Pilot Obstructs NTSB | Airliner Near Miss | Around the World KC-46 Flight

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“He who dares, wins.”
– British SAS

IN HISTORY

July 15, 2016 - During a failed coup attempt in Turkey, elements of the Turkish Air Force landed on both sides of the fight. Coup plotters seized control of key air bases, including Akinci Air Base near Ankara, and utilized F-16 fighter jets and attack helicopters to exert control and instill fear.

The F-16s, used by the coup plotters, flew low over Ankara and Istanbul, creating sonic booms and targeting strategic locations. They attempted to target President Erdoğan, who was staying at a hotel in Marmaris, narrowly missing him as he fled.

Loyalist forces also deployed F-16s to counter the coup plotters' air operations, leading to aerial confrontations. The swift response by loyalist forces, including retaking air bases and neutralizing the plotters, was pivotal. Effective communication, including President Erdoğan's use of social media to rally public support, played a crucial role in the coup's failure. The attempt resulted in over 300 deaths and more than 2,100 injuries, leading to a massive purge within Turkey's military and civil service and significant political ramifications.

In the aftermath of the coup attempt, Turkey's involvement in the F-35 program came under scrutiny. Concerns about the security of advanced military technology and Turkey's political stability were compounded by Turkey's decision to purchase the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system. This acquisition raised alarms within NATO and the U.S. due to the potential risks of integrating Russian systems with Western military technology. Consequently, in 2019, Turkey was officially removed from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. In February of 2024, Turkey’s indigenous 5th Generation Fighter, the Kaan, took to the skies.

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FLIGHT LINE

July 9th, 2024: LATAM 777 taking off out of Milan had a tail strike during rotation. The video😳
July 3rd, 2024: Delta Flight 136 from Detroit to Amsterdam diverted to JFK following 12 passengers becoming sick from spoiled catering.
July 2nd, 2024: A Varesh Airline maintenance worker was ingested into the engine of a 737-500 while retrieving tools during a post flight engine run in Tehran.

✈️Pilot Pleads Guilty to Obstructing NTSB Investigation | Former airline pilot Ryan Forbes has pleaded guilty to obstructing a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation. The obstruction relates to a 2022 incident where Forbes' Boeing Stearman PT-17 crashed into Keystone Lake, Oklahoma, after striking a power line. Forbes initially blamed engine failure, but conflicting accounts and evidence led to charges of false statements and obstruction. As part of a plea agreement, Forbes admitted to obstruction, which carries a potential penalty of up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine

✈️Near Midair Collision in New York | The FAA is investigating a close call between two regional jets over New York on July 8, 2024. An American Eagle CRJ and an Endeavor Air CRJ came within 725 feet of each other due to a runway mix-up during landing and takeoff at Syracuse Airport. The American Eagle flight was instructed to abort the landing and go around, narrowly avoiding a collision.

✈️ Afirefighting Plane Crashed | On July 10, 2024, near Helena, Montana, killing the pilot, Juliana Turchetti. The aircraft hit a mountainside while battling the Horse Gulch fire and then crashed into Hauser Lake. Turchetti, a Brazilian native working with Dauntless Air, was an experienced aerial firefighter.

🚀8 Day Space Journey Turns into 30+ days | NASA astronauts stranded in orbit due to technical problems with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft remain confident that the company will resolve the issues and ensure their safe return. Despite the challenges, the astronauts have expressed faith in Boeing's ability to address the situation effectively.

DEFENSE

🎯Around the World Tanker Flight | A KC-46 Pegasus from the 22nd Air Refueling Wing completed a historic nonstop flight around the world.The journey, part of Project Magellan, began on June 29, 2024, and ended 45 hours later back at McConnell Air Force Base. The aircraft refueled multiple planes, including C-17s and B-2 bombers, along the way. This mission showcased the KC-46's endurance capabilities and operational flexibility.

🎯Nuclear ICBM Program Upgrade Continues | The Pentagon will continue developing the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM despite significant cost overruns that triggered a Nunn-McCurdy breach, nearly doubling the initial budget. Originally estimated at $77.7 billion, the program's costs are now projected to reach up to $160 billion. The Sentinel is set to replace the aging Minuteman III missiles, with the restructuring process expected to delay the program by several years.

More about Nunn-McCurdy and examples of other programs: visit the Afterburn Blog Page.

🎯“Knock-it-on” F-35 Deliveries to resume | After a year-long pause, the Pentagon will resume accepting deliveries of Lockheed Martin's F-35 jets. The decision comes after implementing a truncated version of the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) software, addressing delays in hardware and software integration. Initially, these jets will be used for training, with full combat capability expected by 2025.

🎯Engineer Charged in KC-130 Crash | James Michael Fisher, a former U.S. Air Force engineer, has been charged with obstructing an investigation into a 2017 Marine Corps KC-130 crash that killed 15 Marines and one Navy corpsman. The crash, caused by a faulty propeller blade, led to Fisher allegedly making false statements and concealing documents related to his engineering decisions. Fisher faces multiple charges, including falsifying records and witness tampering, with a potential 20-year prison sentence if convicted

AROUND THE GLOBE

🌎 A group of Chinese military ships was spotted off the coast of Alaska, escorted by U.S. Coast Guard vessels. This occurrence is part of an ongoing trend where Chinese naval activity is increasing near U.S. waters, raising concerns over strategic and military intentions.

🌎 Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS) highlights the intensifying great power competition among the U.S., China, and Russia in its latest report. The report underscores Japan's strategic alignment with the U.S. to counter the immediate threats posed by China-Russia military activities near its borders. Recent examples include joint naval and air drills by China and Russia in the vicinity of Japanese waters, prompting Japan to scramble its fighter jets and heightening regional security concerns.

🌎 The recent visit of Russian warships, including the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the nuclear submarine Kazan, to Havana for naval exercises has drawn significant global attention. This renewed military cooperation highlights the strategic alignment between Russia and Cuba, reminiscent of Cold War dynamics. The partnership aims to strengthen economic and political ties, with Russia seeking to support Cuba amid increasing geopolitical tensions with the United States.