Top Gun 2

Looks like Top Gun 2 is getting green-lighted.  See latest buzz here and here.  Can't wait to see who they cast other than TC. Can't imagine they'll bring back Val Kilmer, Rick Rossovich or Tim Robbins. Would love to see a Vice Admiral Tom Skerrit!

Blue Angels Transitioning to UAVs

In a surprise announcement today, the US Navy announced that the Blue Angels will transition from their current F-18 Hornets to unmanned F-47 aircraft for their 2018 airshow season. The team will still fly a full ‘delta’ aerobatic routine, including tight formations, using six of the cutting edge drones. The only difference is that the pilots will never leave the ground and will instead monitor the pre-programmed flight routines from special trailers set up at each show site.

Since the aircraft are unmanned, the team will no longer offer media rides but will allow selected media representatives to ‘sit in’ on practice demonstrations using a virtual reality headset that will be known as Blue Angel 7, the same callsign as the team’s current two-seat media jet. The pilots will also be expected to post to social media during the routine to increase their interaction with fans.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the Navy to showcase our advanced technology and cutting edge aircraft,” said Jack Herndon, the Navy’s Chief of Public Outreach. “Honestly, the Hornets are getting to be quite old and worn out. We saw the need to replace them and decided to take advantage of the timing by leaping straight ahead to our very newest fighter aircraft, the F-47.

The Blue Angels’ primary mission is to inspire America’s young people to join the Navy, and with this transition we are able to demonstrate that even young men and women who only want to sit at a computer all day can have a successful Navy flying career. Those are exactly the people we are looking to recruit in the future.”

Russia Starts Major Show of Force

More than 45,000 Russian troops, as well as war planes and submarines, started military exercises across much of the country today in one of the Kremlin's biggest shows of force since its ties with the West plunged to Cold War-lows.

President Vladimir Putin called the Navy's Northern Fleet to full combat readiness in exercises in Russia's Arctic North apparently aimed at dwarfing military drills in neighboring Norway, a NATO member.

 

"New challenges and threats to military security require the armed forces to further boost their military capabilities. Special attention must be paid to newly created strategic formations in the north," Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said, quoted by RIA news agency.

 

More on the "Cold" War Games reported from CBS News here.

 

Anyone doubt the Big Bad Bear is coming back? Apparently, even a 6-year low in oil prices isn't keeping Russia down [see article here in Moscow Times regarding Kremlin's 2015 record $81B defense budget].

 

 

First Female Submariners Taped in Showers

Navy criminal investigators are looking into who secretly filmed female officers of a submarine crew while they were showering and changing clothes aboard the USS Wyoming's unisex heads.

Petty officers recording female shipmates in showers, really? Really guys?!  It's noteworthy that this is the first submarine to have women serving onboard, and these are the first female submariners. 

According to a Navy Times article, up to a dozen sailors are suspected of viewing secretly recorded videos of their female shipmates undressing in a submarine shower over a period of 10 months.

Navy Vice Adm. M.J. Connor wrote that "an investigation is in progress." He also noted the women affected were provided assistance and the alleged perpetrators were removed from the ship pending the investigation's results.  "The Navy has successfully integrated women into our aviation, surface warfare and expeditionary warfare communities," Connor wrote in the letter. "It would be inaccurate to say that we achieved this without incident, but I can say unequivocally that we are a better force because of that integration."

At least official Navy acknowledges the service has had its share of "incidents" in transitioning into a seamless, fully integrated force.

No More Challenging Carrier Traps?

Saw this article last week in the San Diego Union-Tribune with the catchy title: "No More Tricky Landings" and had to laugh.  Do the pointy-head engineers really think they can program carrier landings to a science?  Hmm, seem to remember ACL and auto-throttle systems from the 70s and 80s. Sure, the technology is leaps and bounds better, but once the ship starts rocking and rolling, turbulence and lightening strike and a black box or two fails, dare to say it is more than "tricky" to land a 60,000-pound jet--even one with the most sophisticated computer system.

X-47B Update

It's been a while since I posted on the Navy's X-47B program. Here's a link from late Aug where the navy was conducting integrated flight ops on the THEODORE ROOSEVELT alongside an F-18 Hornet. I understand further carrier ops are scheduled in the coming months.

In researching unclassified websites and news reports, it looks like the navy is still at least five or six years away from IOC of the drone. Capitol Hill and the Pentagon continue to fight over what type of platform and mission is best suited for the X-47B-- light strike in a permissive or contested environment. In the meantime, trials and testing continue.

At a Bookstore Near You?

On a business trip to the East Coast this week, a good friend of mine texted me these photos from Chicago O'Hare and DFW airports. Already on Amazon.com and Kindle, striving for a bookstore near you next.

And to the readers of "The Last Top Gun" who have written reviews on Amazon, thank you!

The Sierra Hotel Break

The "Shit Hot" Break explained in titillating detail in Fightersweep.com.  The author describes the penultimate carrier break perfected by Mike "Nasty" Manazir, a former F-14 fighter pilot and Landing Signal Officer, now serving as Director, Air Warfare (OPNAV N98).  A great article! 

Review from Warbird News

Review of "The Last Top Gun" by Warbird News here.

Thanks for the promo, warbirdnews.com.  Great site for news, events, books and other aviation-related gee-dunk.  Check them out!

F-18 Hornets Pound ISIL Militants in Iraq

The U.S. military says American jet fighters and drones conducted four more airstrikes Saturday on Islamic militants in Iraq, taking out armored carriers and a truck that were firing on civilians.

U.S. CENTCOM says the Islamic State militants were firing on Yazidi civilians near Sinjar. The refugees have been taking shelter in the Sinjar mountains.

Fitting that the Hornets flew of the USS GEORGE HW BUSH (CVN-77), eh?

Great Summer Read

Ever wonder what it's like to be catapaulted off an aircraft carrier in 2.2 seconds at 175 miles per hour?  Or how about breaking the sound barrier, or visitng exotic foreign ports of call? Ever think what it would be like to be a Top Gun fighter pilot..no, not the Hollywood version, but the real thing?  Then "The Last Top Gun" is for you.  Available on Amazon (coming to Kindle and many bookstores soon). Check 6!

Book Launch!!

Twelve years in the making!  Hard to believe it's finally out in the public domain.  As stated in the forefront:

This book is dedicated to Eddie, Dinger, Furball, TC, Tuna, Tommy, and too many other warriors who died in the prime of their lives. You are not forgotten.

Fifty percent of the profits from the sale of this book are donated to charity organizations that support US active duty and veterans organizations.

Bush to Launch X-47B

 

The Navy says it will make its first attempt tomorrow to launch Northrop Grumman's X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System drone from an aircraft carrier. The aircraft is scheduled to undergo a catapult launch from USS George H.W. Bush off the East Coast.

 

Rear Adm. Mat Winter, the Navy's program officer for the X-47B, said online Monday that:

Controlled by a mission operator aboard the ship, the X-47B will execute several carrier approaches demonstrating its ability to operate seamlessly within the carrier environment before it flies over the Eastern Shore and lands back at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., where two demonstration aircraft have resided for the past year

Over the coming years, we will heavily leverage the technology maturation, networking advances and precision navigation algorithms developed from the X-47B demonstration program to pursue the introduction of the first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft. This future system will provide 24/7, carrier-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and targeting capability, which will operate together with manned aviation assets allowing the opportunity to shape a more efficient carrier air wing.

Is it just me, or does development of the X-47B seem to be on the fast track?  Guess the Navy wants to challenge the Air Farce for UAV funding.

Navy Launches Its First Drone Squadron

Yesterday at NAS Coronado, the Navy inaugurated its first squadron with unmanned aircraft, formally adopting drone technology amid debate over its growing use in warfare.

The squadron will have eight manned helicopters and a still-to-be-determined number of the Fire Scout MQ-8 B, an unmanned helicopter that can fly 12 continuous hours tracking targets.

The squadron, the Magicians, will be aboard the Navy's new littoral combat ship in about a year.

Along with ongoing development of the X-47, this milestone marks the Navy's commitment to meanignful presence in the drone battle space. 

Getting Out There!

I just posted a video on YouTube to help get the word out.  Let's turn the publishing world on its head!  Check it out below:

Thanks!

What is a Plankowner?

I've had several questions asking what is a "plankowner." A plankowner is an individual who is a member of the crew of a Navy ship when that ship is placed in commission. Historically, the term applied only to crew members that were present at the ship's first commissioning. Today, however, plankowner is often applied to members of newly commissioned units, new military bases and recommissioning crews as well.

Become a Plankowner of "The Last Top Gun" and obtain a personal inscription at no additonal charge when you purchase the book. It's easy and free...click here.

X-47B Sea Trials Aboard TRUMAN

The future of Naval aviation is here...and it looks a whole lot like the Air Farce. The unmanned carrier-based aircraft X-47B (yet to be named) stealth bomber underwent taxi and flight deck suitability trials about USS TRUMAN earlier this month.  Check out this comprehensive report from Defense News "Intercepts" website.

Though far from a definitive source on weapons or military systems, Wikipedia's summary of the X-47B provides a decent description of Northrop Grumman's latest carrier-based aircraft. 

It's hard to imagine unmanned aircraft will take over carrier decks or flight lines completely, but it is undisputed that their value and place in DoD's air warfare inventory increases each year. Just hoping "Fly Navy" bumper stickers aren't replaced with "Drone Navy" anytime soon.  

Takeoff: 0 to 120 Overnight

I created this blog as a forum for readers of the upcoming novel, The Last Top Gun, to share stories, thoughts and anecdotes about the book, Naval aviation, fighter pilots and aircrew, air combat, women and gays in the military, organziational and personal change, and any and all related topics.

Here is my inaugural post:

American society has undergone substantial change over the past three decades. “Political correctness” is a regular part of mainstream America’s vernacular. Notwithstanding the profound impact the War on Terrorism has had on a minute segment of American society suspected of terrorism, the pendulum of individual rights has swung far to the left. In many contexts and environs, the danger of offending or impinging upon another person’s “rights” takes precedence over rational conduct. The battle over civil liberties sometimes usurps reasonable, common sense. A substantial amount of this political shift occurred during the latter years of my career as a Naval Flight Officer.

Other types of political change affecting the military forces occurred well before I joined the Navy. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, as in society, racism was rampant throughout the military.  Separate, but similarly backward, instructors and NCOs were allowed to physically strike recruits and junior enlisted for poor performance or insubordination. Strict reform of the military needed to occur, and thankfully, did. During the period of transition, however, both the leadership and rank and file of the armed forces endured numerous hardships. Many soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines refused to accept these significant cultural changes. Overt resistance and conflict ensued. In less than a decade, change did occur—substantial change (albeit some saying shamefully late). Less than ten years after race riots flared up aboard Navy ships in the early 70’s, the Navy and the other military services were fully integrated, practically, as well as legally. Additional reform took place when physical abuse and hazing in the military were made illegal and then ceased entirely in the early 80’s.

When I joined the Navy in 1986, there was one more major institutional discriminatory practice that thrived. The military generally, and fighter pilots in particular, propagated sexism.  No doubt about it—pure 100% testosterone ran through each and every squadron ready room. It had been that way for generations, most likely dating back to the original aviation squadrons of World War I. Although sexism was rampant, there was not much harm done, since no women were around. None. Up to the mid-1990’s, exactly zero females were assigned to Navy carrier squadrons or combatant ships. What’s more, it wasn’t as if the officers and enlisted continued their sexist behavior outside of squadrons or ready rooms. Though “part-time” warriors, we were full-time members of American society and played “nice” when not deployed at sea for six months or more at a time. Each of us had mothers, sisters and wives or girlfriends. Off the ship we largely behaved appropriately—as appropriately, that is, as any other fraternity of men. As individuals, we were not particularly sexist. It was the environment—100% male, highly stressful, competitive, elitist, dangerous and steeped in tradition—that propagated our attitudes. We were a fraternity of airborne warriors…a brotherhood that crossed socio-economic lines, but not gender.

In the fall of 1991, the Navy’s systemic sexism hit a brick wall head-on. Following the fallout from the infamous Tailhook Convention, where hundreds of rowdy Navy officers overstepped the line of decency with several groping and assaulting multiple females in the hallways of the Las Vegas Hilton, the Navy instituted a radical policy shift that resulted in immediate change. But this instantaneous change brought with it an entirely new dimension of challenges and consequences. The Navy has been around since 1775 and deplores change. To end gender discrimination that erupted so spectacularly following the Tailhook scandal, transformation was mandated on an unprecedented accelerated timetable. But how does an elite male military institution accept women virtually overnight without considerable resentment, antipathy and confusion? How do the individual members of the organization adapt and adjust their entire routines and lifestyles in a radically condensed period?

Twenty years later, the US military continues to struggle with the collateral consequences of a fully integrated combat force. Many persons and groups welcome women in combat roles, however, the Department of Defense still prohibits women from serving in about 280,000 combat position (though, ironically, women are allowed to fly fighter and bomber aircraft in combat missions). Moreover, headlines across the country--even today in 2012--routinely highlight widespread sexual discrimination, assault and even rape in the military—irrespective of rank or military service. A less publicized issue is how female integration of elite combat units has impacted the integrity and lethality of these units. This is an enormously complex and challenging issue that has yet to be solved and likely will take many more years to resolve.