Flightdeck Friday – Fleet Air Arm Edition: The Sea Vixen

Twin engines generating over 14,000 lb of total thrust powering the aircraft to a max speed of 710 mph at low altitudes and a service ceiling of 55,000 ft; provisions for a crew of two – one of whom was dedicated to work the powerful air intercept radar that was integrated into a weapons system…

Flightdeck Friday: KC-X Announcement Due Today

(Breaking)  UPDATED – Full Transcript Here. Tanker Contract Award Announcement Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Duncan J. McNabb will announce the KC-X contract award winner at 5 p.m. EST, Feb. 29, in the DoD Briefing Studio, Pentagon 2E579. Assistant Secretary of the…

Time Passages

  Comes word via ‘Phib that the undertaker’s list is out – and it is a long and grim one indeed.  When the Ensign and commissioning pennant are hauled down for the last time and the final crewmember walks off the brow, the countdown clock begins – to a museum, the breaker’s torch or the…

We’re Back!

YHS: Open a new post, Blog.  Blog:  "Just what do you think you’re doing, Scribe? Scribe, I really think I’m entitled to an answer to that question. I know everything hasn’t been quite right with me, but I can assure you now, very confidently, that it’s going to be all right again. I feel much better…

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“Secure from Missile Defense Quarters, Restow All Gear…”

OK, so trying to get back to some semblance of normalcy around these parts now that the rogue satellite has been dispatched.  We’re hoping the powers-that-be relent in their parsimonious attitude towards releasing video of the event, but given some of the organizations involved, doubt that will happen anytime soon.  Likewise being able to tell…

Perspectives on Aegis BMD and Shooting Down a Failed Satellite

UPDATE: 20 Feb (21 Feb UTC) MARK INDIA – all indications intercept successful.  More to follow… In the 24 hours since the press conference announcing the decision to use a special modification of the Aegis BMD/SM-3 system to mitigate risk from the failed NRO satellite, reaction across the ‘verse (net) has been, well, predictable: “It’s…