Category Archives: Military Affairs

This category contains information relevant to or about military affairs. The host’s bias favors the US Armed Forces and the F-16 in particular.

Duties Not Involving Flying

Posted on Sun, 16 September 2007 by Chris Penningroth

     I haven’t been flying recently, and I won’t until about 1 Oct.  Between the end of the fiscal year and the minor surgery I just had, I’m just not going to be on the flying schedule at all for … Continue reading →

Posted in F-16 Operations, USAF | Comments Off on Duties Not Involving Flying

Check, Please!

Posted on Thu, 13 September 2007 by Chris Penningroth

     Today was my instrument/qual checkride.  The tactical portion was pretty simple; our task would be to play two of a three-ship of Red Air for Quattro’s IPUG Force Protection ride.  He was dragging an MQT student, and so was his … Continue reading →

Posted in F-16 Operations, USAF | Comments Off on Check, Please!

Grease Is The Word

Posted on Mon, 10 September 2007 by Chris Penningroth

     Today’s mission was for Cash and I to go up and practice a maneuver we call "The Grease."  I have no idea why we call it that.  Maybe because someone thought it would be a slick way for us … Continue reading →

Posted in F-16 Operations, USAF | Comments Off on Grease Is The Word

The Great 80s

Posted on Sat, 18 August 2007 by Chris Penningroth

     Tonight, Kane and his wife hosted an 80’s party! I can’t remember the last time I went to a party that much fun! Strange, the parties I went to in the 80s didn’t generally turn out like that.  Maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in Homelife, Humor, USAF | Comments Off on The Great 80s

ACM III

Posted on Tue, 14 August 2007 by Chris Penningroth

     The flight for today was another ACM hop with Kane as the lead and Gimbel as the wily Red Bandit.  Since I was the only field grader in the flight, el Gimbel was looking forward to trying to gun me.  … Continue reading →

Posted in F-16 Operations, USAF | Comments Off on ACM III

Stars & Stripes Goes Flying

Posted on Sat, 11 August 2007 by Chris Penningroth

     Here’s an interesting report from a new Stars & Stripes reporterette who got to fly at one of my alma matter squadrons.      The Air Force likes to try to make sure our Public Affairs staffs and some corresponding media personnel … Continue reading →

Posted in F-16 Operations, Media, USAF | Comments Off on Stars & Stripes Goes Flying

Another ACM

Posted on Fri, 10 August 2007 by Chris Penningroth

     The mission for today was for me to be the ACM bandit for Kane and Drago.  They asked me to pretend to be a Su-27 ‘Flanker,’ which would be relatively easy given our two-tank configurations which would limit our maneuverability … Continue reading →

Posted in F-16 Operations, USAF | Comments Off on Another ACM

ACM

Posted on Thu, 09 August 2007 by Chris Penningroth

     Today’s missions were 2 x air combat maneuvering (ACM) with Lt Col Z once again.  Col M and Crutch were to be our formidable Red Air adversaries.  Lt Col Z and I would CAP in the center of the … Continue reading →

Posted in F-16 Operations, USAF | Comments Off on ACM

End of an Era

Posted on Mon, 06 August 2007 by Chris Penningroth

     I just got an e-mail from a friend at my last assignment.  Ray Barracks is officially closed (the Ready First Combat Team’s website doesn’t even seem to exist anymore).  Here’s the scoop from Stars & Stripes.  And another.  Here’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Military Affairs, US Army | 2 Comments

Update From Jill Metzger

Posted on Sun, 05 August 2007 by Chris Penningroth

     Jill e-mailed a month or so ago to say that she’s doing a whole lot better, and that she appreciated all the support she got in the aftermath of her ordeal in Kyrgystan.       Thank you to everyone who offered … Continue reading →

Posted in "Downrange", International Relations, USAF | 5 Comments