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  • 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