AirForces Monthly August 2015

In the August issue of AirForces Monthly (AFM) we look at how United States Marine Corps employs its air power from the decks of its amphibious assault ships. A full breakdown of the USMC’s ‘Amphib-Deployable Aircraft Units’ is included within the extensive feature by Lt Cdr Rick Burgess (Rtd).

Alan Warnes headed to RNAS Culdrose to watch the RAF’s newest Typhoon squadron deploy for the first time. In our exclusive report, pilots and ground crew discuss the benefits of operating from this naval air station and how it serves to improve the squadron’s operational capability.

As Rafale sales abroad are now increasing, AFM looks at what it takes to become a combat-ready Rafale pilot as the French Navy and Air Force aircrew train together for the first time.

AFM brings you two exercise reports this month: Thracian Eagle, where USAF F-15s operated alongside Bulgarian Fulcrums, and Aviadarts 2015, which pits Russia’s young top guns in a gunnery competition. This year saw attack helicopter pilots make their mark, over the Flanker and Fencer pilots.

Never far from the headlines are the illegal activities in the Mediterranean Sea. Dino Marcellino flew on a maritime night patrol mission off Sardinia with Italy’s Guardia di Finanza Air Section, to see how they are stopping people smugglers and unauthorised fishing vessels.

As always, AFM’s Dave Allport brings you the latest military aviation news from around the world.