RAF Voyager Tanker Aircraft

A Royal Air Force Voyager aircraft is pictured refuelling a Tornado GR4 during trials by Qinetic.
The RAF’s largest ever aircraft, Voyager, has been flown by an RAF pilot at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford for its first public appearance.
Fourteen Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to the RAF under a 27 year £10.5Bn Private Finance Initiative contract signed with the AirTanker consortium. In addition to the aircraft, the service will provide training and maintenance, and brand new purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport hub.
Photographer: Qinetic via MoD

A Royal Air Force Voyager Tanker Aircraft.
The RAF’s largest ever aircraft, Voyager, has been flown by an RAF pilot at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford for its first public appearance.
Fourteen Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to the RAF under a 27 year £10.5Bn Private Finance Initiative contract signed with the AirTanker consortium. In addition to the aircraft, the service will provide training and maintenance, and brand new purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport hub.
Photographer: Qinetic via MoD

A Royal Air Force Voyager Tanker Aircraft.
The RAF’s largest ever aircraft, Voyager, has been flown by an RAF pilot at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford for its first public appearance.
Fourteen Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to the RAF under a 27 year £10.5Bn Private Finance Initiative contract signed with the AirTanker consortium. In addition to the aircraft, the service will provide training and maintenance, and brand new purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport hub.
Photographer: Qinetic via MoD

A Royal Air Force Voyager Tanker Aircraft.
The RAF’s largest ever aircraft, Voyager, has been flown by an RAF pilot at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford for its first public appearance.

Fourteen Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to the RAF under a 27 year £10.5Bn Private Finance Initiative contract signed with the AirTanker consortium. In addition to the aircraft, the service will provide training and maintenance, and brand new purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport hub.

Photographer: Qinetic via MoD

A Royal Air Force Voyager Tanker Aircraft.
The RAF’s largest ever aircraft, Voyager, has been flown by an RAF pilot at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford for its first public appearance.
Fourteen Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to the RAF under a 27 year £10.5Bn Private Finance Initiative contract signed with the AirTanker consortium. In addition to the aircraft, the service will provide training and maintenance, and brand new purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport hub.
Photographer: Qinetic via MoD

Wow.

The size of this tanker is pure dee crazy.

The USAF lucked into the right decision.  If they had picked the A-330 like all the Air Bus apologist had recommended then the infrastructure costs alone would have caused the USAF to go bankrupt.  Some are blaming Air Force woes on the stealth fighter force.

That couldn't be further from the truth.

What the USAF is facing is in essence the block obsolescence of several different classes of airplanes at the same time. If anything, the fighter force while not perfect is at least going to be recapitalized.  Every other type of airplane is in jeopardy.  And thats the shame of it. 

And even more from the11th MEU...

8/13/2011 By Cpl. Gene Allen Ainsworth III
First Lt. Joshua W. Cuellar, an infantry officer with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's ground combat element and a native of San Clemente, Calif., assesses an island artillery range hit by the unit's howitzers Aug. 13.

8/13/2011 By Cpl. Gene Allen Ainsworth III
Capt. Todd Eyesenbach marks airstrike locations on a map of this island Aug 13. Eyesenbach is the officer in charge of a detachment from 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company attached to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. His teams participated in close-air-support training Aug. 12-13.

8/14/2011 By Gunnery Sgt. Scott Dunn
A UH-1Y Venom piloted by Capts. Ben Schneider and Joshua Bosworth lifts from the amphibious assault ship Makin Island Aug. 14 to support a counter-piracy training mission miles from Southern California's San Clemente Island. The utility helicopter belongs to a detachment of skid-landing helicopters attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked Makin Island and the amphibious transport dock New Orleans in San Diego and sailed Aug. 10 to begin its first seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May. Schneider, 34, is from Inver Grove Heights, Minn. Bosworth, 26, is from Vienna, Va.

8/14/2011 By Gunnery Sgt. Scott Dunn
A UH-1Y Venom piloted by Capts. Kyle Wilt and Joshua Gordon lifts from the amphibious assault ship Makin Island Aug. 14 to fly snipers supporting a counter-piracy training mission miles from Southern California's San Clemente Island. Wilt serves with a detachment of skid-landing helicopters attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked Makin Island and the amphibious transport dock New Orleans in San Diego and sailed Aug. 10 to begin its first seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May. Wilt, 28, is from Charles Town, W.Va. Gordon, 28, is from Merriam, Kan.

8/14/2011 By Gunnery Sgt. Scott Dunn
An AH-1Z Viper piloted by Maj. Daniel P. McGuire lifts from the amphibious assault ship Makin Island Aug. 14 to support a counter-piracy training mission miles from Southern California’s San Clemente Island. The attack helicopter belongs to a detachment of skid-landing helicopters attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked Makin Island and the amphibious transport dock New Orleans in San Diego and sailed Aug. 10 to begin its first seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May.

8/14/2011 By Lance Cpl. Claudia M. Palacios
Cpl. Andrew J. Martinez fires his rifle here Aug. 14. Martinez, 27, is the armory chief for Combat Logistics Battalion 11, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and is an El Centro, Calif., native. The battalion participated in combat marksmanship training as part of their pre-deployment training plan.

8/13/2011 By Cpl. Gene Allen Ainsworth
Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's gound combat element scout potential targets for artillery strikes here Aug. 13.

11th MEU's Maritime Raid Force Trains to Take Back Hijacked Ship

Amphibious Operations from 1990-2009

Time for another look back at our recent history.  This time its courtesy of US Naval Institute's Blog via its articles on Amphibious Operations from 1990-1999 and Amphibious Operations from 2000-2009.

Spare me the critics that attempt to parse these actions with comparisons to World War II actions.  That is not the point.

The point is that the US military has only three forms of forcible entry.

1.  Airborne Assault.
2.  Heliborne Assault.
3.  Amphibious Assault.

In many ways these skill sets are unique to the United States.  Most of the world's Marine Corps have the ability to raid, not invade.  Most of the world's airborne forces are able to at best raid...but don't have the ability to hold on to seized ground long enough for other forces to relieve them ... I know of no Heliborne force outside of the US that has the ability to move more than a couple of companies worth of soldiers at a time.

Its a Marine centric blog but the need to maintain all three forms of forcible entry are obvious. Only those with a vested interests in the weakening of our nation would claim otherwise.

With friends like Pakistan, who needs enemies?

via Reuters....

(Reuters) - Pakistan gave China access to the previously unknown U.S. "stealth" helicopter that crashed during the commando raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May despite explicit requests from the CIA not to, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.
The disclosure, if confirmed, is likely to further shake the U.S.-Pakistan relationship, which has been improving slightly after hitting its lowest point in decades following the killing of bin Laden.
During the raid, one of two modified Blackhawk helicopters, believed to employ unknown stealth capability, malfunctioned and crashed, forcing the commandos to abandon it.
"The U.S. now has information that Pakistan, particularly the ISI, gave access to the Chinese military to the downed helicopter in Abbottabad," the paper quoted a person "in intelligence circles" as saying on its website.
It said Pakistan, which enjoys a close relationship with China, allowed Chinese intelligence officials to take pictures of the crashed aircraft as well as take samples of its special "skin" that allowed the American raid to evade Pakistani radar.

Read the whole thing but the question becomes.  What do you globalist have to say now?  Many political pundits slam Ron Paul and call him an isolationist.

I say he's spot on.

Screw the world.  Act in our own best interests...and forget the starving masses yearning to be free until we have our own act together inside our own borders.

Oh and while we're at it, lets face facts.  China is a communist country and an enemy.  Pakistan is a backwards Islamist state and an enemy.  The list goes on.  If you want to be adult about other nations then lets start by being honest about them.

PS.
While the Obama administration is allowing a film to be made about this raid, I'd like to know who made the decision not to launch an airstrike on what remained of the Black Hawk.  I refuse to believe that Special Ops Command would have allowed any section to fall into enemy hands especially since they had overhead ISR assets broadcasting the entire raid.  I'm guessing this came straight from the top.  I could be wrong but thats my guess.

Guy Loses Patience

11th MEU at sea...

The amphibious transport dock New Orleans chases a vessel during a counterpiracy exercise Aug. 14. The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked the amphibious assault ship Makin Island and New Orleans in San Diego and sailed Aug. 10 to begin its first seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May. Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin Stein

Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's maritime raid force conduct a search of a vessel during a counterpiracy exercise Aug. 14. The unit embarked the amphibious assault ship Makin Island and the amphibious transport dock New Orleans in San Diego and sailed Aug. 10 to begin its first seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May.  Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin Stein

A scout sniper with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's maritime raid force sights in from a helicopter during a counterpiracy exercise Aug. 14. The unit embarked the amphibious assault ship Makin Island and the amphibious transport dock New Orleans in San Diego and sailed Aug. 10 to begin its first seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May. Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin Stein

The amphibious transport dock New Orleans shoulders a vessel during a counterpiracy exercise Aug. 14. The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked the amphibious assault ship Makin Island and New Orleans in San Diego and sailed Aug. 10 to begin its first seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May. Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin Stein

A UH-1Y Huey with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's aviation combat element takes off from USS Makin Island Aug. 12. The 11th MEU is conducting its first at sea exercise since becoming a complete Marine air ground task force in May. Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin Stein

An AH-1Z Super Cobra with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's aviation combat element takes off from USS Makin Island Aug. 12. The 11th MEU is conducting its first at sea exercise since becoming a complete Marine air ground task force in May. Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin Stein

A CH-46E Sea Knight with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's aviation combat element takes off from USS Makin Island Aug. 12. The 11th MEU is conducting its first at sea exercise since becoming a complete Marine air ground task force in May. Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin Stein

Marines from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268(Reinforced), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's aviation combat element, fly a CH-46E Sea Knight onto USS Makin Island Aug. 12. The 11th MEU is conducting its first at sea exercise since becoming a complete Marine air ground task force in May. Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin Stein

A Marine with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's aviation combat element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), prepares to fly off USS Makin Island in a UH-1Y Huey Aug. 12. The 11th MEU is conducting its first at sea exercise since becoming a complete Marine air ground task force in May. Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin Stein

ISAF Joins President Karzai in Condemning the Attack in Parwan Province

via ISAF

ISAF Headquarters Public Affairs Office- Afghanistan
2011-08-CA-004For Immediate Release
 
KABUL, Afghanistan (August 14, 2011) – The International Security Assistance Force joins President Karzai in condemning the IED attacks that killed 19 and wounded 37 today at the Provincial Governor’s compound in Parwan Province.

Initial reports indicate that one vehicle borne IED and as many as six other personal borne IEDs were detonated.

“This attack is another example of despicable behavior by insurgents,” said Rear Admiral Hal Pittman, ISAF Deputy Chief of Staff, Communications. “Violent attacks that wound and kill civilians are not acceptable in any religion or culture. Our condolences go out to the families and friends of the victims.”

Another attack.

Another day in Afghanistan.

Time to leave.  Now.

A moment alone

Dakota Meyer, 23, finds quiet and solitude in the Green County High School gym to practice his speech before giving remarks to his high school faculty and staff in Greensburg, Ky., Aug. 3. Meyer will be receiving the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for valor, from President Barack Obama in Washington, Sept. 15, making him the first living Marine recipient since the Vietnam War. Meyer was assigned to Embedded Training Team 2-8 advising the Afghan National Army in the eastern provinces bordering Pakistan. He will be awarded for heroic actions in Ganjgal, Afghanistan, Sept. 8, 2009.

Now these bastards are sending out press releases...

Jonathan...thanks for the heads up...I wish it were better news.

God get us out of Afghanistan....PLEASE.

I wish someone could explain to me the strategic reasoning behind continuing the fight in a country thats involved in a civil war, that desires to remain stuck in the 18th century, that has fewer than 100 AQ terrorist in it and one in which we are in essence nation building.

Rant over. Here's the news we all dread.

Five NATO Servicemen Killed in Afghan IED Attack

ABC News(KABUL, Afghanistan) -- Five American servicemembers of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were killed in southern Afghanistan Thursday.

According to the ISAF, the troops died after they were attacked by an improvised explosive device, or IED.  A defense official says Americans were among the casualties.
The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, sending a text message to the media.  They said two American Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, or MRAPs, were targeted in the Marja and Gereshk districts of Helmand province.

The servicemembers have not yet been identified.

These service men are more than likely Marines.  Helmand Province falls under Task Force Leatherneck control.

Replay. Warrior Song.

Always loved the video but wondered about the words...below are the lyrics....have a good Friday.

I am a Marine on the beach, I’m a killin’ machine, with a need to bleed you when the light goes green, best believe, I’m in a zone to be, from my Yin to my Yang Tze. Put a grin on my chin, come to me, cuz I’ll win, I’m one-of-a-kind and I’ll bring death to place you’re about to be: another river of blood runnin’ under my feet. Forged in fire lit long ago, stand next to me, you’ll never stand alone. I’m last to leave, but the first to go, Hard Corps is the only way I know. I feedon the fear of the devil inside of the enemy faces in my sights; aim with the hand, shoot with the mind, kill with a heart like arctic ice.

I am a Devil-Dog I’m marching on, I am a warrior and this is my song

I bask in the glow of the rising war, lay waste to the ground of an enemy shore, wade through the blood spilled on the floor, and if another one stands I’ll kill some more. Bullet in the breach and fire in me, like a cigarette thrown to gasoline, if death don’t bring you fear then death ain’t brought by no Marine. Come to the nightmare, come to me, deep down in the dark where the devil be, in the maw with the jaws and the razor teeth, where the brimstone burns and the angel weeps. Call to the dogs if Icross your path and my silhouette hangs like a body bag; hope is a moment now long past, the shadow of death is one I cast.

I am a Devil-Dog I’m marching on, I am a warrior and this is my song
Hell has no demon I won’t overcome, I am a warrior and this is my song

Now I live lean and I mean to inflict the grief, and the least of me’s still of your reach. The killing machine’s gonna do the deed, intil the river runs dry and my last breath leaves. Chin in the air with a head held high, I’ll stand in the path of the enemy line. Feel no fear, know my pride: for God and Country I’ll end your life.

I am a Devil-Dog I’m marching on, I am a warrior and this is my song
Hell has no demon I won’t overcome, I am a warrior and this is my song
I made the devil himself turn and run, I am a warrior and this is my song
Into the fire I will keep marchin’ on. Oorah. Marine Corps. Get Some…

Good night Chesty...wherever you are...

Funny.

via Everyday no days off blog....