Hanger Tails(Tales) ~ Flying/Aviation

[Stryder50]

Was about to start another thread for this, but dug this one up instead;

The 20 best films about pilots

MSN

www.msn.com

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OK ~ ~ ~ there are some good ones here, but also too many clunkers.
I'd hesitate to disparage the author of this list, but as the saying goes, he don't 'Know Jack" about flying or aviators given some of the flubs on the above list.

My biggest beef is that one (or two) of the best movies dealing with aviation was this under the radar classic;

Always is a 1989 American romantic fantasy drama film directed by Steven Spielberg, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, Brad Johnson and Audrey Hepburn in her final film role.

Always is a remake of the 1943 romantic drama A Guy Named Joe set during World War II. The main departure from the 1943 film is the changing of the setting from wartime to a modern aerial firefighting operation.[3] The film, however, follows the same basic plot line: the spirit of a recently dead expert pilot mentors a newer pilot, while watching him fall in love with the girlfriend he left behind.[4] The names of the four principal characters of the earlier film are all the same, with the exception of the Ted Randall character, who is called Ted Baker in the remake, and Pete's last name is Sandich instead of Sandidge.
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Always (1989 film) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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And this one could have replaced at least a half dozen on the list in the link above;
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A Guy Named Joe is a 1943 American romantic fantasy drama film directed by Victor Fleming. The film was produced by Everett Riskin, and starred Spencer Tracy, Irene Dunne, and Van Johnson. The screenplay, written by Dalton Trumbo and Frederick Hazlitt Brennan, was adapted from a story by Chandler Sprague and David Boehm, for which they were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Story.[4]

The film is notable for being Van Johnson's first major role. It also features the popular song "I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You)" by Fred Ahlert and Roy Turk, performed in the film by Irene Dunne.

Steven Spielberg's 1989 film Always is a remake of A Guy Named Joe,[5] and stars Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter and John Goodman. Always updates the story for a 1989 setting, exchanging the World War II backdrop to one of aerial firefighting.[6]
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A Guy Named Joe - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Stryder50]

Here is one of the most classic aviation films which should have been on that list in my above post. Could easily the majority of them.
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Twelve O'Clock High is a 1949 American war film about aircrews in the United States Army's Eighth Air Force, who flew daylight bombing missions against Nazi Germany and Occupied France during the early days of American involvement in World War II. The climax includes a thinly disguised version of the Black Thursday strike against Schweinfurt. The film was adapted by Sy Bartlett, Henry King (uncredited), and Beirne Lay, Jr., from the 1948 novel 12 O'Clock High, also by Bartlett and Lay. It was directed by King and stars Gregory Peck, Hugh Marlowe, Gary Merrill, Millard Mitchell, and Dean Jagger.

The film was nominated for four Academy Awards and won two: Dean Jagger for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and Thomas T. Moulton for Best Sound Recording.[3] In 1998, Twelve O'Clock High was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[4][5]
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Twelve O'Clock High - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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movie twelve o'clock high 1949 at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

 

[Stryder50]

A couple other classics that better belong in the "Top 20";
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Flying Tigers (a.k.a. Yank Over Singapore and Yanks Over the Burma Road) is a 1942 American black-and-white war film drama from Republic Pictures that was produced by Edmund Grainger, directed by David Miller, and stars John Wayne, John Carroll, and Anna Lee.

Flying Tigers dramatizes the exploits of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), Americans who fought the Japanese in China, serving with the Chinese Nationalist forces, during World War II. The movie portrays them as fighting before U.S. entry into the war but, in point of fact, they did not see action until after the attack on Pearl Harbor. It is unabashedly a wartime propaganda film that was well received by a 1940s audience looking for a patriotic "flagwaver".[2]
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Flying Tigers (film) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

john wayne movie flying tigers at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

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Also;
The Flight of the Phoenix is a 1965 American survival drama film produced and directed by Robert Aldrich, based on the 1964 novel of the same name by English author Elleston Trevor.[4] The story follows a small group of men struggling to survive their aircraft's emergency landing in the Sahara. It stars an ensemble cast, with James Stewart, Richard Attenborough, Peter Finch, Hardy Krüger, Ernest Borgnine, Ian Bannen, Ronald Fraser, Christian Marquand, Dan Duryea and George Kennedy.

Though the film was not a financial success, it was well-received by critics, who praised Aldrich’s direction and the performances of its cast. It was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Bannen and Best Editing for Michael Luciano. Hardy Krüger was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor,[a] and Aldrich was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama.

The Flight of the Phoenix was remade in 2004, titled as Flight of the Phoenix.
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The Flight of the Phoenix (1965 film) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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AND;
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The Blue Max is a 1966 war film directed by John Guillermin and starring George Peppard, James Mason, Ursula Andress, Karl Michael Vogler, and Jeremy Kemp. The film was made in DeLuxe Color and filmed in CinemaScope. The plot is about a German fighter pilot on the Western Front during World War I. The screenplay was written by David Pursall, Jack Seddon, and Gerald Hanley, based on the novel of the same name by Jack D. Hunter as adapted by Ben Barzman and Basilio Franchina.

In contrast to films that romanticize the flying aces of the Great War, The Blue Max depicts the protagonist as a man who appears to have no regard for anyone but himself. Set against the realities of modern warfare, the film also explores the decline of chivalry and the advent of total war.
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The Blue Max - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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I'm sure a few others may come to mind later ....

 

[Shawnee_b]

I'm 67, always a prop head and airport rat. In 5th grade Dad built me a beautifully done J3 cub rubber guillows kit, I did a Spitfire shortly after, flew looked OK. Went control line, I was legendary. My 7th grade teach heard and her husband gave me a 48" span stunter with a Fox 35 stunt in it, I built a 48" Yak 9 with flaps coupled to the elevator, I flew on 70 foot lines.

Getting more interested all around, general aviation included, exponentially so started riding my bike 3 mi to the small airport in Waterford, CT. Stunt pilot Ed Pease was flying his PT17 Stearman (looks like cellblocks avi) He landed I ran up and pointed to the empty cockpit, he shook his head and his son buckled me in and a leather helmet. What a ride, a memory! Gave my other 3 friends rides too.

Jump to 1985, Apex airport in Silverdale WA. Took lessons, Cessna 150, soloed many times but life, divorce, money put an end to it. Flew my buddies Cessna 172, almost bought it in 85 for $10.5K, bout $60K now. Also I like taildraggers. They told me "you have to ride a tricycle before a bicycle"

Jump to present. Monroe county Regional airport is 8 miles. I been hanging out there. The manager has a Piper Vagabond, Cessna 180 and a nice Cessna 195 with the radial Jacobs (that I saw so far) think the Beech v35 is his too.

Anyway, all I want is a sport license. Like Oddball, it's taildraggers for me. "there are those who have groundlooped and those who will" Weather has been too bad for a flight but gonna test fly the Vagabond on a nice day.

Vagabond painted similar to the Pa15 below. I'm not sure if his is the Pa15 or 17. Got the 85hp.

The Pt17 Stearman I flew in was Navy painted like this one. My first ride.

 

[Stryder50]

Just remembered another film for the lists. The "stars" are more likely the aircraft than the "pilots"; about 18 B-25s saved from extinction and about 17 of them restored to usable flying order, to make some spectacular flying footage in the movie.
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Catch-22 is a 1970 American black comedy war film adapted from the 1961 novel of the same name by Joseph Heller. In creating a black comedy revolving around the "lunatic characters" of Heller's satirical anti-war novel set at a fictional Mediterranean base during World War II, director Mike Nichols and screenwriter Buck Henry (also in the cast) worked on the film script for two years, converting Heller's complex novel to the medium of film.

The cast included Alan Arkin, Bob Balaban, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin, Italian actress Olimpia Carlisi, French comedian Marcel Dalio, Art Garfunkel (his acting debut), Jack Gilford, Charles Grodin, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Austin Pendleton, Paula Prentiss, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight, and Orson Welles.
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Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Force B-25 bombardier, is stationed on the Mediterranean base on Pianosa during World War II. Along with his squadron members, Yossarian is committed to flying dangerous missions, but after watching friends die, he seeks a means of escape.

Futilely appealing to his commanding officer, Colonel Cathcart, who continually increases the number of missions required to rotate home before anyone can reach it, Yossarian learns that even a mental breakdown is no release when Doc Daneeka explains the "Catch-22" the Army Air Force employs.

While most crews are rotated out after twenty-five, the minimum number of missions for this base is eventually raised to an unobtainable eighty missions; a figure resulting from Colonel Cathcart's craving for publicity, primarily a mention in the nationally syndicated Saturday Evening Post magazine. Catch-22, as explained by Doc Daneeka, the squadron flight surgeon: An airman would have to be crazy to fly more missions, and if he were crazy he would be unfit to fly. Yet, if an airman would refuse to fly more missions, this would indicate that he is sane, which would mean that he would be fit to fly the missions, basically an impossible "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation.
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Catch-22 is renowned for its role in saving the B-25 Mitchell aircraft from possible extinction.[11] The film's budget accommodated 17 flyable B-25 Mitchells, and one hulk was acquired in Mexico, and flown with landing gear down to the Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico filming location.[3] The aircraft was burned and destroyed in the crash landing scene. The wreck was then buried in the ground by the runway, where it remains.[12]
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Catch-22 (film) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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Oh yeah, likely need this for quick reference;
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A "Catch-22" is "a problem for which the only solution is denied by a circumstance inherent in the problem or by a rule."[13] For example, losing something is typically a conventional problem; to solve it, one looks for the lost item until one finds it. But if the thing lost is one's glasses, one cannot see to look for them – a Catch-22. The term "Catch-22" is also used more broadly to mean a tricky problem or a no-win or absurd situation.

In the book, Catch-22 is a military rule typifying bureaucratic operation and reasoning. The rule is not stated in a precise form, but the principal example in the book fits the definition above: If one is crazy, one does not have to fly missions; and one must be crazy to fly. But one has to apply to be excused, and applying demonstrates that one is not crazy. As a result, one must continue flying, either not applying to be excused, or applying and being refused. The narrator explains:

There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he were sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to, but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle. (p. 56, ch. 5)

Other forms of Catch-22 are invoked throughout the novel to justify various bureaucratic actions. At one point, victims of harassment by military police quote the MPs' explanation of one of Catch-22's provisions: "Catch-22 states that agents enforcing Catch-22 need not prove that Catch-22 actually contains whatever provision the accused violator is accused of violating." Another character explains: "Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing."

Yossarian comes to realize that Catch-22 does not actually exist, but because the powers that be claim it does, and the world believes it does, it nevertheless has potent effects. Indeed, because it does not exist, there is no way it can be repealed, undone, overthrown, or denounced. The combination of force with specious and spurious legalistic justification is one of the book's primary motifs.
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Catch-22 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Shawnee_b]

I liked Catch 22, read it LONG ago. I came across another copy and will reread it cause it's so good. I loved Yosarian shooting field mice in his tent with a 45.

 

[Stryder50]

15 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of Airline Pilots​

They may not have told you everything when you went into the cockpit to have wings pinned to your shirt. So, here’s a few interesting facts about working in the sky.​

15 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of Airline Pilots

They may not have told you everything when you went into the cockpit to have wings pinned to your shirt. So, here’s a few interesting facts about working in the sky.

getpocket.com

Eight Shocking Secrets I Learned While Working on Private Jets​

From comforting naked celebrities who are afraid of flying to cleaning up after pet (and human) accidents, nothing is surprising among those who fly privately for a living.​

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For those who can afford it, private aviation is an easy way to bypass the epic lines at TSA, stale food court sandwiches, and those armrest-hogging seatmates. It also buys an elusive treasure: additional hours in the day. Sunrise yoga in Los Angeles, lunch in Napa, a show in Vegas—it’s all doable when the sky isn’t the limit. As insiders say: “Jets aren’t aircraft, they’re time machines.”

These flying miracles became more accessible after the 2008 recession, when membership clubs began offering UberPool-like sharing schemes. Dallas-based JetSuite led the pack. Its SuiteKey program is like a debit account for airfare: The more you deposit, the deeper your discount. Of its 900 members [at the time of this writing in 2020], at least 50 have invested $1 million.
...

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

getpocket.com

 

[Stryder50]

Not within my budget, but fascinating aircraft anyways;
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Propelling the ICON A5 forward is a Rotax 912iS sport engine that can reach a max speed of 109 mph. The plane is designed with Seawings platforms that stabilize the craft on water and act as a stepping platform. The A5 interior is very reminiscent of its four-wheeled cousin, the car. A military aircraft-inspired stick can be seen in the driver's seat, and the dashboard can be equipped with a removable flight display. There are two flight display options to choose from: the Garmin Area 796 GPS or Garmin G3X Touch. ICON designed the A5 with a spin-resistant body in case it encounters engine failure as well as a parachute system. According to Pilotmax, a fully equipped ICON A5 has a price tag of $389,000.
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MSN

www.msn.com

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ICON A5​

Discover Adventure flying​

The A5 reinvents recreational aviation and lets you bring the exhilaration of flight to life like never before. Sport flying with the A5 is tailored to pilots who primarily fly for recreation — easy to fly, lightweight, and low operating costs.

New for Summer 2021, the A5 is now available in two models — Limited Edition (S-LSA) and Certified Edition (Type Certified). To learn more about the model differences follow the link below.
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ICON A5 Specs | Learn more about the ICON A5 Light Sport Aircraft

Information and specs on the ICON A5 amphibious light-sport aircraft. The ICON A5 is one of the most advanced and safest light sport aircraft on the market. Learn more about the A5's industry-leading safety features, versatility, and specs that make it one of the most unique light sport...

www.iconaircraft.com

......

 

[Stryder50]

The Abbotsford International Airshow Returns!​ August 5, 6 & 7 at the Abbotsford International Airport We are excited to announce that the Abbotsford International Airshow will return in its traditional in-person festival format this summer on August 5, 6 & 7. This year's event marks the 60th Anniversary of the Airshow and promises to be a memorable celebration so mark you calendars now! Headline Performers​ To help celebrate our 60th Anniversary event, we are excited to welcome the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and the RCAF CF-18 Hornet Demonstration Teams alongside the United States Air Force Thunderbirds making their only Canadian appearance this year. We look forward to making many more performer announcements in the coming months.

The Abbotsford International Airshow Returns!

mailchi.mp

 

[maybelooking]

I have loved aviation since I was very young. Maybe 8 or so years old. I did take lessons but never did solo. I had a friend in high school who's family owned a 2 seat tail dragger. He had his license and took me flying all the time.

That led to my father buying an ultralight. Which I flew often until we sold it.

Now im 51 and would love to go back to school and get my license. I may decide to do it at some point.

My nephew is currently training in the Air Force. H will find out (I think this month or next month) if he gets a fighter slot, or cargo.

 

[westwall]

I have loved aviation since I was very young. Maybe 8 or so years old. I did take lessons but never did solo. I had a friend in high school who's family owned a 2 seat tail dragger. He had his license and took me flying all the time.

That led to my father buying an ultralight. Which I flew often until we sold it.

Now im 51 and would love to go back to school and get my license. I may decide to do it at some point.

My nephew is currently training in the Air Force. H will find out (I think this month or next month) if he gets a fighter slot, or cargo.

You might check to see of there is a Civil Air Patrol squadron in your area. You can get a significant reduction in your cost for getting your ticket.

 

[Mac-7]

Here’s a Swede and Ollie joke from minnesota

if you are from Texas compare it to an Aggie joke

Swede and Ollie went on their annual moose hunt at a remote backwoods lake

when they were ready to leave a bush plane came to take them back to civilization

They loaded the plane with all their stuff including the moose they had shot

the pilot protested that his plane was too heavy to take off

But the hunters insisted they had hunted here last year with no problems

so the trusty Beaver started off across the lake struggling to reach the sky

meanwhile the trees at the far end of the lake got closer and closer

finally the inevitable happened

camping gear, broken airplane, hunters and moose were scattered everywhere

in a daze Swede calls out to Ollie and says “where are we?”

“About 20 yards farther than last year”

 

[Stryder50]

Here’s a Swede and Ollie joke from minnesota

if you are from Texas compare it to an Aggie joke

Swede and Ollie went on their annual moose hunt at a remote backwoods lake

when they were ready to leave a bush plane came to take them back to civilization

They loaded the plane with all their stuff including the moose they had shot

the pilot protested that his plane was too heavy to take off

But the hunters insisted they had hunted here last year with no problems

so the trusty Beaver started off across the lake struggling to reach the sky

meanwhile the trees at the far end of the lake got closer and closer

finally the inevitable happened

camping gear, broken airplane, hunters and moose were scattered everywhere

in a daze Swede calls out to Ollie and says “where are we?”

“About 20 yards farther than last year”

I remember hearing this one years ago and it is still an LOL! (And too often true in sorts.)

 

[Stryder50]

This past weekend the wife and I were able to do an annual thing in going to Spokane, WA to see some of the kids, their spouses, and grand-kids. While there, I finally visited the local historic aviation museum with my son-in-law and a grandson.

This is one of my favorite types of historic aviation museums because their inventory is capable of flying (and driving), and is the rare one where the collection isn't roped off. You can actually get up close and touch (carefully) the aircraft and vehicles there.

The vehicles on display at the time consist of an old "1930s" tour bus, painted red and black, the Glacier National Park colors of the era. Also a Cadillac convertible in GNP Red and Black that FDR rode in during his tour there back in the 1930s. Both beautifully restored to glossy finish.

The aircraft, while barely a dozen of sorts, are all in flyable condition and do get occasional air under their wings. There are a few shown on the website that weren't there and I forgot to find out why (sold or in hanger refit, or what ???) this are the F7F Tigercat, F8F Bearcat, the Lockheed T-33 trainer, and the Rapide. The others shown on their website were there though.

The B-25, "Grumpy II"; and the DC-3, were outside on tarmac display and both were opened up so we could get in and "climb around". The "DC-3" is a former C-47 later configured to domestic use as a "business transport" so interior seating is a bit more spacious and luxurious than usual commercial style. The B-25 is a a "D" model, dorsal turret behind the wings, and in RAF markings.

Just so happened while we were there that the museum's main "driver" for the B-25 was there and got to chat with him a bit. He happens to be a local "gas passer", i.e. a pilot of a KC-135 out of nearby Fairchild AFB. Mentioned he didn't yet have his "tail-dragger" cert. to fly the DC-3 but was working to get such.

Historic Flight Foundation | Vintage Aircraft Museum | Washington

Historic Flight Foundation is a unique vintage aircraft museum located in Spokane, WA, established in the year 2003. Contact us to learn more.

historicflight.org

The Collection;

Collection | Aircraft |Airborne | Historic Flight Foundation.

Historic Flight Foundation in Spokane, WA offers a collection of important aircrafts produced between 1927 and 1957. View our website for more details.

historicflight.org

BTW, that Beech Staggerwing is in fantastic condition (as are all their aircraft). One of the docents also opened up o9ne of the gun access panes (right wing)l on the P-51C so we could view the tilted twin .50s with simulated ammo feed belts!

(BTW, the P-51D (FF-525) in above image is from a more local collection, Heritage Flight, which used to operate out of Bellingham (here) but is now based a bit south at Skagit Airport;

https://heritageflight.org/

(Founded by former USAF General and Apollo 8 astronaut; Maj. Gen. Bill Anders.)

 

[Stryder50]

So here's a case where a few of us at least might be a bit envious. When you own enough modern jet and turbo prop aircraft ~ fighters/fighter-bombers/attack/etc. to out class most Third World Air Forces, and possibly contest a few Second World ones, you definitely have a bit of money/treasure to your name, not to mention some respectable fire-power available.;
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This Man Owns The World’s Most Advanced Private Air Force After Buying 46 F/A-18 Hornets​

A conversation with the owner of Air USA about probably the most incredible private aircraft purchase of all time and the future of his adversary business.​

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For the last 30+ years, Don Kirlin has been flying for the airlines, working on real estate deals, setting up the world's biggest skydiving meets, and building a private air force the likes of which even he has a hard time believing is possible. In March 2020, The War Zone was among the first to report that his company would be purchasing multiple squadrons worth of surplus Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18 Hornets to be used in the contractor adversary air support role here in the United States. In that role, they would primarily fly against U.S. military fighter pilots, replicating aerial threats from potential enemy nations. So basically, they are bad guys for hire, but strictly for training and development work.

Now, not only do we have all the details on that purchase, which is even more impressive than it initially seemed, but we talked at length with the entrepreneur owner of Air USA, located in Quincy, Illinois, about his company’s past and what is turning into a remarkable, if not downright historic, future.

Don Kirlin imported his first foreign military jet, and L-39 Albatross, in 1994, at a time when doing so was an extremely complex and convoluted affair full of pitfalls and unknowns. Since then, he has repeated the process dozens of times over and was the first owner of a private MiG-29 Fulcrum in the United States, among a long list of other exotic flying firsts. He now holds eight licenses with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), allowing him to own military machine guns and cannons, as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition to fire through them.

He was also one of the early pioneers of the then-fledgling, if not wholly experimental, adversary air support market. In the early 2000s, he joined forces with the Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), which was blazing a trail with their contracts with the Navy to supply fast jet targets and electronic warfare pod toting adversaries that mimic everything from enemy cruise missiles to fighters for Navy and Marine fighter aircraft and Navy surface combatants to train against.

During those early years, Air USA worked as a subcontractor for ATAC, flying the vast majority of the contracted subsonic adversary support flight hours. So, Kirlin and his company's experience in what is now an exploding adversary support marketplace dates back to its very genesis.
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Fast forward to 2020 and Kirlin now owns an impressive fleet of ex-military aircraft that perform a wide number of roles for the Defense Department, from training Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs), the modern designation for Forward Air Controllers on the ground, to saturating the sensor systems of America’s most advanced tactical fighters with aggressor adversaries in the air. With the individual contracts that will underpin the Air Force’s gargantuan adversary air support tender about to doled out, Air USA’s operation has to grow in capacity and complexity in order to even attempt to meet demand.

Enter the most spectacular private aircraft purchase of all time—Air USA’s acquisition of all of the Royal Australian Air Force’s remaining F/A-18A/B Hornets. Canada had bought 25 prior to this deal going through. The jets Air USA is slated to receive, 46 in total, of which 36 are flying today, will be replaced by the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter within the RAAF’s ranks and thus will be totally retired from service by the end of 2021.

Aussie F/A-18A/B Hornets and their replacements, F-35As. , © Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence
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Although the terms of the deal have not been disclosed [at the time this was written in 2020], the purchase does include all of the RAAF's F/A-18 spare parts inventory and test equipment, valued at over a billion dollars alone, according to Kirlin. Those parts will be incredibly valuable as Air USA is planning on putting every single airframe it receives back into service—not just the 36 aircraft that are flyable today, but the other 10 that are not, as well.

Those jets just need inspections and are not parted out or grounded for any other reasons. This will allow Air USA to operate at least three fully outfitted squadrons of the 4th generation fighters at all times, which Kirlin hopes will be forward deployed to key bases around the United States where they will primarily help give fleet pilots, testers, and tactics developers, a run for their money in the air-to-air combat arena.
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These are not Hornets in some dated configuration, either. The RAAF spent a lot of money keeping its legacy Hornet fleet relevant until replacements arrived. One of the most important capabilities the jets come with is the bolt-on Elta EL-L/8222 (license-built in the U.S. under the L3Harris Advanced Capability Pod name) electronic warfare pod. These Israeli-designed pods are pretty much the world standard in modular self-protection jamming systems and are used on the Pentagon's own aggressor fleet, as well as by various nations around the globe on frontline aircraft. You can learn just how powerful this system is, being able to turn even highly antiquated aircraft into formidable and deadly aerial threats, especially when paired with unique tactics, in this past piece of ours.

All of Air USA's secondhand Hornets feature the AN/APG-73 radar—the same one that is found on the F/A-18C/D and early F/A-18E/F Super Hornets—that differs from the less capable AN/APG-65 radar the A/B Hornet was originally equipped with. The AN/APG-73 remains a very capable radar set and is largely superior to anything else on the adversary market at this time. Kirlin also informs us that the radar and electronic warfare pod are integrated in such a way that the aircraft can simultaneously jam and engage (jam and shoot) enemy targets, which he doesn't believe exists anywhere else on the adversary market and is a critical capability when it comes to mimicking more advanced foreign fighter threats.
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The jets also come with their Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28 LITENING advanced targeting pods, which are hugely capable in the air-to-ground targeting and non-traditional reconnaissance realm, as well as for positively identifying aircraft visually at long ranges. You can read all about this function and its value in this past piece of ours. In addition, the Hornets come with 68 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS), which offers helmet-mounted display capability that drastically increases a pilot's situational awareness and high-off-boresight targeting for close-range air-to-air missiles. This will make it easier for these aggressor jets to simulate foreign capabilities of a similar nature.

Overall, Kirlin informs us that that the Aussie Hornets are being imported in exactly the same configuration as they are flying operationally today the RAAF. Nothing is being removed, even the jet's Link 16 data-link system and its internal M61 20mm Vulcan cannon are staying put.
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As for the condition of the surplus Hornet fleet, Kirlin says they are in incredible shape and show little signs of corrosion—likely a result of their often hot and dry operating environment down under as opposed to the salty conditions aboard aircraft carriers that U.S. Navy Hornets have had to endure.
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An Aussie F/A-18 Hornet in its latest advanced configuration, carrying the AN/AAQ-28 LITENING advanced targeting pod and Elta EL-L/8222 electronic warfare pod, as well as JDAMs and an AMRAAM., © Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence
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As for what the jets will look like once they lose their RAAF roundels and become Air USA jets, Air USA's owner wasn't entirely sure, but he does like the paint on one of his MiG-29s, which could be replicated on at least some of the Hornets. He also mentioned that a jet-black Hornet would be fun to have, just for the heck of it.
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One of the company's two MiG-29UBs in a blue, gray, and teal camouflage pattern., Air USA
...

Kirlin says that he looked at all the aircraft his competitors have bought, especially the Mirage F-1s from Spain and France and Atlas Cheetahs from South Africa that his competitors ATAC and Draken USA have snapped up, and passed on them. He actually showed me the approved ATF forms for importing these jets dated years ago as proof of his claim. Three primary reasons were behind his decisions. The first was concern that they simply weren't the right plane for the job—he wanted something more advanced. Second, that working with certain foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) would be a major hassle.

Finally, he is a firm believer in buying flyers, not aircraft that have been mothballed for years, if at all possible. With this in mind, the Hornets offered Kirlin a ready to go advanced 'air force in a box' that wouldn't be a huge hassle to regenerate once they reached the United States. They would also have great support from a domestic OEM—Boeing—and support and maintenance could be outsourced to firms that are already doing so for some Marine and Navy Hornet operations.
...
Right now, the company's budding air force includes 10 Hawks, four L-39ZAs, and two L-39s. The Hawk jet trainers, which originally came from South Korean stocks, are deceptively capable aircraft. Like all of the Hawk family, they are quick and nimble, as well as reliable and efficient, but they now also pack one hell of a sensor and electronic warfare capability. The jets have been upgraded with Elta's ELM-2052 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. In fact, they are the only private adversary aircraft equipped with an AESA radar set at this time.
...

ELM-2052 AESA radar and EL-L/8222 electronic warfare equipped Hawk., Air USA
...
The L-39ZA, which is a combat-capable derivative of the L-39 Albatross trainer, and the L-39s themselves, have lower performance than the Hawk, but they are very efficient and still can lug different types of countermeasure pods, cannons, and other stores. Air USA has even equipped some of them with advanced electro-optical and infrared sensor turrets. Air USA had Dornier Alpha Jets that fell into a category somewhere between the Hawks and the L-39s, but those aircraft were sold to the Nigerian Air Force, which was in urgent need of the type.

In addition to the Aussie Hornet purchase, Air USA also acquired five hand-picked PC-9 turboprop trainers from the RAAF. These aircraft will primarily be used to fulfill the growing demand for cost-effective Joint Terminal Attack Controller training. You can read all about this mission and the contracts being tendered to supply it in this recent piece of ours.
...

RAAF Pilatus PC-9s., © Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence
...
Basically, JTACs need to get time "on the mic" with real aircraft overhead, in both day and nighttime conditions, to get accustomed to organizing the three-dimensional airspace overhead in relation to the battlespace on the ground, and effectively, safely, and efficiently call in airstrikes on enemy targets. This is an incredibly complex and high-stakes job, but using high-performance fighters in the Pentagon's inventory that cost at least $20,000 an hour to train with is horribly cost-ineffective. As such, being able to provide far less expensive assets via the contractor marketplace for some of this training has become a major priority.
...

Airscan Inc. T337 Turbo Skymaster., DTOM/Wikicommons
...

Air USA's idea here is to provide the lowest possible cost for JTAC training while still having an aircraft that has all the bells and whistles needed to accomplish the mission. Don Kirlin says that from his firm's perspective, for a lot of JTAC training, the customer just wants the most "time on the mic" for their JTACs as possible. Delivering a very low-cost option, one with extremely high endurance, to accomplish just that is the impetus behind acquiring the highly unique fleet of suped-up and battle-proven Turbo Skymasters.

Kirlin also states that the company has acquired 10 F-5E Tiger IIs that will slot in between the Hawk and the Hornet in the aggressor role. These jets will be totally refurbished and will get a comprehensive upgrade very similar, if not nearly identical, to the one Tactical Air, another adversary air support purveyor, has developed for its large fleet of F-5s. You can read all about Tactical Air and its highly customized F-5ATs in this recent piece of ours.
...
Kirlin hopes to fit their F-5s with Infrared Search and Track Systems (IRSTs), which will be a huge force multiplier for other aggressors flying alongside them and a real threat to stealthy "blue air" jets, like the F-35, F-22, and B-2. Leveraging a similar open architecture avionics upgrade that Tactical Air pioneered with its F-5ATs will allow far easier integration of an IRST on the F-5 than on other aircraft in the Air USA fleet.

The company also owns a quartet of MiG-29 Fulcrums that Kirlin imported. These jets are basically in factory new condition. They each have roughly just 100 hours on them now, which is basically nothing. The two single-seat models are more parts donors than flying aircraft, with the pair of two-seat MiG-29UBs being airworthy. Although some may wonder why these jets are not used for adversary support roles, they simply are not in demand for a number of reasons. They are not specifically equipped for the mission, do not have a radar, and are not the most efficient flying machines available for the task by a long shot. They have done some missile work with Raytheon air-to-air missile system development in the past, and could be pushed into service if a customer really wanted them, but when you have fully upgraded Hornets in your fleet, who needs a dated MiG-29?
...
For instance, for basic air-to-air missions, like radar intercept training, maybe a PC-9 or L-39 is fine. For other more dynamic fighter training, maybe a Hawk or F-5 will do. For the most advanced air-to-air training, the Hornet will be available. The customer only has to pay for what they really need. The same can be said for JTAC training. For basic training scenarios, a T337H gives a tremendous amount of capability for the dollar and for "dry CAS" where weapons are not employed, but for more advanced scenarios where weapons are released, PC-9s, or even L-39s or Hawks, would be the aircraft for the job.
...
So, it's all about choice. This business mantra is something Don Kirlin learned by putting on the world's largest skydiving festival, the World Freefall Convention. When I say large, I mean large. Kirlin tells us that during a past iteration of the event, 5,400 skydivers made 70,000 jumps in just 10 days. Many of those skydivers were sick of the same old jump ships, they wanted a variety of exotic platforms to choose from to enhance their experience. Over 17 years of putting on the event, Kirlin ended up bringing in everything from World War II bombers to a high-flying 727 to help quelch attendees' demands.

By offering so many creative possibilities, he found that the customer really appreciates options and wants to be able to pay for exactly what they need or desire, nothing more and nothing less. This emphasis on customer choice is now being ported over to the adversary air support market via his eclectic fleet of tactical aircraft for hire.
...

An impressive lineup of electronic warfare toting Air USA Albatrosses. , Air USA
...

With choice and platform diversity also comes some really exciting opportunities to layer-in different capabilities on a single adversary mission, which can provide more challenging scenarios for trainees. For instance, pairing the Hawk with the Hornet, the Hawk can share its AESA radar targeting information with the Hornet and vice-versa. Throw in an F-5 with an IRST and even the stealthiest opponents will be prone to detection from Air USA's aggressor formation. Layering in other aircraft, like L-39s acting as cruise missiles and more, will help really rachet up the complexity that 'blue air' forces will have to confront, and all of these capabilities can come from one business relationship.
...
With frontline fighter aircraft becoming increasingly capable, especially in terms of the sensors they carry, being able to challenge them has become far more difficult and often requires a mix of high-performance opposing fighters, as well as saturating them with other, less complex aerial targets. Having a turn-key air force for hire with a huge range of capabilities and performance levels available, makes this easier to accomplish in an efficient and integrated manner and without the Air Force, Navy, or Marines having to task their own overtaxed fleets with the mission. Also, contracting out these services already is more cost-effective than having the military perform them, but with tailorable forces like Kirlin's, the cost should only go down, not up.

Don Kirlin is truly living what would have been a far-fetched dream not too long ago. He is a man with his own fourth-generation fighter-equipped air force, one larger and more capable than what many entire nations possess. With the introduction of the F/A-18 Hornet into the adversary air support marketplace, especially the number Air USA is bringing to the fight, it could very well be a game-changer, but it also presents risks.
...

This Man Owns The World’s Most Advanced Private Air Force After Buying 46 F/A-18 Hornets

A conversation with the owner of Air USA about probably the most incredible private aircraft purchase of all time and the future of his adversary business.

getpocket.com

 

[Stryder50]

What It Was Like Flying And Fighting The F-16N Viper, Topgun’s Legendary Hotrod​

It was hideously fast, incredibly maneuverable and a huge step forward for the US Navy’s aerial adversary capabilities.

What It Was Like Flying And Fighting The F-16N Viper, Topgun’s Legendary Hotrod

It was hideously fast, incredibly maneuverable and a huge step forward for the US Navy’s aerial adversary capabilities.

getpocket.com

 

[westwall]

So here's a case where a few of us at least might be a bit envious. When you own enough modern jet and turbo prop aircraft ~ fighters/fighter-bombers/attack/etc. to out class most Third World Air Forces, and possibly contest a few Second World ones, you definitely have a bit of money/treasure to your name, not to mention some respectable fire-power available.;
....

This Man Owns The World’s Most Advanced Private Air Force After Buying 46 F/A-18 Hornets​

A conversation with the owner of Air USA about probably the most incredible private aircraft purchase of all time and the future of his adversary business.​

...

For the last 30+ years, Don Kirlin has been flying for the airlines, working on real estate deals, setting up the world's biggest skydiving meets, and building a private air force the likes of which even he has a hard time believing is possible. In March 2020, The War Zone was among the first to report that his company would be purchasing multiple squadrons worth of surplus Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18 Hornets to be used in the contractor adversary air support role here in the United States. In that role, they would primarily fly against U.S. military fighter pilots, replicating aerial threats from potential enemy nations. So basically, they are bad guys for hire, but strictly for training and development work.

Now, not only do we have all the details on that purchase, which is even more impressive than it initially seemed, but we talked at length with the entrepreneur owner of Air USA, located in Quincy, Illinois, about his company’s past and what is turning into a remarkable, if not downright historic, future.

Don Kirlin imported his first foreign military jet, and L-39 Albatross, in 1994, at a time when doing so was an extremely complex and convoluted affair full of pitfalls and unknowns. Since then, he has repeated the process dozens of times over and was the first owner of a private MiG-29 Fulcrum in the United States, among a long list of other exotic flying firsts. He now holds eight licenses with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), allowing him to own military machine guns and cannons, as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition to fire through them.

He was also one of the early pioneers of the then-fledgling, if not wholly experimental, adversary air support market. In the early 2000s, he joined forces with the Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), which was blazing a trail with their contracts with the Navy to supply fast jet targets and electronic warfare pod toting adversaries that mimic everything from enemy cruise missiles to fighters for Navy and Marine fighter aircraft and Navy surface combatants to train against.

During those early years, Air USA worked as a subcontractor for ATAC, flying the vast majority of the contracted subsonic adversary support flight hours. So, Kirlin and his company's experience in what is now an exploding adversary support marketplace dates back to its very genesis.
...
Fast forward to 2020 and Kirlin now owns an impressive fleet of ex-military aircraft that perform a wide number of roles for the Defense Department, from training Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs), the modern designation for Forward Air Controllers on the ground, to saturating the sensor systems of America’s most advanced tactical fighters with aggressor adversaries in the air. With the individual contracts that will underpin the Air Force’s gargantuan adversary air support tender about to doled out, Air USA’s operation has to grow in capacity and complexity in order to even attempt to meet demand.

Enter the most spectacular private aircraft purchase of all time—Air USA’s acquisition of all of the Royal Australian Air Force’s remaining F/A-18A/B Hornets. Canada had bought 25 prior to this deal going through. The jets Air USA is slated to receive, 46 in total, of which 36 are flying today, will be replaced by the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter within the RAAF’s ranks and thus will be totally retired from service by the end of 2021.

Aussie F/A-18A/B Hornets and their replacements, F-35As. , © Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence
...
Although the terms of the deal have not been disclosed [at the time this was written in 2020], the purchase does include all of the RAAF's F/A-18 spare parts inventory and test equipment, valued at over a billion dollars alone, according to Kirlin. Those parts will be incredibly valuable as Air USA is planning on putting every single airframe it receives back into service—not just the 36 aircraft that are flyable today, but the other 10 that are not, as well.

Those jets just need inspections and are not parted out or grounded for any other reasons. This will allow Air USA to operate at least three fully outfitted squadrons of the 4th generation fighters at all times, which Kirlin hopes will be forward deployed to key bases around the United States where they will primarily help give fleet pilots, testers, and tactics developers, a run for their money in the air-to-air combat arena.
...
These are not Hornets in some dated configuration, either. The RAAF spent a lot of money keeping its legacy Hornet fleet relevant until replacements arrived. One of the most important capabilities the jets come with is the bolt-on Elta EL-L/8222 (license-built in the U.S. under the L3Harris Advanced Capability Pod name) electronic warfare pod. These Israeli-designed pods are pretty much the world standard in modular self-protection jamming systems and are used on the Pentagon's own aggressor fleet, as well as by various nations around the globe on frontline aircraft. You can learn just how powerful this system is, being able to turn even highly antiquated aircraft into formidable and deadly aerial threats, especially when paired with unique tactics, in this past piece of ours.

All of Air USA's secondhand Hornets feature the AN/APG-73 radar—the same one that is found on the F/A-18C/D and early F/A-18E/F Super Hornets—that differs from the less capable AN/APG-65 radar the A/B Hornet was originally equipped with. The AN/APG-73 remains a very capable radar set and is largely superior to anything else on the adversary market at this time. Kirlin also informs us that the radar and electronic warfare pod are integrated in such a way that the aircraft can simultaneously jam and engage (jam and shoot) enemy targets, which he doesn't believe exists anywhere else on the adversary market and is a critical capability when it comes to mimicking more advanced foreign fighter threats.
...
The jets also come with their Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-28 LITENING advanced targeting pods, which are hugely capable in the air-to-ground targeting and non-traditional reconnaissance realm, as well as for positively identifying aircraft visually at long ranges. You can read all about this function and its value in this past piece of ours. In addition, the Hornets come with 68 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS), which offers helmet-mounted display capability that drastically increases a pilot's situational awareness and high-off-boresight targeting for close-range air-to-air missiles. This will make it easier for these aggressor jets to simulate foreign capabilities of a similar nature.

Overall, Kirlin informs us that that the Aussie Hornets are being imported in exactly the same configuration as they are flying operationally today the RAAF. Nothing is being removed, even the jet's Link 16 data-link system and its internal M61 20mm Vulcan cannon are staying put.
...
As for the condition of the surplus Hornet fleet, Kirlin says they are in incredible shape and show little signs of corrosion—likely a result of their often hot and dry operating environment down under as opposed to the salty conditions aboard aircraft carriers that U.S. Navy Hornets have had to endure.
...

An Aussie F/A-18 Hornet in its latest advanced configuration, carrying the AN/AAQ-28 LITENING advanced targeting pod and Elta EL-L/8222 electronic warfare pod, as well as JDAMs and an AMRAAM., © Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence
...

As for what the jets will look like once they lose their RAAF roundels and become Air USA jets, Air USA's owner wasn't entirely sure, but he does like the paint on one of his MiG-29s, which could be replicated on at least some of the Hornets. He also mentioned that a jet-black Hornet would be fun to have, just for the heck of it.
...

One of the company's two MiG-29UBs in a blue, gray, and teal camouflage pattern., Air USA
...

Kirlin says that he looked at all the aircraft his competitors have bought, especially the Mirage F-1s from Spain and France and Atlas Cheetahs from South Africa that his competitors ATAC and Draken USA have snapped up, and passed on them. He actually showed me the approved ATF forms for importing these jets dated years ago as proof of his claim. Three primary reasons were behind his decisions. The first was concern that they simply weren't the right plane for the job—he wanted something more advanced. Second, that working with certain foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) would be a major hassle.

Finally, he is a firm believer in buying flyers, not aircraft that have been mothballed for years, if at all possible. With this in mind, the Hornets offered Kirlin a ready to go advanced 'air force in a box' that wouldn't be a huge hassle to regenerate once they reached the United States. They would also have great support from a domestic OEM—Boeing—and support and maintenance could be outsourced to firms that are already doing so for some Marine and Navy Hornet operations.
...
Right now, the company's budding air force includes 10 Hawks, four L-39ZAs, and two L-39s. The Hawk jet trainers, which originally came from South Korean stocks, are deceptively capable aircraft. Like all of the Hawk family, they are quick and nimble, as well as reliable and efficient, but they now also pack one hell of a sensor and electronic warfare capability. The jets have been upgraded with Elta's ELM-2052 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. In fact, they are the only private adversary aircraft equipped with an AESA radar set at this time.
...

ELM-2052 AESA radar and EL-L/8222 electronic warfare equipped Hawk., Air USA
...
The L-39ZA, which is a combat-capable derivative of the L-39 Albatross trainer, and the L-39s themselves, have lower performance than the Hawk, but they are very efficient and still can lug different types of countermeasure pods, cannons, and other stores. Air USA has even equipped some of them with advanced electro-optical and infrared sensor turrets. Air USA had Dornier Alpha Jets that fell into a category somewhere between the Hawks and the L-39s, but those aircraft were sold to the Nigerian Air Force, which was in urgent need of the type.

In addition to the Aussie Hornet purchase, Air USA also acquired five hand-picked PC-9 turboprop trainers from the RAAF. These aircraft will primarily be used to fulfill the growing demand for cost-effective Joint Terminal Attack Controller training. You can read all about this mission and the contracts being tendered to supply it in this recent piece of ours.
...

RAAF Pilatus PC-9s., © Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence
...
Basically, JTACs need to get time "on the mic" with real aircraft overhead, in both day and nighttime conditions, to get accustomed to organizing the three-dimensional airspace overhead in relation to the battlespace on the ground, and effectively, safely, and efficiently call in airstrikes on enemy targets. This is an incredibly complex and high-stakes job, but using high-performance fighters in the Pentagon's inventory that cost at least $20,000 an hour to train with is horribly cost-ineffective. As such, being able to provide far less expensive assets via the contractor marketplace for some of this training has become a major priority.
...

Airscan Inc. T337 Turbo Skymaster., DTOM/Wikicommons
...

Air USA's idea here is to provide the lowest possible cost for JTAC training while still having an aircraft that has all the bells and whistles needed to accomplish the mission. Don Kirlin says that from his firm's perspective, for a lot of JTAC training, the customer just wants the most "time on the mic" for their JTACs as possible. Delivering a very low-cost option, one with extremely high endurance, to accomplish just that is the impetus behind acquiring the highly unique fleet of suped-up and battle-proven Turbo Skymasters.

Kirlin also states that the company has acquired 10 F-5E Tiger IIs that will slot in between the Hawk and the Hornet in the aggressor role. These jets will be totally refurbished and will get a comprehensive upgrade very similar, if not nearly identical, to the one Tactical Air, another adversary air support purveyor, has developed for its large fleet of F-5s. You can read all about Tactical Air and its highly customized F-5ATs in this recent piece of ours.
...
Kirlin hopes to fit their F-5s with Infrared Search and Track Systems (IRSTs), which will be a huge force multiplier for other aggressors flying alongside them and a real threat to stealthy "blue air" jets, like the F-35, F-22, and B-2. Leveraging a similar open architecture avionics upgrade that Tactical Air pioneered with its F-5ATs will allow far easier integration of an IRST on the F-5 than on other aircraft in the Air USA fleet.

The company also owns a quartet of MiG-29 Fulcrums that Kirlin imported. These jets are basically in factory new condition. They each have roughly just 100 hours on them now, which is basically nothing. The two single-seat models are more parts donors than flying aircraft, with the pair of two-seat MiG-29UBs being airworthy. Although some may wonder why these jets are not used for adversary support roles, they simply are not in demand for a number of reasons. They are not specifically equipped for the mission, do not have a radar, and are not the most efficient flying machines available for the task by a long shot. They have done some missile work with Raytheon air-to-air missile system development in the past, and could be pushed into service if a customer really wanted them, but when you have fully upgraded Hornets in your fleet, who needs a dated MiG-29?
...
For instance, for basic air-to-air missions, like radar intercept training, maybe a PC-9 or L-39 is fine. For other more dynamic fighter training, maybe a Hawk or F-5 will do. For the most advanced air-to-air training, the Hornet will be available. The customer only has to pay for what they really need. The same can be said for JTAC training. For basic training scenarios, a T337H gives a tremendous amount of capability for the dollar and for "dry CAS" where weapons are not employed, but for more advanced scenarios where weapons are released, PC-9s, or even L-39s or Hawks, would be the aircraft for the job.
...
So, it's all about choice. This business mantra is something Don Kirlin learned by putting on the world's largest skydiving festival, the World Freefall Convention. When I say large, I mean large. Kirlin tells us that during a past iteration of the event, 5,400 skydivers made 70,000 jumps in just 10 days. Many of those skydivers were sick of the same old jump ships, they wanted a variety of exotic platforms to choose from to enhance their experience. Over 17 years of putting on the event, Kirlin ended up bringing in everything from World War II bombers to a high-flying 727 to help quelch attendees' demands.

By offering so many creative possibilities, he found that the customer really appreciates options and wants to be able to pay for exactly what they need or desire, nothing more and nothing less. This emphasis on customer choice is now being ported over to the adversary air support market via his eclectic fleet of tactical aircraft for hire.
...

An impressive lineup of electronic warfare toting Air USA Albatrosses. , Air USA
...

With choice and platform diversity also comes some really exciting opportunities to layer-in different capabilities on a single adversary mission, which can provide more challenging scenarios for trainees. For instance, pairing the Hawk with the Hornet, the Hawk can share its AESA radar targeting information with the Hornet and vice-versa. Throw in an F-5 with an IRST and even the stealthiest opponents will be prone to detection from Air USA's aggressor formation. Layering in other aircraft, like L-39s acting as cruise missiles and more, will help really rachet up the complexity that 'blue air' forces will have to confront, and all of these capabilities can come from one business relationship.
...
With frontline fighter aircraft becoming increasingly capable, especially in terms of the sensors they carry, being able to challenge them has become far more difficult and often requires a mix of high-performance opposing fighters, as well as saturating them with other, less complex aerial targets. Having a turn-key air force for hire with a huge range of capabilities and performance levels available, makes this easier to accomplish in an efficient and integrated manner and without the Air Force, Navy, or Marines having to task their own overtaxed fleets with the mission. Also, contracting out these services already is more cost-effective than having the military perform them, but with tailorable forces like Kirlin's, the cost should only go down, not up.

Don Kirlin is truly living what would have been a far-fetched dream not too long ago. He is a man with his own fourth-generation fighter-equipped air force, one larger and more capable than what many entire nations possess. With the introduction of the F/A-18 Hornet into the adversary air support marketplace, especially the number Air USA is bringing to the fight, it could very well be a game-changer, but it also presents risks.
...

This Man Owns The World’s Most Advanced Private Air Force After Buying 46 F/A-18 Hornets

A conversation with the owner of Air USA about probably the most incredible private aircraft purchase of all time and the future of his adversary business.

getpocket.com

I actually spend a lot of time with the Tac Air guys. A friend of mine helped to develop their new integrated cockpit systems.

 

[Stryder50]

The Abbotsford International Airshow returns
August 5, 6 & 7, 2022!​

Abbotsford International Airshow 2022 | Canadian Airshow

It's Abby's 60th Anniversary this year! Join us in celebration with fantastic aircraft live airshows, static displays, STEM activities and more surprises.

abbotsfordairshow.com

2022 Performers​

We're excited to announce our 60th anniversary Abby Airshow performers! Enjoy world-class aerial demonstrations from our stellar line-up of military and civilian performers. Additional performers will be added as they are confirmed. Check back often and follow us on social media for updates! Please be advised that some performers are only expected to perform on certain days (specified below). All performers are subject to modification or cancellation without notice.

Performers - Abbotsford International Airshow

Check out Abbotsford Airshow performers starring Canadian Snowbirds and US Thunderbirds plus other incredible military and commercial aircrafts!

abbotsfordairshow.com

This is in British Columbia, Canada. If in the Pacific NorthWest (PNW)(USA+) or planning to visit, consider adding to your itinerary.

 

[para bellum]

When I was learning to fly, my instructor brought a kid with him one day. It was "bring your kid to work day". My instructor asked if I minded, of course not.

I was doing instrument recoveries under the hood. Instructor says "departure stall". Okay. I check my altitude and heading (he expected me to recover with less than 500' lost and be on the original heading).

I pull the yoke back into my belly and wait for the stall. Waiting, waiting....Where's my stall? Everything feels fine, it just won't stall. Finally, it starts wallowing and the horn goes off, wing drops and I'm in the stall. Pitch down, level the wings, check heading, altitude no loss!

Feeling pretty good.

I flip up the hood, look at the instructor, he's smiling. Kid in the back seat is looking kind of green. Instructor says "You're a lot of fun to fly with. You want me to show you what you did?"

I say "Sure". (not really sure what he means)

He pulls the yoke back and we do a hammerhead.

Then I realized.

I entered the maneuver at 110kts instead of 55kts. Almost got a loop out of it, another 10 kts probably would have done it, lol.
---------------------------------
Tried to race a thunderstorm one day. I was heading back home after a practice session, and I could see this nasty cell heading straight for the field. Thought I could make it.

It was a tie. I touched down at the exact time visibility went zero, immediately began hydroplaning. Tried to touch the brakes, now I'm skidding down the runway sideways at 55kts. This was not my plan.

Let off the brakes, used the rudder to get pointed back in the right direction, and man- that was the longest landing roll I ever did. Usually I'd take the first taxiway, that time I used the whole runway. I wasn't going to try those brakes again until I was down to a slow walk!
----------------------------------
Coming in one day on short final, instructor in the right seat. Widgeon on the hold line, waiting for me to land. About 75' AGL, a gust picks up the left wing and aims me directly at the Widgeon. I go "Oh Shit!" Stomp on the rudder, full left aileron, quickly snap it back straight, and land right on centerline.

Instructor says "That was a great recovery, but your passengers don't really want to hear the pilot say "Oh Shit!" right before touchdown!

 

[AZrailwhale]

I'm not a licensed pilot, but here's one of my aircraft stories. My uncle had both a sailplane license and a IFR power license. One time when I visited, he got me a ride at his sailplane club in a Switzer sailplane. Since I was larger than the instructor he put me in the back seat. We took off, spiraled up to about five thousand feet and he handed the plane off to me. I flew it for quite a while, then descended, flew the pattern and was down to about fifty feet and I started to get nervous, at that altitude things seem to happen fairly fast. I asked when he was going to take the controls to land and he asked if I had even landed before, I said no, he then asked how much stick time I had and I replied "including today, forty five minutes" he just said "my airplane" and landed. After the flight he said he thought I was a seasoned pilot since I was flying so well. It turns out that sailing and flying a sailplane have a lot in common and I was an experienced sailor.