Recently in Patent alert Category

Could live virtual constructive (LVC) training help reduce some of the F-35's soaring costs? It might, if the US Air Force, US Navy and USMC didn't need to continually cycle through fourth-generation machines or have other F-35s act as "Red Air" during training sorties. But what is clear is that the new technology will help US tactical air forces practice for beyond visual range fights much more effectively than ever before--especially if you're a Raptor driver and nobody wants to play with you (because it's not much fun dying before you even know you're under attack). However, you still need other jets to train against for those within visual range fights...

Read all about it here.

In the meantime, F-35 drivers USAF Lt Col Eric Smith and US Marine Corps Maj Joseph "O.D." Bachmann have been busy at the 33^rd Fighter Wing. Here they are flying in formation... 

And doing aerial refuelings...  Though this is actually Eric Smith in this shot.

Also the support troops have begun their formal training...  (Hmmm... they appear to have better computers than we do)

The US Navy's Office of Naval Research is studying new ways to reduce the impact of jet noise on carrier deck crews. The Navy says that jet noise from tactical aircraft can reach 150 decibels on the flight line, which is well above the safe limits for hearing. Factories, for example, are required to institute a hearing protection program once noise levels reach 85 decibels, the Navy says.

The ONR hopes its project will help to create new approaches to mitigate jet exhaust noise which will result in safer noise environments. That should also help in reducing noise complaints reported in communities near military bases.

ONR is awarding about $4 million to researchers at Brigham Young University, California Institute of Technology, Cascade Technologies, Innovative Technology Applications Co., University of Illinois, University of Mississippi, Pennsylvania State University and Virginia Tech for the effort. NASA is also chipping in a few dollars...

Hearing loss is no joke, and it's imperative that folks wear proper hearing protection working around aircraft. Something I learned the hard way.

Anyway, here is picture of F-22 Raptor tail number 09-4191 flying home to Langley from the Lockheed Martin's factory in Marietta, Georgia. There are three more left to go, last one leaves the nest on May 2. You should wear hearing protection if you are standing near an operating Raptor--see it's not just an excuse to post an F-22 shot.

Also the F-35 is pretty goddamn loud... Yes, heard it in person at Pax and on the USS Wasp.

Cheers to Airpower for forwarding me this splendid video of an Il-76, a barely long enough runway and some wacky air traffic controllers. (Warning: Keep the volume low if you're at work!)