The French Air Force’s jump school, École des troupes aéroportées (ETAP), last week conducted the final parachute jumps from the C-160 Transall aircraft as it is retired from service. The Transall C-160 is a military transport aircraft, produced as a joint venture between France and Germany that has been in service for more than […]
Category: Mobility
C-130 Hercules Celebrates Its 66th Birthday
On August 23, 1954 the YC-130 Hercules made its maiden flight in California from the Lockheed Martin plant in Burbank to Edwards Air Force Base. The C-130 is still in production today, making it the longest running military aircraft production line in history. The need for the C-130 came from Air Force’s Tactical Air […]
Happy National Airborne Day!
President George W. Bush created National Airborne Day in 2002. It was created to honor all current U.S. Airborne Forces, and to commemorate the first parachute jump of 48 volunteer members of the U.S. Army Parachute Test Platoon on August 16, 1940. After months of restriction due to Covid-19, U.S. Army Paratroopers assigned to 2nd […]
OV-10 Bronco reinvented?
Like a lot of old Ground-Pounders I’m very fond of the A-10 Thunderbolt and the OV-10 Bronco close air support / ground attack aircraft – they truly were the infantryman’s friend. And both still soldier on despite the repeated attempts by the air superiority fighter jocks to kill them off. There also happens to be […]
Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre Conducts COVID-19 Protocol Parachute Course
Mask up, hook up! Last week Canadian Army members completed the Static Line Square Canopy course with COVID-19 protocols in place at the Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre in Trenton, Ontario. Canada entered the airborne world with the creation of two airborne battalions in 1942 that were initially trained at Fort Benning, Georgia, USA, and […]
British and US Airborne Forces Strengthen Partnership
British paratroopers have recently jumped with British parachutes from a US Air Force aircraft for the first time, strengthening the ability of British and US airborne forces to operate together. Exercise Pegasus Eagle has seen a C-130J Hercules from USAF’s 37th Airlift Squadron fly into RAF Brize Norton from its base at Ramstein in Germany […]
Friday Foto
U.S. Army paratroopers of the 187th Regimental Combat Team jump out of U.S. Air Force C-119 Flying Boxcars of the 403rd Troop Carrier Wing during a maneuver near Taegu, Korea, on 1 November 1952. Photo credit: US Department of Defence On 20 October 1950, the regiment made successful combat parachute assaults near the towns of […]
Finland Prepared For The Worst: Battlefield 2020
“Battlefield (2020)” is an educational film created by The Finnish Defence Forces specifically for conscript training. The film is part of the combat training material provided in the beginner period and in the non-commissioned and reserve officer courses. In addition, the video is used in the training of reservists and staff. The purpose of the […]
Friday Foto
The Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) with embarked U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) team seized 100 bales of suspected cocaine totaling an estimated 2,000 kg. and worth over $40 million. Photo: US Navy, 2020 […]
Royal Marines Storm Tanker In Return To Regular Duties
Royal Marines stormed a tanker off Plymouth as they sharpened their board and search skills – crucial in the wars against drug-running and terrorism. Marines from 42 Commando and 47 Commando (Raiding Group) headed into Plymouth Sound to practise maritime interdiction operations – the art of intercepting, boarding and securing vessels suspected of involvement in […]