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usafphantom2 · 2 years

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Polish M-346 jets are certified by the USAF to train F-16 and F-35 pilots

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 05/09/22 - 4:00 PM in Military

Training on the Leonardo M-346 Bielik aircraft can now replace that carried out on USAF's T-38C jets benefiting future Polish pilots of F-16 and F-35 aircraft, who will not have to fly to the U.S. for training.

Thanks to the certificate, in the future, pilots from Slovakia or Bulgaria will also be able to be trained in Poland.

The 41st Air Training Base in Deblin (41 BLSz) has received a certificate from the United States Air Force that confirms that the Polish F-16 pilot training system on the M-346 Bielik is equivalent to American training on the T-38C at the level of Introduction to the Fundamentals of Fighter Aircraft.

The Americans also determined that the certificate meets the requirements to direct pilots to train in the F-35. The certification took place at the end of last year in Deblin and lasted a week.

"A team of several U.S. Air Force pilots, representing combat and training aviation, came to us and checked very scrupulously how we train," said Major Mariusz Fischer, instructor at the M-346 Bielik.

The American pilots began the examination of the Polish training system with theoretical classes, which are held with future F-16 pilots. They evaluated, among others, the didactic skills of the instructors responsible for this part of the training.

They then observed the training in the M-346 flight simulator and all stages of air training - mission planning, briefing, task in flight and debriefing.

"The Americans also evaluated our infrastructure in terms of functionality, number of aircraft available and simulators. They also analyzed the training documentation and the flight safety system," explains Major Fischer.

The conclusions of the American analysis were positive, with the Polish Air Force meeting the requirements established by the United States for the training of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft pilots.

"This is a great success for our team," admits the M-346 instructor. "The Americans also evaluated the M-346 aircraft itself very well. Our allies also gave us high grades for the training documentation and the instructors' skills."

"The Polish Air Force intends to acquire an additional simulator to achieve the required capacity of the system," Maj. Fischer.

The certification of the Bielik training system is a milestone in the construction of the combat aircraft pilot training system because at least part of the future pilots will be able to train in Poland.

It is also a chance for Deblin, the 41st Air Training Base and the Polish Military Academy to become a training center for pilots from countries in our part of Europe, such as Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and perhaps even Ukraine.

Thanks to the certificate, countries that do not plan to develop their own training infrastructure will be able to train pilots in Poland.

The 41st Air Training Base of Deblin's M-346 fleet now consists of 12 planes. Four others will join the base in the coming months.

As a result, the fleet of AJT training aircraft will consist of 16 aircraft, which will significantly increase training capabilities at the Deblin base.

Tags: Military AviationM-346 BielikPAF - Polish Air Force / Polish Air ForceUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in a specialized aviation magazine in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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usafphantom2 · 2 years

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U.S. Navy prepares to replace the E-6B Mercury

The E-6B Mercury provides an important link in the US strategic nuclear deterrence.

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 02/05/2022 - 16:00 in Military

U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft.

The E-6B Mercury allows survival communication between the president and the triad of nuclear weapons systems - bombers, ballistic missiles and submarines. Sustaining the mission while preparing for the future is becoming even more important as global competition grows.

“This is a critical moment for our country. The People's Republic of China and Russia are using all the elements of their national power to undermine U.S. interests in global common goods," said Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilda.

Keeping the communication link open is a "failure-free" mission and the Office of the Aerotransported Strategic Command, Control and Communications Program continues to help carry out sustaining the E-6B while also preparing for the future with a new aircraft.

"Our people understand the mission and importance of sustaining this vital asset," Capt. Adam Scott, program manager. “They know why these aircraft always need to be ready to leave.”

Over the past year, the program office has made several significant support efforts to support the fleet. Corrosion of the stringer cord and tension corrosion cracks were discovered during maintenance in service and in the warehouse. The current material of the stringer became obsolete and the team quickly qualified a new material. The manufacture of new stringers required the conversion of the original 2D drawings into 3D digital files.

A fuel dump collector made with additives has been approved for use on the aircraft. The component replaces molten hardware that has been a maintenance concern, saving waiting time compared to the redevelopment of traditional casting tools.

“Being able to analyze and attack these support problems as a company really helped us. The aged aircraft is making maintenance difficult, but we continue to find ways to do the job and provide operational readiness,” Scott said. “Collaboration throughout the Naval Aviation Enterprise was invaluable,” said Captain Adam Scott, Program Manager.

In September, the water separator manufactured with fully qualified additives was approved for use in fleet aircraft. The units are replacing the legacy separators that have been one of the main concerns in the last two years.

The program acquired an E-3D from the United Kingdom for use as a training aircraft on the E-6B Mercury, which will help increase the availability and readiness of the aircraft.

The fuselage has existed for more than three decades with the U.S. Navy accepting the first E-6A in 1989 to carry out the "Take Charge and Move Out" (TACAMO) mission. The aircraft was then modified to the E-6B Mercury with added workstations and specialized equipment. The first E-6B Mercury aircraft arrived in 1997 with the modification of the complete fleet in 2003.

"Sustaining our readiness has never been more vital for the future of our nation. Meanwhile, our strength project requires a tireless focus on modernization to keep our platforms relevant," Admiral Gilday said.

With this in mind, the program has been working on a recapitalization aircraft (E-XX) that will take over the TACAMO mission. The program will use a variant of the militarized C-130J Super Hercules for E-XX TACAMO testing.

The Department of Defense currently uses the C-130J in various services and is deployed on various bases around the world. The program office will be acquiring three aircraft not configured for testing

The program is also working on communication and mission system integration contracts for the recapitalization aircraft to help modernize the strategic nuclear deterrent.

"For the nation and our allies, we are ensuring that the president can reach our strategic forces now and in the future," Scott said.

Tags: Military AviationMercury E-6BUSN - United States Navy/U.S. Navy

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several air events and operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work around the world of aviation.

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