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Daily News
By Gail Helmer

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Monday August 20, 2001

PC News

IL-2 Screenshots
More beta tester screenshots have been posted. Click here and enjoy.

Cougar HOTAS Links
Dr. James Hallows sent us a new Cougar Hotas links page. Everything you wanted to now about the Cougar HOTAS and weren't afraid to ask. This comprehensive page provides links to articles that have appeared on the net relating to the Cougar HOTAS.

Music of Medal of Honor
Download interview clips of composer Michael Giacchino talking about his work on the music of Medal of Honor. Also, read an article of Giacchino dicussing his experience working on the music and watch two bonus clips of the orchestra at work.

Medal of Honor Movie 4 Released
Electronic Arts has released movie 4 of 4 for the Normandy Campaign (Mission 3 Level 1)from the upcoming title "Medal of Honor: Allied Assault".









Search and Rescue 3 Announced
Global Star Software has announced that it will publish Search and Rescue 3 in North America. Developed by InterActive Vision, this is the third installment of the helicopter flight sim. Search and Rescue 3 will feature several additions, including three rescue helicopters, upgraded sound and graphics, and over 100 missions of varying difficulty. Release Date: Q4 2001



Military News

Iraqi Forces Threaten Coalition Aircraft
Iraqi forces threatened Operation Northern Watch coalition aircraft Aug. 17 by firing anti-aircraft artillery from sites north of Mosul. Coalition aircraft were also targeted by Iraqi radar while conducting routine enforcement of the northern no-fly zone.

Coalition aircraft responded to the Iraqi attacks by delivering ordnance on elements of the Iraqi integrated air defense system. All coalition aircraft departed the area safely. Coalition aircraft have been enforcing the northern no-fly zone for more than 10 years.

Officials at U.S. European Command here said that since Dec. 28, 1998, Saddam Hussein has opted to challenge this enforcement by firing at coalition aircraft with surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery and by targeting them with radar.

Operation Northern Watch aircraft respond in self-defense to these threats, while continuing to enforce the no-fly zone, officials said.

B-2 Quick-Turn Proves Combat Capability
People from the 325th Bomb Squadron made history July 28 and 29 when they flew back-to-back 21-hour sorties in just 45.5 hours using the same aircraft. That aircraft, the B-2 "Spirit of Kansas," performed flybys both days at the Royal International Air Tattoo at Royal Air Force Cottesmore, England.



A B-2 Spirit bomber is flanked by two F-15C Eagles.


The mission let people from the squadron test their combat capabilities. Maintainers performed a quick-turn on the jet in just 3.5 hours, surpassing the Air Combat Command standard of four hours.

Meanwhile, aircrews flying the Global Power mission practiced bombing en route while perfecting their endurance in long-distance flight. The crews performed three aerial refuelings, one with a KC-10 Extender and the others with a KC-135 Stratotanker. During the two flights, the B-2 drank 235,000 pounds of fuel.

"The flights went well," said Lt. Col. Bob Wheeler, 325th BS commander. Wheeler and Col. Jonathan George, 509th Operations Group commander, flew the bomber July 28. Maj. Scott Trotter and Capt. Chris Larson, also from the 325th BS, performed the July 29 flyover. "We came back Code 1: There were no write-ups," Wheeler said. "It's a true testament to the combat capability of the jet and, most importantly, the crews who maintain it." The quick-turn was a "real team effort," Wheeler said. The aircraft landed July 28 at 6:40 p.m. for the scheduled turn. "It looked like a pit stop at a NASCAR event," he said. "The folks who prepped it did outstanding, ensuring it was performance-ready for the (next) flight."

Maintainers performed inspections, refueled the aircraft, checked for foreign object damage and removed the individual safety gear Wheeler and George used for the flight.

Senior Airman Eddy Crissen, 325th BS assistant dedicated crew chief, said the goal is to send another safe jet into the air, and that is just what the eight-member quick-turn team did. "It gives me a lot of pride in our aircraft and team," Crissen said. "We work together daily to complete our mission. I'm proud of the 325th team."

While the team performed the quick-turn here, maintainers were also ready to catch the jet in England should it need to land. "We put together the best team available to be ready to catch the jet," said Senior Master Sgt. Bo Baumeister, 325th BS.

The England team included nine maintainers, four pilots and two intelligence officers from the 325th and 393rd bomb squadrons. The teams were split into two groups; one stayed at Cottesmore for the flyover and the other went to RAF Mildenhall, England, should the jet be forced to divert.

Staff Sgt. Tracie Welling was one of the people who went to England. She is a 325th BS communications, navigations and mission management specialist, and she said it was important for the B-2 to fly over the RIAT at Cottesmore.

"It's important to remind people of the B-2's long-range capabilities, which helps with the Air Force's role of deterrence," Welling said. "It's also nice to be able to share the B-2 with our allies" through the flyby, Welling said.

RIAT, founded in 1971, is a yearly international air show event featuring 400 aircraft from 35 countries. It is considered one of the world's largest aviation gatherings. This is the second year the B-2 participated in the event.

The bomber was met over the Atlantic by two F-15C Eagles from RAF Lakenheath, England. The fighters escorted the B-2 to the air show to prevent foreign aircraft from getting too close, eliminating potential safety issues.

Having the air show at Cottesmore lent a historic note to the event, Wheeler said. During World War II, United States bombers were escorted by long-range fighters out of bases like Cottesmore which made the difference in the war.


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