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☆ A viral canned water company is giving away a $400,000 fighter jet, poking fun at Pepsi's notorious failed joke prize
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Blake Stilwell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But perhaps Pepsi's most memorable disaster (in the US, anyway) was when it was nearly forced to buy a McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II fighter jet for one of its consumers. He never got it, but the memory of his attempt has long outlived the Pepsi Points campaign. A pile of Liquid Death cans at a festival. All you need to do is visit the giveaway site and start a text chain, buy a Liquid Death product from a physical store, and text a photo of the receipt. The company swears entrants to the jet contest will not have to take them to court to get the prize.

Persons: Kendall Jenner, McDonnell Douglas, Douglas, Jerod Harris, John Leonard, that's, it's, Joseph Okpako, Andy Pearson, Liquid, Adweek Organizations: Service, PepsiCo, Pepsi, McDonnell, Getty, Netflix, Pepsi Points, Warsaw Pact, Albatros Locations: America, Philippines, Czech, Los Angeles, Czechoslovakia, Warsaw

☆ F-35s are going to be a 'game-changer' for US Navy amphibious assault ship and former 'Harrier carrier' USS Bataan, senior officer says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The amphibious assault ship, currently docked in New York City for Fleet Week 2024, will undergo work to carry F-35B Lightning II fighter jets. The upgrade will be "game-changer" for the capabilities and future operations of the ship, a senior officer said. AdvertisementAn F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft sits on the flight deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex. Ken Kalemkarian/releasedThe idea of a lightning carrier has roots in the "Harrier carrier" concept, which the Bataan notably employed in Iraq in 2003. Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft operate alongside amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) in the Gulf of Oman, Aug. 17, 2023.

Persons: —, it'll, Gerald R, Ford, Trace, Chandler Harrell, Brian Cavanaugh, Cpl, Ken Kalemkarian, Thomas Hudner, Cavanaugh, Lockheed Martin Organizations: Service, Bataan, Fleet, Business, US Navy, Marine Forces Command, US Navy Nimitz, Attack Squadron, Marine Corps Air, U.S . Air Force, US, USS, Lockheed Locations: New York City, Bataan, Essex, Yuma, Ariz, Iraq, China, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Gulf of Oman, USS America

☆ Amphibious assault ship USS Boxer is out of action, and it's a problem, top Marine Corps general says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship, is undergoing repairs, causing disruptions to Marine Corps operations. Naval Surface Force has stated that the USS Boxer may deploy this summer. AdvertisementUSS Boxer, a namphibious assault ship, is undergoing repairs, and a top general says that the hang-ups are affecting Marine Corps operations and depriving the force of key capabilities. Smith also said that Marines cannot train the same with the USS Boxer, a large flattop that resembles a medium-sized aircraft carrier, currently out of action. USS Boxer received seven Navy-wide awards in March, including the Battle Effectiveness Award and Maritime Warfare Excellence Award for its "sustained superior performance."

Persons: Boxer, —, Eric M, Smith, Mikal Chapman, Adm, Lisa M, We're Organizations: Marine Corps, Naval, Force, Boxer, Service, House Armed, Marines, USS, Fighter Attack, U.S . Navy, Naval Operations, Naval Surface Force, USNI, Navy, Maritime Locations: San Diego

☆ A complete timeline of Tom Holland and Zendaya's relationship
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +53 min

AdvertisementNovember 2016: Holland and Zendaya appear in their first-ever joint cover, for The Hollywood ReporterZendaya and Tom Holland in June 2017. March 2021: Holland describes Zendaya as 'very sensible and humble'Zendaya and Tom Holland in June 2017. November 17, 2021: Holland and Zendaya comment on their relationship going publicZendaya and Tom Holland in "Spider-Man: No Way Home." February 18, 2022: Tom Holland denies reports that he bought a new house in London with ZendayaTom Holland in February 2022. I visited a lot while they were shooting it and I really, really enjoyed it.

Persons: —, Tom Holland, Zendaya, they've, Sony Pictures Entertainment Holland, Peter Parker, Holland, didn't, I've, He's, Con Tom Holland, Albert L, Ortega, Laura Harrier, Liz, Tony Revolori, Flash Thompson, Jacob Batalon, Ned Leeds, ove, hank y, hank, ove y 'all!, hanks, eing, hy, H, ada, ike, huck, Tom Hol, le tag ove, g the, Hol, MJ', ake, hal l, taki, as h, Rob K, ate fame, abou, ..ha, lea, Kev, edd, Josh Flor, birt, rie, stor, Ric, aske, Tom H, ed then, hal, ong, winn, Q, iva, riva, ory, oba, Fran, and S, Jacob, him ", nic, Eric C, y, 2022:, enda y, Kelly, siti, ted, Hunter, Marc, Marin, inger, his ap, Rajan, Ze, kee, enjoy,, "I wa, stu, shou, olly, ing each o, I love, It's, Elvin R odrig, bert Downey Jr. an, Harry, l ove, bec, Room,", enda, fini Organizations: Service, Sony, Business, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Marvel, America, Hollywood, San Diego Comic, Con, San Diego Convention Center, ust, pla, imi, ucc, MTV, ppr, a pl, Norton, rac, eas, CP, ACP, Fr, rit, acc, klan, ely Locations: Holland, Zendaya, ife, uman, pla, Hol, " he, sens, nsw, pula, India, Italy

ON BOARD THE USS BATAAN (AP) — When attacks with missiles and drones surged in the Red Sea late last year, crewmembers of the USS Bataan worked round the clock to make sure they were shot down before reaching passing merchant vessels. Weeks later, they are still perfecting that operation in training and simulations, along with a dozen other scenarios, despite moving north to the Mediterranean where commercial marine traffic is at little risk. The U.S. Navy is reshuffling its warship deployment in the Middle East to maintain dominance in the region – now eyeing the longer haul as concerns mount that Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza could set off a regional conflict. The Bataan was sailing toward the eastern Mediterranean Friday after taking part in live-fire exercises with NATO-member Greece on the country’s mainland. “I would say, the difference (after coming to Greece) is that the food is a little bit better.”

Persons: Weeks, Gerald Ford, Jeremy Hawkins, “ We’re, ”, Gregory Aftandilian, Sam Peters, we’re, “ Organizations: BATAAN, U.S . Navy, United, Carter, School of International Service, American University in, American University in Washington DC, NATO, U.S, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Navy Locations: Red, Bataan, Gaza, United States, Mesa Verde, America, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, American University in Washington, Israel, Greece, North Carolina, Valdosta, U.S, Georgia

☆ Aircraft carriers aren't the Russian navy's only problem. It has also struggled for decades to build jets for them.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Russia's sole aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, has been out of action for years for repairs. AdvertisementIn July, Russian state media reported that Russia's sole aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, could return to active service by the end of 2024. AdvertisementYakovlev Yak-38A Yak-38 on the deck of a Soviet aircraft carrier in October 1985. Even the updated Yak-36M, with a longer range and double the payload, was underpowered compared to NATO carrier aircraft. At least four Yak-38s operated alongside other Soviet jets from a base in the country's southwest in 1980.

Persons: Admiral Kuznetsov, —, Kuznetsov, Yakovlev, Hawker, Su, Andrei Luzik, Gorhskov, ARUN SANKAR Organizations: Soviet, Service, Kuznetsov, US, Soviets, Hawker Siddeley, —, Minsk, US Navy, NATO, Getty, Indian Navy, Mikoyan, Russian, Vikrant, Getty Images, India's Locations: Moscow, Russia, Soviet, Kiev, Soviet Kiev, Afghanistan, India, Delhi, Syria

☆ The Marine Corps' version of F-35 has a unique feature that could have played a role in the South Carolina crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The debris of a crashed F-35 was found Monday in South Carolina after its pilot ejected during a mishap Sunday. It's unclear why the pilot ejected, but the jet may have flown on autopilot for some time afterwards. On Sunday, Joint Base Charleston reported a "mishap involving an F-35B Lightning II jet" in which the pilot ejected from the fifth-generation fighter aircraft. Two U.S. Marine F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters complete vertical landings aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) during operational testing May 18, 2015. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is a highly advanced fifth-generation fighter aircraft known for high-end capabilities and stealth.

Persons: it's, there's, Lance Cpl, Remington, Martin, Baker, It's, Lockheed Martin Organizations: Service, Associated Press, Joint Base, NBC News, Authorities, Marine Corps, U.S, USS Wasp, REUTERS, U.S . Marine Corps, Naval Air Station, Base Fort, AP, US Air Force, Navy, Lockheed Locations: South Carolina, Wall, Silicon, Williamsburg County, Joint, Base Fort Worth in Texas

“We’re horrified that something like this could happen, not only to us, but to anyone,” Saffrine Duggan told her supporters. Former US fighter pilot Daniel Duggan is in custody in Australia pending extradition to the US on charges including that he trained Chinese military pilots. Courtesy Saffrine DugganTraining Chinese pilotsDuggan doesn’t deny training Chinese pilots, but he maintains they were civilians – plane enthusiasts seeking to improve their skills or prospective members of China’s then rapidly expanding aviation industry. And a spokesperson for New Zealand’s Defence Force confirmed to Reuters that four of its former military pilots had been recruited by the company. It’s the wrong type of approach and landing.”In its statement to CNN, TFASA denied teaching aircraft carrier approach and landing techniques to Chinese military pilots.

Persons: Daniel Duggan, Duggan, Duggan’s, “, ”, Saffrine, “ We’re, ” Saffrine Duggan, Paul Devitt, Duggan –, –, ” Duggan, Saffrine Duggan, TFASA, they’re, Duggan doesn’t, China’s, Glenn Kolomeitz, ” “ Dan, Richard Marles, It’s, Constant, Daniel Duggan's, Mike Burgess, Ben Hancock, ” Hancock, Hancock, hasn’t, Dan didn’t, “ TFASA, he’s, Xi Jinping, reunify, Joe Biden, Ng Han Guan, Xi, Donald Trump, “ Don’t Organizations: Australia CNN —, Marine Attack Squadron, Intelligence, Security, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Lithgow Correctional Centre, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC, US Marines, US State Department, of Defense Trade, Test Flying Academy of South, CNN, TFASA, Embassy, Former, Saffrine Duggan Training, Australian Defence Force, RAF, UK Defence Ministry, UK Armed Forces, Australia’s, New Zealand’s Defence Force, Reuters, Marles, ASIO, Buckeye, Marine Corps, US Navy, Aircraft, Training Squadron, US Department of Defense, Harrier, Getty, Pacific Locations: Brisbane, Australia, United States, Yuma , Arizona, China, Beijing, Lithgow, Sydney, Australian, Test Flying Academy of South Africa, Tasmania, South Africa, Former US, New South Wales, Persian, Asia, Townsville, Pensacola, Fla, Western, Taiwan, AFP

☆ British bombers pulled off a raid on the other side of the planet in the UK's first major conflict since World War II
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

So the British air force devised an ambitious but complex plan for long-range bomber raids. A daring planBritish troops surrender to Argentine forces in Port Stanley in April 1982. Logistical issuesAn RAF Vulcan bomber at Wideawake airfield on Ascension Island. The military airstrip at Port Stanley after a British air raid in May 1982. AftermathRoyal Marines with the Falkland Islands flag in Port Stanley after the Argentine surrender in June 1982.

Persons: —, Rafael WOLLMANN, Sir Michael Beetham, Beetham, Black Buck, Port Stanley, Victor, Martel, Buck, Vulcan, Eduardo Farre, Buck Six, Black Buck Seven, Steve Buckley, Japan's Organizations: Falklands, British, Service, British Royal Air Force, South Atlantic, Getty, RAF, Argentine, Port Stanley, Avro Vulcans, Handley, Avro Vulcan, Royal Air Force, Vulcans, Atlantic, US, Port, Ascension, Argentina's TPS, Vulcan, Harriers, TPS, REUTERS, Royal, Royal Navy Locations: Argentina, South, Falkland, Buenos Aires, British, Argentine, Port Stanley, Port, Ascension, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Iraq, Balkans, Afghanistan

☆ 'Cannibalized' parts show how the British navy is struggling to keep its 2 new aircraft carriers in fighting shape
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Royal Navy is taking parts from one of its aircraft carriers and using them on its other one. New warships often have problems, especially complicated vessels like aircraft carriers. HMS Prince of Wales, which was commissioned in 2019, has been sidelined since August because of a broken propeller shaft. HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales sail together for the first time in May 2021. (HMS Queen Elizabeth's escorts during its maiden deployment included a US Navy destroyer and a Dutch navy frigate.)

☆ A first-of-its-kind fighter jet landing shows India's big ambitions for its growing aircraft carrier fleet
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Two fighter jets landed on and took off from India's new aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, this month. The continued growth of India's carrier fleet reflects New Delhi's ambitions in the region. Indian carriersA naval variant of India's Tejas fighter jet lands on INS Vikrant on February 6. Indian navyThough Vikrant is India's first domestically built carrier, it is actually the fourth to enter service with the Indian Navy. The third carrier, INS Vikramaditya, is a modified Kiev-class carrier India purchased from Russia in 2004.

☆ How unusually mild weather prevented what could've been the first aircraft carrier battle since World War II
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Sebastien Roblin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Argentine jets were poised to strike when the usually turbulent South Atlantic winds took a mild turn. Few of the half-dozen Argentine aviators expected to survive the attack, dubbed "Banzai Night" after the famous Japanese battle cry. Government of ArgentinaIronically, the Veinticinco de Mayo was originally a British carrier named the HMS Venerable launched by the Cammell Laird shipyard near the end of World War II. After a damaging boiler-room fire, the Karel was sold in 1969 to the Argentine Navy which extensively modernized and rebuilt the 25-year-old vessel. The Harrier and the Sea DartSea Harrier jump jets aboard HMS Hermes in the South Atlantic on May 1, 1982.

☆ Pepsi once offered a fighter jet as a joke prize in a promotion. A student tried to claim it anyway.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Pepsi launched a "points" promotion in 1996 that included a "joke" prize of a $23M fighter jet. College student John Leonard took this challenge seriously, and launched a plan to nab the prize. Pepsi launched a rewards scheme called Pepsi Points, with customers able to redeem items using points accrued from buying its drinks. The company released a TV commercial for the promotion that ended with the claim that 7 million points would allow a Harrier fighter jet worth about $23 million to be redeemed. However, he saw a loophole: buy Pepsi Points for 10 cents each, meaning the seven million points needed for the jet would cost $700,000.

☆ Former U.S. military pilot who worked in China arrested in Australia
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

A former U.S. military pilot and flight instructor who ran an aviation consultancy in China is in custody in Australia awaiting an extradition request from his homeland on an undisclosed charge, officials said Wednesday. Australian Federal Police arrested him that day “pursuant to a request from the United States,” a police statement said. His move followed a report that up to 30 former British military pilots had been hired to train members of China’s People’s Liberation Army. He became an AV-8B Harrier fighter pilot and an instructor pilot during his service. It is not clear whether he continues to live in China or what he was doing in Orange when he was arrested.

The Sega Genesis Mini 2 launched on October 27 exclusively at Amazon. The retro gaming console features 60 games from the Sega Genesis and Sega CD. Like the earlier model, the Genesis Mini 2 is designed to let buyers play retro Sega games on their TV. The Genesis Mini 2 has 60 games, while the original Genesis Mini had 42. Are there other ways to play classic Sega Genesis games?

☆ The British navy's aircraft carriers are back after 'a bit of a hiatus,' but one of them has an uncertain future
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

HMS Queen Elizabeth, deployed for the first time last year, sailing to the Pacific and back. Its flagship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, was commissioned in 2017 and is preparing to deploy with the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force. HMS Queen Elizabeth, bottom, alongside HMS Illustrious in July 2014. Aircraft Carrier AllianceThe UK began a "long-lead skills program" in 2010, sending 300 aircraft handlers, aircraft controllers, and aircrew to embed with US Navy and Marine Corps units, said Cmdr. An Italian F-35B lands on HMS Queen Elizabeth, with a US Marine Corps F-35 in the foreground, on November 20, 2021.

☆ Exclusive: Former U.S. military pilot who worked in China arrested in Australia, faces extradition
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SYDNEY, Oct 25 (Reuters) - A former U.S. military pilot and flight instructor who worked in China was arrested in Australia and faces extradition to the United States, Australian court documents and company records show. The arrest came the same week Britain warned dozens of former military pilots to stop working in China or face prosecution on national security grounds under new laws. Australia is also investigating reports some of its former fighter pilots have been approached to work in China. Hong Kong company records show AVIBIZ Limited was registered there by Australian passport holder Daniel Edmund Duggan in 2017 and dissolved in 2020. Under Australia's extradition treaty with the United States, the U.S. government will have 60 days to make an extradition request.

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