[Llarry]

The Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) in Taiwan has asked to purchase six Northrop Grumman E-2D airborne warning and control radar planes from the USA. The ROCAF currently operates five older E-2K models of the Hawkeye that were originally purchased 30 years ago as E-2Ts, then upgraded to E-2K over the years. One aircraft was lost to an accident.

The story of the Taiwan's purchase of the E-2 is an interesting one: The US had long ago agreed with China to not provide any new systems to Taiwan and so the E-2Ts sold to the ROCAF were purported to be used U.S. Navy aircraft. They were in fact factory new and I'm sure the Chinese were perfectly aware of that.

If the sale is approved, Taiwan will have to get in line to take delivery of new E-2Ds: Japan and the French Navy are awaiting delivery of E-2Ds that are scheduled to be delivered in 2027-2028.

The photo is of a currently active ROCAF E-2K.

[asianF22]

Haven’t seen one of these in awhile…Skywagon 180

[Llarry]

In 1961, the U.S. president's air travel over short distances entered the jet age when the Army and Marine units responsible for presidential transport by helicopter transitioned to the turbine powered VH-3A Sea King (old designation HSS-2Z). Eight Sikorsky VH-3As, divided equally between the Army and the Marine Corps, were assigned for the purpose.

Fifteen years later, in 1976, those early VH-3As were replaced with 11 improved VH-3D models. Referred to as "Marine One" when the president was onboard, the VH-3Ds has served in the presidential transport role for almost 50 years. The H-3s started life as ship-based antisubmarine helicopters, but these VH-3Ds were a far cry from their SH-3D ASW brethren, with increasingly sophisticated secure communications and countermeasures equipment. When the Navy's SH-3Ds were retired, the VH-3Ds were assured of an abundance of spare parts and continue to fly the VIP mission.

In 1976 Army participation ended and the mission became exclusively a Marine Corps task. The Marines had earlier formed a special squadron, Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) for the task.

In 1987, the VH-3Ds were joined by a little brother, the Sikorsky VH-60N. The VH-60Ns rarely flew the president but were used for support tasks. Other helicopters (UH-46s and large CH-53s) were also assigned to HMX-1 and used for support tasks as well.

As a security measure, the VH-3Ds frequently flew in groups of two or more to complicate targeting should someone desire to shoot down the president's aircraft.

Long after retirement of the SH-3, the White House and the Marines recognized that they needed to plan a successor to the VH-3D. They held a competition for a new presidential transport helicopter which was won by the AugustaWestland AW101 in 2005. The new aircraft was designated VH-71A.

The VH-71A had a troubled gestation. There was a strong tendency to gold-plate everything about the helicopter, increasing cost and adding weight. In 2009, after the expenditure of 4.4 billion taxpayer dollars in development and production costs, only nine VH-71As had been manufactured and were still not ready to assume the mission. The project was cancelled, and the nine VH-71As were sold to Canada for spare parts for pennies on the dollar, where the AW101 was in service as a very capable CH-149 search and rescue helicopter. (Editorial note: The VH-71A would have been a superior performer in the mission had it not suffered the cost overruns.)

The VH-3D soldiered on as the process began all over again. A second competition resulted in selection of the Sikorsky S-92 (an enlarged derivative of the H-60). This time more rigorous cost control was part of the process, but the result is still the most expensive helicopter ever at over $200 million per helicopter in 2015 dollars!

The S-92 presidential helicopter was designated as the VH-92A Patriot and the program was for 23 aircraft, all to be operated by HMX-1 and to replace both the long-serving VH-3D and the VH-60N. But the VH-92A suffered problems with its sophisticated communications and other systems and did not actually fly the president until 2024. It now appears that it will be operational and usable.

Meanwhile, HMX-1 also received a dozen MH-22B Osprey tiltrotors to support the presidential mission, and it turns out that the VH-60N has superior performance to the heavy VH-92A under hot/high altitude conditions, so at least some VH-60Ns will be retained by the squadron.

Presumably the ancient VH-3Ds will now be finally retired.

[Llarry]

A post-script on the Marines and presidential air transport. In 1957 President Eisenhower was in New England when he was required to return in haste to Washington. A Marine Corps HUS-1Z (new VH-34D) was available and saved him a couple of hours of travel time. That was the first time the Marines transported a U.S. president.

[M-technik-3]

RC-135 Rivet Joint Surveillance Jet Just Flew Unprecedented Mission Off Mexico

https://www.yahoo.com/news/rc-135-ri...204619861.html

Seems we have finally decided to use assets in a good way.

[M-technik-3]

Was just reading about Marine 1 taking possibly another 5 plus years to transition to the VH-92. DOD acquisitions is seriously broken with more ongoing issues with the T-7A trainer now still having teething issues with the ejection seat. Seriously at this point why can't we just toll up the jigs and rebuild T38/F5's

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by Llarry

A post-script on the Marines and presidential air transport. In 1957 President Eisenhower was in New England when he was required to return in haste to Washington. A Marine Corps HUS-1Z (new VH-34D) was available and saved him a couple of hours of travel time. That was the first time the Marines transported a U.S. president.

About 10 years ago I saw a civilian version (orange and white) lift a dead engine housing off the top of a crane that was atop a high rise near the Univ. of Illinois. Then it grabbed a new housing from the ground and lifted it onto the crane. Noisiest helicopter I've ever heard. And as former air cavalry, I've heard a lot of them.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Was just reading about Marine 1 taking possibly another 5 plus years to transition to the VH-92. DOD acquisitions is seriously broken with more ongoing issues with the T-7A trainer now still having teething issues with the ejection seat. Seriously at this point why can't we just toll up the jigs and rebuild T38/F5's

F5s and F20s are two of the prettiest fighters every built. Classic design.

[flybigjet]

So.

I fully requalified to Line Check Pilot today by taking my final Line Check in the jet with an Evaluator watching me instruct a new captain.

Since mid December, I've done:

50 hours of 737 Ground School computer based training.
Ten days of simulator and ground training, including two different sim/qual checks.
Two days and four legs in the jet with a Line Check Pilot with a qual check at the end to requalify as a captain.
A four-day trip as a captain.
Two days of Standards Meeting videos.
A day of Instructor/Evaluator ground school.
Four days of simulator training, including two more sim/qual checks.
An additional day of computer based training.
A two-day trip as a captain.
Two days and four legs flying with a Line Check Pilot to get requalified to fly from the right seat (LCP's are the only pilots that are dual-qualified as Captains and First Officers, since you fly in the opposite seat of whoever you are instructing).
A final qual check today with an Evaluator as he observed me instructing a new captain while I flew from the right seat.
Tomorrow, we fly Phoenix to San Francisco to Burbank to Denver, and my new captain (and indirectly, I) will get a FAA check ride going into Burbank.

Going from *completley* unqualified (and not having opened a flight manual in 18 months) to Captain to Line Check Pilot in 42 days might actually be a record somewhere.

This has been a BIG FRELLING HILL to climb!

And, now I'm back to being fully qualified and teaching students again. There's a special bottle of champagne waiting for me at home that my wife and I are going to share tomorrow night.

And Saturday? We head to Santiago and Antarctica for vacation.

R.

[M_Six]

Kudos! No thoughts of retiring, eh?

[M-technik-3]

Originally Posted by M_Six

About 10 years ago I saw a civilian version (orange and white) lift a dead engine housing off the top of a crane that was atop a high rise near the Univ. of Illinois. Then it grabbed a new housing from the ground and lifted it onto the crane. Noisiest helicopter I've ever heard. And as former air cavalry, I've heard a lot of them.

Radial engine powered correct?

[M-technik-3]

Originally Posted by flybigjet

So.

I fully requalified to Line Check Pilot today by taking my final Line Check in the jet with an Evaluator watching me instruct a new captain.

And Saturday? We head to Santiago and Antarctica for vacation.

R.

Bit condensed but Congratulations happy you are back vs idle time?

Enjoy your vacation!!!

[Llarry]

Tomcat Thursday!

F-14A of VF-31 "Felix" with black radome in 1984. VF-31 was the only squadron to paint their radomes black to my knowledge.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Radial engine powered correct?

The Sikorsky H-34 (model S-58) was powered by a radial engine originally. The Westland Wessex UK version introduced gas turbine power and I suspect many/most surviving civil models use turboshafts.

[Llarry]

The U.S. Marine Corps publishes an annual aviation plan that is unclassified. For 2025, the Corps has revised the planned force of F-35 fighters by reducing the number of F-35B Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant squadrons to 12, each with 12 assigned F-35B strike fighters and increased the number of F-35C aircraft carrier-capable variant squadrons to six (from the previous four), each assigned 12 F-35C strike fighters.

For some years now, four U.S. Navy Carrier Wings have each included a Marine strike fighter squadron -- formerly F-18 Hornet and now F-35C Lightning. Does this mean that six CVWs will have Marine squadrons attached or will the Marines use their extra F-35Cs from land bases? Time will tell.

[flybigjet]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Bit condensed but Congratulations happy you are back vs idle time?

Enjoy your vacation!!!

Yuuuup. I *love* teaching in the jet.

R.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Radial engine powered correct?

I assume, yes. Had to be with all that noise.

[M-technik-3]

I am not looking forward to listening to F35 when 104th FW at Barnes gets them. I am 4.5 miles from the end of the runway but I live beside the expensive HOA in town so we tend not to get the traffic. I miss when A-10 where stationed at Barnes before the 104th moved here from the cape. The brought F-15c/d that are ancient and thought getting F-15EX would have been a more logical approach but you know DOD....LOL