Latest news with #F22
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Boom On KC-46 Tanker Just Broke Off During F-22 Refueling Mission (Updated)
A U.S. Air Force KC-46 Pegasus tanker lost its boom during an incident today off the coast of Virginia. The KC-46 had been on a F-22 Raptor fighters refueling mission at the time. We were first alerted to publicly available air traffic control radio chatter about the incident by our friend Jared Soergel. TWZ has reached out to McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas, where the KC-46 involved is based, as well as Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, where the F-22s had launched from, for more information. We have also contacted Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, which could be a possible divert location. You can listen below as the crew of the KC-46, callsign FELL 81 and serial number 17-46033, alerts the U.S. Navy's Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility at Virginia Capes (FACSFAC VACAPES) about losing the boom. FACSFAC VACAPES is better known by its callsign, Giant Killer, and helps monitor for threats and otherwise manage the airspace off the east coast of the United States. The F-22s that had been refueling with FELL 81 on the AR-636 refueling track east of Norfolk are understood to have now returned to base. What damage any of the Raptors may have sustained during the incident is unknown at this time. At the time of writing, FELL 81 remains airborne in a holding pattern just to the south of Greenville, North Carolina, according to flight tracking data from ADS-B Exchange. The track shows the tanker initially circled over the southern end of the Chesapeake Bay, where the crew may have dumped fuel and otherwise made initial assessments about the damage, before heading south. In general, KC-46s are no stranger to issues with their booms. Another one of the tankers lost its boom while refueling an F-15E Strike Eagle off the coast of California last year. The boom and the control system for it have been a source of serious and persistent technical issues for the Pegasus fleet for years now. A fix for the KC-46's particularly troublesome remote vision system (RVS), which boom operators in the tanker's main cabin use to perform their work, is now unlikely to be finished before summer 2027, roughly three years behind schedule, according to Defense News. More details about what happened to FELL 81 and the other aircraft in the incident may begin to emerge once the tanker lands. We will update this story if and when more information becomes Force 2nd Lt. Samantha Bostick, Deputy Chief of Public Affairs for the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base, has now provided TWZ with the following statement: 'A KC-46A Pegasus from McConnell Air Force Base declared an In-flight Emergency July 8, while operating over the eastern United States, refueling F-22s.' 'The crew had to make the decision to land at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., and has landed safely there. The aircraft will remain there for the time being.' A safety investigation of the incident is underway. Howard Altman contributed to this story. Contact the author: joe@
International Business Times
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- International Business Times
Fact Check: Did the Royal Air Force Paint a Jet in Pink for Pride Month?
A satirical post claiming a Royal Air Force jet was painted in pink for Pride Month has gone viral, prompting serious discussions online despite its comedic intent. Shared on June 1 via X (formerly Twitter), the post sparked outrage, sarcasm, and confusion, amassing over 1.1 million views and hundreds of comments. The post read, "Photo of the Day: This F22 from 7175Sqn has been painted pink to celebrate the start of Pride Month," alongside an image of a bright pink jet. It further claimed the aircraft would be repainted every four days to match each rainbow color for £80,085 per paint. The image and text soon appeared on Facebook as well, where users debated the purpose and cost of such a move. Some questioned military priorities while others saw it as political pandering. "Starmer prepares for war, meanwhile, what's the real preparation going on in real time here in the U.K," read one Facebook post sharing the claim and photo. Under the original X post, one user commented, "Putin will be quaking in his boots, pathetic." The main point of discussion quickly shifted toward the perceived use of government funds and the symbolism of the gesture. While some supported the idea as a form of inclusive celebration, others viewed it as unnecessary or even fictional. Yet, the tone of the post and the exaggerated cost failed to alert many viewers that it was, in fact, satire. Fact Check A spokesperson from the Royal Air Force confirmed there were no plans to paint any aircraft for Pride Month and clarified that the "7175 squadron" mentioned in the post does not exist. Additionally, the base "RAF Luton" is fictitious. In reality, the account "RAF_Luton" on X is known for its satirical military-themed posts. Its bio clearly states it is the "assumed official Twitter account of the world's most mysterious & secret (and fictitious) military base." Despite this, many users seemed unaware of its parody nature. The pink plane image contains a watermark for site used by flight simulation hobbyists to design virtual aircraft. Reuters could not confirm if the photo was created on the platform, and the site didn't respond to a comment. Hence, it's clear that the RAF has no plans to paint jets for Pride Month. The viral claim originated from a parody account known for fictional content.
Scottish Sun
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Who is Katie Boulter's fiancé Alex de Minaur and how long have they been together?
KATIE Boulter and her fiancé Alex de Minaur are a tennis power couple and have supported each other since the very beginning of their relationship. The couple is both competing at this year's Wimbledon competition and here is everything we know about Alex. Advertisement 6 The pair has been dating since 2021 Credit: PA 6 Alex De Minaur is a professional tennis player himself Credit: AFP 6 The pair were engaged in December 2024 Credit: Getty Who is Katie Boulter's fiancé Alex de Minaur? Katie Boulter is engaged to Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur. Alex de Minaur was born on February 17, 1999 in Sydney, Australia. He has two brothers and three sisters and his parents met when his mother began to work as a waitress in his father's restaurant. At the age of three Alex began to play tennis at the Sydney Private Tennis Academy. Advertisement He made his professional debut in July 2015 at the Spain F22, reaching the quarterfinals. His coach is Adolfo Gutierrez, who has been training Alex since he was nine years old. In April 2024 Alex won against Rafa Nadal at the Barcelona Open. He said: 'I can say I'm very, very fortunate I didn't play Rafa a couple years earlier on clay. Advertisement 'It would've been a very, very different result. 'Thank you to Rafa. He's a legend. It was unforgettable to play against Rafa on his court.' 6 The couple supports each other on their tennis tours Credit: Getty Katie and Alex confirmed their relationship in 2021. Advertisement Rumours had raged for months that the pair were an item, and Alex finally made things official back in March 2021. He posted on Instagram: "Happy International women's day!! Specially to this one, I don't mind you!! @katiecboulter." It looks as if the pair have been together since the beginning of 2021, but they've been friends for much longer. Alex said in an interview that Katie is his supporter on tour. Advertisement He said about her: "Oh, yeah, she's amazing. "Yeah, I guess it's the beauty of us being both in the same sport. "We kind of understand each other. "We know what to expect, how we can help each other in certain situations." Advertisement In December 2024, Katie Boulter announced that she was engaged to Alex de Minaur. How much money has Alex de Minaur won? 6 Alex is playing tennis since he is three years old Credit: EPA As of June 2025, Alex de Minaur has won approximately £13.12million ($17.77million) throughout his career. He has won approximately £1.46million ($2million) in 2025. Advertisement He earns money primarily through prize winnings from tennis tournaments. Professional tennis players participate in various tournaments throughout the year, including Grand Slam events such as the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, ATP Tour events, and other competitions. There's a lot back home. I want to thank every single one of you. I want to say a small special thank you to my boyfriend. Katie Boutler What is Alex de Minaur's ranking? 6 Katie and Alex played as a mixed double at Wimbledon in 2023 Credit: Getty As of June 17, 2025, Alex de Minaur's is ranked as number 12 worldwide. Advertisement In March 2024 Katie won her first WTA 500 title after defeating Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk at the San Diego Opens. She said in her post-interview: "All of you who have been here, some of you have flown over here, some of you have driven here. 'Some of you have been here the whole time. "There's a lot back home. I want to thank every single one of you. Advertisement 'I want to say a small special thank you to my boyfriend. 'He finished on Saturday night at midnight and I really want to embarrass him. 'He got on a 4.15 taxi this morning and six o'clock flight to be here, so I do appreciate it.'
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Incredible images solve mystery around tiger not seen in years: 'Essential pieces of the puzzle'
An elusive tiger that hasn't been spotted in three years reemerged on a trail cam with a surprise: two tiger cubs. The tiger, a female known as F22, was first seen in the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand in 2022, according to The Olympian. But after that, she seemed to disappear, causing officials to lose some hope. In December 2024, officials discovered tracks — one large set accompanied by two smaller sets — near the border of Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary and neighboring Thungyai Naresuan East Wildlife Sanctuary, prompting them to set up additional trail cameras to spot the tigers that made them. After taking pictures over several months, images from February showed F22 and two cubs, believed to be between four and six months old, all in good health, according to experts. The trail cams also spotted a variety of other animals in the area, including a leopard, a pack of wild dogs, herds of sambar deer, gaur (a large bovine), muntjacs (a small deer species) and wild boars. This kind of monitoring is crucial, as it helps track and record populations, as well as occasionally make amazing discoveries, like a recent sighting of the Sunda pangolin on Thailand's Ko Pha-ngan island. Tigers have been critically endangered for years, with an all-time low population of about 3,200 spread across the 13 countries that make up their natural range, according to the World Wildlife Fund. But conservation efforts have proven effective. A report from Thailand's Western Forest Complex, which includes the Thungyai Naresuan East mentioned above, showed tiger numbers had tripled between 2007 and 2023, according to CNN. The outlet also noted that other species, like deer and wild cattle, tigers' main prey, were also on the rise. As WCS Thailand director Pornkamol Jornburom said, it signals the results of "more effective management." "When we conserve tigers, it actually leads to conserving many other species: not only the prey, but also the habitat," Jornburom told CNN. Saving endangered species is critical to the survival of every living thing and person on the planet. "From the mighty whale to the humble dung beetle, wild animals are all essential pieces of the puzzle," the WWF explained. The organization also highlighted that many species play a role in our food supply, from the pollinators to animals underground that prevent soil erosion, to predators and prey that spread seeds and manage disease. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Miami Herald
04-04-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Feathers of ‘fire' and species once thought extinct: See new animal discoveries
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Unique creatures, odd animals and new species are discovered across the planet. Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses. Learn more about some recent discoveries: Rare species — once declared extinct in the wild — rediscovered in French Polynesia On a small island in the South Pacific Ocean, the Moorean viviparous tree snail, once declared extinct in the wild, has been rediscovered. This species, native to French Polynesia, was decimated by the invasive rosy wolf snail but has been successfully reintroduced into its natural habitat thanks to conservation efforts. The discovery of wild-born snails suggests successful breeding, marking a significant milestone in reversing biodiversity loss. | Published March 28 | Read More | 'Large'-mouthed aquarium pet turns out to be new species in India. See the creature In northeastern India, a new species of fish named Channa nachi, or Farham's snakehead fish, has been discovered in a river in Meghalaya. This 'dwarf' fish, reaching about 5 inches in length, was identified by its unique coloring and large mouth. The species was initially mistaken for another and exported to Japan, highlighting the importance of accurate species identification. | Published March 31 | Read More | Armless creature with clawed toes found in Australian outback. It's a new species In the Gulf Plains Bioregion of northern Queensland, Australia, researchers have uncovered a new species of lizard called Lerista karichigara, or the Tagalaka slider. These armless lizards, with clawed toes and an angular snout, were found burrowing in the soil near trees. The discovery highlights the biodiversity of the region and the potential for finding more new species. | Published March 31 | Read More | Rare creature was elusive for years. Then it reappeared on trail camera — with cubs In Thailand's Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary, a female tiger known as F22 was spotted on camera with her two cubs, marking a hopeful sign for the local tiger population. First seen in 2022, F22 had eluded researchers until recent images confirmed her presence and that of her healthy cubs. This sighting suggests successful conservation efforts in the region. | Published April 1 | Read More | Rare creature — with feathers of 'fire' — captured on trail camera in Malaysia. See it In Malaysia, the critically endangered Malay Crestless Fireback pheasant was captured on a trail camera in the Ulu Sat Forest Reserve. Known for its striking fiery plumage, this rare bird faces threats from habitat loss and is dependent on ground-level forests. The sighting underscores the urgent need for conservation to prevent its extinction. | Published April 2 | Read More | McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery of the most unusual and intriguing new species. Check back for the latest studies.
