I think it’s an Argo XT. Hard to tell, but the Canadian military has been experimenting with them.

“Park” not “pack”

Hmmmm.... I’m not sure I would have chosen to pack my helo right next to the AVGAS that way, but maybe they have a reason. I have seen bad things happen when aircraft and fuel stores are too close.

The desire in SOF for a dedicated light observation & attack aircraft for use in COIN in modern times can be traced to the late 1980's, as COIN and counterdrug operations were the “it” missions in the newly-created USSOCOM (cold-war focused units like 10th SFG(A) were finding their operations curtailed as the Soviet…

Your favorite place? You mean when you Google it?

Soundtrack stolen from me. I took this video in November, 2004, during Fallujah 2. We were moving from Fallujah to Baghdad under fire. 15 ft off the deck at 150 mph here, folks. I was with CJSOTF-AP.

Actually the US Army is the worlds 2nd largest air force, by flying platforms:

Yep, the TF-14 guys were great to work with and completely blunt about their shortfalls. As operators, they were frustrated by the sinking budgets for the MOD. I will say this, they maintained an airbridge to Cyprus and brought me along for a few trips pre-war. Much appreciated. Of course their Jaguars and Tornadoes…

Another excellent infographic. I was with CJSOTF-West for the invasion in 2003 and part of our task force included 22 SAS. They brought some air assets, but part of the deal was that the US 160th SOAR and AFSOC would also assist. They literally didn’t have enough air assets deployed to accomplish the mission…

You are the one with the burden of proof. I am not here to divulge what I know so an anonymous internet boy can become enlightened. I am simply stating you are wrong in your assertion that both VC-25’s fly at once, as others, including the author of this article have done.

You are completely incorrect. The security measures for flying the President are far more complex than you postulate. I will waste no more words trying to teach you.

Yes. Absolutely false. Both VC-25’s do not fly at the same time.

Um. I was part of the team that set up security to sell Iraqi yellowcake to Canada several years ago.

I don’t make political comments in this forum. I was referring to a professional interaction that included the commander-in-chief.

In January 2011, when I arrived in Iraq, the residual force plan was assumed to be a no-brainer by the Ambassador and the military (USFI). We had 11 months to negotiate a proper SOFA (more limited than the last one), to allow for a a residual presence. The main problem was Maliki and it was clear that POTUS and…

Only 3-4 B1-A’s were built before President Carter cancelled the program. Every aircraft you see here that resembles a B1 is a B1-B. Out of 100 built, less than 60 are still in service. This is due to hull losses and operational restructuring. There are no B1-A’s at Davis Mothan.

There was no SOFA post 2011, that is publicly why we withdrew. I was in Iraq for all of 2011 and was one of the last high-ranging officers to depart in December of that year. I sat on a steering committee as part of the Strategic Framework Agreement team at the US Embassy in Baghdad and I can tell you that the…

As often is the case, this is a good article, with plenty of room for user input and discussion. The topic of paint schemes for military equipment could actually go on ad infinitum, because it is actually a large industry. It is true that the American military associates the type of paint “CARC” with the tri-colored…