The jet crashed east of Mount Rainier on October 15 during a routine training mission. The wreckage was found the next day on a steep mountainside.

The fighter jet was assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), known as the “Zappers,” based out of Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island north of Seattle.

The Navy identified the aviators as Lieutenant Commander Lyndsay P. Evans, 31, a Naval Flight Officer from California, and Lieutenant Serena N. Wileman, 31, a Naval aviator from California.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the loss of two beloved Zappers,” said Timothy Warburton, commanding officer of VAQ-130. “Our priority right now is taking care of the families of our fallen aviators and ensuring the well-being of our sailors and the Growler community. We are grateful for the ongoing teamwork to safely recover the deceased.”

There was no information as to whether their remains have been recovered.

The crash site is located in steep terrain inaccessible by ground vehicles. The recovery efforts are battling low visibility to recover the wreckage.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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The fighter jet crashed Tuesday at 3:23 p.m. PDT during a routine training flight, according to Navy officials. The names of the flight crew have not been released.

Wednesday, the wreckage was found on a steep, heavily forested slope at an elevation of 6,000 feet east of Mount Rainier. The area is not accessible by roads, and search crews have been hampered by low visibility in the area.

Military authorities said that the status of the crew cannot be confirmed without a site assessment of the debris area. It is not known if the crew was able to eject before the crash.

• READ MORE: Crashed U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler Located near Mount Rainier

“Our priority is to locate our two aviators as quickly and as safely as possible,” said Captain David Ganci, commander, Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet. “Adhering to Department of Defense procedure, we cannot identify or confirm the names of aircrew involved in a mishap until 24-hours after their next of kin have been notified of their status.”

Civilian law enforcement, mountain search and rescue teams, and military assets are being used in the search. Thursday, soldiers from the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, joined the search. They bring specialized skills in mountaineering, high-angle rescue, medical, and technical communication skills that are necessary to access the site in the Cascade Mountain Range.

“We appreciate the community support as experienced personnel respond around the crash site,” said Captain Nathan Gammache, commanding officer of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. “We are confident that we have the capability we need at this time and will request any additional capabilities, if needed, via official channels in coordination with the on-site incident commander.”

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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The fighter jet crashed Tuesday at 3:23 p.m. PDT during a routine training flight, according to Navy officials. The names of the flight crew have not been released.

According to a Navy spokesperson, the wreckage of the jet was spotted on a mountainside east of Mount Rainier shortly after noon Wednesday. As of 10:30 a.m. PDT Thursday, the search continued for the two crewmen aboard the aircraft. 

The search teams include the U.S. Navy Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1), Patrol Squadron (VP-46), Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island Search and Rescue, and U.S. Army 4-6 Air Cavalry Squadron out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, along with Yakima County tribal and local authorities.

• READ MORE: U.S. Navy Search for Pilots Resumes After EA-18G Crash Near Mount Rainier

Terrain near the crash site is rugged and snow covered, and the search was hampered by low visibility. A temporary flight restriction was put in place over the area Tuesday afternoon and was expected to remain in place until Saturday. Wreckage is in an area so remote that it can only be accessed by air.

The aircraft, based out of NAS Whidbey Island north of Seattle, was assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ-130), known as the “Zappers.” 

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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The fighter jet was assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), known as the “Zappers,” based out of Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island north of Seattle.

The aircraft crashed Tuesday at 3:23 p.m. PDT during a routine training flight, according to a statement released by NAS Whidbey. The names of the flight crew had not been released.

Following the incident, the Navy launched a U.S. Navy MH-60S helicopter to locate the crew and examine the crash site. As of 7 p.m. Tuesday, however, the status of the crew was unknown. 

Search Resumes 

Wednesday morning, the weather in the vicinity of the search area was reported as low clouds, precipitation, icing, and turbulence, according to Leidos Flight Service.

A temporary flight restriction was put in place over the search area from the surface to 10,000 feet to protect the aircraft participating in the efforts. Pilots in the area were advised to check NOTAMs for details.

The Boeing EA-18G Growler is an F/A-18 variant that integrates electronic attack technology, including tactical jamming pods and communication countermeasures.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. 

This is a developing story.

The post U.S. Navy Search for Crew Resumes After EA-18G Crash Near Mount Rainier appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The government funding will go toward installing Sikorsky’s ALIAS/MATRIX (Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System) in a U.S. Army experimental fly-by-wire Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter designated MX.

• READ MORE: A UH-60A Black Hawk Just Flew With No Pilot On Board

In July, U.S. military personnel and senior Department of Defense officials watched as Sikorsky and DARPA demonstrated how an “optionally piloted” Black Hawk could be “piloted” by an operator in the cabin or on the ground “by entering high level mission goals via a tablet.”

The goal of the program is to enable U.S. Army Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) to “test and evaluate a wide range of autonomy capabilities, from single-pilot operation to fully uninhabited flight,” according to Sikorsky.

• READ MORE: Sikorsky Partners with Startup Rain to Remove Pilots from Firefighting Helicopters

“Autonomy-enabled aircraft will reduce pilot workload, dramatically improve flight safety, and give battle commanders the flexibility to perform complex missions in contested and congested battlespace, day or night in all weather conditions,” said Rich Benton, Sikorsky’s vice president and general manager. “Soldiers will rely on Black Hawk helicopters into the 2070s, and modernizing the aircraft today will pay dividends for decades across Army Aviation’s current and future aircraft.”

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

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But what authorities couldn’t determine is whether Fengyun Shi had anything to do with a spate of drone incursions over hypersensitive military installations in Virginia and Nevada in late 2023. The Wall Street Journal stitched together a report from unnamed government sources, police records, court documents, and social media photos that alleges drone swarms flew over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia over 17 nights in December and two months earlier at the Energy Department’s Nevada Security Site near Las Vegas.

The story says senior military officials saw the drones, but no action was taken because it’s against the law to shoot them down unless they pose an imminent threat.

Shi entered the picture January 6 when people in Newport News, Virginia, noticed him trying to free a drone that was stuck in a tree. They called police and he was questioned by officers who ultimately suggested Shi ask the fire department to retrieve his drone. Instead, he immediately returned his rented car, took a train to Washington, D.C., and flew to Oakland, California. The drone fell out of the tree on its own, and police found aerial pictures of a shipyard owned by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), which builds nuclear submarines and Ford Class aircraft carriers.

The FBI arrested Shi in San Francisco on January 18, as he was about to get on a plane with a one-way ticket to China. He pleaded guilty to taking photos of classified naval installations, and on October 2 a judge didn’t buy his story that he was a hobbyist who liked taking pictures at night.

Despite the conviction, and his proximity to the drone incursions that had occurred two weeks previously, authorities couldn’t find any evidence directly linking him to Chinese intelligence organizations.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

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FEMA requested the extra military assistance to help respond to the devastation left behind from the storm. Earlier this week some 6,500 National Guard troops from 12 states were deployed, many by boat and helicopter to assist with the rescue and cleanup in the wake of Helene.

The news comes as Asheville, North Carolina, aviation officials issue new guidance for GA aircraft attempting to access the regional airport with relief supplies.

• READ MORE: National Guard Deploys Air Assets in North Carolina Helene Response

These troops, which include members of the 82nd Airborne and a forward support company, will assist in delivering food, water, and other critical aid items “over the last mile to the point of need” in the communities hardest hit by the storm, Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder said Wednesday.

In addition to assisting with the delivery of the supplies, the troops will assist in the removal of debris from affected routes.

Aviation is a critical lifeline in the operation, connecting communities in the storm-affected region of North Carolina that have been cut off by floodwaters, blocked roads, and downed trees and power lines.

Homerville, Georgia — A tattered American flag waves in the breeze in the aftermath of #HurricaneHelene, as Airmen from the Georgia Air National Guard’s 116th Maintenance Group carried out route clearing operations as part of the ongoing relief efforts, September 28, 2024. pic.twitter.com/cq5bNnqdIx

— GA National Guard (@GeorgiaGuard) October 2, 2024

The U.S. Army and Navy have been using helicopters to ferry in supplies and rescue people from areas that cannot be accessed by roads. The U.S. Air Force has also assisted in search-and-rescue missions.

GA Aircraft Headed to Asheville

As of 2:30 p.m. EST Wednesday, any GA aircraft heading to Asheville Regional Airport (KAVL) will be required to have a clearance from FEMA before they are allowed to land. 

The airport is a base of operations for the Hurricane Helene relief efforts, and throughout the week it has seen a steady flow of GA traffic with pilots bringing in much-needed supplies.

Airport officials said the prior permission is required to ensure the safety of aircraft and personnel since so many GA aircraft are coming in to drop off supplies and then head back out. 

“[KAVL] is serving as the gateway for these coordinated flights carrying large-scale quantities of supplies, which are then distributed throughout the region by federal, state, and local emergency agencies,” the airport said in a statement. “It is important to note for the public that [KAVL] airport is not a distribution center, but rather a receiving point for these coordinated supply efforts.”

The airport is also used for commercial air traffic, which officials note remains unaffected by the increase in general aviation operations.

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Though close to 34,000 Messerschmitt Me-109s were produced, only a handful are currently flying. The Military Aviation Museum’s Me-109G-4 is one of the very few flying to be powered by its original Daimler Benz DB 605 inverted V-12 engine.

Ironically, postwar Spanish-built Buchon versions of the German fighter were powered by the same Rolls-Royce Merlin that was installed on British fighters during WWII.

The Virginia museum features a stable of three dozen WWII vintage aircraft, including Me-109 stablemate Focke Wulf Fw-190 and its adversaries, the P-51 Mustang, Supermarine Spitfire, and Hawker Hurricane.

The Me-109 was restored from the remains of WkNr (Production Number) 19257 flown by Feldwebel Viktor Peterman on a mission over the Eastern Front. Russian fighters damaged his cooling system. He force-landed and walked four days to get back to his base. From the remains, Meier Motors in Eschbach, Germany, performed the restoration.

The Me-109 is just now emerging from more than a year of heavy maintenance. It made its first post-maintenance flight on September 9. Last week, Military Aviation Museum chief pilot Mike Spalding flew the Messerschmitt again and declared it ready for this weekend’s show.

WATCH: Flying the Bf-109

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

The post Rare German Fighter Is Back in the Sky appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The North Carolina National Guard said it had deployed more than 200 vehicles and aircraft, “including hoist and emergency aviation assets,” along with more than 500 soldiers and airmen in the state.

“NC Air National Guard is hauling over 100,000 pounds of supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a C17 to Western North Carolina as part of Helene support,” it said in a post on X Monday afternoon.

According to the National Guard, some 5,500 national guardsmen have been deployed as part of the Hurricane Helene relief efforts in 11 states.

In areas where roads are impassable, helicopters are being used to airlift in supplies and rescue trapped people. Photographs from the region show people climbing aboard military helicopters carrying bundles of clothing, house pets, and meager belongings they were able to save from the rising waters.

Many of the flood-ravaged areas are only reachable by air as the roads are blocked by flood debris, downed power lines, mud, and flooded-out cars.

NC Air National Guard is hauling over 100,000 pounds of supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a C17 to Western #NorthCarolina as part of #Helene support.

: Maj. Monica Ebert pic.twitter.com/cAY4ndpVKE

— NC National Guard (@NCNationalGuard) September 30, 2024

• READ MORE: Volunteer Owner-Pilots Needed For Helene Relief 

In Asheville, one of the hardest hit areas, officials struggled to provide drinking water, food, and other necessary supplies to the residents of the mountain town where at least 35 people are believed to have died. Communication in the area is spotty at best as internet and phone lines are down.

Operation Airdrop

In North Carolina relief is also coming from civilian organization Operation Airdrop, which as of noon EST Monday had approximately 2,000 volunteers flying civilian aircraft to bring supplies to the area.

The nonprofit organization was created in 2017 to help in times of disaster.

Early Monday morning, Operation Airdrop flights began launching from Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (KJQF), transporting supplies to Hickory Regional Airport (KHKY) and Statesville Regional Airport (KSVH), where they will be further distributed. Pilots are encouraged to bring supplies with them. Pilots operating out of KJQF will receive a 75 cent per gallon discount on fuel purchased from the FBO.

At this time, Operation Airdrop is accepting the following items for disbursement:

• Sports drinks (powdered packets)
• Hydration packs (powder form)
• Baby wipes
• Diapers (children and adults)
• Baby formula
• Bug spray
• Sunscreen
• Plastic utensils
• Manual can openers
• Trash bags (13 gallon or contractor bags)
• Nonperishable foods
• Cleaning supplies
• Plastic sheeting/tarps
• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Toiletries/sanitation items
• Pet food (dog and cat)
• Hand sanitizer
• Sanitizer wipes
• Feminine hygiene products
• Heavy duty work gloves
• Socks (all sizes, unopened)

The organization cannot accept donations of water due to the weight or hazardous substances including fuel, flammable items, used clothing, or bleach.

Operation Airdrop notes that volunteers are essential to the mission as they are needed for organizing, unloading, sorting, and loading supplies.

Relief operations are expected to last throughout the week. 

Meanwhile in south Georgia, the community of Valdosta and Wings of Rescue are asking for help to move dogs and cats from the city’s animal shelters prior to the storm to safety. Many of the animals were placed in the shelters by their owners who were facing flooding. 

Ryan Spellman, Director of Operations at Airdrop, Discusses Helene Efforts: 

The post National Guard Deploys Air Assets in North Carolina Helene Response appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The National Hurricane Center warned that Helene would likely bring heavy rainfall and “devastating hurricane-force winds” inland to north Florida and Georgia on Friday.

A spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine Tyndall’s 95th Fighter Squadron relocated its F-35s to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada ahead of the storm warnings, noting that they will remain safe there until conditions improve at Tyndall. Meanwhile, officials at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia also evacuated its HH-60 combat rescue helicopters and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jets to ensure their safety.

According to reports, Tyndall is still undergoing reconstruction due to damage from Hurricane Michael in 2018, which tore apart hangars and damaged several F-22 Raptors, causing some $5 billion in damage. Fortunately, Tyndall officials do not anticipate major disruptions from Helene.

Tyndall remains closed to non-mission-essential staff.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

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