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BULLHORN #76   15 JULY 2010

  99 ANAers,

  Lots of news – starting with four more leadership changes by Naval Aviators

  INDEX

·        NAVAL AVIATORS in our LEADERSHIP –GEN Amos, RADM  Floyd, RADM Branch, RADM Kraft, RADM Penniman

·        100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation

·        West Coast VP Officer Reunion

·        USS MIDWAY FIRST REUNION

·        PTERODACTYL ROOST

·        F35 In The NEWS

·        EMALS TESTING

·        USS Eisenhower Deployment

·        Aussie Super Hornets
 

·        THE NS ROTA WHALE

  NAVAL AVIATORS in our LEADERSHIP

  NEW COMMANDANT NOMINATED

  On June 21, 2010 Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that he would recommend to President
  Barack Obama that he nominate Amos to be the next Commandant of the Marine Corps.^[3] If he is nominated
  and selected, he will make Marine Corps history by being the first Aviator to hold this position.

                                          General James F. Amos

                                 Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps

 General James F. Amos, USMC, is the 31st and current Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. A Naval aviator by trade, General Amos has held command at all levels from Lieutenant Colonel to Lieutenant General. Most notably he commanded the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in combat during Operations Iraqi Freedom I and II from 2002-2004, followed by command of the II Marine Expeditionary Force from 2004-2006. He subsequently served as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command and as the Deputy Commandant, Combat Development and Integration from 2006 to July 2008. General Amos was promoted to his present rank and assumed the duties of Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on 2 July 2008.

Operational assignments include tours with Marine Fighter Attack Squadrons 212, 235, 232 and 122 where he flew the F-4 Phantom II. In 1985 General Amos assumed command of Marine Wing Support Squadron 173. Later, transitioning to
  the F/A-18 Hornet, he assumed command of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 and subsequently joined
  Carrier Air Wing Eight onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). General Amos took command of Marine
  Aircraft Group 31 Beaufort, SC in May 1996.

  General Amos' staff assignments include tours with Marine Aircraft Groups 15 and 31, the III Marine Amphibious
  Force, Training Squadron Seven, The Basic School, and with the MAGTF Staff Training Program. Promoted to
  Brigadier General in 1998 he was assigned to NATO as Deputy Commander, Naval Striking Forces, Southern
  Europe, Naples Italy. During this tour he commanded NATO's Kosovo Verification Center, and later served as
  Chief of Staff, U.S. Joint Task Force Noble Anvil during the air campaign over Serbia. Transferred in 2000 to
  the Pentagon, he was assigned as Assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation. Reassigned in December
  2001, General Amos served as the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations
  Department, Headquarters, Marine Corps.

******************************************************

NEW N88

Rear Admiral Kenneth E. Floyd
Director, Air Warfare Division (OPNAV N88)

Rear Admiral Floyd hails from Lewisburg, W.Va., and was commissioned through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NROTC program in May 1980. He was designated a naval flight officer in August 1981 and completed training in the F-14A at Fighter Squadron (VF) 101 in May 1982.

Floyd served in several F-14 Tomcat squadrons including tours with the Jolly Rogers of VF-84, the Grim Reapers of VF-101 as an instructor, and the Red Rippers of VF-11. He participated in Operation Desert Storm while serving as a department head with the Starfighters of VF-33. He served as the executive officer and subsequently the commanding officer of the VF-32 Swordsmen from November 1994 to September 1997.Subsequent sea tours include a tour as the executive officer of USS Constellation and deputy commander of Carrier Air Wing 7 where he participated in Operation Enduring Freedom. He commanded Carrier Air Wing 7 from February 2003 to July 2004.

Ashore Floyd served on the staff of the Naval Space Command in Dahlgren, Va.
  as aide to the commander and subsequently as flag lieutenant, commander Carrier Group 8. He also attended
  the Naval War College graduating with a Master of Arts degree in International Studies and served as the chief
  staff officer on the Fighter Wing, U.S. Atlantic Fleet staff. He completed a tour on the staff of the United States
  military representative to the NATO Military Committee in Brussels, Belgium, served as the deputy operations
  officer on the staff of Joint Task Force Southwest Asia in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and served as chief of staff to
  commander, Naval Air Forces. He has served flag tours as director, Aviation and Aircraft Carrier Plans and
  Requirements (OPNAV N880) and deputy director, Air Warfare Division (OPNAV N88B) prior to assuming
  command of Strike Force Training Pacific in February 2009. He returned to the OPNAV staff in June 2010 and
  is currently serving as director, Air Warfare Division (OPNAV N88).

  His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service
  Medals, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and various campaign, unit, and
  service medals.

***************************************************************************

  Rear Adm. (lower half) Ted N. Branch, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as
  Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk. Branch is currently serving as
  commander, Carrier Strike Group 1, San Diego.

Rear Admiral Ted N. Branch
United States Navy
Commander, Carrier Strike Group One

Rear Admiral Branch, a native of Long Beach, Miss., graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1979 and earned a master’s degree in International Relations from the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.

A naval aviator, his operational assignments include Light Attack Squadrons 15 and 37, USS Forrestal (CV 59), and Strike Fighter Squadron 37. He served as executive and commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 15, executive officer in USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), and commanding officer in USS Coronado (AGF 11) and USS Nimitz (CVN 68). During those tours, Branch deployed with both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets and has logged combat time in A7’s and F18’s over Grenada, Lebanon, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Iraq. He participated in Operations Urgent Fury, Ernest Will, Southern Watch, Deliberate Force, and Iraqi Freedom.

  Ashore, Branch has served as an instructor in the A7 and F18 Fleet Replacement Squadrons, the Joint Staff in
  Washington, completed Navy Nuclear Power Training, served as executive assistant to the commander U.S.
  Pacific Fleet, and as director of Operations and Plans (N31) on the chief of Naval Operations staff in
  Washington.

  Decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Strike
  Flight Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”, Navy Achievement Medal, and various unit and
  campaign awards.

********************************************

  Rear Adm. (lower half) Terry B. Kraft will be assigned as Commander, Carrier Strike Group 10,
  Norfolk. Kraft is currently serving as director, ISR capabilities, N2/N6F2, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations,
  Washington, D.C.

  NOTE!  ANA would like to thank RADM Kraft for his wonderful service as the first ANA OPNAV Liaison Officer. 
  He has been a proactive supporter, the “Voice of ANA” in the Building and engaging with attendees at local
  ANA functions to foster greater collaboration between active duty and ANA members.

Rear Admiral Terry B. Kraft
Director of ISR Capabilities

Rear Adm. Terry Kraft, a California native, was raised the son of a Navy captain. After his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1981, he proceeded to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola for flight training where he received his Naval Flight Officer wings of gold in 1982.

Kraft served as an A-6 Intruder bombardier/navigator in Attack Squadron (VA) 55 and VA-115. During his tour in VA-55, he participated in the Operation Eldorado Canyon Libyan Strike in 1986. His tour with VA-115 included 40 combat missions flown from the USS Midway (CV 41) during Operation Desert Storm. He returned to NAS Whidbey Island in 1991 for duty as an instructor with VA-128 and then served as executive officer of VA-95 during Operation Southern Watch in 1995. Upon decommissioning of the A-6, Kraft transitioned to the EA-6B Prowler and served as executive officer and subsequently commanding officer of Electronic
  Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 from February 1996 to May 1999. He led VAQ-131 on the first expeditionary
  deployment of a fleet EA-6B squadron to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, and deployed aboard the USS
  Constellation (CV 64) where his squadron earned the Commander Naval Air Force U.S. Pacific Fleet Battle E
  Award for 1999.

  Following squadron command, Kraft screened for the nuclear command pipeline. After completing nuclear
  power training, he served as executive officer aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and then
  commanded USS Shreveport (LPD 12) from 2002-2005. He participated in Operations Enduring Freedom
  and Iraqi Freedom from both ships. In November of 2005, Kraft assumed command of USS Ronald Reagan
 (CVN 76). He led Reagan through their maiden deployment and subsequent surge deployment. The ship earned
 two Battle E awards for combat excellence and two Golden Anchor Awards for retention during his tour.

  Shore tours for Kraft have included the Air Command and Staff College where he earned a master's degree in
  Political Science from Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala. He followed that with a tour at the J3 Directorate,
  U.S. Pacific Command from September 1992-October 1994. In July 1999, Kraft served as a federal executive
  fellow at the Kennedy School, Harvard University. In August 2008, Kraft reported to the Pentagon as the head of
  Maritime Aviation, Unmanned Aerial Systems and Aviation Training Plans and Programs (N882). He is currently
  serving as the director of ISR Capabilities on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. He is enrolled in the MIT
  Seminar XXI International Studies Program and serves as the Navy representative on the boards of United
  States Naval Institute and the Association of Naval Aviation.

  Kraft has accumulated over 3700 total flight hours and 1000 carrier arrested landings. His awards include the
  Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy Meritorious
  Service Medals and multiple individual and strike-flight Air Medals.

************************************************************

  Rear Adm. (lower half) Russell S. Penniman IV will be assigned as Deputy/Reserve Deputy
 Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Penniman is currently serving as deputy
  commander, 3rd Fleet, San Diego.

Rear Admiral Russell S. Penniman
Deputy Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet

Rear Admiral Penniman graduated from the United States Naval Academy with the class of 1979, and was designated a naval aviator in September of 1981.

Following an instructor pilot tour with Training Squadron 24 in the A-4 “Skyhawk”, Penniman reported to Fighter Squadron (VF) 124 for training in the F-14A “Tomcat”. He was subsequently assigned to VF-211, and deployed twice aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63). Following an instructor pilot tour with VF-124, he reported to VF-114, where he served as maintenance officer and deployed aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) in support of Operation Desert Storm. In the fall of 1991, Penniman returned to VF-124, where he served as both operations officer and executive officer. In the spring of 1993, he assisted in the establishment of Fighter Wing Pacific, and served as the wing’s first operations officer.

Upon release from active duty in March of 1994, Penniman held assignments as chief of staff for operations with reserve units supporting commander, Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet and commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet. In October of 2002, he
  assumed command of Naval Reserve Carrier Group 0194. Recalled to active duty in January 2003, he was
  assigned to the Joint Forces Air Component commander’s staff, USCENTCOM, where he served as night
  director, Combat Plans Division during Operations Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom. In October of 2004,
  Penniman was reassigned to 3rd Fleet JFACC 0194, where he served as chief staff officer until assuming
  command of the unit a year later. His next assignment was as assistant chief of staff for Plans and Operations
  and chief staff officer, with COMPACFLT Det 420. Penniman assumed responsibilities as deputy commander,
  U.S. 3rd Fleet in October of 2008.

  During his career, Penniman has accumulated in excess of 3,000 flight hours and 430 carrier arrested landings.
  His military awards include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service
  Medal (2 awards), the Air Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4 awards), the Navy
  Achievement Medal (2 awards), and other unit, campaign and personal decorations.

  In his civilian career, Penniman is managing partner of Penniman & Associates, LLC, a financial services and
  management company.

  RETURN TO INDEX

  NEW INFORMATION ON THE CENTENNIAL!!

  100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation

  Centennial Tier 1 Events

  The 2011 Centennial Tier 1 Event Schedule includes the following thirty two events. These national events have
  been selected by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard to coordinate and focus joint
  resources in supporting their Centennial Commemoration. You won't want to miss these spectacular events
  honoring the 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation. (Each underlined text is a hyperlink to a “The 100th
  Anniversary of Naval Aviation” web site page)

  The TIER ONE Contact List and the events map are attached to this BULLHORN email as a separate file (to
  maintain readability). 

  Please have your squadron contact the person listed for the event(s) in your area and SEE WHAT
  ANA CAN DO!  This is one of our greatest opportunities to truly get involved, to really work
  membership – and, MOST OF ALL, TO SERVE NAVAL AVIATION!

  Note:  each event and location listing is a hyperlink – control+click will take you to the respective
  Centennial web site page for that event

           Date                                            Event                                                                    Location                                                  City              State

2011 National Event Schedule (NOT TIER ONE)

Scroll and click on each event for additional information

  RETURN TO INDEX

***********************************************************************

  ATTENTION VPers !!

  West Coast VP Officer Reunion

  San Diego, CA, October 22 – 24, 2010

  Visit http://vpreunion.com for details

  Email: admin@vpreunion.com

  POC: Tim Verhoef (619-287-4606) or Rick Erazo (619-465-4225)

  RETURN TO INDEX

***********************************************************************

  USS MIDWAY FIRST REUNION

  Don't Miss Out on First USS Midway Reunion!

  It won’t be long before the first USS Midway Reunion will be held aboard the USS Midway
  Museum, Sept. 23-25!

  A group of former USS Midway sailors is organizing the event (not the USS Midway
  Museum), under the leadership of Oscar Granger (oscar.granger@verizonwireless.com). 
  Their preliminary schedule includes:

  Sept. 23: Check-in, hospitality suite, San Diego trolley tour
  Sept. 24: Early VIP visit to the USS Midway; tour Midway
  Sept. 25: Business meeting and banquet

  To register or for more information about the reunion hotel and other activities, please visit
  http://ussmidway.net.  We hope to see you aboard in September!

  RETURN TO INDEX

***********************************************************************

  US COAST GUARD PTERODACTYL ROOST

Coast Guard Aviation Association

The Ancient Order of the Pterodactyl

  Survey to assist in advanced planning for 2011 Roost in Mobile, Alabama.

  It's still a year and a half away, but we are already working on plans for the 2011 Roost.  In order to help us with
  our plans we have a short (three question) survey asking for your preferences regarding attendance at the 2011
  Blue Angel Homecoming airshow scheduled for Saturday, 12 November 2011 in Pensacola. 

  If you anticipate attending the roost, please complete the survey to help us accurately plan on how many
  reserved seats we will need for the air show.

  By answering the survey you are NOT committing yourself to attend nor making reservations.  This is only to
  help us make plans.

  The survey is limited to 100 responses and will shut down after the first 100 surveys have been completed.

  Link to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZVVXB8P

  RETURN TO INDEX

***********************************************************************

  F35 in The NEWS

  FOUR  articles:

  USMC F35 Planning in the NEWS

  Corps pushes ahead with F-35 basing plans

  Marine Corps Times

  By Amy McCullough - Staff writer
  Posted : Saturday Jul 3, 2010 10:45:08 EDT

  Amid community concerns over the future location of F-35B Joint Strike Fighter squadrons, the Marine Corps is
  pushing forward with its basing plans. In May and June the Marine Corps released two environmental studies
  and continues to hold public meetings to address concerns.

  There will be 22 operational squadrons spread among Marine Corps Air Stations Beaufort, S.C., and Cherry
  Point, N.C., on the East Coast, and Miramar, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., on the West Coast, said Capt. Craig
  Thomas, a Marine spokesman at the Pentagon. Seven of the 22 squadrons will have 16 aircraft, and the rest
  will have 10, although where they will be assigned has not yet been determined.

  The East Coast also will have a pilot training center, and the West Coast will have an operational training and
   evaluation squadron.

  The first operational squadron is planned for Yuma in 2012, although final approval to base the squadron there
  isn’t likely until December, Thomas said. The Corps also will begin phasing out its legacy aircraft in 2012.

  But even as plans proceed, the troubled program continues to face scrutiny in Washington. At an estimated
  $382 billion, the Joint Strike Fighter is by far the Pentagon’s most expensive acquisition program — a fact not
  lost on Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is continuing his crusade to cut defense spending.

  The Corps, though, is counting on the fifth-generation fighter to replace its EA-6B Prowlers, AV-8B Harriers and
  F/A-18 Hornets.

  The F-35B is touted for its stealth and short-takeoff and vertical-landing capabilities. The Corps’ jump jet variant
  broke the sound barrier June 10, flying 727 mph and into military aviation history books. It was the first time a
  STOVL aircraft reached supersonic speed, although the Air Force’s conventional take-off and landing variant
  had already broken the sound barrier.

  Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., which serves as a joint F-35 training pipeline, will get the first Marine variants this
  year. The first students to funnel through the school will become the Corps’ operational test and evaluation pilots
  in , leaving Eglin for Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., where they will continue operational tests of the aircraft.

  Extensive environmental impact studies for both coasts, conducted by the Navy, cover topics such as noise and
  safety. Thomas said basing plans can’t be completed until the public review of the studies is complete. To read
  the full reports and view public meeting dates, visit www.usmcjsfeast.com for the East Coast and
  www.usmcjsfwest.com for the West Coast.

  POSSIBLE LOCATIONS

  East Coast options:

•Three operational squadrons and a pilot training center at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., and eight squadrons at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C.

• The training center at Beaufort and 11 squadrons at Cherry Point.

• Eight squadrons at Beaufort and three squadrons and the training center at Cherry Point.

• Eleven squadrons at Beaufort and the training center at Cherry Point.

  West Coast options:

• Six squadrons at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., and five squadrons and an operational training and evaluation squadron at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.

• Four squadrons at Miramar and seven squadrons plus the OT&E at Yuma.

• Seven squadrons and the OT&E at Miramar and four squadrons at Yuma.

• One squadron and the OT&E at Miramar and 10 squadrons at Yuma.

• Ten squadrons at Miramar and one squadron plus the OT&E at Yuma.

**********************************************************************

  DoD BUZZ (July 7, 2010)

  No JSFs Flying To Farnborough

  By Colin Clark Wednesday, July 7th, 2010 6:33 pm

 

  At a time when international partners are skittish about rising costs for the Joint Strike Fighter program and
  allies have complained about access to program information, the Pentagon has decided that not a single Joint
  Strike fighter will head to the Farnborough Air Show and no one from the JPO will attend the show.

  We confirmed the JSF and Joint Program Office rumors late this afternoon with a Pentagon spokeswoman.
  Separately, we hear that the head of Pentagon acquisition, Ash Carter, may attend the show though we have
  been unable to confirm this. Carter’s presence would at least give the JSF partners a senior official to grill and
  would demonstrate that the U.S. — at least symbolically — values our allies sufficiently to send a top official to
  speak with them at the world’s biggest aerospace venue this year. Rumor has it that Air Force Secretary Mike
  Donley will attend, but that has not been confirmed.

  The first time a new military aircraft appears at an air show is always a major news event and is a palpable
  demonstration to the world that the plane is ready to demonstrate its stuff in front of a potential audience of
  millions. The F-22 made its first appearance at Farnborough in 2008 and it was the talk of the show.

  Lockheed Martin F-35A Becomes Second Variant to Fly With Mission Systems

  FORT WORTH, Texas, July 7, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The ninth Lockheed Martin
  /quotes/comstock/13*!lmt/quotes/nls/lmt (LMT 75.22, +0.89, +1.20%) F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter entered
  flight testing on Tuesday, becoming the second test jet to fly with the next-generation avionics package that will
  populate all operational F-35s. The F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, known as AF-3, flew
  for 42 minutes during its first flight.

  F-35 Test Pilot Bill Gigliotti took off at 6:20 p.m. and initiated a series of flying-qualities tests in a flight focused
  on propulsion and vehicle systems operation. Some mission systems data were collected before the flight was
  curtailed by storms in the area.

  "AF-3 is very much like the first production F-35s we will deliver to the U.S. Air Force later this year," said Doug
  Pearson, Lockheed Martin vice president of F-35 Test and Verification. "AF-3 will be the workhorse for
  demonstrating the lethal 5th generation combat mission systems capability that will reside in all F-35s."

  The F-35's avionics, or mission systems, are the most comprehensive and powerful ever to fly in a fighter. The
  Lightning II gathers, processes and applies data from a wide array of on-board and off-board sensors, enabling
  the jet to perform command-and-control functions while providing unprecedented situational awareness to the
  pilot, other air assets and surface forces.

  The jet will begin testing with its AESA radar; electronic warfare system; integrated communication, navigation
  and identification system; inertial navigation system; global positioning system; integrated core processor; and
  helmet-mounted display system, then integrate other sensors as flight testing progresses. An F-35B short
  takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant became the first test jet to begin flying the mission systems package on
  April 7.

  Three F-35 variants are under development - the F-35A CTOL variant to replace U.S. Air Force F-16s and A-
  10s, as well as aircraft employed by seven allied nations; the F-35B STOVL variant to replace U.S. Marine
  Corps AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18s, U.K. Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Harrier GR.7s, GR.9s and Sea
  Harriers, and Italian Harriers; and the F-35C carrier variant to replace U.S. Navy F/A-18s.

  The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully
  fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, advanced sustainment, and lower operational and
  support costs. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman
  and BAE Systems.

  The F-35 program has about 900 suppliers in 45 states, and directly and indirectly employs more than 127,000
  people. Thousands more are employed in the F-35 partner countries, which have invested more than $4 billion
  in the project. Those countries are the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia,
  Denmark and Norway.

  Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000
  people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration
  and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009
  sales of $45.2 billion.

  Testing Of Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Gaining Momentum

  (FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM 12 JUL 10) ... Bob Cox

  Flight testing of the F-35 joint strike fighter finally seems to be gaining momentum as Lockheed Martin and the
  Defense Department try to show that development of the next-generation combat jet is finally on track.

  Lockheed flew the ninth of the initial 13 flight-testing jets recently, counting the original prototype, which has
  already been retired.

  By week's end, the test program had completed 146 flights this year compared with the 128 planned, a pace
  that, if, sustained, would enable the full-year goal of 394 flights to be met or exceeded.

  Another measure of progress is the number of specific tests (test points) achieved: 1,438 completed compared
  with 1,255 planned.

  All of which means that if F-35 testing continues at the current pace through the rest of this year, it will be just
  about where it was supposed to be at the end of 2009.

  "Overall we're happy with the way things are going this year," said John Kent, Lockheed F-35 program
  spokesman.

  More often than not, Kent said, the test planes return to base "code one," meaning that they had no problems
  and are ready to fly again.

  After nine months of bad reports about rising costs, delays and problems, any sign of continuing progress is a
  good thing.

  "Any good news on flight testing and costs gives a confidence boost" to the armed forces, defense officials and
  politicians in the U.S. and foreign countries that are expected to buy the F-35, said Richard Aboulafia,
  aerospace industry analyst for the Teal Group forecasting firm.

  Despite the barrage of bad news in recent months, Aboulafia said all prospective foreign buyers "have kept
  the faith so far."

  A Dutch parliamentary vote to withdraw from the testing program has cast a cloud over that country's
  commitment, but even there the final outcome is awaiting the formation of a new government.

  Canada is reportedly leaning toward reaffirming its commitment to the F-35, and Australia, which has made
  the first commitment to buy production jets, has shown no sign of altering its plans.

  The 42-minute flight Tuesday of the AF-3, an F-35A conventional takeoff model like those that will be built for
  the U.S. Air Force, went well until stormy weather cut it short. A second flight later in the week was scrubbed
  because of the heavy overcast; initial flight tests are conducted under visual flight rules.

  The first F-35C test aircraft, the Navy version, has flown several times over North Texas since its inaugural flight
  June 6, Kent said. Several more test flights are scheduled in the next month before it's flown to the Navy's
  testing center at Patuxent River, Md.

  The AF-3 is the second of the test planes to be equipped with the complete "mission systems" package of
  electronic weapons targeting, search and tracking and self-defense equipment like the package that is to be
  installed in combat aircraft delivered to U.S. and foreign armed forces.

  Those systems, which were developed and tested on the ground, will now be tested in increasingly complex
  scenarios aboard the aircraft. One of the Marines' short-takeoff-vertical-landing F-35B models that is also
  equipped with the full mission systems flew for the first time in April and is now being tested at Patuxent River.

  Testing of the two F-35A models at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is going very well, Kent said, while the four
  F-35B models at Patuxent River, a more complex aircraft, have had a higher incidence of technical problems.

  "They're things we're glad to have found early," Kent said. "Nothing systemic, just glitches that we've had to fix."

  The other four flight test aircraft have been completed and rolled out of Lockheed's factory and are now
   undergoing ground tests and other flight preparations.

  Those four, along with the first two "low rate" production F-35As that are to be delivered to the Air Force for pilot
   training, are to make repeated flights before year's end.

  RETURN TO INDEX

##########################################################################

  EMALS TESTING

  Carrier Launch System Passes Initial Tests

  Jun 7, 2010

  By Bill Sweetman
  Washington

Recent tests at NAS Lakehurst, N.J., should have builders of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) sleeping more easily. The Navy's risky bet in the design of the Ford-its reliance on an all-electric replacement for the steam catapult-appears to be paying off.

Problems and delays with the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (Emals) last year were a threat to the carrier, because its design and construction reached a point where reverting to steam would have been difficult and expensive. With Emals in mind, the Ford-class features a much
  more powerful electrical generation and distribution system than the predecessor Nimitz-class ships, along with
  the virtual elimination of steam-energized services such as heating, galleys and pumps and 10 km. (6 mi.) of
  steam lines. 

  The Navy has delayed delivery of the $11.5-billion carrier for budgetary reasons twice. (Commissioning is
  expected in September 2015.) The scheduled progress of Emals now matches the carrier's build schedule but
  with so little slack in some areas that the Navy is continuing to monitor development of the system closely.

  The land-based prototype of Emals at Lakehurst started high-speed "no load" test runs in April, and will start to
  accelerate with dead loads-ballast-at speeds increasing from 50-180 kt. At prime contractor General Atomics'
  plant in Tupelo, Miss., prototypes of the Kato Engineering power modules are undergoing accelerated life
  testing, performing 6,800 power cycles. So far, tests show no signs that the powerful electrical surges cause
  electromagnetic interference with aircraft, ammunition or ejection seats. The first aircraft launch at Lakehurst is
  expected by year-end.

  Initial Emals components for Ford are due at the Newport News shipyard in May 2011. The tightest schedule
  concerns the 12 power units, which are high-speed motor-generators weighing 80,000 lb. each and functioning
  as flywheel energy storage and release units. Some are not due at the yard until the day before they are
  installed.

  Emals will deliver energy more flexibly than Nimitz-class steam catapults. The F-35C Joint Strike Fighter
  demands more launch energy than the F/A-18E/F, and Emals will allow the Ford to launch the JSF at maximum
  weight with less wind-over-deck.

  Emals can also be set to lower energy levels than a steam catapult, allowing it to launch small, lightly loaded
  aircraft like unmanned aerial vehicles.

  The Ford class features a new advanced arrester gear as well, also produced by General Atomics and
   replacing hydraulic rams with a water turbine and induction motor, permitting a finer setting of arresting force 
   and reducing the need for manual adjustments between landings. Like Emals, it is expected to allow the carrier
   to operate heavier and lighter aircraft than the current Mk. 7 arrester gear. Unlike Emals, it is intended to be
  backfitted to Nimitz-class carriers.

  The carrier will be part of the process of introducing a landing guidance system to the Navy: the Joint Precision
   Approach and Landing System (Jpals). It will be one of the first ships with Jpals, which is slated to be on all
   carriers and large amphibious transports by 2018. The second Ford-class ship, CVN-79, is due to be the first
   carrier without SPN-41 and SPN-46 radars, which provide carriers with an automatic landing capability.

  Adoption of Jpals is urgent for the Navy because current radars will not be supportable after the early 2020s.
  Jpals is also associated with the F-35C, because the fighter's reduced radar cross-section means that current
  radar-based autolanding systems cannot acquire it. The installation of Jpals on carriers will match service entry
  of the F-35C.

  The first increment of Jpals will be qualified for flight guidance down to 200 ft. and 0.5-mi. visibility. Accuracy is
  intended to be sufficient for an automatic landing, and that capability is being demonstrated as part of the
  Northrop Grumman X-47B Navy Unmanned Combat Air System program.

  The key to its accuracy is shipboard-relative GPS, which uses two GPS receivers-one forward of the island on
  the starboard side and the other on the portside stern. The space between the sensors and their relative
  location allows the system to measure the position of the ship accurately and track its movement-speed, pitch,
  roll and heave-with the aid of three Northrop Grumman LN -270 inertial reference units. Using the same
  differential GPS technique, Jpals also provides an accurate aircraft position. A data link allows the system to
  transmit automatic landing guidance.

  Credit: US Navy

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  USS Eisenhower Deployment

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs

  07.06.2010  USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, At Sea - USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group
  entered the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility July 4, after spending the majority of a successful 2010
  deployment assigned to U.S. 5th Fleet AOR.

  As the Sailors focus on returning home, and on a couple of upcoming port visits in the Mediterranean,
  Eisenhower's Commanding Officer Capt. Dee L. Mewbourne asked that the crew take time on America's
  birthday to reflect on the accomplishments of a successful deployment and renew their commitment to their
  nation and Navy.

  "As we begin the final stage of our deployment, I ask that we renew our dedication to make America proud,"
  Mewbourne said. "We need to continue to work together and finish strong."

  While in 5th Fleet AOR, the Eisenhower "5 Star" team completed 112 days on station in the northern Arabian
  Sea, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and providing aerial support for U.S. and Coalition forces on the
  ground in Afghanistan. Eisenhower and Carrier Air Wing 7 completed more than 8,400 sorties and 26,100
  hours of aerial combat support to U.S. and coalition OEF war fighters during their deployment to the 5th Fleet
  AOR.

  "Everyone on the Eisenhower-CVW 7 team contributed during our time here," said Capt. Roy Kelley,
   commander, CVW 7. "Our aircraft were able to support coalition forces on the ground due to the collective
   efforts of every member of this team. We positively influenced the ground war in Afghanistan, by professionally
   conducting our mission."

  To celebrate the strike group's accomplishments while in 5th Fleet AOR and the Fourth of July holiday, the crew
   held a "Steel Beach" picnic on the flight deck July 3.

  Command Master Chief Bryan Exum said the picnic was an ideal way for Eisenhower Sailors to celebrate the
  national holiday and reflect on the completion of a major phase of the carrier's 2010 deployment.

  Eisenhower deployed Jan. 2 from its homeport of Norfolk, Va., as part of a regularly scheduled rotation of U.S.
  maritime forces in the U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. 6th Fleet AORs, in support of OEF and to conduct maritime
  security operations in the region.

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  Super Hornets touchdown at Qld base  

  BigPond News (Australia, July 6, 2010)

  Tuesday, July 06, 2010 » 11:52pm

  A second fleet of Super Hornets made a loud arrival in Queensland after a four-day journey from the US.

  A second fleet of Super Hornets has made a loud arrival in Queensland after a four-day journey from US Naval
  Air Station Lemoore in California.

  Five new F/A-18F Super Hornets have touched down at the RAAF Amberley base at Ipswich, southwest of
  Brisbane. A sixth also arrives from the United States on Tuesday.

  The arrivals bring Australia's Super Hornet fleet to 11, while another Hornet remains in the US for ongoing
  advanced software development trials with the US Navy.

  Defence Minister John Faulkner says it's likely this development work will be completed later this year with the
  aircraft ferried to Australia before December.

  He says the Super Hornet acquisition project continues to be a major success with initial operating capability
  set to be achieved by year's end.

  'It is delivering a quantum leap in air combat capability to Air Force, on-time and on-budget,' he said in a
  statement.

  'This is the culmination of the hard work and dedication of the Royal Australian Air Force, Defence Materiel
  Organisation, US Navy, The Boeing Company and their industry partners, Raytheon, General Electric and
  Northrop Grumman.'

  The Super Hornets landed in Queensland after a four-day journey from US Naval Air Station Lemoore in
  California.

  They have a range of 2000km and maximum speed of Mach 1.8 or 1900km/h.

  Defence is buying 24 Hornets from Boeing under a $6 billion deal.

  Lockheed F-35 Lightning Joint Strike Fighters are also due to arrive in 2015.

  They will both replace the F-111 bombers.

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  THE NS ROTA WHALE  

  Thanks to CAPT John Orem, USN (Ret) for the following”

  Don't know whether you've been following the saga of the "Whale", but 146457 had been sitting on a stick on
  the front yard of the NS Rota BOQ.  Beginning a couple of years ago, a group of former Whalers got the
  airplane in "towing" condition and then arranged for several opportune lifts...USS Wasp from Rota to NAS
  Norfolk, and now Norfolk to Charleston.  Final stop will be USS Yorktown. 

  RADM Al Gallotta has been in the thick of the effort.   

  John Orem

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