December issue of Airman available

  • Published
SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) --  Learn where the Air Force is heading with the future of flight, take a look at airmen supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, and learn about a unique program creating elite canine airmen. These features and more highlight the December issue of Airman magazine, now available in print and online at www.af.mil/news/airman/indxflas.html.

Future Flight -- Once upon a time, powered flight was the stuff of science fiction and fantasy. Today, 100 years after Orville and Wilbur Wright first took to the air, Air Force and civilian scientists are working on the next generation of aircraft designed to guarantee continued command of the air.

The Power of Freedom -- The road to victory during Operation Iraqi Freedom led military forces all the way to Baghdad. Today, U.S. airmen continue to operate out of Baghdad International Airport and other in-theater locations to help support coalition operations and rebuild Iraq. In doing so, “we (are making) our own ‘Greatest Generation,’” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper said.

The Enemy from Within -- Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration technicians join forces to upgrade 1950-era radars perched high atop mountains throughout the United States to help prevent another Sept. 11, 2001, surprise attack. For the first time, they will be able to detect the enemy flying within.

Defenders of America -- They had America’s back. When aircraft did not follow the rules or became a perceived menace, F-16 Fighting Falcons and airmen deployed from the 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, scrambled to intercept the threat in the East Coast.

Opera Man -- When Master Sgt. Manny Martinez leaves the office on Mondays, he heads to downtown Naples to develop his diaphragm, tongue and facial muscles. He is not trying the latest abstract form of a workout, but rather he is perfecting his mastery of opera.

Paving a Pathway -- The purchase of 48 F-16 Fighting Falcons from the United States worth $3.5 billion means the Polish air force is undergoing a change in training, logistics and facilities. A 35-person Air Force team helps the Polish air force take the leap forward from Warsaw Pact-era MiGs to one of the world’s most sophisticated jet fighters.

A Fur-footed Force -- A Texas base is home to a puppy program that provides military working dog handlers with elite co-workers. Bred for quality and born with a purpose, these puppies begin life with a lot of love, attention and care.