Joe Ruzicka, Author at Fighter Sweep - Page 2 of 6

About Joe Ruzicka

Joe Ruzicka "Smokin" Joe Ruzicka is a former Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) in the F-14 Tomcat and Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) in the F-18 D/F. He was selected as the Legislative Fellow for Senator John McCain (R-AZ) in 2011. Smokin has accumulated over 2000 hours in the Tomcat, Hornet, and various training aircraft, holds a FAC(A) "Forward Air Controller Airborne" designation and was the RIO on the final F-14 Tomcat Airshow Demonstration in September 2005. He graciously thanks all of his former pilots for bringing him home safely. You can follow him on Twitter at @smokinjoe96

Russian SU-27 Intercepted U.S. Patrol Aircraft; Fighter Escorts Needed

A Russian SU-27 Flanker intercepted a US Navy P-8 Poseidon plane in the Black Sea. Reports are the SU-27 was as close as 10 feet to the US Navy patrol View More ›

Navy Tailhook Legacy Flight Needs Your Help

Editor’s Note: The Navy Tailhook Legacy Flight Foundation needs your help. Funding is needed to provide for civilian warbird aircraft and their crews the opportunity to train at NAS Lemoore with View More ›

A-10’s Buzz NFL Stadium; Aviators Grounded

Four A-10’s flew low over NFL Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Monday. The Air Force has grounded the aviators while an investigation takes place. Four Georgia-based View More ›

Photos: F-14A Tomcat “Fast Eagle 102” Restored

On August 19, 1981, F-14A Tomcat Fast Eagle 102 from VF-41 “Black Aces” shot down one of two Libyan Su-22’s. For years it sat in disrepair until it was restored by View More ›

Watch: Time Lapse Operations On Carrier Flight Deck

Watch this cool time lapse video of a full day and night of carrier operations on the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) flight deck. It is pretty impressive to see View More ›

Light Your Hair On Fire With the US Navy’s TACDEMO Team

FighterSweep sat down with 3 members of the US Navy’s Super Hornet Demo Team to get their thoughts on putting one of the world’s premier fighters through its full paces. Have you View More ›

3 Star Says Readiness Not Issue for Recent Mishaps

Commander Naval Air Forces (CNAF) 3 Star Admiral Mike Shoemaker says readiness is not the issue for recent mishaps. That seems to be a difficult argument to make. VADM Shoemaker View More ›

Iran Looking to Purchase Sukhoi Fighters From Russia

Iran’s Ministry of Defense said it will negotiate with Russia on the purchase of the Sukhoi aircraft. Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan told Iran’s state TV on Sunday evening. View More ›

F-22 Raptors “Encourage” Syrian Su-24’s To Leave

The U.S. military on Friday dispatched two F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets to intercept a pair of Syrian Su-24 Fencer aircraft that flew in the vicinity of Hasakah, Syria, according to View More ›

Watch: F-35C Sea Trial Carrier Operations

Watch: Footage of F-35C Sea Trial tests aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) in the Atlantic Ocean. The US Navy’s carrier version of the F-35, the F-35C Lightning View More ›