August 2026 - Helobubbas - mcs13.brattland.org

NASA's Hunt To Replace Its Iconic T-38 Talon Jets Kicks Off
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 28 Aug '26

28 Aug '26

https://www.twz.com/air/nasas-hunt-to-replace-its-iconic-t-38-talon-jets-kic ks-off CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland(a)brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys(a)brattland.org 619 454-0496 '38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org

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FW: Joint Base Andrews airmen reflect on Huey’s legacy ahead of switch to HH-60Ws
by Michael G. Brattland 27 Aug '26

27 Aug '26

MGBrattland Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S23 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone -------- Original message --------From: Harold Brattland <habrattland(a)arvig.net> Date: 8/27/26 8:44 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "Brattland, Mike *" <mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com> Subject: Joint Base Andrews airmen reflect on Huey’s legacy ahead of switch to HH-60Ws Sounds like an expansion of the mission for AF. Maybe the accident worked against Army helo unit. Better access from Andrews! MilitaryTimes Joint Base Andrews airmen reflect on Huey’s legacy ahead of switch to HH-60Ws -- U.S. Air Force Col. Karl W. Seekamp and Airman 1st Class Benjamin Bryant depart a UH-1N Huey at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Aug. 21, 2026. (Staff Sgt. Julia Lebens/Air Force) Residents and airmen in the Washington, D.C., area will soon miss the familiar “whomp whomp” sound of UH-1N “Hueys” flying overhead as the aging aircraft depart Joint Base Andrews in the coming years. The U.S. Air Force recently selected Andrews to receive 26 HH-60W Jolly Green IIs, an advanced combat search and rescue helicopter, to replace the base’s 26 aging medium utility Hueys. The new aircraft are expected to reach initial operational capability by 2029, with full operational capability by 2030. In the meantime, the base will prepare for the additional aircraft through standing up the 5th Helicopter Squadron on Thursday as the first unit on base to receive the Jolly Green IIs. As part of the transition to the “Whiskey” mission, the base will gain 60 active-duty manpower positions. By 2030, both the 1st Helicopter Squadron, the unit that operates the base’s Hueys, and the 5th will be flying the HH-60Ws full time, completing the mission, Katrina Cheesman, JBA 316th Wing public affairs chief, told Military Times on Monday. Ahead of the transition, Military Times had a chance to fly on a Huey during a media flight and speak with its crew to gain a sense of what this switch entails and what it means to them. The 30-minute flight with three crew members took passengers from Andrews across the National Mall, northbound to Virginia, south toward Springfield and back toward the base, giving all a view of the Washington Monument, the Capitol and more from above. Inside a Huey media flight, crew members and passengers can see the Washington Monument in the distance. (Military Times) Like cars, different makes and models bear similarities, lessening the learning curve for airmen, Lt. Col. Kristopher Schmautz, 1st Helicopter Squadron director of operations, told reporters after Monday’s flight. The Jolly Green IIs are more modern, with updates involving their avionics systems and how the crew can operate the aircraft. Schmautz compares flying the Hueys to driving a 1970s Cadillac with its old gauges and demanding flight control systems. The HH-60W has flight control systems that aid the pilot in operating the aircraft, prompting Schmautz to compare it to a Tesla. It has a four-axis autopilot system, allowing operators to focus more on the facets of the mission as the aircraft essentially flies itself. The Huey’s Legacy Schmautz said there are some mixed emotions regarding the transition from the Hueys to the Jolly Green IIs given the aircraft’s storied 60-year legacy. Several of the aircraft are from 1966, giving them 60 years of service dating back to the Vietnam War. Three of the Hueys at JBA still in service were actually flown in Vietnam. JBA and its Hueys were some of the first aircraft to respond on 9/11, providing support to senior leaders after the Pentagon was struck and assisting with aid and medical evacuations in the area. “They have seen decades of supporting missions both here and overseas, so from that it is the end of an era,” Schmautz said. “The aircraft are very visible. People hear the sound from miles off, and they know that’s a Huey.” Given the aircraft’s unique two-blade structure, the sound profile is distinct. With four blades, the HH-60Ws will offer a sound profile change, possibly leading residents to believe there are fewer aircraft flying nearby because it will be quieter. “For our generation that served in Vietnam, some of them, it stops them in their tracks because they remember that sound,” Schmautz continued. “It’s so noticeable, and to be part of a crew that has gotten to fly this storied aircraft it’s something I never could have imagined when I first enlisted 24 years ago.” The transition to the Jolly Green IIs offers “great excitement” for the crew, given the aircraft’s increased payload capacity, maximum airspeed and mission range. The Jolly Green IIs will be able to carry 11 passengers as opposed to the Hueys’ ability to carry nine. The Transition The 1st will continue to fly the Hueys until it converts to the Whiskey mission. All airmen in the 5th will be dual-qualified on the aircraft and currently fly the Hueys. They will begin the transition to the Jolly Green IIs first. Even though some details still need to be ironed out, Schmautz said that it will be a “slow transition” as the 1st will hold down the mission while the 5th works to be able to take on part of it. The two squadrons will work together to transfer different pieces of the mission, allowing members of the 1st to transition to the new aircraft. “Day to day, it’ll be a balancing act as we figure out the exact dynamics of how fast and how we go ahead and convert the crews from one squadron or from one aircraft to the other,” Schmautz said. Master Sgt. John Griggs, a 1st Helicopter Squadron flight engineer and senior enlisted leader of the 5th Helicopter Squadron, said that the switch is a big change in the right direction since the newer airframe will provide better capabilities and features, including a glass cockpit, allowing crews to execute the mission more effectively. For Griggs, the transition hits close to home. “Ever since I’ve been in aviation for about a decade, this is the only aircraft that I’ve known and operated,” Griggs said. “So it’s a little bittersweet to move from something I have such a tenure with and such a legacy across all the conflicts, but I am excited to learn something new.” Master Sgt. John Griggs, a 1st Helicopter Squadron flight engineer and senior enlisted leader of the 5th Helicopter Squadron, prepares for takeoff. (Military Times) In response to a question regarding the Hueys’ age, Griggs said that the helicopter is still as effective as it’s always been at an operational level, and he’s never had worries about its ability to complete its mission. But the larger aspect is sustainment, and even the best aircraft can’t last forever. He said the base is approaching a point in the 60-year-old aircraft’s operations where they are beginning to run into that detail. “It’s very humbling to be able to see what this helicopter has done for the Air Force, and to be a part of transitioning to a newer airframe to uphold the same mission,” Griggs said. “This is my favorite aircraft in the Air Force,” he said. “Lots of good memories on it. Lots of time, but it is time for something new, something with better modernization to be more effective in the area.” About Cristina Stassis Cristina Stassis is a reporter covering stories surrounding the defense industry, national security, military/veteran affairs and more. She previously worked as an editorial fellow for Defense News in 2024 where she assisted the newsroom in breaking news across Sightline Media Group. untitled p { margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1px } body { font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal }

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ISW on Radcliffe's visit to Moscow
by Marc Liebman 27 Aug '26

27 Aug '26

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-camp… Marc Liebman https://www.marcliebman.com https://www.facebook.com/marcliebmanauthor/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_sDoFQM5wupNaCeGIvKL1g Author of: Cherubs 2 Raider of the Scottish Coast Big Mother 40 Carronade Render Harmless Death of a Lady Forgotten Last Battles Inner Look For a Few Francs Moscow Airlift Predators The Simushir Island Incident Fight We Shall Flight of the Pawnee Prices of Opportunity Failure to Fire Insidious Dragon The Red Star of Death Member of: The Author’s Guild Military Writers Society of America Association of Texas Authors North American Snowsport Journalists Association --

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FW: Aviation Week "" U.S. Navy Reveals Concept For Short-Range Aerial Kills
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 27 Aug '26

27 Aug '26

CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland(a)brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys(a)brattland.org 619 454-0496 ’38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org From: Harold Brattland <habrattland(a)arvig.net> Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2026 3:23 PM To: Brattland, Mike * <mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com> Subject: Aviation Week "" U.S. Navy Reveals Concept For Short-Range Aerial Kills Check out this site https://aviationweek.com/defense/missile-defense-weapons/us-navy-reveals-co… -- U.S. Navy Reveals Concept For Short-Range Aerial Kills Steve Trimble <https://aviationweek.com/author/steve-trimble> August 25, 2026 <https://aviationweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/20…> Credit: U.S. Navy U.S. Navy officials have confirmed they are assessing requirements for a Compact Air-to-Air Missile (CAAM) for extremely short-range, air-to-air intercepts. The CAAM profile appeared for the first time on a slide presented by a senior Navy official on Aug. 22 at the Tailhook Association Symposium in Reno, Nevada. The image revealed a guided missile with a possibly infrared seeker and control fins. “Compact Air-to-Air Missile (CAAM) is a future inner boundary weapon. Requirements are being evaluated and assessed by the Navy at this time. We have no further updates at this time,” a Navy spokesperson said. In air-to-air engagements, the inner boundary describes the minimum distance for completing the fusing and arming sequence of a missile before it hits a target. The inner boundary typically poses a critical danger for a fighter armed only with missiles. A target that enters that space is too close to be destroyed by the RTX AIM-9 Sidewinder. Since U.S. Navy fighters lack an internal gun, the proposed CAAM would become their only option for shooting it down. The CAAM also could help with a Navy fighter’s stealth signature. The F-35C, for example, only carries imaging infrared guided-AIM-9X missiles on the outer wings. But the CAAM could be compact enough to store inside the aircraft’s weapons bays. Such a loadout would require the CAAM to be capable of locking on to a target after launch. The program has been in development for at least several months by the Navy. An industry day agenda for the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division last February included technology for a “compact air-to-air missile.” The specific technology involved highly loaded grain energetics for solid rocket motor energetics. Anduril previously tested highly loaded grain technology in 2025 for air-to-air missiles in partnership with the Advanced Technology team of RTX, the Navy and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The latter also pursued a “compact air-to-air missile program” from at least 2023 to 2025. The AFRL awarded a $5.1 million contract to RTX on Jan. 10, 2023, for CAAM and Extended-Range CAAM (ERAAM) technology development, according to government spending records posted on USASpending.gov. Brian Everstine contributed to this article from Washington. <https://aviationweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/author_thumbnail/public…> Steve Trimble <https://aviationweek.com/author/steve-trimble> Email: steve.trimble(a)aviationweek.com <mailto:steve.trimble@aviationweek.com> Steve covers military aviation, missiles and space for the Aviation Week Network, based in Washington, DC. Comments 1 Comment EngineeringRaconteur Thu, 08/27/2026 - 17:43 Not to be too pedantic, but “Since U.S. Navy fighters lack an internal gun”, all versions of the F/A-18 have an internal gun

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FW: Aviation Week :: U.S. Air Force Pairs Robot Dogs, Drones For Aircraft Inspections
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 27 Aug '26

27 Aug '26

CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland(a)brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys(a)brattland.org 619 454-0496 ’38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org From: Harold Brattland <habrattland(a)arvig.net> Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2026 3:18 PM To: undisclosed-recipients: Subject: Aviation Week :: U.S. Air Force Pairs Robot Dogs, Drones For Aircraft Inspections Check out this site https://aviationweek.com/mro/emerging-technologies/us-air-force-pairs-robot… -- U.S. Air Force Pairs Robot Dogs, Drones For Aircraft Inspections Lindsay Bjerregaard <https://aviationweek.com/author/lindsay-bjerregaard> August 25, 2026 <https://aviationweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/20…> Asylon’s DroneDog inspects aircraft underbellies and sides using cameras and lidar, paired with drones for digital mapping. Credit: Asylon Drone-based aircraft inspections have gained prominence in the commercial aviation industry to improve speed and safety. Now, the U.S. Air Force has selected a robotics company that pairs drone technology with ground-based robotic dogs to further increase efficiency. In July, the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex awarded a Phase III contract to Asylon, a robotics company that specializes in security automation systems. Asylon will use its complementary robotic platforms to perform general visual inspections of the base’s aircraft and weapon systems. The Multi-modal Autonomous Robotics for Inspection of Aircraft (MARIA) system uses Asylon’s Guardian sUAS drone system and its DroneDog quadrupedal robot to perform digital mapping of an entire aircraft with cameras and lidar. These are paired with Asylon’s back-end software to program inspection paths and ingest inspection data. “Picture the DroneDog underneath the aircraft inspecting the underbelly and sides, [alongside] the Guardian sUAS with the same basic hardware and software package [inspecting] the top of your aircraft,” says Anthony McCarty, senior vice president of government at Asylon. “Working in unison, they’ll autonomously do digital mapping of the aircraft and be able to identify anomalies, defects or other things the customer . . . is asking us to pay attention to.” Inspection data is fed to Asylon’s “command and control platform,” says McCarty, which maintenance staff can use to evaluate results. Like other drone-based aircraft inspection platforms, the technology eliminates the need for inspectors to work manually at height while strapped into safety equipment and makes the process considerably faster. McCarty says what used to take the Air Force days or weeks to execute can be “knocked down to a matter of hours,” while also creating consistency across inspections via pre-programmed inspection routes and points of interest. Asylon is working with the Air Force to program aircraft specifications and inspection locations, such as hangar bays or outdoor areas, into the system. “Right now, we’re focused on the [Lockheed] C-5 and C-130, but [Warner Robins] has a vast array of weapon systems or aircraft types down there,” he says. “The ultimate goal is that we will expand to all of the aircraft types [there] and then to the larger Air Force Logistics Complex writ large.” Asylon also intends to expand the MARIA system’s capabilities, including enhancements of its robotics and software, stronger artificial intelligence anomaly detection and possibly even what McCarty calls “humanoid fleet management,” in which a robot could conduct maintenance tasks on an aircraft while the Guardian and DroneDog systems perform inspections. Warner Robins is Asylon’s first aerospace industry customer, but McCarty says the company’s board includes civilian aviation experts, and its founders and C-suite have experience in the defense industry, so he is confident about growing its aircraft inspection capability. For instance, he says Asylon has advisors who are “very familiar with FAA landscaping, how to work authorizations beyond visual line of sight waivers and some of the other waivers,” which has helped the company navigate regulatory nuances for operating the technology in an aviation environment. “We absolutely think there's a demand signal from other government clients and what we’re hearing, and so we’re looking to expand this capability across all of the services at that depot level maintenance activity, whether it be aircraft, ships, large facilities, whatever the case may be,” McCarty adds. <https://aviationweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/author_thumbnail/public…> Lindsay Bjerregaard <https://aviationweek.com/author/lindsay-bjerregaard> Email: lindsay.bjerregaard(a)aviationweek.com <mailto:lindsay.bjerregaard@aviationweek.com> Lindsay Bjerregaard is managing editor for Aviation Week’s MRO portfolio. Her coverage focuses on MRO technology, workforce, and product and service news for MRO Digest, Inside MRO and Aviation Week Marketplace.

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Claims Swirl Around CIA Director's Reason For Secret Moscow Visit, Nearly All Of Them Are Terrifying
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 27 Aug '26

27 Aug '26

https://www.twz.com/news-features/claims-swirl-around-cia-directors-reason-f or-secret-moscow-visit-nearly-all-of-them-are-terrifying?fbclid=IwY2xjawT8jW pwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7EkddJhTj4WT Ci7Pfpd6cpbrDXonxdXZB0aINWb4KBGqWAEiEt91cbLsQa3A_aem_KS7_3_LtMqY97S7_onyDQQ CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland(a)brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys(a)brattland.org 619 454-0496 '38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org

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Sanctions... What might happen
by Marc Liebman 26 Aug '26

26 Aug '26

https://spectator.com/article/can-general-bessent-win-the-war/?edition=us Marc Liebman https://www.marcliebman.com https://www.facebook.com/marcliebmanauthor/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_sDoFQM5wupNaCeGIvKL1g Author of: Cherubs 2 Raider of the Scottish Coast Big Mother 40 Carronade Render Harmless Death of a Lady Forgotten Last Battles Inner Look For a Few Francs Moscow Airlift Predators The Simushir Island Incident Fight We Shall Flight of the Pawnee Prices of Opportunity Failure to Fire Insidious Dragon The Red Star of Death Member of: The Author’s Guild Military Writers Society of America Association of Texas Authors North American Snowsport Journalists Association --

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F-117 Nighthawk Needs Fresh Explosives For Its Tailhook Nearly Two Decades After 'Retirement'
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 24 Aug '26

24 Aug '26

https://www.twz.com/air/f-117-nighthawk-needs-fresh-explosives-for-its-tailh ook-nearly-two-decades-after-retirement CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland(a)brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys(a)brattland.org 619 454-0496 '38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org

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View on sanctions
by Marc Liebman 21 Aug '26

21 Aug '26

https://spectator.com/article/harsh-sanctions-iran-play-out/?edition=us Marc Liebman https://www.marcliebman.com https://www.facebook.com/marcliebmanauthor/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_sDoFQM5wupNaCeGIvKL1g Author of: Cherubs 2 Raider of the Scottish Coast Big Mother 40 Carronade Render Harmless Death of a Lady Forgotten Last Battles Inner Look For a Few Francs Moscow Airlift Predators The Simushir Island Incident Fight We Shall Flight of the Pawnee Prices of Opportunity Failure to Fire Insidious Dragon The Red Star of Death Member of: The Author’s Guild Military Writers Society of America Association of Texas Authors North American Snowsport Journalists Association --

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Wildfire Is General Atomics' Successor To The MQ-9 Reaper
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 21 Aug '26

21 Aug '26

https://www.twz.com/air/wildfire-is-general-atomics-successor-to-the-mq-9-re aper CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland(a)brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys(a)brattland.org 619 454-0496 '38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org

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