the - intruder associationthe intruder association and encourage them to join. and as with all...
TRANSCRIPT
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www.intruderassociat ion.org
ON TARGET - ON TIME• Unmanned Combat Aircraft Systems
• I Remember Charlie• Roadmap to Success: Super Hornet• Plan Now: Intruder Reunion 2010
• TINS: The Good Old Days• The Spar from Yar
WINTER 2009 ISSUE
JOURNAL OF THEINTRUDER ASSOCIATION
VOLUME 1
the
WINDSCREENWINDSCREEN
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The Spar from Yar: a meSSage from The Ia preSIdenT
Larry P. Yarham
Happy New Year to all.2008wasagreatyearfortheIntruderAssociationandour
members.Theassociationcontinuedtogrowandnowhasover�,330members.Suchgrowthisvitaltothesuccessoftheassociationbecauseit increases our financial strength and allowsincreasedinvolvementinworthyendeavors.Aswecontinuetogrow,oneareawherewearelackinginmembershipiswithourenlistedIntruders.Ifyouareincontactwithanyenlistedorformeren-listedalumni,pleaseletthemknowabouttheIntruderAssociationandencouragethemtojoin.Andaswithallorganizations
likeours,sadlywelostsomedearfriendsandverynoteworthyIntruderalumniduringthepastyear.
TheIAsponsoredaverysuccessfulNationalNavy&Ma-rineReunioninSanDiegolastyearandhascharteredthenextIAReunionfor20�0inWashington,DC.Additionaldetailsareincludedinthisissue.WesawanumberofIntruderdisplayaircraftdedicationsandtherefurbishmentofIntrudersalreadyondisplay.
LocalareagatheringsofIntruderbubbasareincreasing.TheNorthwestholdsan“A-6Breakfast”inBellevuethethirdWednesdayofeachmonth.AlSiebeckeinitiatedanA-6luncheonintheWhidbeyareathatbroughtsome45alumnitogether.AlbroughtanA-6tailhooktotheluncheonandtheattendeewhodrewthe‘shortstraw’tookthehookhomewiththechartertocoordinatethenextluncheoninFeb/MarattheWhidbeyYachtClub.Therearesimilargatheringsaroundthecountry,andIencouragememberstogetthewordouttopotentialattendeesbysendinganotetoCazfora“99Intruder”announcementtopostallongoinggatheringschedulesandmeetingplacesinTheWind-screen.
WewillbeconductinganIABoardofDirectorsmeetinginJanuary.Anyandallcomments,suggestions,etc.,aremostwel-comeandcanbeforwardedtoanyoftheIAboardmembers.
As a reminder, the IA officers and Board of Directors has set the following goals and challenges for 2009:
Increase IA growth by 50% with focus on USMC and enlisted alumni.
Maintain the Windscreen and timely 99 Intruder news/an-nouncements.
Continue to improve the IA website. Liaison with Tailhook, the Intruder booth, Ready Room and annual breakfast.
Provide IA presence at Memorial Day ceremonies and similar ceremonies/events around the country.
Establish a Navy-Marine Committee to investigate and recommend where the association can and should assist and solicit support for worthwhile projects.
Plan for increased attendance at “Intruder Reunion 2010.” Expand the IA/Intruder presence with Naval and Marine aviation organizations.
And lastly, continue to fund the perpetual Intruder $2000 scholarship via Tailhook, which is now over $11,500 of the needed $40,000. Tax deductible donations can be online via the IA website or by sending a check made out to the “Intruder Association,” annotated Intruder Scholarship to our treasurer:
Geoff Swanberg 3504 Beaver Ford Road Woodbridge, VA 22192
Wewanttoaddasecondmembershipbubbatoourlistofof-ficers. Anyone interested in working with Clyde Cain to continue ourassociationgrowth,pleasecontactClyde.
WearealsolookingforsomeonetoassistSteveMcCaslinwiththeassociationwebsite.Ifyouareinterested,pleasecontactCaz.
Thankyouallforyourcontinuedmembership,supportandbeliefin“PreservingtheLegendoftheIntruder.”
Best wishes and take care,LarryP.Yarham
Intruder Association Financial Report:�January2008to3�December2008
BeginningCash(AllAccounts)$24,846Receipts DuesviaCheck...................... 7,500 DuesviaPayPal................... �8,275 ScholarshipFund................. �4,�95 TotalReceipts..................... 39,970
Expenses BankCharges BankFees.......................... �0 CreditCardFees................ 25 PayPalFees..................... 822 ProfessionalFees Legal........................... 300
MemberSupport Postage....................... 5�4 Windscreen.............. 7,�33 HookAd.................. �,240 Office Supplies........... 337 Office Equipment......... 67 Reimbursements......... �92 Memorials Scholarship(Tailhook). 2,500 Veteran’sDayWreath...... 267 Reunions................................ 6,078 OtherFees StateCorporateFee...... 25 WebSiteMaintenance........... 2,700 TotalExpenses.......... 22,210
EndingCash(AllAccounts)$42,606
2 Winter ‘09 • Windscreen
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WindscreenStaff
Air PlAn Winter2009Issue
The Windscreen @2009 is the official semi-annual publication of the Intruder Association. Editor, Steve “Caz” McCaslin. Managing Editor, Margaret Bone. Computer Graphics, StephanieDavis.PrintedbyNCCOASTCommunications,MoreheadCity,NC.Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and may not reflect views of the IntruderAssociation,DeptofNavy,orDeptofDefense.SubmissionsfromthemembershipforpublicationaresolicitedandmaybesentinWorddocformatto:[email protected]”disktoSteve McCaslin, 839 Hawks Run Ct SE, Leesburg, 20175. Digital files are preferred.
2TheSparfromYar
By IA President Larry Yarham
4PlanNow:IntruderReunion2010
By Bruce Byrum
5Incoming:LetterstotheEditor
6IRememberCharlie
By Nick Schmidt
8UnmannedCombatAircraftSystems
By Tim Beard
11TINS:TheGoodOldDays,uno and duo
By Rupe Owens
11DCAreaLuncheonReport
By Bones Burns
12RoadmaptoSuccess:Super Hornet
By Philip Carder
NOTAMSDeparting.................................................................... 5WelcomeAboardNewMembers........................... �3IAMembershipUpdate........................................... �4By Clyde CainInactiveIntruders..................................................... �4MembershipForm......................................backcover
Windscreen • Winter ‘09 3
IntruderAssociationOfficer Contacts
ChairmanTimBeard
PresidentLarryYarham
VicePresidentBruceByrum
SecretarySteveMcCaslin
TreasurerGeoff Swanberg
Director, Navy EastJimJoyner
Director,NavySo’WestClydeCain
Director,NavyNor’WestButchBailey
Director, Marines EastBoBoswell
Director,MarinesWestJohnValovich
Director, Navy EnlistedBudJackson
Director, Marine EnlistedSteveDumovich
MembershipChairmanClydeCain
Historian,Vice-WebmasterJohnThornell
[email protected]@intruderassociation.org
Windscreen Editor, WebmasterSteveMcCaslin
[email protected]@intruderassociation.org
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The 2010 InTruder reunIon
4 Winter ‘09 • Windscreen
PlanNow!IntruderReunionin2010Washington,DC
May�9-23RestonTownCenter,Reston,Virginia
SubmittedbyBruceByrum
AtourIAReunioninSanDiego,theIntruderAssociationvotedtore-enlisttheservicesofRayCaseyandhisMilitaryReunionPlannerstoassistwiththereunioninWashington,DC,for20�0.
Ray has negotiated a terrific venue and we have signed acontractwithHyattRegencyinReston,Virginia,toholdIntruderReunion20�0.
TheHyattRegencyinRestonsitsimmediatelyadjacenttoRestonTownCenter,whichisontheRestonParkwayjustofftheTollRoad267,westofthe495BeltwayaroundWashing-ton,DC.
Theshoppinganddininginthisareaissuperb,withanumberofexclusivestoresandoutstandingrestaurantsintheTownCenter,withamplefreeparking.
Weagreedto432guestroomnightswitharoomrateof$�29/night.ThismeansoverthecourseofWednesday,�9MaythroughSaturday,22May,wearelookingforabout200orsoguests.Partofthecontractincludesanagreementtousethe banquet facilities for the reunion dinner on Saturday, 22 May.Italsoincludesahospitalitysuite,andweintendtoap-ply for a banquet permit to allow us to serve our own drinks inthesuite.
Therearealargenumberofactivitiesthatweneedhelpwithforplanningpurposes,andweneedvolunteers.Activi-tiesthusfarinclude:visitstoUdvar-HazyAirandSpaceMuseumatDulles;MarineCorpsMuseuminQuantico;andtourstomemorialsandmuseumsdowntowninournation’scapital.WearelookingatFridayfortheSunsetParadeatMarineBarrack,8thandI.ThenewCapitalVisitingCenterisopenandarrangementscanbemadeforgrouptours.Wealsowanttoofferagolfeventandanyothersportactivitiessomeonewouldliketohelpusplan.WealsoplantoholdourannualMemorialService,inhonorofourlostcomrades,attheVietnamMemorial.
Althoughitseemslikethereisalotoftime,Iamassuredbythegrouponthewestcoastthatweneedtobebusy.Isolicityourassistance.
Pleasesignuptohelporcontactmepersonallyat:703-938-6363ore-mail:byrumb@verizon.net.WeintendtoholdanorganizationalplanningmeetingwithmembersintheWashington,DCarea,soonaftertheInaugurationCeremony.
Bruce Byrum, Convention Planning.
San DiegoRemember this? IntruderReunionin2008-
Admirers crowd around the VMA (AW)-242 A-6 during the dedica-tion ceremony which occurred during our 2008 IA Reunion in San Diego.
Among the IA Reunion attendees in San Diego were Charlie Carr (resplendent in a manly pink shirt and seated), and in back: L-R, Clyde Smith, who was shot down and recovered; ADM Bill Harris, CO of Coral Sea while VMA (AW)- 224 was on board, and Bill Angus, POW during the Vietnam War.
Hyatt Regency
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ProudtobeamemberofI.A.Totheeditor:
YourSummer2008issueofWindscreenissimplyoutstand-ing.Congratulations.IespeciallyenjoyedthearticlesbyBobSmythandJohnThornell.Beyondthat,thenewsarticlesandthe photograph reproduction was first-rate. Although I was not primarilyanIntruderpilot,I’mproudtobeamemberofyourorganization and a recipient of such a fine journal.
VADMRobertF.Dunn,USN(Ret)President,AssociationofNavalAviation
Thank you, Admiral. We appreciate your support of our organi-zation and all that you have done, and are still doing, for naval aviation. As for the quality of the newsletter, I give all of that to Margaret Bone, the managing editor, and Stephanie Davis, our graphics guru. They really take our submissions and make it look professional. Caz.
Delivery of the first A-6C Trims.Totheeditor:
ThestoryontheA-6CwasinterestingtomeasIwasanAQ-2inVA-�65whenwedeployedontheAmericawiththefirst A-6C Trim(s). The article stated that they were delivered on time for the cruise. Well--almost. We actually got the first birdsabouttwoweekspriortothedeploymentdatewhichdidn’tleavemuchtimeforcrewtrainingorforfamiliariza-tion with the new equipment. Since the America(CV-66)wasdeployingfromNorfolkanditwouldtakeabout6weeksfortheshiptomakethetransittotheP.I.,itwasdecidedtohaveusstayatWhidbeyandgivethecrewstimetolearnhowtouse the new equipment. Following that period, the flight crews flew the planes to the P.I. with a small maintenance det follow-ing them in a C-9. A larger group of us flew to P.I. via a MAC flight. The extra time spent at Whidbey allowed the crews to develop a high level of proficiency with the new sensors.
IwasassignedastheWeaponsSystemdebriefer,soIhadtheopportunitytoseehowthecrewsreactedtothenewsen-sors.OneoftheassetsavailabletotheWhidbeycrewswasthe
AirForce’sRadarBombScoringsiteatSpokane,Washington.On one of his early flights in the C, I remember debriefing (then) Lt. Rod Franz after his first Spokane RBS flight. He was absolutely ecstatic, because for the first time he was able to actually see the building he has so frequently placed the radar cursorson.TheLowLightLevelTVwasagreatidea.Wehada lot of fun with it at night on the flight line. With a full moon, thedisplaylookedlikeitwashighnoononasummerday.
Inpractice,though,itwasnotveryreliable.Theaircrewhadtoinsurethattheplanewaspointedawayfromthesunwhentheturretwastakenoutofstoworthedetectorswouldburnoutbecausethelightcontrolaperturecouldnotclosefastenoughtodealwithrapidchangeinlightlevel.Onthecruise,wewereconstantlypullingtheLLLTVsoutsothatAIMDcould replace detectors. This required a special wheeled cradle tohaultheheavycameraintoAIMD.Whenwepulledthecamera,itwassoheavythatwehadtoreplaceitwithaspecialweight.Bythethirdlineperiodwehadusedalltheavailabledetectors, so we just pulled all of the LLLTVs. I left the squad-ronshortlyafterthat,soIdon’tknowiftheyeverwentbackinthepods.TheIRreceiverswerethestarsoftheprogram.
Whatalotoffolksdon’tknowisthatthesystemwaspioneeredbyanearlierversionofthepodthatwasmountedinP-2.TheydidonedeploymentwiththeVAHdesignatortotest the equipment, then disestablished the squadron. We got several of the AQs from that squadron in the A-6 program. Theywerereallydisappointed,astherewereveryfewoppor-tunitiesforanAQtodrawseadutycreditinanon-tailhooksquadron. If you look at the big TRIM pod, then compare it to the much smaller Tram pod and finally to the grapefruit-sized IRpodusedinthePredator,youcanreallyseethedecreasingsizeevolutionatwork.
ChuckBerlemannBellingham,WA
Chuck, thanks for the additional insight into this page of the A-6 history. There are so many behind-the-scenes stories out there that I hope your contribution will inspire others to offer their stories, too. Caz
99,wewelcomeyourcomments. Email your letters and comments to [email protected], or address letters to: Steve McCaslin, 839 Hawks Run Ct SE, Leesburg, VA 20175. Include your full name and city/state in all correspondences. Electronic communication is preferred. Letters may be edited for length and style.
Windscreen • Winter ‘09 5
Incoming!LeTTerS:
Departing RADMRobertC.“Mandy”Mandeville,Jr.,USN(Ret)CDR R. Michael Eddy, USN (Ret)
CAPT Charles P. “Chuck” Downs, USN (RET)CAPTTerryJ.Toms,USN(Ret)
LtColDavidJ.Rash,USMC(Ret)LtCol James E. Royds, USMC (Ret)
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6 Winter ‘09 • Windscreen
I remember CharLIe CharLIeS and The JFK
Years later in January 1991, laser-guided bombs line the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) in preparation for air strikes against Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. The A-6E Intruder aircraft in the background is armed with laser-guided bombs. (DoD photo by PH2 Lipski)
By Nick Schmidt
JimRoth’sarticleintheSummer’08Windscreen,“What’s a Charlie?”stirredsomeoldandpleasantmemoriessoIthoughtI’dtakekeyboardinhandandrespondtohisinvita-tiontoaddabit“moretothestory...”
Inthefallof�97�,Iwasasecond-cruiselieutenantattachedtoVA-34. The squadron had been recommissioned the year before as the newest East Coast A-6 outfit with veterans Bob Miles in commandandSamSayersasXO.WeweretheIntruder squadron ofAirWingOneaboardtheUSSJohn F. Kennedy(CV-67),thenthe newest carrier in the fleet. (Today, better save your used razor blades,astheymightsoonbetheBigJohn’searthlyremains.)
Our introduction to fleet realities came quickly as we made our first Med deployment directly from our ORE off Gitmo, when KingHusseinkickedtheBlackSeptembermovementoutofJordan.Severalmonthslater,itwasdeterminedthataslongaswewerealreadythere,wemightjustaswellcompleteafullcruise.Guys who had assumed the two-week ORE would require only a couple of flight suits and a change or two of skivvies were more than delighted when the cruise boxes finally arrived…the rest of uswere,too!(Ialsolearnedthewisdomofwhyyoushouldn’teverleaveyourcaronthepier,butthat’sanotherstory!)
Bytheendof�97�,SamSayerswastheskipper,andwedeployedagaintotheMed.WeleftinearlyDecember(toobadabouttheno-Christmas-at-homepartofthatschedule!)forwhatwassupposedtobeasix-monthcruise.AlongwithourusualstableofAs,BsandDs,wetookwithusthreeA-6Cs:�55670,�55684and�55676(JimandIhaveaone-digitdiscrepancyinthatlastbird’sBuNo).AsIrecall,therewasalullintheactionoverinWestPac,althoughthingsweregoingtosoondramaticallyheatupthereagain,andtheideawastoseehoweffectivetheCharliewouldbewiththeSurfaceSearchandSurveillancemis-sion–the“latestthing”thenforNAVAIRas“SeaControl”wasbecomingtheNavy’snewstrategicconcept.
I’mprettysurethat�55676isthecorrectBuNo,asitwasthebird in which I logged most of my 55 Charlie hours. I liked flying theA-6C.Whileitwasnevergoingtosetanyspeedrecords(orwinanybeautycontestseither,forthatmatter),Ifoundittobe
verystableonthecarrierapproach–moresothanthestraightA-6,especiallyonewithoutstores–andthesystemwasfascinating.Theonlyrealdownsidewasthatthecenterlinepod’sdragmadeacatshotseemlikeoneinwhichyouhadinadvertentlyleftyourspeedbrakesextended.(Forsomeunknownreason,thisfeelingseemedevenstrongeratnightthaninthedaytime!)
Icanalsorememberthedaywhenwewerereturningtotheshipbyourselves,havingsanitizedatargetareaforamissileshoot.Theywerewaitingforustogetbacksotheycouldbegintheexercise.Aftertheship’sthird“Buster”call,Ihadtoexplainthat,shortofgettingoutandpushing,weweregoingasfastasthe laws of physics and J-52 EGT limits would permit – and they wouldjusthavetoholdtheirhorses.IalsorememberthatwhenwewouldcomebackasasingletotheshipforaCase�recovery,I’dalwayslooktojoinupwiththesoloRVAH-�4Vigilantefora“Beauty&theBeast”formationintothebreak.Theguysontheflight deck seemed to appreciate it.
“We only had our Charlies ‘on loan’ because in June of 1972, they were either required by another squadron, or they were due for a major maintenance check. In any event, when the ‘Big John’ received the first of what proved to be a considerable number of ‘extensions,’ the decision came down to translant the birds back to CONUS.”
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Windscreen • Winter ‘09 7
I remember CharLIe CharLIeS and The JFK
IrecallthatweconsideredtheCharlie’ssystemtobetheinfraredsensoronly.Thelow-lightTVwaspracticallyuseless,althoughIcan’trememberifwejustweren’tabletomaintainitproperly,orifitwasapoorperformerevenwhenconsideredfully“up”.However,theIRsensorwas“SierraHotel”.Atnightyoucouldidentifyashipasclearlyasyoucouldinthedaylight;and,ifithappenedtobeatanker,youcouldeventellhowfullitwas.Thetemperaturedifferencebetweenthecargoandtheullage*practicallygaveyoux-rayvisionthroughtheIRsensor!(*ForyouUSMCguysandotherlandlubbers,that’stheamountbywhichatankfallsshortofbeingfull.)
WeonlyhadourCharlies“onloan”becauseinJuneof�972,they were either required by another squadron, or they were due foramajormaintenancecheck.Inanyevent,whenthe“BigJohn” received the first of what proved to be a considerable num-berof“extensions,”thedecisioncamedowntotranslantthebirdsbacktoCONUS.(The“six-monthcruise”lastedalmostayear.IthinktheJFK finally got back to Norfolk in November or Decem-ber,butIhadordersandhadtoleaveherinSeptember.)Iwasselectedasoneoftheferrypilots,andIwasdelighted–Ihadn’tbeenmarriedayearatthattime,andmynewbrideandIweren’tevenclosetohavingspent50%ofourmarriedlifeineachother’scompany.(Wejustcelebratedour37thanniversary,sowe’vebeenabletorectifythatissueovertime.)
Jim Eilertsen was chosen as the flight leader. He was a TPS grad and ultimately finished up his career as an O-6 after a VAQ (EA-6B) CO’s tour. He was/is a great guy – and he was smart enoughnottoputtoomuchfaithinthepublisheddragcount(ifthereevenwasone?)fortheCharlie’scenterlineprotuberance.IrememberheandIlefttheshiponedaytoclimbtoaltitudeandget a few real-life data points on true airspeed vs. fuel flow for theA-6C.Theplanwasthatwewouldbeaccompaniedonthetranslant by a Whale (A-3) pathfinder, who carried the requisite long-rangecomm/navgearforthejourney.(TheA-6’ssingleUHF, ADF and TACAN were deemed insufficient…thank God!) TheWhale(theremayhavebeenmorethanone)wouldalsopro-videtankersupport.InadditiontoourthreeCharlies,thegagglealsoincludedoneortwoA-7sthatwerealsoatthelimitoftheirmaintenancecycles.OneoftheA-7driverswasacharacter(hisname is happily lost to my memory) who was famous in CAG-1 forhisglowingstoriesabouthimselfthatalwaysbegan,“Ihavemore time in the (fill in the appropriate blank: vertical, groove, basket,etc.)thanyouhaveintheairplane.”(Hint:foreshadowinghere.)
Weblastedoffon24June,toppingofffromtheoverheadtankerbothforthegasandtomakesurethatwecouldtank–theAzores to Bermuda leg would require tanking or it would require swimming. The first leg was the ship to Rota, Spain--a piece ofcakeat2.5hours.ForsomereasonwestayedinRotauntilthe27th,andthenweheadedoutonleg#2,RotatoLajesintheAzores, where we would meet up with the pathfinders. Again, an easy2.7,andthenwestayedinLajesforacoupleofdays,wheth-er waiting for the weather or for the pathfinders, I don’t recall.
However,IdodistinctlyrecallthatDonBraham,whonor-mally flew as Sam Sayer’s B/N, and I became foosball partners. (Thereisn’tagreatdealtodowhenyou’restrandedinLajeswithonly a flight suit and a toothbrush.) Well, after a couple of days, wethoughtwe’dgottenprettygoodatfoosball(theboxgame
withrowsoflittlewooden“players”thatyouspintotrytogettheballintotheotherguy’snet),sowechallengedacoupleofguyswe’dmetatthereccentertoagame.Turnedout,they’dbeen
“stranded”inLajesonPCSordersforalongtime--game quickly over--andweneverevensawtheball,muchlessscoredanypoints.Idon’trecallwhatthewagerwas,butDonandIlearnedagreatlessonthatday!
Anyway, the entire gaggle was finally assembled and the weatherwasfavorable,soweleaptoffonthe29thforBermudaandhome.Mylogbooksays4.8hours–Idon’trememberhowsoremybuttwas,butIdorememberpayingcloseattentiontothefuel flow and the fuel state. I also remember, that when it came time to tank, all the Charlie drivers plugged the basket just fine on the first attempt, but our friend in the A-7 (“I have more time in the…”) missed. In fact, I think he missed a couple of times. What a hoot!Ibelievetheprofessionaldecorumofourradiodisciplinesufferedabitatthatpoint,butwewereoverthemiddleoftheAtlanticandIdon’tthinkanybodyelsecouldhaveheardus.(Inanycase,theA-7guydeservedit.)
WestoppedinBermudaonlylongenoughtofuelthebirdsanddefuelourselves(ifyougetmydrift)–and,althoughmywifeandIhadhoneymoonedthere,myonlymemoryoftheplaceonthisvisitisbeingparkedoutinthemiddleofnowhereontheairportwaitingforthefueltrucks,vainlytryingformodestywhilerelievingourpersonalbladderoverpressurelights,andwatchingtheplaneloadsoftouristsandhoneymoonerscomingandgoing.�.8hoursfromBermudatoOceana(butmuchdiscussionwiththeAirDefenseCommandaboutwhowewereandifwewerereallyfriendlies),andweturnedtheA-6Csoverfortheirnextassign-ment.Idon’tknowiftherewereothertranslantsortranspacswiththe A-6C, but I’m sure we must have been the first.
Likeanumberofthingsinmycareer,andasJimmentionedinhisarticleaswell,it’sinterestingtolookbackandrealizethatsomethingsthatwewereexperimentingwithanddevelopingyearsago–whichdidn’tnecessarilyseemtobeallthateffectiveatthetime–involvedtechnologiesthathavesincebecometheincredibleweaponsandsensorsystemsthathavemadetoday’swarfareenvironmenttheamazinglysophisticatedbattlegroundithas become…to the great, and hopefully everlasting, advantage of ourcountry’sarmedforces.
Nick Schmidt was an East Coast A-6 pilot and LSO who, thanks to a Pax River tour at NATC’s Flight Test Division, was able to log over 1,100 A-6 hours, with time in each A-6 type from the A to the E, as well as in the EA-6A and B. His son, a USN lieutenant cur-rently serving as a SEAL, has promised to take him on a diving trip to the Intruder Reef.
“Like a number of things in my career, and as Jim mentioned in his article as well, it’s interesting to look back and realize that some things that we were experimenting with and developing years ago involved technologies that have since become the incredible weapons and sensor systems that have made today’s warfare environment the amazingly sophisticated battleground it has become.”
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8 Winter ‘09 • Windscreen
unmanned CombaT aIrCrafT SYSTemS: The fuTure of unmanned avIaTIon?Submitted by RADM Tim Beard, USN (Ret)
CoreUCASAttributesTheattractivenessofUCASderivesfromtheinterac-
tion of three critical qualities. The first two--long range and carrier compatibility--will be quite familiar to the Intrudercommunity.Thelast,lowobservability,enablesthesystemtosurvivewhereIntruderscouldnot(norcanothercurrentgenerationaircraftbytheway,)deepinthemidstoflatestgenerationIntegratedAirDefenseSystems(IADS).Whilethe final requirements are not set for a Navy UCAS program, generalparametersandminimumperformancecharacteristicscanbedrawnfromtheNavy’sX-47Bdemonstratordesignnow in the final stages of assembly by Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, California. The UCAS design ultimately specified for acquisition should surpass the X-47B in many measures, includingbothrangeandpayload.
TheX-47Bdesign’sunrefueledmissionradiusof�,500NM(witha4,500lbspayload)ismorethantwicetherangeofcontemporarymannednavalaircraft,includingtherela-tivelylong-leggedNavyvariantoftheJoint Strike Fighter.Likemannedaircraft,UCASwillberefuelable.Infact,refuelingincreasestheUCASadvantageastheupperlimitsofitsrangeandendurance(currentlyestimatedat50+hours)willnotbecappedbypilotphysicalendurance(�0hours).This is a primary benefit derived from decoupling the opera-tor/pilotandtheairvehicle--andgiventhecontinuingsuccessofGlobal HawkandPredatorunmannedcombatoperations,thedownsideofdoingsoappearstobemanageable.Depend-
ingoncircumstances,rangecanbetranslatedintoavarietyof operational benefits, including basing survivability, force sizingandmissioneffectiveness.
TheX-47B’sperformancecharacteristicsareparticularlyimpressivegiventhefactthatitisdesignedfromthekeelupforcarrieroperations.Thecarrierenvironmentposessubstan-tialdesignchallenges;andinmostcases,solutionscomeattheexpenseofperformance.Mostobviously,carrieraircraftmustbestructurallystrongerthanland-basedaircraftinordertowithstandarrestedlandingsandcatapultlaunches.Thisimposesaweightpenalty,asdothetailhook,catapulthookup,andwing-foldmechanisms.Therearealsoaerodynamicpenaltiesbecausethewingloadingsandaerodynamicdevicesusedtoachieverelativelylowtakeoffandapproachspeedshinderaircraftperformance.
UCASwillachievealeveloflowobservabilityheretoforeunrealizedinanavalaircraft(includingtheF-35C)throughthe use of special materials and design techniques, and also duetotwofundamentaldesignadvantages:theremovalofthecockpit/canopy,andamid-fuselageenginewithoutanaf-terburner.Signaturecontrolprovidestremendousoperationalbenefits in terms of survivability against advanced threat environments.ThecombinationofextremelylongenduranceandlowobservabilitywillallowUCAStoachieveunmatchedpersistence over the battlefield, generating multiple opera-tional benefits.
The case for maintaining the nation’s fleet of aircraft carriers has never been stronger. While other key force structure elements have struggled to find relevance to the post-Cold War security environment,carriershavethrived--Afghanistanoperationsaprimeexample.Nevertheless,thecar-riersystem--whichincludesboththecarrieritselfanditsaviationcomponent--isbeingtransformedtotakeadvantageoftechnologicalprogressandtocounternewthreats.
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Windscreen • Winter ‘09 9
unmanned CombaT aIrCrafT SYSTemS: The fuTure of unmanned avIaTIon?
UCASImpactonCarrierStrikeGroup(CSG)EffectivenessUCAS would increase the Carrier Stike Group’s global/re-
gional responsiveness.Althoughcarriershaveplayedcriticalrolesinmanyinternationalcrises,currentcarrierreductions,andthoseoverthepast�5yearshaveresultedinadiminishedcarrierforwardpresence.Thusitisincreasinglylikelythataircraftcarrierswouldbepoorlypositionedwhenacrisisbe-gins.Inpreviouseras,thismighthavelimitedthePresident’soptionsuntilthecarrierrepositioned.ButUCAS--relativetomannednavalaircraft--isinsensitivetorange.Theessentialpointhereissimple:Humanphysiologydistinctlylimitsmis-sionrangeandendurance.Withoutapilot,UCASsuffersnosuch limit. Given sufficient aerial refueling support, UCAS couldcommenceoperationsirrespectiveofthecarrier’sloca-tionandcontinuethemasthecarrierclosesintotheareaofoperations.
UCAS would increase the CSG battlespace penetra-tion depth.AshortcominginAmerica’spowerprojectionarsenalistherelativedearthofsystemsabletothreatenanadversary’sinterior,wheremobileballisticmissilesandotherhigh-valueassetsmaybedeployedormovedtosanctuary.Short-range,low-observableaircraftabletowithstandhostileairdefensesunfortunatelycannotpersistatdepthforlongpe-riods.Yetmostsystemswiththerangetopersistatdepthforlongperiodslacktheall-aspect/broadband(entirethreatspec-trum)low-observabilityneededtosurvive.UCAScombinesall-aspect/broadbandlow-observ-abilitywithrangeandrelieffromhu-manperformancelimitationswhichtransform the CSG into a powerful, persistent,deep-strikeasset.
UCAS would increase the sustain-ability of CSG combat power.Carrierairoperationsaretypicallyorganizedarounda�2-hourdeckcycleallow-ingthecrewtosustainoperationsoverarelativelylongperiodoftime,butconstrainingthecarrier’scombatpowertooneportionoftheday.Thistypicallyleavesthecarrierwithoutaircapabilityduringtheoffcycle. 24-hour “flex deck” operations quickly wear out flight deck person-nelandaircrewsandcompromisessafety over time. UCAS-equipped CSGs with tanker support provides 24-hourcombatpowerwhilehon-oringthestandarddeckcycle.By
“bridging” the deck cycle, UCAS will enable a single CSG to conduct sustainable 24/7 flight operations.
UCAS would increase the lethality and efficiency of manned aircraft. The greatest initial benefit of UCAS would likelybeinsurveillanceandtargeting.Today,theprimaryconstraint on strike warfare is our ability to find and track targetsinordertofullyemployourstrikeassets.Aircraftof-tenreturntobasewithweaponsduetolackoftargets.UCASwouldmitigatethisproblembyprovidingawealthoftimelytargetinginformation,allowingthebalanceoftheCVW’sstrength to more efficiently execute strike missions. Although aweaponizationUCASiscentraltoitsmission,sinceitcanpersist over the battlefield for long periods, UCAS would likelyonlystriketargetsjudgedtobetime-critical.
UCAS does not risk aircrew casualty or capture.Aircrewrisksubstantiallyaffectsoperationseveniftheimpactsarepurelypolitical.UCASdoesnotriskcrewgoinginharm’sway,andcouldperformpeace-timeintelligencegatheringwithminimalriskoftriggeringaninternationalcrisis.UCAScouldbedeployedduringthecriticalearlystagesofacrisisbeforecombatsearchandrescueassetshavebeendeployedinhigh-riskmissions.
UCAS would enable the CSG to stand-off from adversary threats and remain an effective power projection platform, thus making the CSG relevant in more scenarios.Militaryplannershavelongbeenconcernedwith continued...
One aspect of this transformation specifically mandated by the Department of Defense’s latest (2006) QuadrennialDefenseReviewisthedevelopmentofan“unmanned,longer-rangecarrier-basedaircraftca-pableofbeingair-refueledtoprovidegreater[CV]standoffcapability,toexpandpayloadandlaunchoptions,andtoincreasenavalreachandpersistence.”TheUnmannedCombatAircraftSystem(UCAS),anoutgrowthoftheNavy’smid-90’sUCAVprogramandtheDARPA-managedJointUCASProgram,wasborn.
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�0 Winter ‘09 • Windscreen
The navY’S X-47b
theproliferationofadvancedsystemsthatcanthreatenopera-tionsinlittoralwaters.Absentbreakthroughsindefensiveca-pabilities,thesurfaceship’sbestdefensemayberange.Today’sCVWiscomposedentirelyofmannedaircraftandthusill-suit-edforlong-rangepowerprojec-tionoperations.Undertheworstcircumstances,threatscouldcom-pelsuchadistantstandoffthatthe CSG, with a manned-only air wing,isneutralized.Withalong-range,lowobservableUCAScomponent,thenavalcommandercouldeffectivelygeneratecombatpowerinhigh-threatenviron-ments.Carrier-basedUCASsystemscouldservea“theaterenabling”functionnotonlyforthebattlegroupitself,butfortherestoftheJointForce,themajor-ity of which depends on maritime access to the battlefield.
TheRoadtoUCASTheNavyhasalwaysdevotedconsiderableresourcesto
improvingtheartandscienceofitsaircraftcarriersystems.Integratingnewtechnologiesintosuchacomplexandcapital-intensiveenvironmentisachallengingundertaking.Beforemaking plans to acquire a carrier-capable UCAS, the Navy will first demonstrate that a long-range, low-observable, un-mannedaircraftispractical.
Late next year, the Northrop Grumman X-47B prototype will make its first flight over the desert of Southern Cali-fornia.Byearlyinthenextdecade,itwillperformcatapultlaunchandarrestedlandingsfromthedeckofanaircraftcarrier.TheNavywillalsodemonstratesafeandseamlessoperations in the carrier airspace and on the flight and hangar decks,aswellasthemissionmanagementandcontrolsystemfunctionsandinterfaces.UponthesuccessfulconclusionoftheUCASdemonstration,theNavywillhavetheoptiontostart system development leading to acquisition of UCAS systemsatconsiderablyloweredtechnicalrisk.
AndMostRecentlyDecember 2008, Northrop Grumman unveiled the first of
theU.S.Navy’snewunmannedcombataircraftatacer-emony in Palmdale, CA. attended by Navy officials, state andlocalgovernmentrepresentatives,suppliersandNorthropGrumman employees. The X-47B is the first of two aircraft Northrop Grumman will produce for the Navy to demonstrate unmannedcombataircraftoperationsfromthedeckofanaircraftcarrier.
“Unveiling the first X-47B UCAS aircraft signals a seachangeinmilitaryaviation,madepossiblethroughthe
Navy’svisionandleadership,’’saidScottWinship,NorthropGrumman Vice President and Navy UCAS Program Manager. TheNavyawardedthedemonstrationcontracttoNorthropGrumman in 2007 and aircraft assembly was completed in justoverayear.
“TheX-47Bwilldemonstratehowunmannedcombatair-craft can operate from aircraft carriers and is a necessary first steptowardextendingtheaircraftcarrier’sreachandpowerprojectionfromanywhereintheworld,’’saidCAPTMar-tinDeppe,U.S.NavyUnmannedCombatAircraftSystemProgramManager.“Welookforwardtoatimewhenwecanintroduceanewlongrange,persistent,intelligence,surveil-lanceandreconnaissance(ISR)strikecapabilitytothecarrierdecksoftomorrow.’’
Theaircraftwillnowundergosubsystemandstructuraltesting in preparation for first flight in fall 2009. UCAS CV demonstrationseatrialsareplannedtobegininlate20��.
ThesecondX-47BaircraftisininitialassemblyatthePalmdalefacilityandisexpectedtobecompletedin2009.The X-47B UCAS is produced by Northrop Grumman and industry teammates including Dell, Eaton Aerospace, GE Aviation, GKN Aerospace, Goodrich, Hamilton Sundstrand, Honeywell,LockheedMartin,Moog,ParkerAerospace,Pratt&Whitney,RockwellCollinsandWindRiver.
Editor’s note: This article was originally written by Mark Logan, a Northrop Grumman analyst. While RADM Beard is a NGC employee and part of the UCAS program, we asked him to contribute to this article and edit it to “personalize” for Intruder Association Membership. This is not a sales pitch for NGC or the UCAS program, but part of our effort to keep our membership current and informed on what is happening in naval aviation.
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OnNovember�4,35ruggedlyhandsome,dapperandstill-dar-ingIntruder bubbas gathered at the Fort Myer Officers Club for thesemi-annualDCAreaIntruderLuncheon.Thechowwasgood,thecompanywasgreat,andmanysea-storiesweretoldandre-told.Theyseemtogetbetterwitheachrendition.
VultureCarr,SamboBlickensderferandOutlawWhitlowcameupfromtheCherryPoint,NorthCarolinaareatojointhefray,butthememberwhotraveledthefarthestwasJohnFitzpatrick,infromHawaii.
RADMJimSeelygaveussomegreatcommentsabouttheA-6legacy and a historical perspective on our community; and BG BruceByrumgaveatalkontheon-goingplanningforthe20�0IntruderAssociationReunionwhichwillbeheldintheDCarea.Localvolunteersareneeded--wasoneofthemessages.
TheNavyladswentbacktowork,andsurprise,surprise--theMarinesadjournedtothedownstairsbarforadrinkandapeso-roll.
We’llplanonhavinganotheroneinthespring-time,soallthelocal-DCfolks,pleaseensurewehaveagoodemailaddressforyou.
TheGoodOldDays,PartUno:A-6ACrossCountryFlightMemories.By RADM Robert “Rupe” Owens
Sweetpea Allen and Ted Been led a flight of A-6s to WestPac via Shemya, Alaska (without A-3 Tankers). As the flight conducted refuelingafterarrival,BillWesterman’saircrafthadabentprobenozzlewhichcausedtherefuelingprobetoremainintheopenposition.Duringgroundrefueling,withpressureappliedtothefuelhose,astreamoffuelexitedthefuelprobeandshotoverahundredfeetontothefuelingarea.Thisresultedinaless-than-cooperativeattitudefromtheAirForcegroundcrew.
Next day, on start, the ubiquitous CSD start monster plagued the flight. Ted, using skills picked up from the Grumman plane captains, wasabletosavethedaywithhisuniversalCSDtool–apaperclip.
Sometimes,usuallyatanAirForcebase(becausetheirelectriccartsweredifferentfromtheNavy’s),aCSDwouldfailtorespondtotheenginestartswitches.TheB/Nwouldcrawlout,unbuttontheenginebaydoors,getunderneath,cutthesafetywireontheCSDplug,unscrewtheplug,andsticktheendsofapaperclipintotheC&Dsocketsonthecannonplug.Thisallowedthecockpitswitchesto operate the CSD open valve and accomplish the start sequence. Oncetheenginewasrunning,theB/Nwentbackundertheaircraft,recoveredhispaper-clip,re-hookedthecannonplug,buttoneduptheenginebaydoorsandthenre-mannedtheB/Nseat.
TheAirForcegroundcrewatShemya,afterwatchingallthis,saidtoTed,“ifyouguysgetoutofhere,don’tevercomeback.”
ThereweretwootherprocedurestocorrectamalfunctionCSDstartvalveproblem.Ifyouhappenedtohaveaweldingrod(allB/Nswereschooledintheappropriateprocedure),youmighttryplacing the rod beneath the butterfly valve and forcing the valve open. Or--using your Navy-issue orthopedic reflex hammer--whack thehelloutofthevalve.
Ah, those were the good old days, my friends...
TheGoodOldDays,PartDuo:A-6Gotcha’s–ShrikeIntervalometer.By RADM Robert “Rupe” Owens
Anaircraftservicechangeinearly�966incorporatedaShrikeintervalometerintotheB/N’srightconsole,TheupgradeenabledtheIntruderaircrewstoemployShrikeagainsttheNVNSA-2threat.
Aswithsomeoftheaircraftelectronics,anabbreviatedtestingperiod facilitated the desire to get the capability to the fleet as soon as possible. Frequently, A-6s would launch with Shrikes aboard in caseofanencounterwiththemissilethreat.Theswitchologywassuch that the Shrike intervalometer required a setting in order for the missileseekerandlaunchtooccur.ArminguptheShrikewasusu-allycompletedpriortoacoast-inpointtobeready,justincase.
Likeasnot,therewouldbenomissilewarningoralertandthecrewwouldproceedtothebombingtargetasscheduled.IftheB/Nfailed to re-set the Shrike intervalometer, the MER release, when generated,wouldusetheShriketimeinsteadofthebombreleasein-tervalometer.ThetimesontheShriketimerweremuchgreaterthantheminimalintervalsusuallyselectedonthebombreleasetimer.
The parent rack sequence was 1-5-2-4-3 and the MERs would drop one bomb at a time in the MER sequence. Of course, once the releasestarted,therewasnowaytoterminateitearly–well,youcouldsecurethegenerators,Iguess,butIdon’tknowofanyonewhowantedtodothatatnight.
So, occasionally, bombs would still be coming off the MERs whentheaircraftcoastedout.
Now, those were definitely the good old days!
Editor’s Note: Do you have a GoodOldDays story to share? Send it to Caz at [email protected] and see if it ends up in print!
DCAreaIntruderLuncheonReportBy Mike “Bones” Burns
Windscreen • Winter ‘09 ��
TInS: The good oLd daYS, parTS uno and duo...
Share your good news and views with THE WINDSCREEN.
Articles, letters to the editor, photos, updates, memories and money
may be sent to Steve “Caz” McCaslin
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Walk in to any bookstore and look around. Even in today’s world of GPS and computer-aided navigation, mapsandatlasesstilllineshelves.There’ssomethingaboutagoodmapinyourhandsthatfeelsrightwhenyou’reonajourney.
Right now, working jointly with the U.S. Navy, the F/A-18E/FSuper HornetFlightPlanchartsthecourseforthemulti-rolestrike fighter’s increasingly powerful combat capability over the next two decades, according to Bob Gower, Boeing F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs Vice President. “When I look at what the Super Hornet offers our warfighting commanders today, I really feel we are unmatched at what we bring to the fight,” said Gower.
So,howdidtheSuper Hornetprogramthathasdeliveredmorethan370aircrafttotheU.S.Navy--eachoneontimeandunder budget--get to where it is today? Gower said that a total systemengineeringeffort,coupledwithleanbusinesspractices,have steered the F/A-18E/F program to where it is now and positioneditforairdominancewellintothefuture.“WhenwedesignedtheSuper Hornet, we did it in two phases,” Gower said. “The first phase was an airframe and growth focus where we designedinstealth.WefocusedonwhattheNavyreferstoasa‘balancedapproachtosurvivability,’stealth,advancedelectronicwarningreceivers,combatredundancyformajorsystems,suchassuchtwoenginesandtwomissioncomputers.Wealsofocusedonourrangeandweaponsbring-backcapabilitytothecarrier.”
FollowingtheFlightPlanKeepingtheSuper Hornet aheadofknownandemerging
threatsiskeywhenlookingtothefutureandtheSuper Hornet.TheSuper Hornet FlightPlanensuresthatcapabilityenhance-ment is ready for system integration. The flight plan is an advancedcapabilityinsertionroadmapthatpartnersBoeingwiththeU.S.NavytoensuretheSuper Hornet andGrowlerremaininfrontofdevelopingthreatsoverthecomingdecades.
Thenextdestinationonthe Super Hornet’s mapcameinApril2005--about seven years after the first Super Hornetsarrivedin 1998--with the delivery of the first Block II Super Hornet.“BlockIImodernizedalloftheavionicsandsensorsontheaircraft.Thisreallyreducedriskaswewentthroughproductionstages--oneofthekeyelementsintheSuper Hornetprogram’sformula for success,” said Mike Gibbons, Boeing F/A-18E/F ProgramManger.Hewentontoexplainhowthesecondphaseof Block II enhancements upgraded the APG-73 radar--known
asamechanicallyscanningradar--with the APG-79 Active Electroni-callyScannedArray(AESA) radar at the heartofthesys-tem.Additionally,upgradedsensorcapability,courtesyoftheAdvancedTargetingForward
LookingInfraredpodandSHAredReconnaissancePod,pro-vides what Gibbons calls “unmatched total battlespace situational awareness.”
“Youneedalloftherightsensorsontheplatformandyouneedtointegratewhatthosesensorsaretellingyou.Thatiswhere we stand out,” Gibbons explained. “That means the pilot is constantly receiving decision-quality information. The Super Hornetpilotknowswhereallofthethreatsareandcanthentodecidetoavoid,orengageandeliminatethethreat.”
Gibbons said the AESA radar has increased both survivability andlethalityoftheSuper Hornettoa“best-in-class”level.“Wecandosimultaneousair-to-airandair-to-groundcombatwiththe addition of the APG-79 radar. That hasn’t historically been available.Todate,ithasbeenaneitherair-to-airorair-to-groundmode.Now,theSuper Hornetissmashingthatparadigm.Withthe F/A-18E/F it’s same-time air and ground missions-- that’s toughtomatch.”
Another hallmark of the day/night all-weather strike fighter is its versatility when connecting into the warfighting network, commonlyknownasnet-centricoperations.Forexample,whenforwardaircontrollersonthegroundemploytheRemotelyOperated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) system, the F/A-18E/F sends video to the ROVER and it confirms in a matter of secondsthatthepilotisengagingthecorrecttargetthroughthereal-timeairto-groundvideocapturedwiththeSuper Hornet’ssensors.
TheSuper Hornet’sMultifunctionalInformationDistribu-tionSystem/Link�6caninstantlypasstargetinginformationbetweenaircraftbypushingasinglebutton.Thatusedtotake27keystrokesbeforethetargetingdatacouldbetransferredandtheweaponcouldbeemployed.Obviously,thatgoesalongwaytowardreducingpilotworkload.
The powerful AESA radar and the ATFLIR--part of the Super Hornet’snetworkformulti-sourceintegration--canpinpointtargetswithdevastatingaccuracy.Thatenablesdatacorrelationbetween the AESA and ATFLIR via multi-source integra-tion,thenalgorithmsintegratethatdata,enablingthedeletionofanytargetingerror.
�2 Winter ‘09 • Windscreen
roadmap To SuCCeSS: KeepIng The Super horneT ahead of The ThreaT
By Philip Carder
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Welcome Aboard New MeMbersJamesKlein.................. WestHills,CAJosephJordan............... VA.Beach,VAEugene Harscar............ Rumson,NJBernieUpchurch.......... FallsChurch,VAThomasKennon.......... VABeach,VAWilliamRadican.......... E. Stroudsberg, PARichardDodd............... OakHarbor,WAJohnCarr...................... Deptford,NJRobertRuess................ SanDiego,CAJacksonCartwright...... Williamsburg,VAJimStoll....................... Stafford,VAPaulBernardo.............. Huningtown,MDJosephKuzmick.......... Silverdale,WAGlen Ritchie................. Ridgecrest,CAKyleHiggins................ Anacortes,WAJamesOrr..................... LagoVista,TXTonyAllou................... OakHarbor,WADonaldWilliams.......... PineyPoint,MDFrankLanzer................ Gambrills, MDGeorge Boemerman..... SanMarcos,TXSteveHancharick......... Raliegh,NCTerryMichel................ Westminster,COBobShelton................. Montgomery,TXFrankHarris................. Chesterfield, MO
JohnSchiek.................. Rhinelander,WIScottTozzi................... Concord,CAJimPitts....................... Milton,FLHoagyCarmichael....... Jacksonville,FLLeeManis.................... Hollywood,MDAlbertCarpenter.......... NewOrleans,LAJesseRandall................ PineKnollShores,NCChristopherChope....... Leemore,CAThomasIrving............. Oakton,VAKenSlota..................... Mesa,AZSteveBrixley............... Placitas,NMRobertMiller............... Jackson,MSRichardFleischer......... Finleyville,PABillSanford.................. Havelock,NCDellBull....................... Gainesville, VAPaulBazemore............. Hollywood,SCLoydPlanty.................. Santee,CARogerRichardson........ Hendersonville,NCRobertSlowick............ VABeach,VAScottWalthall............... VABeach,VAJohnBond.................... SanJose,CAMarkPeot.................... Chesapeake,VAJohnJohnson............... Smithfield, UTRichardPalma............. VABeach,VA
LarryThatcher............. East Alton, ILMarkSmith.................. Conyors, GABillRosenow............... Scotville,MIPatrickFarrell.............. SouthBend,INCharlesDewitt............. NewBern,NCThomasWilliams......... Ashburn,VAGreg Hargrove............. MountainView,CARobertPobuda............. Mission,TXDanKissel.................... Chesapeake,VAJohnRomer.................. Clementon,NJTerrySullivan.............. Grapevine, TXR.D.Hill....................... Frisco,TXRobertMinor............... Pensacola,FLRichardCarlan............. BoilingSprings,SCBobMatz..................... Lancaster,CAJamesPate.................... LasVegas,NVVincent Groover.......... VABeach,VAJohnMetzger............... Scottsdale,AZ
Along with long-term solutions, Gibbons said the flight plan is enabling additional near-term combat en-hancements.“Rightnow,we’readdingstorageintoour
Mass Storage Unit and we are loading Digital Terrain Elevation Database (DTED) maps into the system. That enables the aircrew to overlay the AESA image over the DTED map and really elimi-nateanytargetingerror.”
AnotherdestinationontheFlightPlanmapistheadditionofanInfraredSearchandTrack(IRST)systemthatwillenabletheF/A-18E/F to operate in a passive mode while scanning the bat-tlespaceforheatemitters--enemyaircraft.“IRSTwillallowtheSuper Hornet to detect and track targets based on heat,” Gower said.
With its 11 weapons stations that enable it to fight its way into target areas, launch weapons, and fight its way out, Gower saidtheSuper Hornetis“thepreeminentmulti-roleplatforminthe world today.” He said the F/A-18E/F’s unlimited angle of attack coupled with it ability to execute air-to-air, fighter escort, air-to-ground/closeairsupport,maritimeattack/tacticalmaritimeoperations,reconnaissanceandevenasatacticalairrefueler,makeitatrueforcemultiplier.
Withitsdecoupledcockpit,aircrewscanoperateindepen-
dently in the battlespace, Gower said, enabling enormous force multiplication capability. For example, as the pilot flies the air-craft and works the air-to-air mission, the weapon systems officer cansearchforgroundtargetsandactasinformationdistributionnode--muchlikeanAWACSplatformwithairbattlemanagers--forothercombatassetsinthebattlespace,whetherontheground,airborneorsea-basedforces.
Withitsstoriedtrackrecordofprogramreliability,affordabil-ityandavailability,theSuper Hornetisanattractiveoptionforinternational customers. Australia recently became the first inter-nationalSuper Hornet customer with its acquisition of 24 F/A-18 dual-seatFmodels.Additionally,theSuper HornetiscurrentlyacompetitorinIndia,DenmarkandBrazil.Othernationsareeye-ingtheSuper Hornetastheanswertotheiraircombatneeds.
Gower said the Navy will operate the Super Hornetun-til2035-2040,becauseitistheonlyplatformthatofferssuchunique combat-proven capabilities. But, Gower said, the Super HornetteammustcontinuetoenhanceandupgradetheF/A-18E/F following the flight plan to remain ahead of threats that continue to emerge. “And,” Gower said, “we’ve only tapped the surface of what the APG-79 can do. You will continue to see capabilityleapsaswegoforward.”
The Super horneT continued
For those of you who may not have received an Intruder Association Welcome package,
please send an email to [email protected].
Windscreen • Winter ‘09 �3
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StuartM.AbrahamsonKrisAckerbauerCharlesAdamsNicholasAdamsTomAdamsKentAitchesonBrianN.AlbroStephenR.AllenStuAllisonDanAmmonsJamesAndersenTerryL.AndersonWilliamK.AngusWilliamH.AshleyDanielBachRobertBacklundJohnBarberBenjaminBarrettKenBarrineauWilliamBartelsWilliamC.BartoJamesM.BascianiDavidR.BatesAlanBaxterMarkW.BeachPaulT.BeardenJohnBeenJohnBellDavidBenaThomasC.BennettRayBensonPaulBenvenutoCharlesBerryDougJ.BerryRufusBigfordWilliamBindell
Edward BirdwellBudBishopPaulBlochFredBlockRobertF.BlytheCurtis E. BorlandMarkF.BoudahGary L. BoyceDonaldBoyerKennethBradleyHughBrainardDavidM.BrennanJoeBrewerCarolannBrownDanielJBrownGregory BrownRobertBrownHerbA.BrowneMikeBryanLyleF.BullMarkBuntingDeeBurchamPatrickBurkeWilliamBurkeGeorge BurridgeRogerBuschJeffBuschowDavidH.BussDerrickJ.BusseJimButlerSpencerButtsDavidCableAnthonyCalandraWilliamCaldwellMikeF.CampbellRobertCampbell
JorgeCamposRichardCarlanRichardCarlsonReggieP.CarpenterTimothyM.CarrPaulCashDonald E. CathcartJackCekklerJohn E. ChampeJackChampionChrisChristiansenJamesP.ClancyJamesR.ClarkEdward Clarkson IIRobertClearyLarryCleghornToddClelandKevinCokerAlbertV.ColsonJr.RobertW.ColyarMarkCondraKeithD.ConeDouglasConnellDennisConnollyCarlR.ContiMarkConverseStephenP.CoontsJohnCorriganRaymondCossJamesCrabbeBarrettCraigKennethCraigLouCrenshawFrankCriddleMichaelCurrieJefferyCzerewko
PeterDabbieriJamesB.DadsonChristopherDaguannoAldenDavisBillDavisJeffDavisJohnB.DavisRobertS.DayDonaldDeCourseyDavidDesimoneTomDeykeJamesDickeyDennisDistlerCarlDixonWilliamDoorisPatrickDowneyCharlesDownsSteveDradzynskiDanielDuganTomDuganStevenDumovichRobertDuncanWilliam*DunnamSteve* EatonAndrew EberhartMichael V. EdwardsAbe EllisJames EllisGreg EllisonMarty EllisonDonald EmersonLucian F. EmersonRichard EngelKeith EnglanderJames K. EngstromJack M. EstesJohn EvansJoseph EvansDavid H. EverettGerald FeathersJohnFedynaRichardFellowsRobertFergusonKennethA.FishGary J. FlorBrettFlournoyRobertFlynnEverett FooteAnthonyM.FortinoStephenFosterThomasFraimGeorge FranzRobertD.FreginBobFuicelliJohnW.FulcherDon GalbraithMitchell GarnerRobert L. Gatling Jr.Bill GaynorMichael D. GellmanNicholas R. GeorgePaul K. GermanMichael GeronCharles L. GiacomoGavin J. GiddingsDan GildeaCraig Gile
Keith* GilesBenjamin H. GillamLindsay M. GillespieAnthony GiorgianniMichael GleasonJim R. GloverTad GodsilNiles GoodingHank GotardPatrick M. GraberThomas GriffinTodd GroszerJames GrovesWayne N. GrumneySteven GuilianiRobert GunbyThomasHagenTimothyS.HagforsAlfredHallDanielHamnerWilliamHandyJamesA.HarlerOscarHarrisJrGordon HartmanMikeHarveyRobert E. Hassing IIIHaroldHatchRonaldHaysGeorge HeadlyMichaelW.HeathPaulHederstromLeeHeffernanGeorge HendersonKristinaJHendricksonDonaldHermanFredHewittErnest Von der HeydenTomHillsTimothyHinesHarveyHirataMarcusHitchcockEdward HobbsRobertH.HofferJamesD.HoffmanThomasHoioosNeilHolbenCharlesHolcombWalterHolmichJamesA.HomanToddHoodBrianHoraisAlexHorsterAlanF.HoustonJohnHowardJamesHowerWilliamHowseBradHoxeyPhilHullingsPeterHuntTomHunterWaltHunterCharlieHustonKentHutchinsonVinceHuthRonaldHydeThomasH.IdemaPaulIlg
eXpIred memberShIpS
Renew wit h IA!
IntruderAssociationMembershipUpdateBy Clyde Cain, Membership Director
FellowIntruders,ourmembershipnumberishoveringaround�230,giveortakeacoupleofduplicateentries.Werecentlygotkicked-backnumerouse-mailings,becausethee-mailaddresswehaveinthedatabaseforthosefolkswasnotcurrent.
Everyone should to go to the website and make sure your data is current.Themailing/emailingofinformationforthereunionwillrelyonthatdata.Withthenewdatabaseandwebsite,youwillbegettingareminderthatyourduesareabouttoexpire.IfyouhaveaproblemgettingintotheMembers Onlysection,[email protected].
IhaveupdatedthelostBubbalistandcanreportsincethelastnewslet-ter,becauseofyoureffortsandourTailhookbooth,wehavefound/resigned�7folks.Keep on the lookout, and thanks for your efforts.
�4 Winter ‘09 • Windscreen
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LesJacksonRonJacksonPeter G. JacobsTomJardineDavidJeatranJamesJenistaCharles E. JewettStanJeziorAlan E. JohnsonJereH.JohnsonStuartJohnsonGerald JohnsonJohnJohnstonEd JonesWilliamJuhrsCharles E. KaiserThomasJ.KaneThomasKaupasBeauKeallyColleenKellerRickKelleyLawrenceR.KellyStevenS.KellyJamesJ.KennedyJimKennedyBobKennyJamesF.KernMuhammadMuzzafarKhanJosephKilkennyBarryKingJamesD.KingStephenB.KingDanKisselJohnKittelsonWalterKleffelHarryA.KlingJackKnickRussellKnightRobertKnowlesJanKolinLeeS.KollmorganGrant T. KowalchickTerryB.KraftstevekrupinskiDaveKuechenmeisterJohn G. KurzhalsNealB.KuyattDeanLairdJohnLangdonGlenn LanzerA.W.DavidLavigneFrankLawlorKimoLeeRobertL.LeitzelJohnW.LeonardBrianLewisJohnLittleWayne*LockwoodBobLoganSamuelLoganPhilipLonesEdward LudwickRoyA.LundeenGarry D. LutzPaulLynchRobertP.Machala
MarkT.MageeGeorge MallekLeeManisJohnA.ManzioneSwayneMarkDavidMarshallRichardMartinClaytonMartynGeorge MattMarvonMattinglyGary MaxwellEdward M. McDanelEugene McDanielGene H. McDermottHarveyMcDonaldRonnieMcdonaldKim McEligotDavid B. McElveinRobert McEwenScottP.McFarlaneWilliam McGannScott McGaughBruce B. McGeeRichard McGrawDaniel A. McGregorRichardMcHargJohnJ.McHughThomasP.McKavittJr.JamesA.McKenzieMikeMcLaughlinDonaldW.McSwainJohnF.McVayKevinMeenaghanJohnMeisterRobertS.MeltonTerryMenteerMichaelMenthNormMetzgerJohnMetzkoDaniel E. MichaudSamsonMikitarianJim G. MillerKennethMillerLindaMillerMichaelMillerSpencerMillerSteveMillsRichardMinterJohnMittellRobertMonosonDanielMooreEllen E. MooreMarkMorganPatrickK.MorrowGilbert MorseCharlesW.MortensenEric E. MortonAlMousseauWilliamA.MullisLarryMunnsJeanneMurrayMarkMurrayBradMusgroveSteveNakagawaEvan D. NauGregory NazarukDennisNelson
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Windscreen • Winter ‘09 �5
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TheIntruderAssociation839HawksRunCt.SE
Leesburg,VA20175
The INTRUDER ASSOCIATION Membership Application
Name _____________________________________________ New Applicant Renewal Date___/___/___
Street Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________
City __________________________________ State _______________________ Zip _________ Tel ( ) ____________________
Spouse’s Name ______________________ E-mail __________________________ Your call sign or nickname _________________
Military Service: Retired Active Duty None
Branch: ________________________________
Pilot B/N Maintainer Ordy Support Associate
War Veteran of: Korea Vietnam Gulf
Service Dates (YY-YY) ___________Squadrons __________________
Carrier Air Wing/Marine Air Wing ______________________________
Membership: 1Yr $25 2 Yr $45 3 Yr $65
The Intruder Association is accepting new and renewal membership applications via PayPal on our website or by personal checks. To access the PayPal method, go to http://www.intruderassociation.org and select Join, for new members, or log in at Members Log In. To pay by personal check, please mail this application along with your check made payable to:
The Intruder Association c/o Clyde Cain
18407 Rangeland Rd, Ramona, CA 92065
For questions, contact Clyde Cain at [email protected].
Join the Intruder Association today!
www.intruderassociation.org
PRESORTEDSTANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE PAIDMOREHEAD CITY, NC
PERMIT NO. 116
Click JOIN/RENEW link at www.intruderassociation.org
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