Latest news with #C-17GlobemasterIII
Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Chicago Air and Water Show 2025: List of aircrafts participating this weekend - from Squadron to KC-135
Chicago's biggest free air and water spectacle, the Chicago Air & Water Show, is back on August 16 and 17, 2025, with a full rehearsal the day before. The show runs from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, stretching from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach as ground zero, according to the Chicago government's website. The Chicago Air and Water Show will take place on August 16–17.( This year marks the 66th edition of the show, which began in 1959 as a small lakeside event and has since grown into the largest free-admission air and water exhibition in the U.S. Chicago Air and Water Show 2025 performers Headliners? Expect spectacular displays from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights. Military aircraft performances also include the C-17 Globemaster III demo by the 15th Airlift Squadron, KC-135 aerial refueling flights via the Illinois Air National Guard, the Maryland ANG's A-10 'Warthog', a Coast Guard Search and Rescue Demo, and the U.S. Marine Corps' MV-22 Osprey display from Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365. On the civilian side, the lineup is equally thrilling, Red Bull pilot Kevin Coleman, Bill Stein, Susan Dacy in the Big Red Stearman, the muscle biplane Machaira with Bob Richards, Tom Larkin's Mini Jet Airshows, Folds of Honor Biplane with Ed Hamill, and Warbird Thunder Airshows bringing vintage SNJ-2 and SNJ-3 warbirds to the sky. Also read: 'It's the worst': Chicago locals review famous air and water show after first look Other engaging displays include Chicago Police and Fire Department air/sea rescue units, along with support from the Air National Guard wings and Marine Corps assets. For the best possible view, take in the show along the lakefront or catch it from rooftops or lakeside venues. The show is free, but parking is limited and attendees are strongly encouraged to use public transport or nearby garages. FAQs Q: When and where is the 2025 Chicago Air and Water Show? The show runs August 16–17 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. along the Chicago lakefront, centered at North Avenue Beach. Q: Who are the headlining performers? The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Army Golden Knights are this year's top acts. Q: What other acts will perform? Performers include military demos (C-17, KC-135, A-10, Coast Guard rescue, Osprey) and civilian pilots like Kevin Coleman, Bill Stein, Bob Richards, Susan Dacy, and Warbird Thunder. Q: How much does it cost to attend? Admission is free. Q: What is the best way to get there? Public transit is highly recommended. CTA will offer increased service, and parking near the lakefront is not available
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
What to know if you're going to the Chicago Air and Water Show
Eyes will turn to the skies this weekend for the Chicago Air and Water Show. One million or more spectators are expected along the lakefront Aug. 16-17 to watch demonstrations by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team and a variety of other civilian and military aircraft. Here's what to know about this year's show: how to get to the lakefront (or avoid it), weather conditions, a full lineup of performers and more. No, the event is free. North Avenue Beach is show center, but good sight lines can be found at Ohio Street Beach and along the lakefront from Fullerton Avenue south to Oak Street Beach. Nearby parks and playing fields are generally less crowded. 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Rehearsal is scheduled for Friday. The beaches will open at 6 a.m., but there are no public seating areas and parking is not available at North Avenue Beach. The schedule is subject to change and determined on show days. The lineup includes: U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds: Founded 72 years ago, the demonstration team has performed here since 1960. More than 120 enlisted members prepare and service eight F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. Six perform formation flying and solo routines during a typical demonstration. U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights: Appearing here since the 1960s — when they would land in Lake Michigan — this team of soldiers has jumped with David Ross, former Cubs catcher and manager, actor Vince Vaughn and comedian Bill Murray. Other Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard demonstrations: A-10 Thunderbolt II; C-17 Globemaster III; KC-135 Stratotanker; 122nd Fighter Wing and 434th Air Refueling Wing; 182nd Airlift Wing U.S. Marine Corps.: MV-22 Osprey; Air Station New River U.S. Coast Guard: Air and Sea Rescue Demonstration Civilians: Chicago Fire Department Air and Sea Rescue Unit; Chicago Police Department helicopter; Kevin Coleman; Susan Dacy; Ed 'Hamster' Hamill; Tom Larkin (Mini Jet Airshows); Bob Richards (Muscle Biplane Machaira); Bill Stein; and Warbird Thunder Pedestrians: Bridges, tunnels or underpasses at Fullerton Avenue, Division Street, Scott Street, Chicago Avenue, North Avenue Beach and Oak Street Beach provide easy access to the lakefront and North Avenue Beach. Public transportation: Extra service and capacity will be provided throughout the weekend. Use Regional Transportation Authority's Trip Planner tool to map your route. It's recommended passengers purchase tickets ahead of time or through the Ventra app to avoid long lines. Chicago Transit Authority and getting there by 'L': The CTA will provide extra service on some lines, but the No. 72 North Avenue bus will be rerouted. Take the Red Line to stations at Chicago/State or Clark/Division, which are within walking distance of show center. Or, take the Blue, Green, Orange, Brown or Pink lines to the downtown area and walk east. The closest CTA station to the North Avenue Beach entrance is the Brown Line's Sedgwick station. Metra: Extra service will be provided on four of Metra's 11 lines with expanded passenger capacity, too, during the weekend. Customers disembarking at Metra's Union Station or Millennium Park Station can board CTA's No. 151 buses to Oak Street and North Avenue beaches. Alcohol is prohibited and bicycles might not be accommodated all day Saturday and Sunday. Bike: Bringing your own bike? Bikes are allowed on the beach. Renting one? Divvy's closest station to North Avenue Beach is at DuSable Lake Shore Drive and North Boulevard. Plan your ride at Parking: No parking is available at show central. Millennium Garages' four, underground locations offer discounted online parking packages for purchase in advance and a free shuttle from Millennium Park Garage, 6 S. Columbus Drive, to and from near North Avenue Beach. Shuttles depart the garage every 20 minutes starting at 9 a.m. Pickup and drop-off is at inner DuSable Lake Shore Drive, half a block south of LaSalle Street. Last shuttle departs for the garage from North Avenue Beach at 3 p.m. Spothero also offers nearby parking options. All bags will be searched upon entry. What you can bring to the show: Leave at home: The forecast calls for hot, humid conditions with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s and heat indices near or above 100 degrees. Sunday has a 6slight chance of an afternoon thunderstorm, according to the National Weather Service's Chicago office. It happens. Foggy and wet conditions delayed performances in 2022. In case of severe weather: Temporary shelter from rain, high winds, lightning or hail is available at various nearby underpasses (Diversey Harbor, Fullerton Avenue and LaSalle Drive) and pedway locations (Division Street, Scott Street, Oak Street and Chicago Avenue). Yes! Spectators can pay $20 per vehicle for entrance to the parking lot at Gary/Chicago International Airport, where they can watch aircraft take off and land. Herb Hunter is the show announcer based at North Avenue Beach. He's a former military pilot and United Airlines captain. Play-by-play coverage will be on WBBM-AM 780 and 105.9 FM. For those who are low vision or blind, there will be an audio description both days of the show that is accessible via Zoom. Vertical green signs with white letters and numbers called pole markers are attached to all light poles along the lakefront. Lost? Injured? Witness criminal activity? Look up, call 911 and give the letter/number on the pole nearest your location to help first responders locate you. Or, use the pole marker to let friends and family know where you are. Sources: Tribune reporting; Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past.
Newsweek
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Nuclear Weapons 'Deployed' to UK for First Time in 17 Years
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States military has moved nuclear weapons to British soil for the first time in close to two decades, new analysis indicates. Open-source analysts identified an aircraft taking off from the Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, bound for the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF) base at Lakenheath, in the east of England. Kirtland Air Force Base is the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Nuclear Weapons Center, a main storage site for nuclear weapons. A U.S. defense official told Newsweek the U.S. did not comment on the "status or location of strategic weapons." A spokesperson for the British Defense Ministry said: "It remains a long-standing UK and NATO policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at a given location." Why It Matters Speculation has long surrounded whether the East England RAF base could once again host U.S. nuclear weapons. RAF Lakenheath hosted American nuclear weapons for several decades until 2008. The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) said in 2023 that U.S. military budget documents "strongly" implied the Air Force intended to re-establish its nuclear weapons mission in the U.K. RAF Lakenheath—the home of the 48th Fighter Wing, dubbed "Liberty Wing"—has been upgraded in recent years. If Washington moves nuclear weapons back into the U.K., "it would break with decades of policy and planning and reverse the southern focus of the European nuclear deployment that emerged after the end of the Cold War," the FAS said in updated analysis earlier this year. A USAF C-17 Globemaster III from the 97th Air Mobility Wing participates in the Miami Beach Air and Sea Show on May 25, 2024. A USAF C-17 Globemaster III from the 97th Air Mobility Wing participates in the Miami Beach Air and Sea Show on May 25, 2024. AP/NewsBase What To Know Flight tracking data shows that a USAF C-17 cargo plane departed from Albuquerque for a flight of just over 10 hours to Lakenheath on July 16 and left the U.K. two days later. "It looks like it went to England, dropped off those weapons and then it went back to regular operations in the U.S.," William Alberque, a former head of NATO's nuclear non-proliferation center, told Britain's The Times. The U.K. government announced last month it would buy at least 12 F-35A fifth-generation aircraft, which, unlike the F-35B jets the country's RAF already operates, are certified to carry nuclear weapons. The jets will be stationed at RAF Marham, a base north of Lakenheath. The purchase "reintroduces a nuclear role for the Royal Air Force for the first time since the UK retired its sovereign air-launched nuclear weapons following the end of the Cold War," the British government said in a statement. The U.K. has Trident, its own nuclear weapons program made up of four Vanguard-class submarines able to fire nuclear missiles. The U.S. has both strategic and nonstrategic nuclear weapons. Nonstrategic nuclear weapons, which in the U.S. case are variants of the B61 gravity bomb, are also known as tactical nuclear weapons. The U.S. announced at the start of the year that it had completed a long-running program to upgrade the B61 to the B61-12. Strategic nuclear weapons are deployed on intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and those fired from bomber aircraft. They are thought of as the missiles that could level entire cities and threaten major global superpowers. Unlike strategic weapons, tactical nuclear weapons are designed for use on the battlefield or in what is known as a specific theater. They have a smaller yield and are designed to be used against different targets than strategic nuclear weapons, which are limited under the New START Treaty that is due to expire in 2026. The U.S. has an estimated 200 tactical nuclear weapons, with roughly half deployed at European bases. The U.S. is believed to have around 100 tactical bombs deployed in five NATO countries on the continent, including in Turkey, Germany and Belgium. What People Are Saying Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow with the British think tank, the Royal United Services Institute, told The Times that the C-17 flight "could be the transport of B61s for potential use on RAF F-35As in due course. Kaushal added, "It represents a move towards the use of tactical nuclear weapons. It reintroduces a bit of flexibility in terms of how nuclear weapons are used."
India.com
06-07-2025
- General
- India.com
Dismantling a Beast: UK Wrestles with F-35B's Complexity on Foreign Soil in Kerala
UK's lethal F-35B fighter jet stranded in Kerala A British Royal Navy F-35B stealth fighter jet, stranded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport since June 14, 2025, is now set to be dismantled and flown back to the United Kingdom. The jet, grounded by an unresolved hydraulic failure, cannot be repaired locally due to its complex systems and the absence of F-35 maintenance infrastructure in India. A C-17 Globemaster III military aircraft will likely transport the disassembled jet to the UK for restoration. Why the Jet Must Be Moved Efforts to fix the jet's critical hydraulic system in India proved unsuccessful. The F-35B's advanced design includes classified technologies like radar-absorbing coatings, encrypted software, and AI-based combat systems—requiring tools and expertise available only at select certified locations. India does not operate the F-35, and no repair base exists in the region. Beyond technical hurdles, national security concerns make it risky to leave the jet parked at a civilian airport. The aircraft is part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, and its prolonged absence weakens the UK's operational readiness. Transporting it back is the only viable and secure option. UK Sends a Specialized Team On July 6, a Royal Air Force A400M Atlas brought in a 25–40 member team of engineers and Lockheed Martin-certified technicians to Thiruvananthapuram. The team brought specialized tools and a tow vehicle, starting with an inspection to assess whether repairs could be done on-site. Once confirmed unrepairable, the dismantling process began. Moving to a Safer Location Initially, the F-35B was parked in the open at Bay 4 of the airport under CISF security. The UK declined to move it to a hangar due to concerns over exposure of sensitive systems in a non-NATO country. However, with India's assurances and growing urgency, the jet was shifted to a secure Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility where the environment is controlled and access is tightly restricted. The Dismantling Process Removing the jet's wings, tail fins, and stabilizers is essential to fit it inside the C-17's cargo bay, which is 26 meters long but only about 4 meters wide. The F-35B has a wingspan of nearly 10.7 meters, making disassembly the only option. This process is far from simple. Every screw, bolt, and panel is security-coded and logged to prevent tampering or unauthorized access. Only Lockheed Martin-trained engineers are allowed to perform these tasks. The dismantled components are carefully packed to avoid damage to the stealth coatings or internal systems. The jet's fuselage is then compacted and prepared for loading as a single unit, taking care to protect the aircraft's sensitive sensors and onboard electronics. Airlift to the UK Once dismantled, the aircraft will be loaded onto a Royal Air Force C-17 Globemaster III—one of the few transport aircraft capable of handling such a load. Technicians will supervise the process to ensure that the jet's frame and sensitive systems remain intact. The aircraft will likely be flown to RAF Marham in the UK, where full-scale repair facilities for the F-35 are located. Once there, it will be reassembled and thoroughly tested before rejoining active service aboard HMS Prince of Wales . Security and Diplomatic Coordination Throughout the dismantling and transport operation, UK Royal Air Force personnel and naval officers are maintaining strict security. They are working in coordination with Indian CISF forces to prevent any technology leaks or unauthorized access. The UK government has also committed to settling all dues, including parking and hangar charges, with Indian authorities. The diplomatic coordination between the two nations has been smooth, despite early hesitation regarding the hangar shift. Challenges Faced The operation has not been without complications: Security Sensitivities : Concerns over espionage led to initial delays in moving the aircraft to a hangar. : Concerns over espionage led to initial delays in moving the aircraft to a hangar. Weather Conditions : Exposure to Kerala's heavy monsoon rains added further urgency and risk to the already delicate dismantling process. : Exposure to Kerala's heavy monsoon rains added further urgency and risk to the already delicate dismantling process. Public Curiosity: The jet's unexpected stay captured widespread attention, sparking social media memes and even a cheeky post from Kerala Tourism. Past Examples This is not the first time an F-35 has had to be dismantled. In 2019, the US Air Force removed the wings of an F-35A for transport from Florida to Utah. Similarly, in 2022, South Korea transported a belly-landed F-35A by road after removing its wings. These precedents show that such operations are technically feasible and already tested. Why On-Site Repairs Weren't Possible The hydraulic failure affecting this particular jet requires diagnostic equipment, spares, and expertise not available in India. As India doesn't operate any F-35s, it lacks the maintenance infrastructure needed for even minor repairs. Returning the jet to the UK is the only way to ensure it is properly restored and returned to duty. Conclusion The mission to dismantle and fly back the UK's F-35B from India is more than just a technical exercise—it is a symbol of careful international coordination, the importance of protecting advanced defense technologies, and the logistical precision required to handle one of the world's most advanced fighter jets. Once it takes to the skies again from British soil, the F-35B will carry with it a fascinating chapter from Kerala that blended diplomacy, engineering, and a touch of global intrigue. —— E.O.M ( Girish Linganna is an award-winning science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst. He is the Managing Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. Contact: girishlinganna@ )
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iran Fires Missiles at U.S. Base in Qatar
A C-17 Globemaster III sits at Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Nov. 11, 2022. Credit - U.S. Air Force/Airman 1st Class Andrew Britten/AP Iran retaliated against the U.S. on Monday, launching missiles at a U.S. base in Qatar, according to a U.S. defense official and a statement from the Qatar foreign ministry. The missiles targeted Al Udeid Air Base outside Doha and were intercepted by air defenses before they could strike the base, the Qatari government said. "At this time, there are no reports of U.S. casualties" from the barrage of short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles fired by Iran, the U.S. defense official said. Thousands of U.S. service members are stationed at Al-Udeid Air Base, an important American military outpost on the Persian Gulf. After an American bombing raid on Saturday hit three nuclear program sites inside Iran, Iranian officials promised to strike back. The Iranian missile attack comes after the State Department on Monday told U.S. citizens living in Qatar to shelter in place. On Sunday, the State Department had warned all American travelers worldwide to exercise "increased caution." The U.S. embassy in Baghdad ordered additional personnel to leave Iraq over the weekend and issued a security alert warning Americans in Iraq of an "increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence or attacks against U.S. businesses and locations frequented by U.S. citizens." Authorities inside the U.S. are also on alert for potential violence in the wake of the U.S. strikes on Iran. A Department of Homeland Security advisory issued an advisory on Sunday that the 'ongoing Iran conflict is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States.' Ahead of the attack on Qatar on Monday, Iran's mission to the United Nations posted on X that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was 'dragging the United States into yet another costly war' and the U.S. had 'recklessly chosen to sacrifice its own security merely to safeguard Netanyahu.' President Trump is scheduled to meet with senior national security officials Monday at the White House. 'The White House and the Department of Defense are aware of, and closely monitoring, potential threats to Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar,' a senior White House official told TIME. Contact us at letters@
