Squadron Diary

Week Ending 23 October 2010 

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Week Ending 16 October 2010

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Week Ending 09 October 2010 

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Week Ending 02 October 2010

• VFA-86 moved out to deploy at El Centro NAF. The first part of the 1,800nm flight was successfully completed with the following airframes:
  400 - RDML Mickey
  403 - Lt. Irie
  405 - Lt. Gunner (from VFA-41)
  406 - LTJG. Halfacup
  The airframes are currently at KGTR to receive fuel and maintenance. 'Thank You' to Lt. Gunner for supporting VFA-86. 28 September 2010
• LT. Irie has been promoted to LCDR. Congratulations. 28 September 2010
• 401 and 404 have also been ferried to KGTR by their respective pilots, LCDR. Redeye and LTJG. Knox.. 30 September 2010
• ENS. Spartan successfully completed his 1FTS and is promoted to LTJG. He managed to impress the instructor pilot, LCDR. Irie, in extremely fierce weather conditions.
  Congratulations LTJG. Spartan. 1 October 2010

  Week Ending 18 September 2010

  Week Ending 11 September 2010

  Week Ending 4 September 2010

• LCDR. Redeye performed 5 carrier traps. 1 September 2010

  Week Ending 28 August 2010

• Squadron pilots LCDR. Redeye, Lt. Irie and ENS. Spanner participated in a classified mission with high success rate. 24 August 2010
• LCDR. Redeye performed some practice on carrier traps. 26 August 2010

   Week Ending 21 August 2010

• The Winder family would like to welcome their newest member to the squad, ENS. Ashley Winter. 14 August 2010
• First training for Ens. Ashley Winter started. He completed both parts of the cockpit familarization lesson with LT. Irie succesfully. 16 August 2010
• LCDR. Redeye and LT. Irie were having carrier operations at VAGO. Both had lots of traps in an intense session. 18 August 2010

  Week Ending 14 August 2010

• ENS. Spanner is back from his leave of 1.5 month and rejoining the squadron. He is focussing on getting his 1FTS complete. Today, Lt. Irie and ENS. Spanner had an interesting pattern training which ended up in a formation flight. 11 August 2010
• Today ENS. Spanner completed his night flight / navigation training. He went, together with Lt. Irie, from KMCO to the Winders homebase, KNBC, in IFR conditions and brought the F/A-18C safely down on RWY 05 in a windy night. 13 August 2010

  Week Ending 07 August 2010

• LXDR. Redeye, Lt. Irie and Lt. Bender were having a "winter-session" at KNBC. Aim was to experience the different visual effects weather will have on well known terrain. 01 August 2010
• Lt. 'Bender' and ENS. 'Halfacup' continued with the training and succesfully completed the night / navigation flight. They took off from VAGO and touched down safe on RWY 07 at VOMM after an intense and challenging IFR flight. During the same session R/T discipline has also been finished. 03 August 210
• Lt. Irie and Ens Halfacup had a 'test' navigation flight from KLSV to KSUU. Ens. Mime joined the close formation during the flight, just as the squad was crossing Class D airspace. 05 August 2010
• Ens. Halfacup and Ens. Mime joined carrier training of VMFA-314. It is most mportant that both pilots will get as much practice as possible in the field of naval aviation and therefore the additional training is highly respected by the rest of the squad. 05 August 2010
• Another flight plan provided by Ens. 'Halfacup' led to a test flight with Lt. 'Irie'. Even though the flight plan needs some reworking, the mission itself was packed with good ideas and challenging situations for everybody participating. 06 August 2010

   Week Ending 31 July 2010

• Training for ENS. 'Halfacup' continued as planned. Thanks to his great effort and discipine, he had no problems flying the 'traffic pattern' at VAGO. 26 July 2010
• LT. Bender is undergoing a TAD with VAQ-135 in order to get qualified on the EA-6B 'Prowler' airframe. 26 July 2010
• VFA-86 had a 'open session' in which also a couple of others squadron members joined. The aim was to represent the squadron in the world of FSX and attracting new members. Unit Command Staff closed the session with a high-speed, low-level fly-by 10ft above the runway before coming in for a formation landing. 26 July 2010
• The squad welcomes home Lt. Bender, who succeeded in getting a certificate for flying the 'Prowler'. Congratulations, Lieutenant! 29 July 2010
• This week, VFA-86 managed to re-establish the mandatory Carrier Operations at the coast of West India. LCDR. 'Redeye' and LT. 'Bender' both had 5 traps, while LT. 'Irie' had 6 traps. The complete squad returned to base safe and unharmed late at night. 29 July 2010

  Week Ending 24 July 2010

• CDR. Mickey is been assigned as a duty pilot to VFA-86. 22 July 2010
• VFA-86 pilots had a high degree of 2FTS training by CDR. Mickey. As usual, CDR. Mickey took the lead for training and LCDR. Redeye, Lt. Irie, Lt. Bender took off from VAGO, maintained a loose formation with CDR. Mickey around VAGO while in the training. ENS. Halfacup maintained the formation with the best of his abilities and was doing good. Lt. Irie had returned to his airframe after a break of around 2 months, was flying great and Lt. Bender was at his best maintaining the formation while most of the Combat maneuvers.  LCDR. Redeye had problems with his frames and was always out of the formation all the time. Lt. Bender experienced "low fuel" while in training, but managed his way with the help of the lead's nav support and other pilots escorting him in getting to the nearest airport, navigating confidently, brought his plane safely down. Other Squadron pilots like "Tank", "FOD" (complete call signs with squadron information will be updated later) also participated in this 2FTS training session.
  Overall, this VFA-86 pilots witnessed this session to be the biggest, serious training activity for VFA-86 after a break of around 2 months. 23 July 2010

  Week Ending 17 July 2010

• FSXFleet VFA-86 is growing again and would like to welcome ENS. Chris Adams to the squad. 11 July 2010
• Squadron had ground based training sessions. Lt. Irie completed the Cockpit Familiarization for ENS. Chris Adams, and ENS. Rebel.
  ENS. Rebel completed his Part 1. 12 July 2010
• Sqn. XO together with CO, developed a SOP for the F/A-18C Hornet. It covers Single Engine Failures in various phases of flight. 12 July 2010
• LT. Irie trained ENS. Rebel with his next part of Cockpit Familiarization. 15 July 2010
• CDR. Mickey had a loose formation flight with ENS. Rebel and was impressed with ENS. Rebel's improvement in flying a F18. 15 July 2010
• LCDR. Redeye was practicing 2FTS Combat maneuvers while ENS. Chris was closely watching and following. 15 July 2010
• Chris was assigned a callsign as 'Halfacup' and will be displayed as Chris 'Halfacup' Adams. 15 July 2010

  Week Ending 10 July 2010

• LCDR. 'Redeye' , performed at least 5 carrier traps successfully. 06 July 2010
• LCDR. 'Redeye' had a training session with ENS. Rebel and participated in the flying left hand pattern around the airfield at VAGO in a FA18. ENS. Rebel had version issues with his TS3 and it was successfully solved. ENS. Rebel is now very keen to take part in all the training sessions and get his promotion at the earliest. 10 July 2010

  Week Ending 03 July 2010

• The Vampire formation led by CDR. Mickey, containing LCDR. 'Redeye', LTJG. 'Bender' participated in the mission Sand Storm and performed Airstrike on 3 targets with bombs dropping as planned. All the airframes landed safely with a successful strike. LT. 'Irie' was unable to join the activity due to some serious issues with his FSX but  stayed online on TS for sometime with the Vampires with special permissions from the mission control. 27 June 2010
  

  Week Ending 26 June 2010

• CDR. Mickey, LCDR. 'Redeye', LTJG. 'Bender' along with other pilots from other squadrons participated in a strike mission. The area chosen was North Indian hilly region, flying somewhere around the "Skardu" and the "Kargil" region. The mission experienced some technical difficulties and the attackers were considered the winners for intercepting and crashing the low level flying team. The mission was framed and led by CDR. Mickey.
• LCDR. 'Redeye' and ENS. Bhasker Sharma had a formation flying around KNJK.
  
• LTJG. Justin 'Hitman' Cooper has requested for a transfer to VFA-14. He is keen to fly the new Super Bug.
• LT. 'Irie', squadron XO, understands his responsibility well and at least stayed on TS whenever possible, though he cannot fly since he is experiencing some problems with his system while running FSX. He expected to join the squadron activity (in FSX) somewhere around the first week of August.

   Week Ending 19 June 2010

• LCDR. 'Redeye' and ENS. Bhasker Sharma had a formation flying.
  

  Week Ending 12 June 2010

• LCDR. 'Redeye' , performed at least 5 carrier traps successfully.

  Week Ending 05 June 2010

• New blood arrived at the Winders Squadron. His name is Shane O'Donnell and rumors say he is going to be a great pilot.
• Flight Commanders picked up dedicated training for ENS. Bhasker Sharma, which started successfully last week.
  His performances in the last sessions were outstanding and he soon will proceed to the essences of naval aviation, operating off an aircraft carrier.
• Squadron spent the dawn of Wednesday near the coast of India. It was a beautiful sight as LTJG. 'Bender', LT. 'Irie' and LCDR. 'Redeye' had their traps on the deck of CVN-68. - 03 June 2010
  
• LCDR. 'Redeye' , LT. 'Irie', LTJG. 'Bender' and ENS. Alex 'Spartan' Kalantzis performed at least 5 carrier traps successfully. The activity increased when former CO of VFA86 CDR. 'Mickey' joined in the session and setup a high-speed, low flyby on VAGO taking off from CVN-68 off coast near VAGO. The approach to VAGO went wrong but was attempted again with reciprocal heading which went perfect as briefed. It was a real challenge to fly close to ground with altitude of 30R as planned! - 04 June 2010
  

  Week Ending 29 May 2010

• Squadron witnessed major promotions this week. We all loved our CO. Mukesh 'Mickey' Sharma for his unmatched dedication, motivation and training us, the pilots of VFA86. We remain grateful for all the time and efforts he put in for getting all of us together and transforming us into F18 pilots of VFA86. We will definitely miss our "Mickey" for sure. VFA86 wishes congratulations to our former CO, CDR. Mukesh 'Mickey' Sharma.
• CDR. Mukesh 'Mickey' Sharma earned his well deserved promotion to the position as XO of Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11).
• LCDR. Pramod 'Redeye' Rai is promoted to the position of CO of VFA86 squadron 28 May 2010.
• LT. Dennis 'Irie' Mischke is promoted to the position of XO of VFA86 squadron 28 May 2010.
• Squadron flew for 1 hour on the night of 28 May 2010 for performing 5 carrier traps. LT. Dennis 'Irie' Mischke and LCDR. Pramod 'Redeye' Rai successfully performed 5 carrier traps. LTJG. Adrian 'Bender' Olah joined in for a short flight around the carrier.
• Squadron flew for about 1 hour today from VAGO to VOML, using VOR to track VOML with LCDR. Pramod 'Redeye' Rai, LT. Dennis 'Irie' Mischke and  LTJG. Adrian 'Bender' Olah, ENS. Bhasker 'Spanner' Sharma joined in the last part of the session. All participated in a formation landing at VOML. Overall the formation was not too "tight" though but it was indeed a disciplined flight  on 29 May 2010
  

  Week Ending 22 May 2010

• ENS. Vali 'Knox' Stoica completes his 1 FTS syllabus on 22 May 2010.
• LTJG. Vali 'Knox' Stoica earned is well deserved promotion on 01 May 2010.
• Squadron progressed 1 FTS training of ENS Bhaskar 'Spanner' Sharma  and ENS. Alex  'Spartan' Kalantzis during the week. 
• Spanner is beginning to pickup basics of flight quite well and is now able to hold his basic flight parameters quite satisfactorily. 
• Spartan is a fine pilot and is progressing through training very well. 

 Week Ending 08 May 2010

• Sqn did a training strike mission for LTJG Justin today. Mickey, Alex, Dennis, David 'Pyrite'  Crane, Pramod 'Redeye' Rai and Bender had also participated in in the mission. The strike package was made up of Mickey (lead) Alex (2) and Justin (3). Pyrite & Bender made up the attack package. The attackers got the 'Capstan' lead and Capstan two. Justin survived the attack. The strike was a "Great" training package.
• Squadron practised "Zip Lip" operations at MCAS Beaufort today (May 05th, 2010). CO, XO and Flt Cdr 'A' Flight participated in the operation. Aim of the mission was to standardize training syllabus for Zip Lip operations. End of the day debrief was that more training needs to be done, before the syllabus could be standardized.
• Squadron carried out training on handling 'in-flight emergencies'. Simulated and then actual Single Engine failures followed by 'All Engine Failures' were practiced by Mickey, RedEye and Dennis. Many lessons were learnt during the training. It was also decided that in future 'Training of Single Engine Failure and All Engine Failure" will be included as a part of 1 FTS syllabus. A need was felt to simulate this event and make sure all pilots follow a standard procedure to recover aircraft in case of such emergencies.
• The squadron did hours and hours of 'Simulated' and 'Actual' IFR training, shooting approaches at VIDP. Mickey, RedEye and Dennis participated in a very intense training session on May 06th, 2010.
• Flight Commander 'B' Flight is away on a short leave for a few days.

  Week Ending 01 May 2010

• ENS Rossi Baki was formally inducted into VFA-86 on 24 April 2010. Side Winders Welcomes Rossi Baki to the Squad.
• 1 FTS training of ENS. Hitman commenced on 24 April 2010. The new ensign is making very good progress through the training syllabus.
• 1 FTS training of ENS. Justin 'Hitman' Cooper was completed on 01 May 2010.
• LTJG. Justin 'Hitman' Cooper earned is well deserved promotion on 01 May 2010.

   Week Ending 24 Apr 2010

• LTJG. Adrian 'Bender' Olah was promoted as Flight Commander of 'C' Flight. Congratulations Adrian. It was a well deserved promotion.
• A new 'modified' version of F/A-18C was released for 'active duty' with Side Winders. The aircraft has been extensively tested by LCDR. Mickey to improve its Landing Gear, and Flight Dynamics, so that it is able to withstand higher landing loads, and steeper descents on to a deck. Certain equipment in the aircraft has been relocated to different locations to lower the CG of the aircraft and also to improve the 'Yaw stability scalar' of the airplane. With this mod, the aircraft doesn't 'tip' over during off center landings on a carrier deck any more.
• Over the coming week, the new aeroplane is going to be extensively tested by the Squad XO and its Flight Commanders.
• 1 FTS Training syllabus of Aymeric 'Mime' Dubost was progressed during this week. The ENS. is working hard and is preparing for his oncoming 'Check Ride'.
• Recruit Vlade Krstic' signed up with the fleet. He has been assigned to VFA-86.
• ENS. Justin 'Hitman' Cooper has requested for a transfer from VFA-41 into VFA-86. His application is presently being processed. If his transfer is approved by Navy JCOS, he shall be inducted into 1 FTS training programme in the next week.
• ENS. Justin 'Hitman' Cooper was formally inducted in VFA-86 on 24 April 2010
• Squadron deployed from MCAS Beaufort to KNJK for the forthcoming Navy mission.

  Week Ending 17 Apr 2010

• At the outset, let me apologize  for not keeping the sqn diary updated for the past few weeks. But, I (CO) have been going through some issues in 'real life' and those kept me busy and away from the squad activities. 
• A lot has been happening in the squad since the CO was away.
• ENS. Danny has resigned and left the squadron.
• ENS. Thunderbird has requested for a transfer to the newly formed VFA-14. I guess he was keener to fly the new Super Bug.
• CO has bought himself a new F/A-18E airframe (Super Bug). But he is not flying it yet. There are too many squadron pilots under training on the 'C' model right now.
• ENS. Dubbie has been AWOL for a long time now. His discharge proceedings have been initiated.
• LTJG Dennis 'Irie' Mischke was promoted to LT on 13 Apr 2010.
• 1 FTS training of Spanner was begun during the past week.
• ENS. Alex Kalantzis transferred from VFA-41 to VFA-86. He is a "Good Pilot". Sidewinders extend a warm welcome to Alex.
• Recruit Atul Sharma is under recruitment to the squadron.
• LTJG Pramod 'Redeye' Rai was promoted to LT on 15 Apr 2010.

  Week Ending 14 Mar 2010

• Squadron started with 2 FTS training on 12 Mar 2010.
• Bender is promoted as LTJG on 08 Mar 10 on completion of his 1 FTS.
• The squadron carried out some tough short field take off/landing practice in Himalayan foothills on 06 Mar 10.
• Squadron carried out extreme bad weather landings on Carrier on 05 Mar 10.
• The last two weeks were primarily dedicated towards extensive training of Bender. On some days training of Dubbie was progressed too. 

  Week Ending 27 Feb 2010

• ENS Adrian joined up with the sqad on 22 Feb 2010. Practiced night formation flight through four nav points.
• LTJG. Irie is appointed as the 'Flight Commander' of 'Alpha' flight.
• Bad weather long range navigation (Heathrow London EGLL to Geneva Intl) followed by mission 'Dump Truck'.
• Progressed flying training of ENS Knox and ENS Mime on 24 Feb 2010

 Week Ending 20 Feb 2010

• The squadron flew every day for a minimum of 5 hours.  Mickey, Redeye, Dennis & Basher have been training everyday of the week. Mime and Dubbie could come on a few occassions during the week. Spanner is presently on a 'listening watch" till 01 Apr, but he still manages to log into TS everyday. Danny is on a leave of absence for two weeks. Vali is presently busy with some unavoidable commitments and should be taking a more active part in squad affairs shortly. Thunderbird is coming up to shape slowly.
• The highlight of the week was the promotion board approving promotion of Dennis and Basher. Both of them have been exemplary pilots in training.
• On Thursday, the squadron replicated the "Dolittle raid" with Mitchel bombers. See the 'Photo Gallery' for some fantastic pictures of the mission. The mission will be replicated again, with participation from all squadron pilots.
• Thursday/Friday has been designated as the Squadron Training Day from hereon.
• Training of Aymeric Mime has formally begun. Next two weeks will be intensive training for him.

06 Feb 2010  Sqn carried out maritime navigation training today.

05 Feb 2010   LTJG. Pramodh 'RedEye' Rai appointed as the XO of the squadron.

                              ENS. Pramod 'RedEye' Rai promoted to LTJG.

 04 Feb 2010   The squadron participated in its first big mission today. The mission involved extreme low level flying involving visual navigation through mountains and valleys to strike a target more than 100 nautical miles from launch base. Enroute target, the formation was in contact with a 'bogie' on combat air patrol over the target area. Accurate flying ensured that all formation aircraft were able to drop their munitions on their assigned targets and recover safely. 

03 Feb 2010  The squadron carried out carrier ops off the coast of Pensacola (KNPA). Irie, Mickey and Ghost participated in the operations. Knox was not able to fly today as well.

02 Feb 2010  The squadron carried out flying training off the coast of Mumbai (VABB) for Basher, Irie and RedEye today. Knox was unfortunately not able to fly.

01 Feb 2010   The Squadron carried out basic flying training off the coast of 'Mumbai, India' (VABB) for ENS. Irie and Basher today.

                              LT Mickey returns back from leave and joins up active duty.

                              The 'Winders' is preparing for some hectic training flying over the coming week. All pilots have been recalled back to active duty.

31 Jan 2010     ENS. Biswarup 'Basher'  signs with FSX Fleet Navy. RADM Crazy Grandpa Joe assigns the new recruit to VFA-86.

28 Jan 2010 ENS. Vali 'Knox' Stoica joins the 'Winders'.

27 Jan 2010 Ens Dennis Mischke joins the 'Winders'.

26 Jan 2010  Sqn Pilots carry out a recce of 'FSX Fleet Island'. Many VOR/NDB calibration sorties are flown on the Island. Sqn also contributes in creation of a Navy 'War Memorial' on the FSX Fleet Island.

22 Jan 2010  Mickey carries out training sorties for Thunderbird and RedEye.

16 Jan 2010  ENS. Thunderbird joins the "Sidewinders". VFA-86 participates in exercise off Erikson Airbase with Marines. Airframe 400 snags due to unserviceable cockpit heating, and this leads to an unforeseen emergency. LT Tuxor takes command of the situation and marshals all resources at his disposal to ensure that the injured pilot and stricken airplane are flown back to base. No casualty is reported. Marines handle the emergency in a very professional manner.

15 Jan 2010  RADM Crazy Grandpa Joe appoints LTJG Mickey as CO of VFA-86

11 Jan 2010   RADM "Crazy Grandpa" Joe oversees deployment of VFA-86 on CVW-11 as it sets sail for deployment to Alaska (PASY). For the next month or so, the squadron will be flying in extremely harsh and cold winter.

10 Jan 2010  LTJG. Mickey proceeds on leave from 10 Jan till 31 Jan 2010.

09 Jan 2010  Air to Air combat training at Al Centro. Most of the Navy was present in full force. Also present were elements from USMC and AMC.

08 Jan 2010  LTJG. Mickey and ENS. Pramod ferry airframe # 400 & 402 from NAS Lemoore to Al Centro for Air to Air Combat training.

07 Jan 2010   Nav mission training continues.

05 Jan 2010   ENS. Pramod 'Redeye' and ENS. Mike 'Bow' on a short range navigation between VOBB to VNPP. Mission involved VOR nav and Nav by dead reckoning. Pratice missions were flown on 05 Jan.

03 Jan 2010     LTJG. Mickey and ENS. Pramod ferried Airframes # 400 & 402 from MCAS Beaufort to NAS Lemoore. The flight lasted more than five hours and the mission involved two refuelling halts. The squadron has now shifted base and hereon, it will continue to train at Lemoore till it inducts for forthcoming fleet deployment in second week of Jan.

31 Dec 2009  A two hours training flight was planned to prepare new pilots for the impending ferry flight.

27 Dec 2009   ENS. Pramod commences his training.

 26 Dec 2009   ENS. Pramod joins the squadron.