The USAF just announced IOC (Initial Operational Capability) on their F-35A’s. While the USAF may be celebrating, many think there is a long road ahead for the Joint Strike Fighter. View More ›
F-35A Goes IOC But McCain Says Still Has A Long Road
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
All Posts by Joe Ruzicka
Breaking: 2nd USMC F-18C Crash In Less Than a Week
A second USMC F-18C Hornet has crashed in less than a week. This crash comes only days after a USMC F-18C crash that killed Major Sterling Norton last Friday. A View More ›
Top 5 Fighter Det Locations (The “Official” List)
FighterSweep.com editor’s sat down and hashed out the Top 5 Fighter Det (Detachment) locations. We know we got it right from our perspective–but what about yours? One of the best View More ›
A-10 Replacement Comes Down to Funding
The USAF’s top civilian, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, is unclear on how the USAF would pay for a new Close Air Support (CAS) platform. The A-10 replacement aircraft is View More ›
Interview: Director National Naval Aviation Museum
FighterSweep.com was lucky enough to sit down with CAPT Sterling “Sterls” Gilliam, USN (ret) current Director of the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida to get his thoughts on View More ›
Let’s Go to North Korea’s First Airshow!
North Korea’s dicatator, Kim Jong Un, wants international aviation enthusiasts to head to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) this September. The first annual Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival View More ›
Finding MIA’s: BentProp Project Part III
Editor’s Note: This is the final part of a three part series describing how the BentProp Project has undertaken one of the most noble tasks–Returning MIA’s to their families and View More ›
Finding MIA’s: BentProp Project Part II
Editor’s Note: This is the second part of a three part series describing how the BentProp Project has undertaken one of the most noble tasks–Returning MIA’s to their families and country. View More ›
Finding MIA’s: BentProp Project Part I
Editor’s Note: This is the first part of a three part series describing how the BentProp Project has undertaken one of the most noble tasks –Returning WWII MIA’s to their View More ›
Boneyard: A Look Into the Aviation Graveyard
The “Boneyard” aka the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) Facility on the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Where US military planes go to die….and also be resurrected. With the US View More ›