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  • Combat Talon ends career as historic monument

    Exactly one year after making its final operational flight, the MC-130E Combat Talon I 64-0567 reached the end of its 47-year journey with a stirring dedication ceremony here May 6.The Talon, or as it came to be know by 919th Special Operations Wing Airmen, "Wild Thing," will now be a historic

  • Tinker AFB Airmen complete first repairs on F117 engine

    Airmen from the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group and Pratt & Whitney mechanics recently completed repairs on the first F117 engine of the newly-obtained workload. The Pratt & Whitney manufactured engine powers the C-17 Globemaster III."The significance is that this engine was the first ever

  • Air Force officials announce helicopter acquisition strategy

    Air Force officials announced their strategy here April 25 to recapitalize the Air Force's helicopter fleet, which is critical to nuclear weapon security response, continuity of government, and combat search and rescue.The Air Force secretary and chief of staff have directed that the service proceed

  • Elmendorf Airmen deploy to Kadena, test capabilities

    A group of pilots and maintainers from the 525th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, deployed here earlier in 2011, along with their F-22 Raptors, to test their capabilities in a new environment, setting records in the process.During their stay here, they

  • C-130s continue support of fire fighting efforts in Texas, Mexico

    Under the command of U.S. Northern Command, six C-130 Hercules aircraft, equipped with U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems, continue to support firefighting efforts in Texas and Mexico.Two of the C-130s, from the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., are

  • Dyess Airmen assist with Texas wildfires

    Members of the 7th Bomb Wing and 317th Airlift Group here are lending a helping hand in support of firefighting efforts throughout South Texas.From logistics to meals to maintenance, Airmen here will support four C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems and more

  • B-1B Lancer upgrade will triple payload

    Airmen from the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron began their first phase of demonstrations of a multiple ejector rack on a B-1B Lancer here March 22.If fielded, 16-carry modified rotary launchers will increase the number of 500-pound joint direct attack munitions and laser-guided JDAMs carried by

  • Scott AFB to become 'one stop C-21 shop'

    The 458th Airlift Squadron here will become the Air Force's sole C-21 formal training unit within the next four months. The squadron will regain the C-21 training mission from the 45th Airlift Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.The 45th AS will dissolve as a unit underneath Air Education &

  • T-38 arrives to supplement F-22 training

    Following a successful test run in March 2010 and approval by Air Combat Command officials, the first of several T-38 Talons from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., arrived here April 1 for the beginning of the 1st Operations Group's T-38 Adversary Air Program.Col. Matt Molloy, the 1st Fighter Wing's

  • MC-130J rollout accelerates AFSOC recapitalization

    Air Force Special Operations Command officials welcomed the latest variant of the MC-130 at a rollout ceremony held at Lockheed Martin's Marietta, Ga., factory recently.The rollout accelerates AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Donald C. Wurster's priority to recapitalize the fleet by acquiring MC-130J Combat

  • UAV crashes at Edwards AFB

    A Global Observer unmanned aircraft crashed at approximately 2:30 a.m., April 1, near the southwest corner of Rogers Dry Lakebed. There were no injuries or damage to property on the ground.Global Observer is a Joint Capability Technology Demonstration program.The cause of the crash is under

  • F-22 Raptor flown on synthetic biofuel

    An F-22 Raptor successfully flew at supercruise March 18 on a 50/50 fuel blend of conventional petroleum-based JP-8 and biofuel derived from camelina, a weed-like plant not used for food.The flight was the capstone of a series of ground and flight test events conducted by members of the 411th Flight

  • Senior leaders thank KC-46A source selection team

    Department of Defense and Air Force senior leaders flew here from Washington March 21 to congratulate the team responsible for the source selection of the Air Force's top acquisition priority: the KC-46A tanker. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley; Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition,

  • U.S. military aircraft bring displaced Egyptians home

    Air Force C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, joined Marine Corps KC-130 aircraft March 5 in airlifting displaced Egyptian citizens here from Djerba, Tunisia. More than 300 passengers traveled on four flights. The aircraft and teams conducted the humanitarian shuttles in

  • Air Force accepts delivery of final MQ-1 Predator

    The Air Force accepted MQ-1 Predator tail number 268, the final MQ-1 manufactured for the service, in a ceremony March 3. Col. James Beissner, the chief of Air Combat Command's Irregular Warfare Division, accepted the aircraft on behalf of the Air Force."This event marks a milestone in Air Force

  • Contractor delivers first new E-8C Joint STARS production engine

    The U.S. Air Force E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, or Joint STARS, achieved a significant objective March 3 as part of the ongoing System Design and Development Re-engining effort. A First Engine Delivery Ceremony was held at the Pratt & Whitney production facility in Middletown,

  • Air Force to launch second orbital test vehicle

    Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office officials announced the launch of the second X-37B March 4 with a back-up launch opportunity March 5. AFRCO is leading the Defense Department's orbital test vehicle initiative, by direction of the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics

  • Air Force announces next tanker aircraft

    Air Force and Defense Department officials announced the award of an engineering and manufacturing development contract valued at more than $3.5 billion for the KC-46A aerial refueler to The Boeing Company Feb. 24.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley said in the briefing that many factors were

  • Thunderbirds host the Blue Angels

    The Thunderbirds hosted three members of the Navy Blue Angels team here Feb. 23 as part of a traditional exchange program between the two units. Blue Angel No. 2, Lt. Cmdr. Jim Tomaszeski, right wing; and Blue Angel No. 4, Lt. Rob Kurrle, slot; had the chance to fly in the back seat of a

  • Photo essay: CV-22 Osprey training mission

    Crewmembers from the 8th Special Operations Squadron participate in a CV-22 Osprey training mission here Feb. 1. The primary mission of the CV-22 is insertion, extraction, and resupply of unconventional warfare forces and equipment into hostile or enemy-controlled territory using air-land or airdrop

  • Adjustments put F-35 on track, program director says

    The Defense Department's joint strike fighter program is on track to field the F-35 Lightning II in fiscal 2016, the program's director said here Feb. 15.In remarks to the National Aeronautics Association, Navy Vice Adm. David Venlet said that although changes made to the program in January extended

  • Edwards flight engineers perform first X-47B flight

    Testers from Northrop Grumman and the Navy successfully conducted the first flight of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration aircraft here Feb. 4.The fighter-size unmanned aircraft took off and successfully flew for the 29 minutes planned for its first test flight. This event marks a

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View the slideshow.

  • Hickam C-17 drops a Navy boat over Pacific

    It was 'zero-dark-thirty' and only the blue line of runway lights met the joint Air Force and Navy crew under the wings of a C-17 Globemaster III.A 535th Airlift Squadron aircrew from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and the U.S. Navy Special Warfare Unit One from Guam teamed up to drop a

  • F-15E flies with new radar system

    Officials took a step forward in the F-15E Strike Eagle's continuous technological evolution as the Air Force's most versatile combat aircraft here Jan. 18.Officials from the 46th Test Wing launched the fourth generation fighter for the first time with a new and improved radar system, the

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View the slideshow.

  • Global Observer makes first hydrogen-powered flight

    The Global Observer unmanned aircraft system successfully completed its first flight powered by the aircraft's hydrogen-fueled propulsion system here Jan. 6.This milestone marks the beginning of high-altitude, long-endurance flight testing for the demonstration and operational utility phase of this

  • F-4 continues long-time service to Air Force with new mission

    The 82nd Aerial Target Squadron officials here are replacing the use of Lear jets for their banner tow missions with the F-4 Phantom, creating an air-to-air target that aircrews in training can safely evaluate, develop and test their weapons systems. "We developed the idea to use the F-4 for the

  • Holloman Airmen provide 5th generation fighter support

    Two T-38 Talons were delivered in December here with the help of NASA officials.NASA officials used an Aero Spacelines Super Guppy to deliver the first two of an eventual 15 T-38s that will be regenerated here and flown to operating locations at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., and Tyndall AFB, Fla.

  • Airmen, Soldiers redeploy aircraft

     A CH-47 Chinook helicopter was returned home to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, by the joint efforts of Soldiers and Airmen working here Dec. 15.Soldiers from the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade worked alongside Airmen here to complete the final stages of their redeployment. The brigade was a vital part of

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View the slideshow.

  • C-130J Super Hercules flies airdrop mission

    A U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules aircrew from the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron flies to a drop zone during an air drop mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom while flying over Afghanistan, Dec. 29, 2010.  C-130 aircrews ensure that troops on the ground have adequate supplies

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View the slideshow.

  • C-17 marks 2 millionth flight hour during airdrop

    This month, the C-17 Globemaster III celebrated its two millionth flight hour. As a testament to the C-17 mission tempo, the aircraft passed its two millionth flight hour just four years after passing its first million-hour mark, and the first million hours took 16 years to reach. Although Air

  • Air Force rescuers pull female hiker to safety

    Senior Master Sgt. Mike Flake, an HH-60G Pave Hawk flight engineer with the 305th Rescue Squadron here, had been flying a training mission Dec. 22 around Tucson, Ariz., where his unit trains regularly. Upon clocking out, he was home by 9:30 p.m., enjoying family time, when he received a call from a

  • Crash recovery team demonstrates innovation through unique lift operation

    Airmen from the 51st Maintenance Squadron's Transient Alert Crash Recovery team performed a unique operation in response to a real-world situation Dec. 11, which proved valuable training for the entire shop. What started out earlier that week as a routine aircraft maintenance operation took an

  • CV-22 accident investigation board results released

    Air Force Special Operations Command officials released the results of their investigation into the CV-22 Osprey accident April 9, near Qalat, Afghanistan, that killed four people and injured 16 of the 20 onboard. The pilot, flight engineer, an Army Ranger, and a civilian contract employee were

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View the slideshow.

  • Air Force officials release findings on Alaska C-17 fatal mishap

    Officials at Headquarters Pacific Air Forces released the results of their investigation Dec. 10 into a fatal C-17 Globemaster III aircraft mishap July 28 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, directed an investigation into the incident which

  • Officials select potential base for Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 training unit

    Air Force officials announced today that Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, is their preferred alternative to potentially host a Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA maintenance and flying training unit in the U.S.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz validated

  • Wing retires C-130E, anticipates end of C-130E ops

    Little Rock Air Force Base C-130E Hercules aircraft 62-1788 made its final flight Nov. 29, to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base's 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, the aircraft retirement "bone yard" here. Built in 1962, the aircraft's history includes supporting major operations in

  • Air Force announces candidate basing locations for LiMA aircraft

    The Air Force announced today that Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N. J., and Travis AFB, Calif., are candidate basing locations for Light Mobility Aircraft, or LiMA. These locations are candidates to beddown a single squadron consisting of 12 aircraft and approximately 100 personnel. The LiMA

  • X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle lands at Vandenberg AFB

    The U.S. Air Force's first unmanned re-entry spacecraft landed here Dec. 3 at 1:16 a.m.The X-37B, named Orbital Test Vehicle 1, which launched April 22 from Cape Canaveral, Fla., conducted on-orbit experiments for more than 220 days during its maiden voyage. It fired its orbital maneuver engine in

  • Air Force officials continuing source selection for new tanker

    Air Force officials have said the KC-X source selection process will continue despite a mistake in November, where a limited amount of identical source selection information was provided to both KC-X offerors concerning their competitor's offering. Air Force officials are ensuring a level playing

  • Major AWACS upgrade begins

    The next step in the largest block upgrade in the history of the E-3 Sentry, or Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft occurred Nov. 18 at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., when the first aircraft receiving the block 40/45 modification was inducted by the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center.New

  • Hickam aircrew participates in training opportunities

    A 535th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III aircrew trained in unrestricted-descent assault landings, airdrop, combat offloads, air refueling, night-vision-goggle training, low levels, mountainous terrain, threat responses and multiple-ship formation training during a five-day training mission

  • Minot Airmen fly to where America's day begins

    Preparations for the deployment of Air Force Global Strike Command's 69th Bomb Squadron here are underway as they head to Guam, a first since the Vietnam War.The deployment is in support of U.S. Pacific Command's continuous bomber presence. An advanced team of approximately 30 Airmen departed Nov.

  • Eye in the sky

    The last 28th Bomb Wing B-1B Lancer received the necessary modifications to operate the Sniper advanced targeting pod Oct. 18.The advanced targeting pod acts as a long-range camera, which can pinpoint targets for precision strikes and close-air-support missions."It's hard to imagine doing close-air

  • Thunderbirds dazzle Disney crowd during Air Force Week in Florida

    The Air Force Thunderbirds air demonstration team made a special appearance at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 26 as they flew their famous delta formation over Cinderella's Castle and the theme park's main street. It was one of numerous events scheduled as part of Air Force Week Cocoa

  • Marathon officials release official plane for 2011 race

    Officials from the Air Force Marathon office here recently announced the B-1B Lancer will be the official plane for the 2011 Air Force Marathon. As the featured aircraft, the B-1B will be prominently displayed on all official marathon gear, including the finisher's medal racers receive after

  • Joint STARS demonstrates key network-enabled weapons capability

    An Electronic Systems Center team is wrapping up work on a demonstration here aimed to greatly improve network-enabled weapons capabilities for joint forces. The Battle Management Directorate's E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System Modernization Branch has been participating in the Joint

  • Test center fuses old, new technology for light attack

    Test pilots and engineers here are learning what happens when high-tech systems are combined with low-tech airframes for a new, cost effective, light-attack aircraft.Light attack, a revitalized concept in the Air Force, addresses the need for an airplane that offers surveillance as well as strike

  • Photo essay: Rapid loading for the fight

    Loadmasters and aircrew from the 730th Air Mobility Squadron load pallets Sept. 15, onto a C-5 Galaxy at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The Airmen performed a two-hour quick turn on the C-5, preparing and loading a large amount of equipment and supplies. View the slideshow:

  • Misawa air show highlights 50 years of Japan-U.S. cooperation

    Japan Air Self-Defense Force and U.S. Air Force aviators took advantage of the 2010 Misawa Air Festival to commemorate half a century of the nations' shared pledge to regional and world peace, stability and prosperity.The show began with Maj. Gen. Hiroaki Maehara, the JASDF 3rd Air Wing

  • F-15 engine tested on tri-fuel blend

    Continuing the march toward certifying the entire Air Force fleet on alternative fuels, an F-15 Eagle engine is undergoing performance testing here using a unique blend of three different fuel types.The F100 engine is being tested with a combination of JP-8 conventional aviation fuel; a biofuel

  • B-1 carries record-setting missile load

    A Dyess Air Force Base B-1B Lancer carried a full load of 24 AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missiles on a flight over the Gulf of Mexico, Sept. 7 -- a first for the B-1 and AGM-158."The mission was a success," said Maj. Brian Owen, the chief of wing weapons and tactics. "Everything went as

  • Officials release A-10C accident report

    Human error caused an A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft to depart the runway during an aborted takeoff May 10 at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., according to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released Sept. 2. The aircraft was assigned to the 75th Fighter Squadron from the 23rd Wing

  • MQ-9 Reaper crashes near El Mirage Airfield, Calif.

    An MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft crashed approximately one mile north of El Mirage Airfield, Calif., Aug. 31.The RPA was flying a training mission and launched from Gray Butte Airfield located about five miles east of El Mirage. Both airfields are about midway between Palmdale and

  • Photo essay: Balad Airmen move Pave Hawks

    Maintainers from the 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter for transportation out of Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Aug. 12, 2010.View the slideshow.

  • Destructive F-16 test makes strides toward new drone's development

    An F-16 Fighting Falcon was intentionally blown apart on the range here as part of a test on an aerial-target flight termination system Aug. 19. The purpose of the test conducted by the 780th Test Squadron, and overseen by the QF-16 special programs office, was to demonstrate that the FTS design

  • Officials release MQ-1B accident report

    Pilot error caused the crash of an MQ-1B Predator at Southern California Logistics Airport during an April 20 training mission, according to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released Aug. 20.The Predator was an Air National Guard aircraft from the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing

  • Officials release E-4B accident report

    Increased pitch angle by the pilot landing an E-4B aircraft was the cause of the tail striking the runway May 12 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., according to the Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released Aug. 20. The tail of the aircraft impacted the runway between two to three

  • Fighting Falcons return from exercise in Sweden

    Members of the 555th Fighter Squadron and 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron spent two weeks conducting air-to-air and air-to-ground exercises with members of the Swedish air force at Norrbotten Wing here.Over the course of two weeks, members of the U.S. Air Force worked side-by-side with their

  • Photo essay: McChord Airmen keep wheels turning

    Airmen assigned to the 62nd Maintenance Squadron perform tire maintenance on C-17 Globemaster IIIs here Aug 5. Tire maintenance is essential in ensuring the safety of the aircraft crew and integrity of the airframe. View the slideshow.

  • Air Force, Navy take steps toward joint RPA training

    In a first of many joint meetings, Beale Air Force Base leaders hosted a Global Hawk and Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Joint Cockpit Working Group Aug. 3 through 5. The group met to develop joint operations and training with the Air Force and the Navy remotely piloted RQ-4 and BAMS programs.The

  • One year later: JB Charleston helps keep multinational wing operational

    A C-17 Globemaster III pilot from Pápa Air Base, Hungary, completed simulator training here recently, as part of a multinational mission.Maj. Brian Nicosia, a U.S. pilot and chief of tactics for the Heavy Airlift Wing, is part of the first multinational partnership for Strategic Airlift Capability,

  • Air Force officials release preferred aircraft basing alternatives

    Air Force officials released several announcements regarding five different aircraft July 29. Michael Donley, the Secretary of the Air Force and Gen. Norton Schwartz, the chief of staff of the Air Force, approved C-27J operations and training candidate bases and announced the transition of Holloman

  • Officials recommend Eglin as preferred alternative F-35 base

    Air Force officials announced July 28 its proposal for basing 59 F-35 Lightning IIs at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The draft supplemental environmental impact statement, which Air Force officials plan to release in September, includes the preferred alternative of basing the 59 F-35 aircraft at Eglin

  • Photo essay: Refuelers keep aircraft flying during RIMPAC exercise

    Tanker aircrews help keep participating aircraft flying during the Rim of the Pacific exercise. RIMPAC, the world's largest maritime exercise, is a biennial event which stresses interoperability of all partner nations as a key element of regional stability The exercise, which runs from June 23

  • Newer F-15s enhance maintenance training

    Months of coordination, several temporary deployments, and a large parking space define only a few of the factors that fell into place to bring 13 newer-model F-15 Eagles to update the F-15 aircraft maintenance course here.The course currently utilizes A and B model aircraft to train today's F-15

  • The multiple roles of the C-17 Globemaster III

    The C-17 III Globemaster here serves as the visual centerpiece of the United States' static display coral at the 2010 Farnborough International Air Show here.The eight crew members accompanying the newest cargo aircraft to the international event are from the 301st Airlift Squadron, a Air Force

  • Farnborough International Air Show highlights servicemembers, aircraft

    One of the largest air shows in the world kicked off here July 19, and U.S. servicemembers are among 1,500 exhibitors from around the world showing off the latest in aviation technology. Approximately 70 U.S. military and support members from bases across the world are participating in the

  • C-130J Super Hercules provides unique look at Air Force mission

    Approximately 285,000 spectators are catching a glimpse of the C-130J Super Hercules at the Farnborough International Air Show here July 19 through 25.Many people's idea about the U.S. military is fighter pilots putting bombs on target and fast-flying jets. The C-130J Super Hercules, however, offers