Yesterday was an interesting day. It was the end of a chapter in Iraq. While I have never been to Iraq, I have been supporting operations over Iraq and several other conflicts over a couple deployments. But yesterday was cool in the fact that it ended a chapter, and began a new one.
Went to work yesterday, like every day, but got a call for another person to head out and recover a jet. When we got out to the taxiway, we were told that we were recovering the last mission that we would fly over Iraq. In the pictures, I'm the guy punching the pogo in the left wing.
U-2 pilot flies final manned ISR mission over Iraq
Posted 12/19/2011 Updated 12/19/2011
by Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
12/19/2011 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- A U-2 pilot completed the final manned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission over Iraq Dec. 18, as the last American troops withdrew into neighboring Kuwait.
Maj. Steve Eadie flew his first mission over Iraq during Operation Southern Watch in the early '90s, so it was fitting for the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron Airman to close out this chapter of his unit's history.
Eadie, deployed from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., said he was proud to be part of this landmark event.
"The best part about it was it was quiet for the folks on the ground," said Eadie, a Lake City Fla., native. "There were no issues as they were leaving so it was a good day. I'm proud to have been a part of it."
As a U-2 pilot, Eadie is responsible for flying missions between nine and 12 hours at a time. The equipment aboard the Dragon Lady, as the U-2 is commonly known, is some of the most sophisticated in the world and provides data for coalition leaders to make informed decisions about any given situation.
"High-altitude ISR has been a part of operations in Iraq since Desert Storm, so it feels good to know that what we've done has made a difference for battlefield commanders and troops on the ground, said Lt. Col. Andy Clark, the 99th ERS commander. "It's truly the end of an era."
While this part of their mission is completed, Airmen from the 99th ERS will continue supporting commanders in the field with flights over Afghanistan and other parts of Southwest Asia, as well as supporting units in the Horn of Africa.
"This is the busiest the U-2 has ever been in its storied 56-year career," Clark said. "It amazes me to see what we've been able to accomplish so far. And as long as combatant commanders still need us, we'll keep flying.
Story and pictures property of the following address:
http://www.380aew.afcent.af.mil/news...p?id=123284018
Went to work yesterday, like every day, but got a call for another person to head out and recover a jet. When we got out to the taxiway, we were told that we were recovering the last mission that we would fly over Iraq. In the pictures, I'm the guy punching the pogo in the left wing.
U-2 pilot flies final manned ISR mission over Iraq
Posted 12/19/2011 Updated 12/19/2011
by Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
12/19/2011 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- A U-2 pilot completed the final manned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission over Iraq Dec. 18, as the last American troops withdrew into neighboring Kuwait.
Maj. Steve Eadie flew his first mission over Iraq during Operation Southern Watch in the early '90s, so it was fitting for the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron Airman to close out this chapter of his unit's history.
Eadie, deployed from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., said he was proud to be part of this landmark event.
"The best part about it was it was quiet for the folks on the ground," said Eadie, a Lake City Fla., native. "There were no issues as they were leaving so it was a good day. I'm proud to have been a part of it."
As a U-2 pilot, Eadie is responsible for flying missions between nine and 12 hours at a time. The equipment aboard the Dragon Lady, as the U-2 is commonly known, is some of the most sophisticated in the world and provides data for coalition leaders to make informed decisions about any given situation.
"High-altitude ISR has been a part of operations in Iraq since Desert Storm, so it feels good to know that what we've done has made a difference for battlefield commanders and troops on the ground, said Lt. Col. Andy Clark, the 99th ERS commander. "It's truly the end of an era."
While this part of their mission is completed, Airmen from the 99th ERS will continue supporting commanders in the field with flights over Afghanistan and other parts of Southwest Asia, as well as supporting units in the Horn of Africa.
"This is the busiest the U-2 has ever been in its storied 56-year career," Clark said. "It amazes me to see what we've been able to accomplish so far. And as long as combatant commanders still need us, we'll keep flying.
Story and pictures property of the following address:
http://www.380aew.afcent.af.mil/news...p?id=123284018
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Well, my 88" Edge has been begging to get out and fly, and today was the day since I finally got a new charger, but half-way through the first flight, the prop shaft snapped off... 
I lost the spinner, and Xoar 25X12E somewhere in a rattlesnake infested swamp....
fun day for sure, I don't have a problem with crashing a plane, if anyone's seen me fly, they will know that.. lol
But when it comes to equipment failure, I don't like it a bit. It ruins my whole day.
here's the damage... I also broke the cowl a little bit when I overshot the runway and flipped the plane in the grass.... not a fun day...
The prop was not overtightened. IMHO, it looks as if the metal that the shaft was manufactured from is to brittle for this application....
I lost the spinner, and Xoar 25X12E somewhere in a rattlesnake infested swamp....
fun day for sure, I don't have a problem with crashing a plane, if anyone's seen me fly, they will know that.. lol
But when it comes to equipment failure, I don't like it a bit. It ruins my whole day.
here's the damage... I also broke the cowl a little bit when I overshot the runway and flipped the plane in the grass.... not a fun day...
The prop was not overtightened. IMHO, it looks as if the metal that the shaft was manufactured from is to brittle for this application....
I was going to keep this a secret, but I decided to let the masses in on the secret for death-diving...
WARNING,
This High-Performance Modification to your airframe is not endorsed by Extreme Flight RC.
For a successful death-diving experience, you will need to remove part of the left elevator in order to not over-stress your airframe in the event of a high-speed/high altitude WOT Parachute... If it is not done exactly right, your aircraft may suffer a catastrophic failure.
Correct modification:
Result of improper modification:
WARNING,
This High-Performance Modification to your airframe is not endorsed by Extreme Flight RC.
For a successful death-diving experience, you will need to remove part of the left elevator in order to not over-stress your airframe in the event of a high-speed/high altitude WOT Parachute... If it is not done exactly right, your aircraft may suffer a catastrophic failure.
Correct modification:
Result of improper modification:
Spent some time today doing something that I've wanted to do for a while.... tear a plane apart, and not have to put it back together... lol
The subject was a U-3B(Cessna 310). One of the few that was used by the Air Force as a "chase plane" for the U-2 spyplanes. This particular aircraft was donated to a flying club 15 years ago, and was the only one that was not scrapped, until today. Unfortunately, there is no desire for the aircraft anymore, and this one is being salvaged as well. It's really a shame, as the plane could have been restored fairly easily... In fact, the gas in the tanks still appeared to be good...
The subject was a U-3B(Cessna 310). One of the few that was used by the Air Force as a "chase plane" for the U-2 spyplanes. This particular aircraft was donated to a flying club 15 years ago, and was the only one that was not scrapped, until today. Unfortunately, there is no desire for the aircraft anymore, and this one is being salvaged as well. It's really a shame, as the plane could have been restored fairly easily... In fact, the gas in the tanks still appeared to be good...
WOOOOOOOOOOOooOOOoooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!1
VCU is making a serious name for themselves!!! Maybe it's just a little home-state pride, but it's freekin awesome!!!!
GO RAMS!!!
VCU is making a serious name for themselves!!! Maybe it's just a little home-state pride, but it's freekin awesome!!!!
GO RAMS!!!
