About Those Fixed Wing Aircraft on Bonnie Dick

Wow. Scoopdeck had part of the story when they spotted the photos, but when I asked what was going on the other day I was told to wait for the rest of the story.

I am not disappointed.

The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), en route to participate in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010, is carrying unique cargo for training evolutions during the international maritime exercise. Bonhomme Richard left San Diego June 14 with two Czechoslovakian-built 1964 and 1965 Aero-Vodochody airplanes, modified with U.S. standard small turbojet J60 engines. These planes will simulate air to surface missile attacks for training purposes, during RIMPAC.

Traveling aboard with the embarked aircraft is retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Gerry Gallop, who is Chief Operating Officer for Tactical Air Support Inc. The company, that owns and operates the aircraft, provides consulting services, tactics development and test and evaluation services to U.S. THIRD Fleet.

“Our company’s main goal is to increase readiness through quality training with affordable platforms,” Gallop explained. “It adds realism and training value, because we can do a pretty-good job simulating a profile a missile would fly.”

Gallop said that he and three other retired military pilots will fly the Aero Vodochody airplanes during the RIMPAC exercise.

“We all happened to retire from the military, but we weren’t done contributing,” reflected Gallop. ”So we came together and found a way to continue doing what we are passionate about and continue to contribute to training and readiness of the U.S. military.”

Gallop said the modified Aero-Vodochody airplanes reach top speeds of approximately 420 knots or approximately 500 miles per hour. Tomahawk cruise missiles move at speeds of approximately 550 miles per hour. The ability to use the contracted aircraft in training simulations provides a more realistic and time-sensitive approach to the detection and countermeasures used to combat an inbound threat.

“They (Aero-Vodochody) are a particularly reliable, simpler airplane, which we have modified extensively to give us more power and performance,” explained Gallop. “We’re not as fast as an actual missile, but we’re pretty close.”

Big time well done to Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Katherine Barkley for the article, and indeed, the PAOs who are putting out information on RIMPAC 2010 appear to be doing a great job.

I guess I only have one question. Will they be offloaded by crane and flown from Pearl during the exercises, or will they take off and land on the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6)? I know, I know... Just saying, it can't be too hard to trap a L-29, and I don't think launching would be the issue.

What I'm really trying to say is it will be a very good day when we get some fixed wing aircraft back on our big deck amphibious ships - and I'm not talking about Harriers and Joint Strike Fighters either. I might be a big fan of big carriers, but I am not oblivious to the advantages and utility smaller carriers and the benefits these type of simplistic fixed wing aircraft can provide the fleet. We don't always need a fighter jet and there are still significant advantages to having people in the loop as a compliment to unmanned systems.

I certainly believe expanding the options of available aircraft types that could fly from the big deck amphibious ships would reduce overall Naval operational costs in specific conditions and circumstances (HE/DR, IW at sea, etc), because we get the option of having more aviation globally postured forward without necessarily having to send a big deck.

Seriously, something similar to the L-29 would be very useful in today's Navy for a number of things - potentially including fixed wing ASW support btw. I wonder if you could fold the wings in a way it could be deployed forward via C-17...