[famoksaiyanfriends] Global Hawk Arrives on Guam 무인 비행기 글로벌 호크 괌 도착

* Image source: KUAM News



* Video source: Pacific News Center
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* Texts sent from Martha Duenas on Sept. 21, 2010

Pacific News Center
Global Hawk Arrives on Guam
David Macaluso
Monday, 20 September 2010

Guam-Andersen Air Force Base officially unveiled the first Global Hawk to be deployed at Andersen Monday. It is an unmanned intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft.

The Air Force says that 2 more Global Hawks will eventually be deployed to Andersen. Another arrives later this year and the third early next year.

The Global Hawk has a wing span of 116 feet and a range of 9500 nautical miles. It can fly at an altitude of 60,000 feet and remain in flight for 30 hours. The Air Force says that expands mission capabilities because it frees them from the need to change out flight crews. Flight controllers on the ground can be easily switched out while the Global Hawk is still in the air.

Global Hawks transmit real-time reconnaissance information back to controllers.

The Air Force 9th Operations Group Detachment 3 at Andersen will launch and recover the aircraft while the bulk of missions will be controlled by pilots at Beale Air Force Base in California.

Pacific Air Force Commander General Gary North says "The intelligence and information gathered can be instantly be downloaded to the distribution ground station to be processed, exported and disbursed intelligence officials who are responsible for making important real time decisions."

Although the media might refer to the Global Hawk as a "drone" North disagrees with that term. He says there is always a "pilot" in control on the ground, while the aircraft is in the air. North says there has been an evolution from the historical drones used years ago, which are now being replaced by the kind of technology embodied in the Global Hawk.

When asked if the Global Hawk was brought to Guam to monitor China and North Korea, General North said "there's no one key country we are watching."

"If you look at the map of the Pacific," said North, "Guam is in the perfect location for this platform. You can fly in any direction, north, south, east or west and the Global Hawk can give us the capacity to execute humanitarian or military missions in this region."


KUAM News
Unmanned Aircraft Lands at Andersen AFB
by Nick Delgado
Sep 19, 2010 10:48 PM PDT

KUAM News
USS Essex Joins Operation Valiant Shield
by Nick Delgado
Sep 19, 2010 11:29 PM PDT

Text Fwd: [famoksaiyanfriends] Operation Valient Shield / Thousands of Soldiers Head to Guam

* Text Fwd from Martha Duenas on Sept. 9, 2010

Marianas Variety
Thousands of Soldiers Head to Guam
Sweet One Gilliam
Thursday, 09 September 2010 04:00

ABOUT 2,000 hotel rooms around the island have been booked through October as thousands of soldiers from the U.S. mainland, Japan and the Philippines head to Guam to participate in Operation Valiant Shield---a major military exercise between the U.S. and its allied troops.

Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association President Mary Torre said Operation Valiant Shield was originally scheduled for August but was pushed back to this month.

Sources said different contingents from overseas, believed to be in the thousands, are scheduled to arrive this week.

Torre said the presence of more military personnel is good for Guam.

“They spend their money in so many different ways here on the island, as well as in the bars and restaurants, but not limited to those local businesses,” she said and noted that business was great during the past three weeks when the National Guard held its Vigilant Guard routine exercises.

“The tourism industry does benefit, whenever we have these large scale exercises because it increases room nights in hotels, it is important to remember that even with these exercises not all of the individuals are coming to town at the same time and it is a scheduled liberty and not everybody gets, liberty, when it is scheduled liberty like that they bring them in, but some of them stay outside on ships not even coming on island at all, so it is scheduled liberty,” she added.

Car rental companies and hotels said they are fully booked thus far.

David John, the chairman of the Guam Chamber of Commerce’s armed forces committee, agrees military exercises benefit the community in so many ways.

GCC President David Leddy also echoed the same opinion, saying: “Whether traveling to Guam for business, pleasure or military training purposes, we encourage all visitors to take advantage of all that our community has to offer. From dining and shopping to entertainment and exploring our historical sites, getting out into the community is a great way to get to know our people and culture and makes for a much more memorable stay.”

Torre advises the local businesses to be ready for the opportunity to maximize on sale, “Guam has a lot to offer, be prepared to stock your shelves, be prepared to sell, military personnel are only here for a limited time and majority of them will be looking for convenience items.”