Rob Roy and his copilot aboard a C-2 Greyhound. Here’s some background about one of the most famous traditions in the military. While their roots are not completely clear, “deployment mustaches” (i.e. a mustache grown by soldiers during a military deployment) have without any doubt become popular within the fighter pilot community during the Vietnam …
Move Over ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, ‘Devotion’ Is Authentic Aviation Cinematography
“Devotion” tells the true story of Korean War pilots Ensign Jesse Brown and Capt. Thomas Hudner. (Photo: via Sony Pictures) Devotion Tells Harrowing True Story with Incredible Aerial Scenes and Solid Cast. Let me save you some time: director J.D. Dillard’s new film, “Devotion”, really is better than “Top Gun: Maverick”. It really is. “Devotion” …
More Than Three Dozen Helicopters Take Part In Exercise Falcon Autumn 2022
CH-47F Chinooks of 298 Squadron. (All images: Author) Falcon Autumn 2022 saw the participation of Dutch, U.S. and Polish helicopters. Between Oct. 31 and Nov. 18, 2022, exercise Falcon Autumn 2022 took place in the Netherlands. Over 1,000 troops and 37 helicopters from three nations trained together to prepare for large airborne operations. The participating …
The Questionable Goal of Carbon Neutrality in Aviation
Recently a startup company, Ampaire, reported on the first flight of its Cessna Caravan conversion, which it calls the Eco Caravan. The name is a bit smug but gets across the general idea that the hybrid electric aircraft will be putting out fewer hydrocarbons than a regular turbine engine does. The Caravan is an unpressurized, …
Hybrid Caravan Makes First Flight
Ampaire, the maker of a diesel/electric modification of the Cessna Caravan turboprop single, is making their case for the plane following its first flight this weekend. The flight from Southern California’s Camarillo Airport lasted 30 minutes, and according to the company, was intended to test the plane’s hybrid diesel/electric propulsion system, which is unlike any …
U.S. And Dutch F-35s Have Flown Without Radar Reflectors During First Week Of ‘Falcon Strike 2022’
U.S. Air Force F-35A landing at Amendola without RCS Enhancers (All photos: Stefano D’Urso/The Aviationist) Some of 5th gen. aircraft have operated in “full stealth mode” to train in the most realistic scenarios. As we already reported, F-35s from Italy, United States and the Netherlands are training together at Amendola Air Base, in southern Italy, …
F-35s From Italy, U.S. And The Netherlands Train Together During ‘Falcon Strike 2022’
An Italian Air Force F-35A of the 6° Stormo (Wing) takes off for the daily main wave of the Exercise Falcon Strike 2022 at Amendola Air Base. (All photos: Stefano D’Urso/The Aviationist) The large-scale exercise focuses on fifth and fourth-generation integration, with F-35s flying both as Blue and Red Air. From November 15 to 28, …
Flying With The VFC-111 ‘Sun Downers’, U.S. Navy Adversary Squadron
VFC-111 Sun Downers F-5N in formation flight. (Image credit: Jeff Bolton) Enjoy a behind the scenes view of the U.S. Navy Adversary Squadron VFC-111 “Sun Downers” at NAS Key West. Friend and long time fan of The Aviationist, U.S. based journalist and producer Jeff Bolton, flew with the VFC-111 “Sun Downers” and became one of …
Following 2016 Tragedy, FAA Mandates Medical Cert for Commercial Balloon Pilots
After the 2016 balloon tragedy in Texas, in which all 16 aboard the craft perished after it hit power lines and caught fire, many people, even many in aviation, were shocked to learn that commercial balloon pilots don’t need to have a Class 2 medical. In fact, they don’t need a medical at all, at …
Metroliner Full of Dogs Crash-Lands, All Survive
To start off, no, none of the dogs aboard an Ameriflight Swearingen Metroliner that crashed outside of Milwaukee on Tuesday were flying the plane, but thankfully none of the five humans any of the 56 (!) dogs on board the twin turboprop commuter plane were injured in the mishap. The NTSB is investigating. Ameriflight Swearingen …