Category: Combat Edge

Flightline safety – Monthly Award Winners – military safety Award of Distinction Prior to an Operation ENDURING FREEDOM sortie on the E-3 AWACS, the Flight Engineer discovered a serious flight control problem during his night preflight inspection. The right outboard spoilers were raised approximately 1 to 3 inches above the wing surface. A team of […]

Just the Facts – reasons to use seat belts Grace Pierson We have to face the facts: Driving or riding in an automobile is a risky proposition. Since it has become a necessity in our society, it might be helpful to examine whether it is any more risky now than it used to be? The […]

Still Means “Tally Ho” or “Watch Out for the Other Guy” in the VFR Pattern – Visual Flight Rules – Brief Article Neil MacLauchlan There I was, several years ago, returning from a surface attack range ride on a clear sunny day. I was number three in a four-ship of A-10 mighty hogs (subsonic all […]

Accent on safety: Combat safety – Brief Article As we begin a new year, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11th still linger in our minds and in the minds of our combat forces overseas. Because of the attack on our homeland and our response as a nation, I believe we all have a renewed appreciation […]

Discipline breakdowns cost lives – military safety Maj Jim Roy Can there be any other explanation for a wingman running into his flight lead from line abreast formation in an air-to-air engagement except for a lack of discipline? Or isn’t a flight lead failing to check his wingman’s position throughout an entire engagement undisciplined as […]

The airfield is closed! The skid mark told the tale of where we touched down … Casey Keibler I’ve always read the “there I was …” first hand accounts of mishaps with a sort of distant reverence for the mishap writer, never thinking I might be writing the next edition. But, things can turn ugly […]

Twice saved by a seat belt Matthew W. TSgt Gilreath I learned a valuable lesson when I was 16 years old: seat belts save lives. My seat belt saved my life when a 1969 Torino hit my 1975 Volkswagon Rabbit in a classic David and Goliath confrontation. I was driving down a road, trying to […]

Pit & go hell – pilot recalls sortie mission Maj Jon Wilkinson ‘Tail 419, you are cleared onto hot pit number two,” called the hot pit supervisor. “Tail 419,” I responded, acknowledging the clearance. It was another beautiful winter day in the Mighty Viper as I skillfully taxied into hot pit number two. I had […]

Heat stress By 55 AMDS Bioenvironmental Engineer Flight, off off utt AFB, Neb. and Capt. Monte And on Beale AFB, Calif Heat stress is a combination of direct environmental variables (mainly temperature and humidity), work rate and clothing requirements. These factors combine with indirect acclimatization and physical conditions to increase body temperature and cardiovascular demands. […]

Training in the dark Rick Turner The sortie was briefed as a night two ship to the local conventional bombing range with a high-time wingman. We each planned to drop six BDU-33 inert training bombs and shoot 100 training practice (TP) rounds using night vision goggles (NVGs) because of the high-illumination night. Our jets were […]