Combat Aircraft Journal September 2024
Hurlburt Field welcomes AT-802Us
In preparation for the delivery of its first OA-1K Sky Warden armed overwatch aircraft, USAF Special Operations Command (AFSOC) welcomed the arrival of a pair of AT-802U trainers (pictured) to Hurlburt Field, Florida, on June 28, writes Tom Kaminski.
End in sight for French nuclear Boeings
With all the C-135FRs now replaced with Airbus A330 MRTTs, the final three French Boeing KC-135RGs of the 4/31 Sologne Refueling Squadron are all that is left of the mighty Boeing fleet. Frédéric Lert details how their retirement is now planned for 2025
SR-71 Blackbirds in Britain
Bob Archer celebrates the 50th anniversary of the mysterious black SR-71 arriving in the UK
Netherlands closes in on end of ‘Viper’ era
The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) will officially retire its surviving F-16AM/BM (MLU) Fighting Falcon fighters from use on September 27, formally bringing more than 45 years of Dutch ‘Viper’ operations to an end, writes Kees van der Mark.
New helicopters for US nuclear security
The US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration recently took delivery of a pair of AW139 helicopters that will support the agency’s Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST).
US Coast Guard opens first new air station in 25 years
Although a formal commissioning ceremony scheduled for June 18 was postponed, the US Coast Guard has opened its newest air station in southern California, writes Tom Kaminski
Ukraine gains ex-Croatian Antonov An-32 Clines
In late 2023, unofficial sources reported that two retired An-32B Cline transport aircraft from the Croatian Air Force (CroAF) had been formally transferred to Ukraine, based on a decision made by Zagreb to donate the airlifters to the war-torn country, writes Vladimir Trendafilovski
TaktLwG 73 EF-2000 marks new milestones
The Luftwaffe’s Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 73 (TaktLwG 73; Tactical Air Force Wing 73) ‘Steinhoff’ has rolled out special tail art on one of its EF-2000s to mark three milestones achieved by the unit and Germany’s wider Eurofighter force.
13th BS Talon swaps black for SPAD camo
The 13th Bomb Squadron (BS) ‘The Devil’s Own Grim Reapers’ – which is one of the USAF’s oldest operational squadrons serving the 509th Bomb Wing (BW) at Whiteman AFB in Missouri – has applied a new special heritage scheme to one of its T-38A Talon jet trainers.
How the Qatari air force has assisted with Paris Olympic Games security
The Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) utilized its C-17A Globemaster III heavy-lift strategic transport fleet to establish an air bridge between Al Udeid Air Base, near Doha in Qatar, and Paris-Le Bourget Airport, France, from July 9-11 to deliver security forces to assist their French counterparts during the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, writes Babak Taghvaee.