OIG Report Shows Corps Currently Maintained for ISS Missions, But Artemis and Mars Will Require Expansion

As NASA moves full speed ahead with their crewed moon mission program, the corps of flight-qualified and mission-ready astronauts has been eyed with increasing wariness. A higher mission tempo and expansion of space programs have required the administration to draw on the limited pool of candidates for not only its space station missions, but further missions to the moon or the upcoming Orbital Reef project. NASA's management of their numbers has resulted in a report from the OIG Office of Audits, analyzing the administration's treatment of its astronaut program. Currently, the OIG says, the administration has fallen into the habit of tailoring its program to the small scale of ISS missions, and imminent mission developments require more forward thinking. 

Surprise! Half of Afghan Air Force Planes Remain Outside of Country

The acting Defense Minister of Afghanistan, Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid told those gathered at a ceremony featuring the country's limited air force that those surrounding countries still holding 'Afghani' aircraft should return them to the regime or face nebulous consequences. The last days of the Afghani Republic saw droves of qualified pilots flee the country (for their lives) with their mechanical steeds, escaping the advancing Taliban forces by using their (often desperately needed) aeronautical skills. A large portion of the US-funded Afghan Air Force ended up parked in neighboring Uzbekistan as nearly 600 escaping servicemen and their families abandoned almost 50 aircraft. Tajikistan also found itself the erstwhile owner of a few aircraft, now at somewhat of a loss at what to do with them.

Little-Known Story of An F-22's Interception of Iran F-4's Remembered

An interesting story has come to light, illustrating a meet-cute between an Iranian air force F-4 Phantom and an American F-22 Raptor. In 2013, said Pentagon press secretary George Little, the Iranian air force was attempting to intercept U.S. MQ-1 Predator drones flying through international airspace near the country, resulting in a series of nail-biting aerial disputes. The most notable concerned a wing of 2 Phantoms that came within 16 miles of a Predator drone, reportedly breaking off their interception when responding American fighters warned them away with direct radio messaging.

From 2015: Oshkosh Reveals Many Treasures... Including Old Warbirds Full Of History

While at EAA AirVenture 2015, ANN News Editor, Tom Patton, ventured out to visit the warbirds and was attracted to a large four engine aircraft that is a variation of the World War II Consolidated B-24. It turns out to be the world’s only flyable PB4Y-2, Privateer, which is a U.S. Navy version of the B-24. To get the full scoop about the airplane, Tom talked with Boyd Gallaher, who is the pilot of the aircraft. Gallaher first became acquainted with this airplane in the late 1970s when it was being operated as a fire suppression aircraft. He described it as being like an, “Old knuckleheaded Harley that makes noise, rattles, and shakes.”

Carbon Fiber, Glass-Impregnated Composites Leading the Pack For Component Popularity

Forecasted manufacturing component needs throughout the aerospace and defense industry are looking up, according to a recently released report analyzing the composites market through 2029. As technology has improved, manufacturers have increasingly leaned into alternative materials for aircraft components, owing to a series of benefits ranging from decreased thrust requirements, reduced fuel consumption, and reduced carbon emissions. Use of fiber-impregnated polymers, carbon fiber, and other thermoset composites are quickly biting off a bigger piece of the market from traditional aluminum and steel for new production aircraft.

Daughter Reports He Passed Away With His Hand Over His Heart... And With A Smile

One of the last true legends of WWII, Brigadier General Charles McGee, passed away this weekend at the age of 102. A warm, talented, affable man; his historic life spans decades of American strife and war, and ended with his never-ending efforts to engage and educate the next generation of American flyers. BGen Charles E. McGee,  USAF, Ret., was a WW-II P-51C Mustang combat pilot of the European Theater; a 100-mission 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing (67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron), a P-51D pilot in Korea, and flew 173 Tactical-Reconnaissance missions in F-4s over Vietnam; he was Commanding Officer of the 44th Fighter Squadron, is a Life-member of 18th Fighter Wing Association, and a past President of the renowned Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

Gendarmerie Operators First to Buy LE Version of Medium Helicopter

The first law enforcement customer to adopt the newer Airbus H160 medium helicopter will be the Gendarmerie Nationale, after a purchase for 10 aircraft in suitable tactical configuration was made by the French Armament General Directorate. The purchase comes as part of a stimulus plain aimed at supporting the national aeronautical industry in France, as well as retaining domestic aircraft expertise. The deal will include a global support contract managed by Airbus for the provision of tech support, spare parts stocks on 4 Gendarmerie bases, and associated services.