Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Lightning strikes


Persian Gulf (Nov. 14, 2005) – Lightning strikes in the distance behind an SH-60F Seahawk helicopter, assigned to the "Tridents" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Three (HS-3), on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) are currently underway in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Steel Curtain, an offensive aimed at preventing cells of Al Qaeda from entering Iraq through the Syrian border.

Monday, July 30, 2007

The Centurion


The Centurion remotely piloted flying wing during an initial series of low-altitude, battery-powered test flights in late 1998 at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California.

Friday, July 27, 2007

300-poinder Parrot Rifle


Morris Island, South Carolina. 300-poinder Parrot Rifle after bursting of muzzle

Monday, July 23, 2007

RC-135 Rivet Joint


Airmen across U.S. Central Command Air Forces converged in Bahrain for the Weapons and Tactics Conference in July to discuss ways to use airpower and aircraft more effectively, including how to use the RC-135 Rivet Joint better. One of the areas examined was the flow of information between joint tactical attack controllers, weapons platforms like F-16 Fighting Falcons and B-1B Lancers, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Gypsy mother and babe


Gypsy mother and babe by the wayside near Orsova, Hungary.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

The Sea Based X-Band Radar


Gulf of Mexico (Nov. 14, 2005) – The Sea Based X-Band Radar (SBX) is slowly loaded onto the heavy lift vessel MV Blue Marlin as the ship semi-submerges in the Gulf of Mexico. SBX will provide missile tracking, discrimination and hit assessment functions to the Ground-based Midcourse Defense element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. It will support interceptor missiles located in Alaska and California if required to defend against a limited long-range missile attack on the United States. Home-ported in Adak, Alaska, the SBX can move throughout the Pacific Ocean in support of advanced missile defense testing and defensive operations.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

F/A-18C Hornet


PERSIAN GULF (July 15, 2007) – An F/A-18C Hornet, assigned to the "Sunliners" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81, lands aboard nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). The Nimitz Strike Group and embarked Carrier Air Wing 11 are deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet conducting maritime operations and supporting troops participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

NACA High-Speed Flight Research Station


A 1953 photo of some of the research aircraft at the NACA High-Speed Flight Research Station (now known as the the Dryden Flight Research Center). The photo shows the X-3 (center) and, clockwise from left: X-1A (Air Force serial number 48-1384), the third D-558-1 (NACA tail number 142), XF-92A, X-5, D-558-2, and X-4.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Apollo 11


The Apollo 11 crew leaves Kennedy Space Center's Manned Spacecraft Operations Building during the pre-launch countdown. Mission commander Neil Armstrong, command module pilot Michael Collins, and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin prepare to ride the special transport van to Launch Complex 39A where their spacecraft awaited them. Liftoff occurred 38 years ago today at 9:32 a.m. EDT, July 16, 1969.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)


ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 11, 2007) - Sailors from deck department stand by on the starboard side of the island of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) as guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) pulls alongside during a replenishment at sea. Truman is underway in the Atlantic Ocean participating in the Composite Training Unit Exercise in preparation for deployment to the Persian Gulf.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Wernher von Braun and Lady Bird Johnson


Marshall Space Flight Center Director Dr. Wernher von Braun presents Lady Bird Johnson with an inscribed hard hat during the First Lady's March 24, 1964, visit. While at the Marshall Center, Mrs. Johnson addressed the center' employees, toured facilities and witnessed test firings of a Saturn I first stage and an F-1 engine. Dr. von Braun is wearing a cowboy hat presented to him months earlier by Lyndon Johnson during a visit to the Johnson ranch in Texas.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

AH-64D Apache helicopter


AH-64D Apache helicopter

Chattanooga in 1864

Samuel Adams

B-29


This 1954 photograph shows a Douglas D-558-2 under the P2B-1S (Navy designation for a B-29) launch aircraft. The P2B-1S has been lifted on mechanical jacks in the hangar for a possible “fit check” or the attachment of the Skyrocket for a flight. The P2B-1S had the nickname "Fertile Myrtle." On the side of its fuselage is a series of images indicating 41 launches by the mothership of D-558-2 #2 (NACA 144) and 44 by D-558-2 #3 (NACA 145).

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

USNS Comfort


CARIBBEAN SEA (June 30, 2007) - Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) is anchored off the coast of Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, during a scheduled stop on a four-month humanitarian deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean to provide medical treatment to patients in a dozen countries. While deployed, Comfort is under the operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and tactical control of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 24.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

B-2 Bomber


The B-2 Spirit bomber is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. A dramatic leap forward in technology, the bomber represents a major milestone in the U.S. bomber modernization program.

Monday, July 9, 2007

Mount St. Helens


Aerial view of Mount St. Helens' crater and dome from the southeast.
USGS Photograph taken on June 26, 2007.

Sunday, July 8, 2007

F/A-18F Super Hornet


ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 4, 2007) - Plane shooter Lt. Beau Massenburg signals the catapult operator to launch an F/A-18F Super Hornet, attached to the "Red Rippers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105, off the bow of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman is underway participating in the composite training unit exercise in preparation for deployment to the Persian Gulf.

Saturday, July 7, 2007

USS Bataan


NORFOLK, Va. (July 3, 2007) - Amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) pulls into port at Naval Station Norfolk after a six-month deployment. While deployed, the Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group supported maritime operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation.

Friday, July 6, 2007

Apartment

A HC-130P refuels an HH-60 Pave Hawk


A HC-130P refuels an HH-60 Pave Hawk - June 27, while being filmed by a video production team for the Air Force recruiting campaign, "Do Something Amazing." The aircraft and crew are assigned to the 23rd Rescue Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Ga.

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

A mule and a plow


A mule and a plow--Resettlement Administration--Small loans give farmers a new start / Bernarda Bryson

Sunday, July 1, 2007

White Tower


White Tower (i.e. Weisser Turm), Rothenburg (i.e. ob der Tauber), Bavaria, Germany.