical surveys measure physical properties of the earth using instruments
mounted in aircraft that fly over a predetermined survey area. Airborne
magnetic surveys measure the total magnetic field intensity as the aircraft
flies in evenly spaced lines over the ground surface. These surveys can detect
magnetic signals emanating from deep within the earth’s crust. Magnetic surveys
can effectively map otherwise hidden geological variation, along with locating
deposits rich in magnetic minerals, commonly associated with critical mineral
deposits. Radiometric surveys measure gamma radiation released through the
radioactive decay of potassium, thorium, and uranium within the top few
centimeters of the ground surface. This type of survey can be used to constrain surficial geologic processes, along with
mapping exposures of certain types of mineral deposits.
Public Information Circular 49, Airborne Geophysics in Wyoming:
Methods for Exploring Subsurface Geology, provides an update on the
current status and geographic distribution of airborne geophysical surveys in
Wyoming. The circular also provides a broad overview of how these geophysical
data are collected, and what the various types of data represent. Lastly, the
publication discusses geophysical data from completed and published geophysical
surveys that cover the South Pass–Granite Mountains region and the Medicine Bow
Mountains.
This
circular is available for free download from the Wyoming State Geological
Survey website. The published geophysical data discussed in this publication
can be downloaded from the U.S. Geological Survey’s website (South
Pass–Granite Mountains, Medicine
Bow Mountains).
Cover
of Airborne Geophysics in Wyoming: Methods for Exploring Subsurface Geology
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Lex Anteinternet: Lex Anteinternet: The Aerodrome: Air Force One.
Lex Anteinternet: Lex Anteinternet: The Aerodrome: Air Force One.:
Lex Anteinternet: The Aerodrome: Air Force One.
Lex Anteinternet: The Aerodrome: Air Force One.: The Aerodrome: Air Force One. : Air Force One. Air Force One has been in the news a lot recently, and it started before the Qatari proposa...
So the US has in fact accepted the Qatari 747.
Simply embarrassing.
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Air Force One.
Air Force One has been in the news a lot recently, and it started before the Qatari proposal to give the United States, or Donald Trump (it isn't clear which) a luxury outfitted Boeing 747.
Technically "Air Force One" is a call sign, and merely denotes an airplane the Chief Executive is a passenger in. If a President rode in an Air Force Cessna, that would be Air Force One. But everyone knows that it refers to one of two Boeing VC-25s, militarized 747s, that are designated for the Presidents use.
RD-2
Interestingly, the first aircraft designated for Presidential use was a Navy airplane, an amphibious Douglas Dolphin RD-2 that was luxury outfitted for use by President Roosevelt. It was used from 1933 to 1939, and obviously not for transglobal flight. The President didn't really do extensive travel until World War Two.
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Roosevelt's once used VC-54C.
In spite of concerns over commercial aviation being used to carry the President during the war, it was in fact used and it wasn 't until 1945 that a new designated Presidential aircraft was acquired, that being a Secret Service reconfigured a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (VC-54C) which was named the Sacred Cow. It contained a sleeping area, radiotelephone, and retractable battery-powered elevator to lift Roosevelt in his wheelchair. It's only use by Roosevelt was to fly the then dying President to Yalta. Truman used it thereafter, but it was replaced by military DC-6 (VC-118) thereafter.
Truman's VC-118.
President Eisenhower, who of course knew planes well, to Lockheed C-121 Constellations, Columbine II and Columbine III. The Constellation was a very popular airplane at the time, and Douglas MacArthur also had one, that one spending many years after its service at the Natrona County International Airport on an abandoned runway.
Columbine II was the first Presidential aircraft to receive the designation Air Force One.
At the end of Eisenhower's Presidency Boeing 707s came in, in part because the Soviets were using a jet to transport their Premier. 707s remained through the Nixon era, giving good service in this role.
747s, as VC-25s, entered specialized manufacture for use as Air Force One during Reagan's administration, although the first one would enter service after that. They've been used ever since.
These aren't normal 747s. They are packed with communications and electronic warfare equipment in order to have combat survivability.
Replacing the current two aircraft that are used as Air Force One is a topic that the Air Force started looking at quite a few years ago. The 747 variant which the VC-25 isn't made anymore. Production of 747s stopped in 2023 in favor of more modern aircraft. Still, the airframe remains useful in this role, and after the Air Force started to look into options, updating a 747-8 appeared to be the best option. Only Boeing was interested in the project anyway, and it will take a massive financial loss to do it.
The aircraft that are being retrofitted for this role was built, originally, as a commercial airliner. The projected is a massive one, and the delivery date will be in 2027.
What the new Air Force Ones will look like.
Enter Qatar.
Qatar has offered to give the US (I guess) a luxury Boeing 747-8 for use as Air Force One until the other 747-8s are complete. But here's the thing. Boeing has been working on the complicated task fo converting the two existing 747-8s for this use for several years. After all, it's basically a combat aircraft. All accepting the plane would do is give Boeing a third one to convert, which wouldn't be ready for years.
Trump is being childish about this, as he is about a lot of things. He doesn't seem to grasp the nature of the aircraft, and likely a lot of other people don't as well. In his case, this is inexcusable. It's a combat airplane.
Frankly, it's a Cold War combat airplane.
Which gets to this.
The 747 was a big massive airliner in an era in which it was the queen of the sky. That era is over and airlines have moved on to more modern aircraft. The world in which Ronald Reagan ordered 747s is gone as well. It's still useful to have an aircraft that can be used in a global thermonuclear war, which is what it is, but that's not going to happen and it makes no sense to use it to go on weekend golfing trips to Florida.
But that's what Trump tends to use it for.
That raises an entire series of other questions, many of which have little to do with aircraft, but some of which do. It's notable that other Presidents have used lighter aircraft for more mundane trips. In November 1999, President Bill Clinton flew from Ankara, Turkey, to Cengiz Topel Naval Air Station outside Izmit, Turkey, aboard a marked C-20C. In 2000, President Clinton flew to Pakistan aboard an unmarked Gulfstream III. In 2003, President George W. Bush flew in the co-pilot seat of a Sea Control Squadron Thirty-Five (VS-35) S-3B Viking from Naval Air Station North Island, California to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, with that latter obviously being an exception. Barack Obama used a Gulfstream C-37 variant on a personal trip in 2009.
Trump can use something else than a 747 for what he uses Air Force One for in almost every single instance.
Indeed, the entire topic brings up a lot of things about the risks of having an airplane like this, a luxury airliner inside, which is really a combat aircraft. It makes it easy to forget what it really is, and it makes a President feel like an Emperor, which he is not.
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Real ID at the NCIA
The Natrona County International Airport joined the US in ID paranoia by starting the Read ID requirements recently imposed nationally yesterday.
Friday, May 2, 2025
Thursday, April 17, 2025
Lex Anteinternet: Tuesday, April 17, 1945. Flak Bait.
Lex Anteinternet: Tuesday, April 17, 1945. Flak Bait.: The B-26 Marauder Flak Bait, which completed 200 missions on this day. Winston Churchill eulogized the late Franklin Roosevelt in Parliame...
Tuesday, April 17, 1945. Flak Bait.
The B-26 Marauder Flak Bait, which completed 200 missions on this day.
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