Christmas Run 2019

The Christmas Run 2019 took place today and you may find the dispensers for Ladies and Gentlemen on your Fleet/Group main landings or at Third Fleet's locations. This year, the gift is made of a Midshipmen inspired set of jacket and sneakers for both women and men! Remember you will need to have the land group of the place where the dispensers are located to retrieve the gift!

You can find dispensers at NAS PAX by clicking HERE! [Paragon group required]

The women's jacket is inspired by the Midshipmen's QB Malcom Perry jersey #10, and the men's jacket by the Midshipmen's Captain Nizaire Cromartie jersey #56, worn on the Army Navy 2019 game - yes we categorically won 7 - 31! GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!

Enjoy your gifts and Happy Holidays from Third Fleet! Fear the Goat!

CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron
PAXCO / TFCOM

* The use of the Midshipmen logos and imagery is exclusive to this limited GIFT edition and intended as a celebration of the Navy Midshipmen victory over the Army Black Knights football team. It is NOT FOR SALE and no profit is or will be obtained from these gifts.

Complete guide to Christmas Run gift dispensers:

NAF Eagles Nest - Blue Angels - Click Here! [Blue Angels land group required]
NAS Firespire - The BIG E - Click Here! [Friendly Airport group required]
NACCS - SL Marine Corps - Click Here! [SLMC group required]
NAF Boonootoo - TAW 6 - Click Here! [Paragon group required]
MONA Museum of Naval Aviation - Click Here! [SLMC group required]
USS Kitty Hawk - CVA-63 - Click Here! [7th Fleet group required]

Third Fleet Christmas Run 2019

The Midshipmen Year

Click images to enlarge

Starting at NAF Boonootoo, CAPT Kron, CPO Black and Nurse Heart.

The Joly Reindeer at MONA!

At the Marines Naval Air Crew Candidate School main entrance.

Main hangar at NAFEN, nest of the Blue Angels.

On the BIG E deck, spreading the love to WW2 era sailors.

Back home at PAX. GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!

The USS Kitty Hawk skipper, CAPT Sheridan, receives the Reindeer on deck.

The gift dispensers at the CVA-63 Mess Hall, as usual. Happy holidays!

Third Fleet wishes a merry Christmas and a great New Year to all who serve in Second Life, their families and friends and all who made our lives richer in 2019. Hooyah!

SL United States Navy Third Fleet 2019

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Three for Three

The Patrouille de France (SL) and the SL United State Navy Blue Angels have become sister squadrons over the years and an agreement was made to allow each squadron access to the technology used in their special aircraft. The three most senior pilots from both squadrons would be issued an aircraft in training livery: the full blue internship colors for the F/A-18C Hornet and the in GE 314 (Groupement école) 'Christian Martel' colors for the Alphajet.
 

The exchange, known as 3-4-3, took place during the 10 year anniversary of the PAF (SL), October 21, 2019, at their base of Salon. Both squadrons now have the capacity of practicing together and studying each other's methods. For the PAF (SL) the pilots are Cnl. Rhea Thor, Lcl. Paterne Lefavre and Lcl. Mara Klaber. For the Blue Angels the pilots are CAPT. Vickster Kuhn, CAPT. Asra Kron and CDR. Jenny Kaz.

CAPT. Asra Kron
Blue Angel #7

CINSAL International Airshow 2019

Welcome to the CinSal International Airshow 2019!
Two days of aeronautical displays at CinSal International Airport, Agrippa, featuring four military and one civilian demonstration teams, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps in SL recruitment stands and air parades.

Taking place on September 7 and 8, the airshow starts at 12:00 SLT (noon) and as usual we recommend arriving early to get to your audience locations ahead of the start. To make sure you make the most of the event, you can enjoy the AIR PARADE as you go through the squadrons static displays and Navy and Marines stands. Be sure to make way to the audience locations before 13:00 SLT (1 pm) at which time the first aerial demonstration starts.

CINSAL INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW 2019

Cinsal Airport

Agrippa - Nautilus

September 7 and 8, 2019

The Air Show will start at 12:00 hours SLT on Saturday, September 7th and Sunday, September 8.

Audience sites:

Agrippa - CinSal Airport - USE THIS SLUR!

MacDuff - USS Defiant - USE THIS SLUR!

Publius - Free Standing - USE THIS SLUR!

Air Parade Departure Site:

Boing - Angels International Airport and Harbor (SLAN) - USE THIS SLUR!

Air Show regions:

Team Phoenix - Regan

Blue Angels - Hortensio / Regan

Patrouille de France - Regan

Smoke Squadron - Regan

Red Arrows - Agrippa / Regan

DEMONSTRATION TEAMS

U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Armée de l'Air Patrouille de France en SL
RAF Red Arrows
FAB Smoke Squadron
Team Phoenix

Aircraft, Pilots and Crew

TEAM PHOENIX
Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk
Phoenix 1 - Mr Pilot (aviator747)
Phoenix 2 - Destiny Bellarosa (destiny0000)
Phoenix 3 - Diana266
Phoenix 4 - Bambi Baxter (biffbottom)

BLUE ANGELS - U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Aircraft: Boeing F/A-18C Hornet
Angel 1 - CAPT. Vickster "Speed" Kühn - Flight Leader
Angel 2 - LCDR. Chardy "Hinch" Oaks - Right Wing
Angel 3 - LT. Matter "Hawk" Blueskind - Left Wing
"Missing Man"
Slot
Angel 5 - CDR. Jenny "QB" Kaz - Lead Solo
Angel 6 - CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron - Opposing Solo / Narrator

PAF - Armée de l'Air Patrouille de France en SL
Aircraft: Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet E
Athos 1 - LCL Mara Klaber (Leader)
Athos 2 - CNL Rhea Thor (Intérieur Droit) (Pafsl Group Leader)
Athos 3 - CDT Gwenblonde (Intérieur Gauche)
Athos 5 - CPT Tidus10 (Exterieur Gauche)
Athos 6 - LCL Paterne Lefavre (Exterieur Droite)

RED ARROWS - Royal Air Force Red Arows
BAE Hawk
#1 - SQD LDR Dean "Teddy Bear" de Garcia - Leader
#2 - Fight Leftenant Jim kat - Right Wing
#3 - Flight Officer Steve O'Keefe - Left Wing

SMOKE SQUADRON - FAB (Brazilian Air Force)
Embraer 314 Super Tucano
#1 Lt Brig Marco Antonio
#2 Air Marshal Felipe Ferraris
#3 Lt Col Sonia Bulmer
#4 Asp Aaron M. Von Kiest
Ground Staff:
#1 Asp Chory Foxtrot
#2 Asp Ty Matianak


DAY ONE PROGRAM - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2019
All times are SLT (US Pacific Time)

11:30 am - Gates open
For the early birds, a chance to get the best seats and wander around the demo squadron area where the demonstration teams have their aircraft on static display.

12:00 (noon) - Opening parade
An air parade with aircraft from all corners of Second Life whose pilots wish to mark the occasion.

12:45 (12:45 pm) - Team areas close to the public
All visitors must make way to the audience locations.

13:00 (1 pm) - Patrouille de France en SL

14:00 (2 pm) - U.S. Navy Blue Angel

15:00 (3 pm) - Team Phoenix aerial demonstration

16:00 (4 pm) - R.A.F. Red Arrows

17:00 (5 pm) - F.A.B. Smoke Squadron


DAY TWO PROGRAM - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2019
All times are SLT (US Pacific Time)

11:30 am - Gates open
For the early birds, a chance to get the best seats and wander around the demo squadron area where the demonstration teams have their aircraft on static display.

12:00 (noon) - Opening parade
An air parade with aircraft from all corners of Second Life whose pilots wish to mark the occasion.

12:45 (12:45 pm) - Team areas close to the public
All visitors must make way to the audience locations.

13:00 (1 pm) - F.A.B. Smoke Squadron

14:00 (2 pm) - U.S. Navy Blue Angel

15:00 (3 pm) - R.A.F. Red Arrows


After the end of the last aerial demonstration the airport will be accessible to the public on both days at all locations outside the audience areas and the participating aircraft will remain on static display for a closer look!
Enjoy the air show!

CAPT. Asra Kron
 

Blue Angels VIP Ride - Lcl. Paterne Lefavre

 
On August 21, 2019, the Blue Angels gave Lieutenant Colonel Paterne Lefavre, Patrouille de France (SL), the VIP Ride certificate relative to his flight aboard Blue Angel #7 during the 2019 edition of the ID4 Air Show. The French aerobatic squadron was present for the occasion and graced the Blues with a private aerobatic demonstration at NAS Patuxent River. The certificate was handed to Lcl. Lefavre in the Blue Angels operations room at PAX. 

The two sister squadrons have planned an exchange of special aerobatic aircraft in operation, in what is being called the 3-4-3 exchange: three special F/A-18C Hornets in internship colors for three special Alphajets in GE 314 (Groupement école) 'Christian Martel' colors. (see Three for Three!)

CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron
NFDTXO / Angel 7

Navy Medical On-boarding Program (NMOP)

To integrate Navy medical doctors in Third Fleet structure we have a straight forward hands on program to bring General Schedule personnel into the Fleet's ranks. As in real life, based on the doctor's medical qualifications, entry level pay grade translates from GS-7 to O-1 after the Navy Medical On-boarding Program is completed.

Navy doctors wishing to pursue a Naval Officer Career will be required specific military training to upgrade their status to Flight Surgeon, at which point they will take standard NACCS and/or NA training. Career progression of medical doctors in Third Fleet is thus split into two vectors: normal residency practice and seaborne/airborne practice.

Normal resident doctors will progress based on the same merit and time requirements as the other naval officers in the fleet up to the rank of Lieutenant O-3. Further progression will require the afore mentioned training and will start with the rank of Lieutenant- commander O-4. Chief Medical officers in charge of Third Fleet Sick Bays are required Flight Surgeon status.

NMOP
Navy Medical On-boarding Program

Duration: One week.

Program content:
1. Second Life's United States Navy
2. Third Fleet specifics
3. Job description and career paths
4. The Navy "second" Life

NMOPs will be intense and carried out in a timely fashion to meet established deadlines, and will not have more than two participants at any one time.

CAPT. Asra Kron
PAXCO, TFCOM

NAS Patuxent River

So it begins again...

SL United States Navy Third Fleet

2019
 

SL Blue Angels Memorial Site

From NAF El Centro, California, to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland... SL USA.

SL Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron Blue Angels

SL United States Navy Third Fleet

2019

Squadron Integration Program

CAPT. Asra Kron by a VT-10 PC-21 Pilatus BuNo 19013 at NAF Boonootoo, July 2019.

 
In order to integrate new naval aviators and naval flight officers in Third Fleet squadrons we are implementing a new program that verifies and complements with local considerations the officers' OCS and Basic Flight Training with a hands on time sensitive protocol. This protocol is named Squadron Integration Program, or SIP.

When arriving to the Fleet and prior to deployment with their intended squadrons, NAs and NFOs will go through two fast paced, concise stages of integration. Stage one consists of theory and practical assessments with TRAWING 6 instructors at Naval Air Facility Boonootoo, using VT-10 and HT-28 assets. Stage two consists of a series of practical assessments made by senior officers from the officers squadrons of deployment, using those squadron assets and a variety of locations depending on the nature of each assessment. For illustration purposes we will use VF-84 as the deployment squadron in this rundown of the Squadron Integration Program.

NAFBO hangar with all aircraft types visible, July 2019.

 
S.I.P.
Squadron Integration Program

1. TRAWING 6 - NAF Boonootoo, Nautilus, COMNAVAIRNAU

1.a. 2 hours - Naval Officer conduct and customs
1.b. 3 hours - Theory of Naval Operations
1.c. 6 hours - Practice with VT-10 (PC-21 and T-2C) or HT-28 (MD-900)
1.d. 1 hour - Oral Test

2. VF-84 "Jolly Rogers" - NAS Patuxent River, Jeogeot, COMNAVAIRJEO

All practices with F-14A Tomcats and F-4J Phantoms (Vietnam)
2.a. 2 hours - Ground protocols and ATC
2.b. 6 hours - Continental navigation
2.c. 4 hours - Multi-aircraft air operations
2.d. 2 hours - Carrier operations qualification

Aerial view of NAFBO at Paragon Residential Airport, Boonootoo.

Notes on SIP evaluation.

Stage one is evaluated through successful completion of an oral test. Stage two is evaluated by four marks given to the NA or NFO by the deployment squadron evaluating officer, rated 1 to 5 points. In order to clear SIP, the attending officers must pass Stage One test and achieve a minimum of 13 marks during Stage Two.

Notes on Stage Two marks.

Top rating at 20 points with all marks at 5 points:
  5+5+5+5 points
High rating under 20 and above 16 points with no mark under 3 points:
  from 5+5+5+4 to 5+4+4+4 points
Medium rating equal or under 16 and above 13 points with no mark under 3 points:
  from 4+4+4+4 to 4+4+3+3  points
Minimum rating at 13 points with no mark under 3 points:
  4+3+3+3 points *

* Officers passing SIP with minimum rating are referred to as "Lucky Thirteens"

CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron at NAFBO, July 2019.

Details on each stage and respective assessments to be added here prior to the first SIP.
Best regards to all in the naval service in Second Life.

CAPT. Asra Kron
SL United States Navy, Third Fleet

   

ID4 2019

Details available here SOON!

 
Since 2016 the Blue Angels have had the unique privilege of demonstrating to the Second Life public the precision techniques of Naval Aviation, hoping to inspire a culture of excellence and service to country. We are honored to return to Cinsal Airport for the fourth consecutive year and fly the third consecutive Independence Day Air Show at Agrippa (ID4 2019).
For this year's edition we will be joined by two air demonstration teams: the Patrouille de France en SL (PAFsl) and Team Phoenix! Below you will find the squadron composition for each team and the Air Show program.

INDEPENDENCE DAY AIR SHOW ( ID4 )
Cinsal Airport
Agrippa - Nautilus
July 4, 2019

The Air Show will start at 08:30 hours SLT on Thursday, July 4th.

Audience sites:
Agrippa - CinSal Airport - USE THIS SLUR!
MacDuff - USS Defiant - USE THIS SLUR!
Tamora - USS Dauntless - USE THIS SLUR!

Air Parade Departure Site:
Boing - Angels International Airport and Harbor (SLAN) - USE THIS SLUR!

Air Show regions:
Team Phoenix - Regan
Blue Angels - Hortensio / Regan
Patrouille de France - Regan 
 

Audience areas are on the Southeast corner of Agrippa, CinSal Airport (20 seats) and on MacDuff sim on a USN Third Fleet frigate, the USS Defiant (36 seats). Please stay out of the circuit sims described in the show layout below. If you choose to watch the show from a private vessel at sea, proceed to one of the neighboring sims. Local airport personnel and Liberty Fire Department personnel will be on hand to help you find the best seat from where to watch the show. They will have landmarks and other information available on site.

The ID4 2017 Air Show celebrates the Independence Day in the United States and the SL United States Navy Flight Demonstration Team Blue Angels take to the skies for the fourth year for this momentous occasion. We are honored this year once again by the presence of the French Armée de l'Air aerobatic squadron Patrouille de France (PAF), present the last two editions of the ID4 Air Show, and Team Phoenix, flying at home at CinSal Airport where they are based. Team Phoenix flies the McDonnel Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk dual seat. The PAFsl flies Dassault-Dornier Alphajet E and this year they sport the 2017 American Tour color scheme. The Blue Angels fly the Boeing F/A- 18C single seat, the Boeing F/A- 18D dual seat (number 7) and the Lockheed C-130J "Fat Albert".
For this occasion, Team Phoenix and PAFsl are bringing four aircraft each and the Blue Angels five jet aircraft and the support aircraft. Here are the selected pilots from both squadrons:

DEMONSTRATION TEAMS

Team Phoenix
U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Armée de l'Air Patrouille de France en SL

Aircraft, Pilots and Crew

TEAM PHOENIX
Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk
Phoenix 1 - Mr Pilot (aviator747)
Phoenix 2 - Destiny Bellarosa (destiny0000)
Phoenix 3 - Diana266
Phoenix 4 - Bambi Baxter (biffbottom)

BLUE ANGEL #7 - U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Aircraft: Boeing F/A-18D Hornet
Angel 7 - CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron

BLUE ANGELS jet team - U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Aircraft: Boeing F/A-18C Hornet
Angel 1 - CAPT. Vickster "Speed" Kühn
Flight Leader
Angel 2 - LCDR. Chardy "Hinch" Oaks
Right Wing
Angel 3 - CDR. Dominique "Alba" van Dongen 
Left Wing
Angel 4 - CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron
Slot / Opposing Solo / Narrator
Angel 5 - CDR. Jenny "QB" Kaz 
Lead Solo
 
BLUE ANGELS Fat Albert Airlines - U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Aircraft: Lockheed C-130T Hercules "Fat Albert"
Angel 8 - CDR. Dominique "Alba" van Dongen
Fat Albert Airlines pilot / Alternate Narrator

PAF - Armée de l'Air Patrouille de France en SL
Aircraft: Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet E
Athos 1 - LCL Mara Klaber (Leader)
Athos 2 - CNL Rhea Thor (Intérieur Droit) (Pafsl Group Leader)
Athos 3 - CDT Gwenblonde (Intérieur Gauche)
Athos 4 - CPT Tidus10 (Charognard)
Athos 9 - LCL Paterne Lefavre (stand by pilot)


ID4 2019 PROGRAM - JULY 4, 2019
All times are SLT (US Pacific Time)

08:00 am - Gates open
For the early birds, a chance to get the best seats and wander around the demo squadron area where the demonstration teams have their aircraft on static display.

08:30 am - Opening parade
An air parade with aircraft from all corners of Second Life whose pilots wish to mark the occasion, closed by the historic USN Sea King "Old 66" flying a large Stars and Stripes! The "Old 66" will land by the USN Blue Angels team area and will remain in static display.

09:00 am - Team areas close to the public
All visitors must make way to the audience locations. 

09:10 am - U.S. Navy Blue Angels VIP Ride
One special guest will board Blue Angel number 7 for a ride, in which several maneuvers performed by the squadron are executed.

10:00 am - Team Phoenix aerial demonstration
A demo squadron with a long tradition in the skies of Second Life, the flamed TA-4J Skyhawks will take to the skies for another great display of skill and precision.

10:45 am - U.S. Navy Blue Angels Fat Albert Airlines
Although grounded at the moment in real life, in Second Life the Blue Angels are proud to present the aerial demonstration performed by their support aircraft, the C-130J Hercules affectionately known as "Fat Albert".

11:15 am - U.S. Navy Blue Angels Jet Team
The SL United States Navy Demonstration Team Blue Angels will take their F/A-18C's to the skies on their third consecutive Independence Day Air Show at Cinsal Airport.

01:00 pm - Patrouille de France en SL
Returning to Agrippa to once more participate in our Independence Day celebrations, the French pilots of the Patrouille de France will grace us with one of the most spectacular aerial demonstrations in Second Life!

After the end of the last aerial demonstration the airport will be accessible to the public at all locations outside the audience areas and the participating aircraft will remain on static display for a closer look!

Enjoy the air show and happy Independence Day!

CAPT. Asra Kron
U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Team Blue Angels - Angel 7

 

 

Setback. Pause. Play.

And the Blues play on...

Crap happens, as we all are well aware, and when it does all you can do is brace for impact and hope for the best. That's what happened to me, in a nutshell. I knew that, eventually, I would come back - and those of you who really know me pretty much knew it too - and here I am.

Adding to the downward spiral that my real life became late 2018 and early this year, the total loss of Naval Air Facility El Centro and the six sim setup I created hit me a lot harder than I could have imagined. Throughout my thirteen years in Second Life I developed a thick skin. I owned a few regions, spent thousands of hours creating true to life environments, lived in them, called them home... and lost them. As time went by the expression "they are just prims" became adequate and exact, I would shrug and move on to the next project but... Not this time.
Some day I will post here the El Centro history so at least it will live on as a record of what was and is no more. So we remember. And then came the demise of my beloved Miramar.

Naval Air Station Miramar was thought by many to be one of the top tier military installations of its kind in Second Life, among very few others. For nearly three years it stood tall and proud as a symbol of the United States Navy in this virtual world we live in. A true home to many and a familiar sight to countless others who flew to and from it over the years. Nearly 24,000 flights in NAS Miramar's history are a testament to this fact. The last flight out of Miramar was a JAS-39, taking off from runway 18L at 23:43 hours on December 12, 2018. And then it went dark.

I would like to take a moment here to thank my sisters in arms and friends Vickster Kühn, An Rainbow, Jenny Kaz and Margot Fenring along many many others who supported NAS Miramar when it became rough for me to hold it on my own. I owe them all a debt that can not be repaid.

Losing El Centro was hard. But the loss of Miramar was one of the most impactful setbacks I endured in the last 13 years in Second Life. Putting the two losses together with the turmoil my real life had become made me come to a halt. And think it over. Little by little, I started to come back in world as my life and state of mind allowed... And now, as we near the fourth Independence Day Air Show performed by the Blue Angels, on their fourth consecutive year of aerial demonstrations in Second Life, I can say I am back. Not as I would like to, but as I can be. My focus in our esteemed Third Fleet is on the Demonstration Squadron, of which I remain Angel 7. As for my place in the Fleet's command, due to my present condition and current inability to rebuild NAS Miramar (which I will), I stepped down from the Trident, being replaced by a fine officer, Commander Chrissy Dehner, that along with Captain Vickster Kühn and Commander An Rainbow will continue to provide leadership to Third Fleet.

So... After a long pause, it was time to hit play. And so it begins again.
Thank you for waiting.

Captain Asra "Cougar" Kron
NFDT / Angel 7