Air Force Association Miami-Homestead Chapter, The 317th Former President Designs Entry Into Portable UAV Market

Known as the Miniature Air Vehicle Reconnaissance Intelligence Collector (M.A.V.R.I.C)

A portable, hand held, hand launch UAV for Urban / Close Quarter Reconnaissance and Monitoring  

Meant to be field disposable if lost or damaged in use. Fully lippo battery operated with an effective range of  two mile from the operator at and altitude of 1,000 feet

Miami, Florida 2nd July 2012: "Here Comes The Drones" Appears to be the slogan for the future of modern warfare and civil policing within the 21st Century. AFA-317th member and former Chapter President, Benny Benitez who is establishing himself and his organization known as the 94th AeroClaims-Aviation Consultant Group as the premier aviation consultant group within Miami, Florida with the greatest amount of knowledge concerning drones and UAV's has completed initial designs for a small, portable, hand held-hand launched, field disposable mini UAV to be to classified as "MAVRIC".

MAVRIC stand for "Miniature-Air-Vehicle-Recconnaissance-Intelligence-Collector". 

The idea came to Benny when realizing that today drones which are being manufactured always seem to be large vehicles with complex operational support systems and structured with tremendous cost to Federal, State and Local Government Agencies and often out of the budgetary reach of many small Law Enforcement Departments. 

As a 2010 graduate of the FBI Citizen Academy Program and currently attending by invite the Miami-Dade Police Department Citizen Academy Program, Benny is obtaining a solid and special prospective into Law Enforcement / Surveillance while all the time blending his long and established career within aviation and aerospace, which has led to his creation of the MAVRIC.

Benny plans to create a flying prototype by years end and has consider utilizing the Students at the George T. Baker Aviation School as another sponsored Community Project of which will see the AFA-317th lead the way and which already has the interest of Captain Barrington Irving organization known as "Experience Aviation" concerning exposing young kids and adults to aviation. 

As the motto goes, the AFA-317th American Relevant Air Force Association Chapter. It should be noted that the idea of M.A.V.R.I.C was visually brought to life by Miami-Homestead Chapter member, Ms. Catherine Smallwood who is well versed in the use of Hollywood grade, visual special effect, digital rendering software known as "LIGHTWAVE 4.0". Catherine who herself if a professional Commercial airline pilot brings here expertise to Benny's idea, truly the AFA-317th is a creative and innovative Chapter.

Air Force Association Miami-Homestead Chapter, The 317th Reports On Former USAF K-135E's New Life Within The Chilean Air Force (FACH)

FACH tanker serial number 981, C/n 17572, former USAF 57-1501 flying with an F-16C from the "Peace Puma" Program in which the U.S. provided the 1st six F-16C Block 50 aircraft to Chile. Shown flying with 981 is F-16C # 853 from the "Peace Puma" Program from 2006

The FACH last and final KC-135E tanker to have been delivered is aircraft serial number, C/n 17759, which was formerly USAF 58-0014

U.S. Ambassador to Chile Paul Simons, Chilean Minister of National Defense, Francisco Vidal and Commander if Chief of the Chilean Air Force, General Ricardo Ortega, cutting the ribbon commissioning the first KC-135E, serial # 981 into the Chilean Air Force

Miami, Florida 30th June 2012: In researching the disposition of former USAF KC-135 Tankers, Air Force Association Miami-Homestead Chapter, 317th member and former Chapter President Benny Benitez learned that Boeing has delivered the last of the three Boeing KC-135E's "Strato-Tankers" to the Fuerza Aerea de Chile (Chilean Air Force).

According to Mr. Mike Wright, Boeing KC-135E Program Director, on 28th March Boeing announced the completion of the program, with the last KC-135E, number 983 being handed over on 9th March 2012 to the Chilean Air Force according.

We bet that there are many of our AFA colleagues out there that may wonder if these three KC-135E which were sent to the Chilean Air Force may have been ships that they have either flew or crewed during their times in the Air Force. Therefore, we wish to provide the following information on the three KC-135E which were transferred to Chile, check your log books.

Serial Number           C/n                  Former USAF Serial Number

981                              17572              57-1501

982                              17730              57-2594

983                              17759              58-0014

Finally research showed that elements of 151th Air Refueling Wing from the Utah Air National Guard not only ferried the three KC-135E to Chile, but also provided initial ground operational and ground maintenance training to their counterparts in Chile.  Chile reason for obtaining the KC-135E is so as to support their fleet of F-16's and F-5's, as well as to support peace time and humanitarian missions. A testament to American industry and Boeing quality manufacturing a stout and robust aircraft which has served our Nation well and will continue to serve our Allies in years to come.