SC Runway Junkie

If is a thing...would a Polish Mig-17PF would be ok?

Watching Bill Culbertson putting the FIGHTERJETS INC. radar equipped version of the old swept wing bird through it's paces was a lot of fun! And that tongue of flame from the afterburner was intriguing...gonna read up on it sometime soon.

May the thoughts and prayers of a grateful nation lift up and give strength to all those these 8 men left behind.

Our hearts ache with them.

‼️ UPDATE: With heavy hearts, the base has released the names of the eight people killed when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards during a routine test mission on Monday.

“It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that I can now share the names of the eight extraordinary Americans we lost during Monday’s B-52 crash,” Col. Thomas Tauer, 412th Test Wing Commander, told workers and families at Edwards AFB. “They were dedicated professionals, beloved family members and irreplaceable teammates.”

“Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with their families, loved ones and fellow Airmen, Air Force civilians and mission partners affected by this tragedy,” Tauer said.

The names are being released following a 24-hour waiting period after all next of kin notifications were completed, in accordance with Department of War policy.

The fallen Team Edwards members are:


• Col. Gregory Watson, 53, weapon systems officer, Boeing (Air Force reservist, assigned 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas), Shreveport, La.



• Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40, weapon systems officer, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Detachment 5, Edwards AFB, Calif.



• Retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50, pilot, Boeing, Tehachapi, Calif.



• Maj. Alexander Davis, 34, weapon systems officer, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Lancaster, Calif.



• Maj. Robert Dee, 40, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.



• Maj. Brad Hovey, 35, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.



• Jeromy Smith, 32, flight test engineer, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Rosamond, Calif.



• Christopher Rischar, 41, flight test engineer, JT4 contractor, Lancaster, Calif.


“These Airmen were more than coworkers. They were friends, mentors, teammates and valued members of our Edwards and Air Force family,” Tauer said.

“Our immediate focus is supporting the families of the teammates we lost and ensuring that all appropriate resources are available to them during this time of unimaginable loss.”

The crash is currently under investigation by an Interim Safety Investigation Board. The airfield is closed until further notice.

More from CP...with a warning that you don't want to miss an opportunity to see Aarron Deliu fly! I mean just look at some of the control surfaces in these pics...was getting the same weird focus issues that I had with some RC's on a 3-D line!

I've been watching aerobatic acts since the mid 70's...from as far back as the Red Devils, Bob Hoover, Duane Cole and too many others to remember. I've probably seen most of what can be done, and sometimes I get weary of the same thing/different airplane, but Aarron kept me riveted to what he was doing with that Extra. I also enjoyed talking to him on the flightline one afternoon...except that's really hard to do when 2 F-35's are doing their runup 40 yards away!

Just a few of the good ones for now, more later...along with a fun video we did.

Smoky Mustang Monday...of course it's QuickSilver P-51.

Today, June 14th, is Flag Day...commemorating the resolution adopting our flag on June 14, 1777. The Flag Resolution read, "That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."

"Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it." - Unknown

These CH-53E Super Stallions of the USMC HMH-464 (Marine Heavy Helicopter) "Condors" are XX-Large!

...so who is going into this weekend with the burners lit? Here's a little help from an SJ F-15E!

How about a "Texan Tuesday"...

Operation Overlord…D-Day…the letters…think about the 156,000 soldiers that landed on the beaches, the airmen flying the 13,000 aircraft overhead, and the sailors manning the 5,000 ships in the Channel.

A line from Saving Private Ryan, still have to force myself to watch those first few minutes, from the moments after storming through Dog 1, above the beach…”Yes it is, quite a view.”

We will never forget to honor them…

It's a "fast jet Friday"...and this one is for the F-16 Viper Demo Team lovers!

FEMA using the speed brakes at the same time the burner is hot...gotta keep that F-16 under control!!

You know I think I'd stand out in the rain for shots like this any day...well, maybe just a mix of clouds and sun (with humidity) rather than straight up 🌧️.