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Newsweek
26-05-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Air Force Jets Perform World First Formation Over Miami Beach
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. Jets with the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) flew its "first-ever tri-bomber/fighter dissimilar formation" over Miami Beach in a Memorial Day celebration on Saturday for a "freedom flyover" to commemorate those who lost their lives serving in the U.S. military. Why It Matters AFGSC is a major command within the Air Force responsible for nuclear deterrence and global strike operations. Memorial Day is observed each year on the last Monday of May. While many view it as the unofficial start to summer, the day is meant to be a way to honor those who sacrificed their lives while serving in the U.S. military. What To Know For Memorial Day this year, the U.S. Air Force unveiled its first ever "seven-ship" tri-bomber formation during the Hyundai Air and Sea Show that took place over the weekend. The show was led by the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and included the B-1B Lancer, B-52H Stratofortress, F-22 Raptor, F-15C Eagle, F-16C Fighting Falcon, and A-10 Thunderbolt. "This wasn't just an air show - it was a powerful tribute to those who gave everything and a celebration of the strength that defends our nation every single day," the AFGSC wrote on its Facebook reel with a video of the formation fly over. A Lockheed-Martin F-22A Raptor of the US Air Force flies over the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 4. A Lockheed-Martin F-22A Raptor of the US Air Force flies over the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May People Are Saying U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command wrote on Facebook on Saturday: "The Active duty, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard pilots united as one unstoppable force while thousands witnessed aviation history." Veteran Affairs Secretary Doug Collins said last week: "Every day throughout the year, VA plays a vital role in remembering and honoring the brave service members who gave their lives in defense of the freedoms America holds dear. This Memorial Day weekend, we invite Americans to visit VA cemeteries and join us in reflecting upon the important legacies of these fallen heroes." John Raughter, a Marine Corps veteran and spokesperson for the American Legion National Headquarters, previously told Newsweek about the holiday: "It is to unify and celebrate that America over the past 250 years has been blessed with more than 1 million heroic men and women who believed through their actions that this was a country worth dying for. There is nothing wrong with attending a barbecue, visiting a beach and enjoying other activities with family and friends. Many of our fallen heroes engaged in such activities. But it is important to take a few moments during the weekend to reflect on why the last Monday in May is a holiday and who has made it possible for us to enjoy such freedoms."
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What are Black Hawk helicopters and how are they used? What to know after the D.C. aircraft crash
The military helicopter that collided with a regional jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in a crash that killed all 67 people aboard both aircraft was a UH-60 Black Hawk, considered the 'workhorse' of Army aviation. The helicopter is a 'utility tactical transport' aircraft — used for everything from air assault to relief operations — that the Army says it has relied on for every major operation around the world for more than four decades. First introduced in the Army in 1979, the aircraft is generally considered safe and has a strong track record for reliability and survivability in combat and transport missions, said Timothy A. Loranger, an aviation attorney and former aircraft mechanic. Sikorsky, a subsidiary of the aerospace and defense giant Lockheed-Martin, says it has built more than 5,000 of the helicopters for 36 countries. The Army has said it expects the aircraft to be a key part of its fleet for the next three decades. The Black Hawk that collided with American Eagle Flight 5342 was from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and it was on a training mission, the Army said. Military officials described the three soldiers on the aircraft as a very experienced crew that included an instructor pilot with more than 1,000 flight hours. The officials said the training mission was a routine annual evaluation of the pilot's ability to fly at night. The crew was well aware of the route and the rules in the airspace around the airport, the officials said. The cause of the collision remains unclear and is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board. Speaking to MSNBC, retired Army Lt. Col. Darin Gaub said video of the collision appeared to show that the helicopter did not appear to change course, speed or altitude before the crash, indicating the crew may not have known the passenger jet was in its path. He added that the training mission had fewer crew chiefs than normal to scan the sky for potential dangers. While such missions typically have three, he said, Wednesday's had one. "That's a fact," he said. "It may have bearing in the future. It may not. But it does reduce ability of crew to identify an aircraft in flight at night." Nearly two years ago, two Black Hawk helicopters from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, collided during a training exercise, killing all nine soldiers aboard them. That crash and a second fatal collision that involved two Apache helicopters in Alaska prompted the Army to ground all aviation except flights on critical missions. Army Chief of Staff James McConville said the stand-down was necessary to ensure the Army was doing everything possible to prevent accidents. A review of fatal incidents involving Black Hawk helicopters published by after the collision in Kentucky found 60 people had died in training incidents over the previous decade. The review concluded that while that number may appear high, Black Hawks account for the fewest deadly incidents relative to hours flown in the Army's fleet and are involved in far fewer fatal incidents than other helicopters, including the AH-64 Apache and the CH-47 Chinook. This article was originally published on
