iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Saildrone Surveyor SD-3001 launched 2 JAGM missiles during RIMPAC 2026. The launches were coordinated with CVN-71 USS Theodore Roosevelt. Two MH-60S Seahawks with HSC-8, as well as the USV Sea Hunter, were nearby. Data from FlightRadar24 and MarineTraffic. www.saildrone.com/news/us-navy...

0283

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

USN MQ-4C 169659 as BLKCAT6 flying out of NAS Jacksonville, FL heading back after ~1.5hrs flying over Caracas, VZ. It is possibly providing recovery support after Caracas was hit by two earthquakes late last month. #ADSB #AE7812

Close view of Caracas showing the Venezuelan coastline, with a pink flight track showing three distinct orbits.

Zoomed out image showing Florida, Cuba, and the Venezuelan coast. It shows a pink flight track running from Venezuela to Florida.

030

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Previously ZUKO and AZULA, these same two RC-135S Cobra Ball aircraft are now flying as MANDO57 and GROGU98, of Disney's The Mandalorian. #ADSB #AE01D7 #AE01D8

Two airceaft showing over southern Alaska. on the left is MANDO57, on the right is GROGU98.

0110

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

2 RC-135S Cobra Ball aircraft are tracking in AK. 62-4128 with callsign ZUKO16 in flight & 61-2662 with callsign AZULA14 on the ground. I have seen Star Wars callsigns from USAF before, but this is my first time seeing Avatar: The Last Airbender callsigns. #ADSB #AE01D7 #AE01D8

A zoomed in shot of southern Alaska showing icons representing two four-engine jet aircraft, AZULA14 and ZUKO16.

3150

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

For #trr26, I just read @rykaaoki.bsky.social's Light from Uncommon Stars. Of the 77(!) books that I have read so far this year, none have made me cry as much or left such a strong impact as this book. Thank you for such an amazing book.

A black, starry background with a colorful koi fish in the center. Text from top to bottom reads:
"A transformative marvel. I. Loved. This. Book." TJ KLUNE, New York Times bestselling author of The House on the Cerulean Sea

LIGHT FROM UNCOMMON STARS

RYKA AOKI

2132

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

I just finished Lessons in Magic and Disaster by @charliejane.bsky.social, and what a fantastic read! I grew up in & around Newton, MA and nothing's made me nostalgic for that area and time of my life quite like this book.

Purple cracked background with vines and daisies. Yellow text says "CHARLIE JANE ANDERS / LESSONS IN MAGIC AND DISASTER"

25211

Reposted by Emma Smith

Kameron Hurley @kameronhurley.com · 14/03/2026

Browsing nonfiction library books, flicking past ones like "an amazing thing! Now facing DOOM!" Or "great animals! We're KILLING!" And realized I've become overwhelmed by narratives that make the world seem not worth living in. I want to read books that make me fall in love with the world again

301363114

Reposted by Emma Smith

John Wiseman @lemonodor.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

I charted the number of aircraft visible over Iran on ADS-B as the U.S./Israeli strikes began.

Bar chart titled "Aircraft Over Iran, February 28, 2026" showing the number of aircraft tracked via ADS-B over Iran in 15-minute intervals. Around 30–50 aircraft are visible before 06:00 UTC, then the count drops sharply to zero by approximately 07:30 UTC following the first reported strikes on Iran, and remains at zero for the rest of the day. Timeline markers note key events including the opening strikes on Tehran at 06:10 UTC and subsequent Iranian retaliatory missile launches. A small map of Iran is shown in the upper right corner.

2293

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

For the month of February I read 29 books! Not as many as January, but still a good amount. Favorites were Woodworking by @emilystjams.bsky.social and Aggregated Discontent by @harronwawker.bsky.social. My goal for the year is 100 books read, but I might need to adjust that soon. #BookSky

2150

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

USN MQ-4C with c/s VVPE804 left Al Dhafra AB, UAE heading west, likely back stateside. Yesterday we saw VVPE661 make the same flight. The last three of the c/s indicates registration, which suggests that these two aircraft (169661 & 196804) may have swapped hexes. #AE7814 #AE7815

A screenshot of FlightRadar24 on Android showing the west coast of UAE and an aircraft tracking through the center of the image.

1120

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

An MQ-9A crashed in Maidan Wardak, Afghanistan earlier today. It was a Big Wing variant, used (to my knowledge) exclusively by the US and has previously been seen at a US base in Africa. It is distinct by the curved winglet, and has a wingspan of 79ft.

A drone wing, broken in two spots laying on a snowy mountain. In the foreground is a shadow of the man taking the video.

A 3-view diagram of an MQ-9A Predator B Big Wing variant. It shows that it has a 79ft wingspan, it is 12.3ft tall, and 35.5ft long.

38014

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

1x Polish AEW&C aircraft over Poland currently monitoring the eastern border. Additionally, 1x NATO refueling aircraft was over Polish airspace supporting fighter jets, including at least one F-35, in the task of neutralizing Russian drones that have crossed the Polish border.

Text in the upper left corner says "Polish AEW&C monitoring drone-type objects; 2025-09-10
Polish SAAB 340 AEW&C monitoring the Poland-Ukraine-Belarus borders
NATO Airbus 330 refueling aircraft supporting fighters in the area
Approximate radar range of Polish AEW&C
Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin Voivodeships"

The map shows Poland, with a blue line tracking over the southern part of the country illustration a NATO refueling aircraft and an orange line across the eastern portion of the country illustrating a Polish surveillance aircraft. Additionally, a large orange circle covering eastern Poland and western Ukraine & Belarus shows the surveillance coverage of the aircraft.

23514

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

At around 4 AM PDT this morning, USAF B-2A Spirit TIGER11 communicated with Seattle Center ATC while traversing Washington airspace on its way back from Joint Base Elmendorf, AK to Whiteman AFB, MO. TIGER11 is one of two B-2As that flew up to Alaska two days ago.

3415

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

DEATH11 + DEATH12, possible B-2A Spirit bombers heading northwest over Washington at 8 AM local time. A2A comms on 341.750, talking with Seattle Center sectors 32 and 03. DEATH11 heading to YZT, DEATH12 heading to Spokane. DEATH11 might be heading to Alaska to join TIGER11 + 12.

A zoomed out view of a terrain map of Washington State. Imposed on top of the map is a pink line tracing from central Washington to Port Hardy in British Columbia, Canada.

1303

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

A very kind gift from my dear friend @vcdgf555.bsky.social. A section of the exterior skin of a spare vertical stabilizer from SR-71A 61-7971; this aircraft flew in service w/ USAF from 1967 to early 1990, then w/ NASA from March 1990 to January 1995, then returning to USAF until retirement in 1997.

A black card with writing across the top that says "PLANE TAGS" and "Limited Edition Genuine Skin". Attached to the card is an oval of composite material, writing on the surface says "Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird / SN: 61-7971 / # 0240 of 3,850"

5612

Reposted by Emma Smith

Geoff Brumfiel @gbrumfiel.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

OK, if you're one of the two DTRA officer who spent the past 15 years of your career planning for the strike on Iran's Fordo nuclear site you must be SO MAD AT ME FOR THIS ARTICLE! You know what you should do.... www.npr.org/2025/06/25/n...

npr.org

Why America's giant bunker-busting bombs may have failed to reach their target

Reaching Iran's most fortified nuclear enrichment site is a challenge, even for the world's biggest conventional weapons.

34512

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

In the air over the Gulf of Oman is ZP527, a S-100 Camcopter operated by the Royal Navy under the designation Peregrine. These have been flying here since at least August of last year. Stationed aboard the HMS Lancaster are two Peregrines: ZP527 and ZP526. #ADSB #002E61 #002E60

A screenshot showing a drone flying off the coast of Oman. An orange line traces a jagged path against a blue background, with coastline at the top of the image.

Lancaster's sailors Royal Marines Wildcat and Peregrine drones with the drugs haul on the flight deck. The picture shows a large group of people in the center standing in front of a helicopter and flanked by two drones on either side, with flags and the text "HMS Lancaster" in the lower middle of the image.

0272

Reposted by Emma Smith

Taco Bell Quarterly @tacobellquarterly.org · 09/05/2025

So what? The literary world is always in the first detonation blast zone. Run towards the searing light. You don't want to live in the world without the arts. Become a writer.

352180378

Reposted by Emma Smith

johnasavoia @konatachan.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

590nm infrared on a cloudy day, shot with my lovely ltm voigtlander color skopar 35/2.5

593279308

Reposted by Emma Smith

WarshipCam @warshipcam.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Nimitz-class aircraft carrier coming into Guam - April 18, 2025 #ussnimitz #cvn68 SRC: INT- dvidshub.net

0491

Reposted by Emma Smith

Evergreen Intel @vcdgf555.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

The orientation of the Carl Vinson carrier strike group is in a defensive ring of 25 kilometers with air defense positioned toward the greater threat likelihood: two facing out to the WNW toward Houthi-controlled Yemen, and one covering the rear.

Carl Vinson carrier strike group with defensive ring of escort ships at a distance of 25 km from the carrier (center).

411414

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

USAF WC-135R 64-14829 as COBRA29 flying over Washington on March 13. After years of following along with the Constant Phoenix program, it was nice to finally see one in person! #ADSB #AE037F

A white 4-engine aircraft against a dark blue-gray background. The aircraft has USAF written on the wing and a black nose.

1460

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

SSN-23, USS Jimmy Carter returning home to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor after 4 days at sea. cc @warshipcam.bsky.social

SSN-23 USS Jimmy Carter, a nuclear submarine sitting just barely out of the water, transits near Port Townsend, WA.

51059

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

US CENTCOM tweeted ~1hr ago a video dated Feb 23 showing an airstrike from the perspective of an MQ-9A Reaper over Idlib, Syria. The lack of explosion and resulting damage would suggest that this is (to my knowledge) the first footage of an R9X Hellfire in use.

811923

Reposted by Emma Smith

WBUR @wbur.org · 27/01/2025

Ten years ago today, we woke up to what some were calling “the Blizzard of 2015.” Here’s a look back at some of the most remarkable statistics from the "Snowmageddon" winter.

wbur.org

The wildest stats and numbers from Boston's 'Snowmageddon' winter of 2015

Boston got over 110 inches of snow during the historic 2015 winter — and that wasn't the only wild number. Here’s a look back at some of the most remarkable "Snowmaggedon" statistics.

96615

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Went to a beach across from the Everett Naval Station to look at ships today, saw a cormorant having a snack instead.

A light blue background of water with a cormorant in the center holding a flounder in its mouth.

2903

Reposted by Emma Smith

Orion Intel @orionint.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

India's LRAShM is its longest ranged, solely conventional missile yet and is an example of its mature missile development capability. With a stated range of over 1500km, this hypersonic missile will enable India to target Chinese forces located on the Tibetan plateau and beyond.

0165

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 26/12/2024

Platform Aerospace VA001 ultra long endurance UAV with callsign GZMO16 flying out of Al Udeid AB, QA. This is the first time I've seen N616VU, and the first time I can recall seeing a Vanilla Unmanned drone in Qatar. #ADSB #A806F6

A zoomed in satellite image showing Al Udeid Airbase in Qatar. A yellow line traces from the air base and draws a circle to the west, showing the drone flying and ascending.

0266

Reposted by Emma Smith

IntelWalrus @intelwalrus.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Geolocation of B-52H weapons range training at an 'undisclosed location' in CENTCOMs AOR. The B-52H, Serial 60-0007, carried a payload of at least 6 JDAM bombs which were used at a bomb range south of Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on Dec 4th. (31.558820°, 36.776021°)

0241

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

General Atomics MQ-9B N479SG has been flying these arc patterns over the Yuma Test Center in New Mexico for the last four hours near a US CBP TARS aerostat. For 2 hours, it flew at 20,000ft versus the aerostat's 10,900ft. Then, it dropped down to 5,900ft.

A zoomed in map showing the Yuma Test Center and Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. A blue and yellow series of lines arc across the center of the image, showing the flight path of an MQ-9B SeaGuardian N479SG. Near the center on the outside of the arc is a CBP TARS balloon, N801XR.

A photograph of an uncrewed aircraft against a blue and white background. Text on the side of the aircraft says "EXPERIMENTAL" and "N479SG".

1242

Reposted by Emma Smith

DanielR @danielr-phd.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

1. A curious Ukrainian drone that crashed in September, 2024 was widely reported in russian media. Although various folks claimed this wreckage showed the remains of a jet engine, things did not look right.

420552

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Brand new E-11A BACN as BACN08 departed from the Lockheed Martin hangars at Martin State Airport just outside Baltimore, heading west. The newest BACN was delivered to the US Air Force at the end of last month. It is possible that this is N808LP. H/t @srplanespotter.bsky.social #ADSB #AE77A5

A zoomed-in map showing an aircraft flying over Ohio after departing from Maryland. A purple line showing the path of the aircraft is shown over a dimly-lit map.

1220

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 08/11/2024

VALKYR22 is almost certainly WK022, which would be a new airframe that I have not seen before. The hex code matches with previously-identified WK025 with hex 43C809. Excellent spot by @borrowed7time.bsky.social.

A tweet posted by @ameliairheart:

.@vcdgf555
noticed WK025 flying a few days ago with callsign CRONUS25 flying out of Parc Aberporth, UK. This is the second Watchkeeper I've seen running a CRONUS callsign, both of which were flying from Parc Aberporth. #ADSB #43C809

The attached image shows the coast of Wales with a twisted path of green and yellow lines. On the left side of the screen is flight details for CRONUS25, a Watchkeeper drone.

1251

Reposted by Emma Smith

Hans Kristensen @nukestrat.bsky.social · 05/11/2024

All six USAF B-52 bombers at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Great image from today via our friends at Planet Labs.

0222

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 03/11/2024

E-11A BACN 22-9047 is making the trip to NAS Sigonella from Robins AFB with callsign BLKWLF21. This is the first time this E-11A, the seventh in the fleet, is leaving the US after being delivered to the USAF in October 2023. #ADSB #AE77A4

A zoomed-out map showing the east coast of the US and some of western Africa and Europe. Through the middle is a dashed pink line showing the flight path of a Gulfstream Global 6000 with registration 22-9047 at 41,000ft. Patches of clouds can be seen overlaid on the map.

0113

Reposted by Emma Smith

John Wiseman @lemonodor.bsky.social · 03/11/2024

Anime ass looking drones.

Three V-BAT drones are lined up in a field, viewed from the front. Each drone has a vertical tail and a horizontal wing, with their bodies mounted on platforms for vertical takeoff. The sky is partly cloudy, providing a neutral background for the grey drones

3395

Reposted by Emma Smith

Bizjets of War @bizjetsofwar.bsky.social · 23/10/2024

A modified Challenger 650, likely operated by Metrea, has flown missions above Somalia over the past ~8 weeks. The bizjet (N9191) is equipped with a radar system, SIGINT antennas, and an EO/IR sensor, and orbited over regions of known counterterror operations against Al-Shabaab and IS-Somalia.

0132

Reposted by Emma Smith

Bizjets of War @bizjetsofwar.bsky.social · 18/10/2024

Eyes on Baekdu: unwrapping South Korea’s ISR bizjets A new post with an overview of South Korea's ISR bizjets, covering their capabilities, the history of the programs, and the ongoing modernisation amid growing threats from North Korea. Learn more: open.substack.com/pub/bizjetso...

open.substack.com

Eyes on Baekdu: unwrapping South Korea’s ISR bizjets

South Korea is modernising its fleet of ageing surveillance bizjets to counter the increasing threats from its archrival in the north

0114

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 04/10/2024

USN MQ-4C 169602 with callsign FATCAT15 departed from Al-Dhafra AB, UAE a few minutes ago. 602 arrived at Al Dhafra on September 28th. This is its second visible flight since then, and its first with an actual callsign. #ADSB #AE7811

A zoomed in view of the United Arab Emirates. In the upper left of the image is Abu Dhabi, and along the right side is the border with Oman. In the middle is the start of a purple flight track from an aircraft labeled FATCAT15.

260

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 01/10/2024

Qatar Emiri Air Force Bayraktar TB2 flying with callsign "UNIDENT" out of Dukhan / Tamim Air Base. This airframe has been flying regularly over Qatar, but it's been a while since I've spotted them. #ADSB #001071

A zoomed-in section of western Qatar showing an aircraft flying over central Qatar. A green line is in the shape of a square in the upper right of the image, and it traces back towards the lower left.

030

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 07/09/2024

Another MQ-4C with callsign VVPE804 crossed the Atlantic from NAS Jacksonville, FL heading to NAS Sigonella, Italy. #ADSB #AE7815

A map showing the east coast of the US and some of western Europe. A red line crosses the center of the image showing a USN MQ-4C off the coast of Spain.

160

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 02/09/2024

Republic of Singapore Air Force G550 CAEW 016 flying with an Israeli hex code and callsign G550. This airframe shows up every once in a while, but it's been quite some time since I last saw it. #ADSB #738A4F

A zoomed in map showing the Republic of Singapore with an aircraft flying in circles overhead. This is illustrated by a blue circle in the center-left of the image.

020

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 26/08/2024

RuAF Tu-154 RA-85843 with callsign RFF7429 departing Pyongyang Sunan International Airport, DPRK after ~1 hour on the ground. #ADSB #154F53

A map of North Korea showing a Russian aircraft taking off from Pyongyang heading northeast.

021

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 23/08/2024

Yesterday, USAF RQ-4B 11-2046 with c/s FORTE12 took off from Sigonella AB, IT and spent ~23 hrs in the air flying over the Baltics & Finland before landing at RAF Fairford, UK. This is the 1st time a US RQ-4 has deployed to the UK & the 2nd time an RQ-4 has flown over Finland. #ADSB #AE5421

A map of western Europe, with a red flight path running from Italy, up over the Baltic states and Finland, and over to the UK. A large red blob on the upper part of the map shows sensor coverage, showing that Moscow is just outside the range.

060

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 18/08/2024

A subset of planes holding for KSEA because of the current thunderstorms in the area. A ground stop was issued at 03:41Z.

A large blob of reds, yellows, and greens covers most of western Washington. Also shown are 10 aircraft flying holding patterns a ways away.

050

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 14/08/2024

British Army Watchkeeper WK037 as "ARIES037" landed at Pärnu Airport, Estonia. This is, to my knowledge, the first time a Watchkeeper has flown in Estonia. However, since it never tracked in the air, it could have just been taxiing. #ADSB #43C87B

A close-up screenshot of a satellite map from FlightRadar24 showing a short white line illustrating a track of a Watchkeeper drone at Pärnu Airport in Estonia.

020

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 09/08/2024

USAF E-11A BACN 11-9355 as "BACON55" departing from MCAS Miramar, California after arriving there four days ago. It did not appear on flight tracking sites during the time in between. It is likely heading back to the Middle East. #ADSB #AE4DE1

A zoomed in view of the southwestern United States, focused on Arizona and New Mexico. A bright pink line goes diagonally across the center of the screen, showing the flight path of an E-11A BACN from MCAS Miramar.

A slightly desaturated map of the United States, showing a bright pink line across the center. This shows an E-11A BACN landing at Bangor Airport in Maine, then heading for MCAS Miramar in California.

020

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 13/07/2024

The US withdrawal from two bases in Niger leaves a gap over Western Africa in MQ-9 ISR coverage. An article from Le Monde claims that the US is planning to move to the Ivory Coast, filling most of the gaps.

A light green map of the world, centered on Africa, showing locations of American drone bases at Sigonella, Italy; Al Azraq, Jordan; Ali Al Salem, Kuwait; Al-Dhafra, UAE; and Chabelley, Djibouti. It also shows two bases in Niger that the US is withdrawing from (Niamey and Agadez), and a base in the Ivory Coast (Odienne) that the US is likely going to.

171

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 12/07/2024

MQ-9B SeaGuardian N479SG departed El Mirage, CA and landed at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI. This airframe has recently been used to test a Net Enabled Weapons capability. H/T @vcdgf555.bsky.social #ADSB #A5E420

A zoomed-out view of a flight tracking application, showing the path of a drone that flew from California to Hawaii.

040

Emma Smith @ameliairheart.bsky.social · 30/03/2024

MQ-4C 169659 departed from NAS Mayport around 03/29 18:30 UTC as TRITON16. 6 hours later, it reappeared over the North Atlantic with callsign VVPE659, headed towards Europe. This is the first time I have seen an MQ-4C in this area. #ADSB #AE7812

070