An MQ-9 Reaper sits on the flight line as the sun sets at Creech Air Force Base

Fact Sheets

Aircraft Factsheets

Aircraft Factsheets
  • Low-Altitude Flying Training

    The Federal Aviation Administration manages U.S. airspace and is responsible for the development and enforcement of rules for aircraft flights and for the safe and efficient use of airspace. Full consideration is given to the needs of both national defense and civilian aviation.

  • Combat Controllers

    Air Force Special Operations Command's combat controllers are battlefield Airmen whose mission is of a combat controller who deploys, undetected, into combat and hostile environments to establish assault zones or airfields, while simultaneously conducting air traffic control.

  • AIM-9 Sidewinder

    The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a supersonic, heat-seeking, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft. It has a high-explosive warhead and an infrared heat-seeking guidance system.

  • AIM-7 Sparrow

    The AIM-7 Sparrow is a radar-guided, air-to-air missile with a high-explosive warhead. The versatile Sparrow has all-weather, all-altitude operational capability and can attack high-performance aircraft and missiles from any direction.

  • E-9A

    The E-9A is a twin turboprop used as a surveillance platform to ensure the Gulf of Mexico waters are clear of civilian boaters and aircraft during live missile launches and other hazardous military activities. The E-9A provides support for air-to-air weapons system evaluation.

  • Special Reconnaissance

    Special reconnaissance Airmen are special tactics operators with unique training to conduct multi-domain reconnaissance and surveillance across the spectrum of conflict with focus on lethal and non-lethal air-to-ground integration of airpower.

  • High Velocity Maintenance

    In early fiscal 2007,  the idea "high velocity maintenance" was outlined in a paper on how to move aircraft through a depot faster by increasing man-hours per day. In May 2007 a steering group and subsequent high performance team was established to develop the HVM concept.

  • HC-130J Combat King II

    The HC-130J replaces HC-130P/Ns as the only dedicated fixed-wing Personnel Recovery platform in the Air Force inventory. It is an extended-range version of the C-130J Hercules transport.

  • C-17 Globemaster III

    The C-17 Globemaster III is the most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area.

  • KC-10 Extender

    The KC-10 Extender is an Air Mobility Command advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for U.S. armed forces.

  • B-52H Stratofortress

    The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet. It can carry nuclear or precision guided conventional ordnance with worldwide precision navigation capability.

  • HC-130P/N King

    The HC-130P/N "King" is the only dedicated fixed-wing Personnel Recovery platform in the Air Force inventory.

  • U-28A Draco

    The U-28A is a modified, single-engine Pilatus PC-12 aircraft and is part of the Air Force Special Operations Command manned, airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance fleet.

  • Rapid Capabilities Office

    The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (DAF RCO) has accelerated methods for developing, acquiring and fielding critical combat capabilities.

  • Tactical Aircraft Maintenance - 2A5X3

    Tactical Aircraft Maintenance personnel are responsible for the condition of the Air Force's flying fleet, and for the safety of its flying team.