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U.S. Air Force News

  • Andersen team prepares Wake Island for aircraft

    After Super Typhoon Ioke's 155 mph winds and driving storm surge devastated Wake Island Aug. 31, members of the 36th Contingency Response Group at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, made up the initial assessment team sent to the island. "Prior to the storm the experts were all saying there would be no

  • Business changes dramatically for air operations center

    The way business is done has dramatically changed at the 1st Air Force Air Operations Center here.Five years after 9/11, the AOC, which is responsible for U.S. air defense, has made serious networking and communications upgrades to improve their processes. "Our mission is to watch all the aircraft

  • Teams fly to Wake Island to assess damage

    A 53-person team of 15th Airlift Wing Airmen, Defense Department employees and contractors arrived here Sept. 12 on a C-17 Globemaster III from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. The team of civil engineers and communications experts came to assess damage caused by Super Typhoon Ioke and report the

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 13

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 13.In Afghanistan Sept. 12, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The aircraft expended Guided Bomb Unit-12s and cannon

  • Tight fit for GM-3 will save $360K per flight

    Members of the 4th Space Operations Squadron here successfully loaded their Ground Mobile-3 vehicle onto a C-17 Globemaster III Sept. 10, proving a concept that will save the Air Force more than $360,000 each time the GM-3 deploys. In addition, C-17s are easier to procure and have a greater

  • Spangdahlem Airmen return home

    About 250 Spangdahlem Airmen returned home Sept. 9 to their families and friends after a deployment to Southwest Asia. "Since 9/11, a lot of Americans have been serving and sacrificing; these are the latest," said Col. Darryl Roberson, 52nd Fighter Wing commander. "The families and children here

  • Airman celebrates different KC-135 anniversary

    As people here join in the base's 50th anniversary celebration of the KC-135 Stratotanker, many are reminiscing about their own experiences with the aircraft. Few have a story like Chief Master Sgt. Steven and Justine Robinson.Fifteen years ago, they married on a KC-135 somewhere over Indiana. Both

  • Missouri Air National Guard gets sneak preview of B-2

    Missouri Air National Guard Airmen got a peek at a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber when it visited the 131st Fighter Wing here Sept. 9. Col. Greg Biscone, 509th Bomb Wing commander, piloted the B-2 from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., to St. Louis. It gave the Missouri Guardsmen an opportunity to see the

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 12

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 12. In Afghanistan Sept. 11, an Air Force B-1 Lancer conducted a precision strike against Taliban extremist fighting positions and a mortar position in the vicinity of Asadabad. The B-1 expended Guided Bomb

  • Five years later Airmen remember 9/11, continue the fight

    Sept. 11, 2001, is a day no American will ever forget, and Airmen serving around the world took time this Patriots Day to reflect on events just five years ago.Flags flew at half-staff and Airmen observed moments of silence around the world to commemorate the solemn anniversary. Coalition forces and

  • Officials announce T-3A Firefly final disposition

    Nearly a decade after the Air Force stood down the T-3A Firefly fleet following three fatal accidents, Air Force officials made a final disposition decision to salvage the aircraft in place. Base officials here announced the selection of TOTALL Metal Recycling Inc., of Granite City, Ill., to handle

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 10-11

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 10.Sept. 10In Afghanistan Sept. 9, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, a B-1 Lancer, MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles, Navy FA-18 Hornets and Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s provided close-air support for

  • USAFE sets course with AFSO 21

    To best meet the challenges of the road ahead, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander assembled leaders throughout the command here to initiate USAFE-wide implementation of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century. "We're going to determine where we're going in the future, and AFSO 21 will

  • Civic leaders, media help celebrate KC-135's 50th anniversary

    A group of 40 Spokane business people helped commemorate the 50th birthday of the Air Force's primary refueling aircraft here Sept. 6.The Boeing Company debuted the KC-135 Stratotanker in August 1956, and it was delivered to the Air Force a year later. The aircraft has supported armed conflict and

  • Puerto Rico ANG C-130s in war zone for first time

    The Puerto Rico Air National Guard's 156th Airlift Wing deployed here Sept. 8 -- the first time in a war zone in the unit's C-130 Hercules.A few members of the uinit have been deployed to other regions of the world, such as to Bosnia, but they had never deployed as a unit to a war zone until

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 9

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 9. In Afghanistan Sept. 8, Navy FA-18 Hornets and Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists in the vicinity of Kandahar . The FA-18s expended

  • Charleston C-17 squadron completes deployment

    The first full-squadron deployment of C-17 Globemaster III aircrews and leaders at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., came to a close Sept. 1.Lt. Col. Ricky Rupp assumed command of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron from Lt. Col. Lenny Richoux, both from the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston

  • Letter to Airmen urges energy conservation

    In the latest Letter to Airmen, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne recognizes the Air Force commitment to energy conservation. "As the largest user of energy in the DOD, the Air Force has developed a two-pronged energy strategy to attack this problem. This strategy of assured domestic

  • Researchers aim to enhance air vehicle systems

    Air Force Office of Scientific Research officials here recently awarded the University of Washington and three partner universities a grant worth approximately $6 million over five years to study the design of air vehicles capable of collecting and storing solar and heat energies. The

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 8

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 8. In Afghanistan Sept. 7, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds and

  • Air Force Research Lab names 2006 fellows

    Air Force Research Laboratory officials are honoring seven scientists and engineers as new fellows during an annual awards banquet Sept. 19 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Designed to recognize and reward AFRL's most outstanding in-house scientists and engineers, the fellows

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary, space support requests for Sept. 7

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have announced the airpower summary and space support requests for Sept. 7.In Afghanistan Sept. 6, Air Force B-1 Lancers provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Asadabad. One aircraft expended a Guided Bomb

  • Propulsion shops work together, eliminate waste

    In the name of increased combat capability, the 388th and 419th Fighter Wing propulsion shops are working side by side to take advantage of expertise from active-duty and Reserve technicians, while eliminating redundancy."The move enables us to work leaner, meaner and more concise, as well as

  • Dragon phase team provides key link in 'kill chain'

    Every successful hit of a target by the Air Force comes at the end of a long line of events commonly referred to as the "kill chain." The team members of 380th Air Expeditionary Wing play various roles as part of nearly all kill chains in this area of responsibility. One critical link in the kill

  • Teams seek fresh, creative ideas to resolve problems

    With violence at deployed military checkpoints a reality, U.S. and coalition forces often have to make tough decisions when drivers ignore warnings to stop. Insurgents often attack these guarded locations, sometimes with car bombs.Maj. Gen. Ted F. Bowlds, the Air Force Research Laboratory commander,

  • Former KC-135 pilot reminisces about plane's glory days

    Retired Lt. Col. Bill Fisher has lived a story that only a few can tell -- he was among the first Air Force pilots to fly the KC-135 Stratotanker. As Tinker Air Force Base prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the KC-135's maiden flight, Colonel Fisher reminisced about the glory days. "I was

  • Small Diameter Bomb I delivered ahead of schedule

    The culmination of more than five years of extraordinary teamwork was realized when the GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb was successfully delivered to the warfighter ahead of schedule and under cost. "This achievement represents an unparalleled team victory for the combined Air Armament Center and

  • Retired chief can't say goodbye to KC-135

    Nearly 50 years after retired Chief Master Sgt. Bobby McCasland boarded his first KC-135 Stratotanker, he is still in the KC-135 business. Today, he is a program manager for a team building a Test Tanker 2 KC-135R for the Air Force. Chief McCasland is also honoring his roots and making arrangements

  • Academy lays MIA grad to rest after 39 years

    A 1961 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and missing in action Airman returns home after 39 years in Southeast Asia. A funeral service for Maj. Burke Morgan, a Manitou Springs, Colo., native, will be held Sept. 7 at the Air Force Academy Chapel and Cemetery. Major Morgan, a navigator on a Douglas

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 6

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 6. In Afghanistan Sept. 5, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, Navy FA-18 Hornets and Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The

  • CENTAF releases airpower summaries for Sept. 3-5

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summaries for Sept. 3 to 5.Sept. 3In Afghanistan Sept. 2, Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles and HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters provided close-air support for search and recovery missions responding to the crash of a

  • First Spangdahlem jets return home from desert duty

    Six F-16 Fighting Falcons returned home to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, on Labor Day after a two-and a half month deployment to Southwest Asia. The fighter jets, of the 23rd Fighter Squadron, spent their deployment providing close-air support to coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, 52nd

  • Airmen sailing to Wake Island for damage check

    Airmen and Sailors from Andersen will sail 1,500 miles to Wake Island to see how well the U.S. territory survived Super Typhoon Ioke. The Air Force evacuated all 188 island residents on two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft Aug. 28 before the typhoon arrived Aug. 31 with 155 mph winds and gusts to 190

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 2

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 2.In Afghanistan Sept. 1, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, a B-1B Lancer and Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists in the vicinity of Musah

  • CENTCOM air commander: supporting ground troops top priority

    When describing the vast scope of the air mission in support of ground troops waging the war on terror, the commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces paints some graphic images. In addition to its daily average of 74 close-air support missions in support of combat missions in the region, Air

  • 433rd Airlift Wing Airmen learn from Katrina

    When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast one year ago, members of the 433rd Airlift Wing at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, quickly joined others from across the country to help in the relief efforts.For some members, it was what they had trained for and they moved with a choreographed precision to

  • Bagram C-130s drop high-tech cargo delivery system

    The same global positioning technology that helps fighter and bomber pilots deliver smart bombs with pinpoint accuracy now allows cargo bundles dropped from cargo planes to steer themselves to drop zones. A C-130 Hercules from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here dropped supplies to a U.S.

  • AFSO 21 team learns 'Lean' lessons from Dover Airmen

    An Air Force Smart Operations 21 team from the office of the secretary of the Air Force gained valuable insight into how to "Lean" a work process during a visit to Dover Air Force Base, Del., Aug. 21 to 25. The AFSO 21 team from the Pentagon is comprised of 72 master process officers going through a

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 1

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 1.In Afghanistan Aug. 31, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles, HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and a RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft provided close-air support for search and recovery

  • Charleston closed, airlift still going strong

    Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., closed Aug. 31 because of severe weather conditions from Tropical Storm Ernesto, but the base's global airlift mission is still enduring. The base's fleet of C-17 Globemaster III aircraft evacuated Aug. 30 to Whiteman AFB, Mo., and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, to

  • After Katrina: ACC's intel team applies lessons learned

    The men and women of Air Combat Command's intelligence directorate haven't been stocking up on distilled water and plywood, but they are prepared for the busy part of the 2006 hurricane season or any natural disaster that might affect the United States. "We're light-years ahead of where we were this

  • Wilford Hall holds dedication ceremony for C-9 Nightingale

    Active duty and retired military medical personnel gathered here Aug. 31 to dedicate the C-9 Nightingale static display. Nicknamed the "Cadillac of Medevac" and the "Workhorse" for aeromedical evacuation, it provided service not only to the military, but also to the Department of Veterans Affairs

  • Reservists ready to fight wildfires in Pacific Northwest

    Air Force Reserve Command's only airborne fire fighting unit is back on the road and ready to fight fires again. Twenty-one members of the 302nd Airlift Wing boarded a C-130 Hercules Aug. 27 and headed for Klamath Falls, Ore. There they will stage Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or

  • CAP proves worth during Katrina relief

    When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast a year ago, the nation went into immediate humanitarian mission mode. Along with the efforts of countless organizations came help from a 57,000-strong force often overlooked. While the debris settled and devastation became evident under clear skies, the

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 31

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 31.In Afghanistan Aug. 30, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Musah Qal'eh. The aircraft conducted passes, expending cannon

  • Whiteman Airmen return from Guam

    More than 170 Airmen are home after a four-month deployment to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. A contracted DC-10 aircraft carrying the returning Airmen touched down here Aug. 29 around 6:40 p.m. to an awaiting crowd of more than 250 family members, friends and co-workers. Senior Airman Thomas

  • Aircraft evacuated from Charleston AFB

    Airmen here are in the process of evacuating all operational C-17 Globemaster III aircraft on station due to impending severe weather. Aircraft will be flown to Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, Aug. 30. The aircraft are being evacuated to ensure the airlift mission

  • Vice president thanks servicemembers for vigilance

    Vice President Dick Cheney delivered a message of thanks and support to the 7,000 Airmen, Sailor, Marines and Soldiers here during a visit Aug. 29. "I'm here today because the president and I want you to know how much we appreciate everything you do on behalf of the United States," the vice

  • Memorial dedication honors American, Russian aviators

    American, Russian, French and Canadian dignitaries, to include Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, gathered here Aug. 27 to honor Russian and American aviators and troops responsible for ferrying more than 8,000 American-built warplanes from the Midwest through Canada to Fairbanks during World War

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 30

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 30.In Afghanistan Aug. 29, an Air Force B-1 Lancer provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Qalat. The aircraft expended a Guided Bomb Unit-31 and GBU-38s on the

  • Airmen return to big family welcome

    Family, friends and squadron members welcomed home 13 Airmen with fresh grilled food, cold drinks and cheerful faces Aug. 29. After their nine-month deployment supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving side-by-side with Army Soldiers to jointly handle security at Camp Bucca, the Airmen were met by

  • Katrina shapes rescue mission

    On Aug. 29, 2005, the third-strongest hurricane ever to hit U.S soil made landfall on the Louisiana and Mississippi border. Soon after, rescue crews from here were called on to perform search and rescue on a scale previously unseen. "The Katrina relief effort was a benchmark for Air Force rescue,"

  • CENTAF releases airpower summaries

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summaries for Aug. 28 and 29.Aug. 28In Afghanistan Aug. 27, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a B-1 Lancer provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The B-1 expended a Guided

  • Rescue wing gears up for Tropical Storm Ernesto

    Air Force Reserve Command's rescue unit here is taking measures to prepare for Tropical Storm Ernesto as it heads toward central Florida. The 920th Rescue Wing will evacuate its aircraft to Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., Aug. 29. Wing aircrews will fly their HH-60G Pavehawk helicopters and HC-130P/N

  • New intel squadron turns aerial eye on terrorists

    Terrorists and their supporters around the world soon will be under the gaze of a powerful "unblinking eye" providing information on their whereabouts to a "brain" here. The reactivation of the 11th Intelligence Squadron here marks a milestone for Air Force Special Operations Command, which gains

  • AF Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame inducts 6

    Six trailblazers were inducted here Aug. 24 into the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame for their significant accomplishments in the advancement of space and missile programs in the Air Force. The inductees, whose work formed the basis upon which Air Force Space Command now operates,

  • CENTAF releases airpower summaries

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summaries for Aug. 25 to 27.Aug. 27In Afghanistan Aug. 26, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolts and a B-1 Lancer provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The B-1 expended a Guided

  • C-17 crew delivers vital supplies to Soldiers

    A C-17 Globemaster III crew from Manas completed the base's first combat airdrop mission when they dropped vital supplies to Army units engaged in combat in eastern Afghanistan Aug. 23. Detachment 1 of the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron delivered 28 containers of ammunition weighing

  • Whiteman B-2s complete successful Andersen deployment

    After more than 140 sorties and 330 released weapons, B-2 Spirit aircraft, pilots, maintainers and support staff from the 509th Bomb Wing are returning home having completed another successful deployment here.Aircraft and Airmen from the 393rd and 13th Bomb Squadrons and 509th Maintenance Group at

  • Keesler keeps an eye on Ernesto

    As Tropical Storm Ernesto gets stronger and churns toward the Gulf of Mexico, Airmen at one Gulf Coast base are beginning to take notice. In a forecast report released today by the National Hurricane Center, weather forecasters expect Ernesto to become a powerful hurricane -- the first of the season

  • Life after Katrina, Airmen ready to help again

    The fifth tropical depression of the year is gathering force in the Caribbean Sea and making a beeline for the Gulf of Mexico. It might, or might not, turn into a hurricane. Either way, there is no doubt Airmen at bases along the Gulf Coast are wondering if they will soon have to hunker down and

  • Flight arms the fight

    Airmen here maintain the F-16 Fighting Falcon's armament system, a complex matrix of pylons, launchers, adapters and other equipment used to hold bombs and missiles in place until they are released and fired.The Airmen are assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Armament Flight. The

  • Letter to Airmen recognizes Air Force transformation

    In his latest "Letter to Airmen," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley discusses measures that will shape and transform the Air Force.  General Moseley said Airmen today are engaged in a vast array of missions from operating satellites in deep space to applying air power to the surface

  • Salvaged flight deck from C-5 mishap becomes tool

    The crew compartment belonging to the C-5 Galaxy aircraft that fell less than a mile short of Dover Air Force Base's runway April 3 has been salvaged for use in C-5 aircraft crew training. The compartment, commonly referred to as the aircraft's flight deck, was loaded onto a C-5 and airlifted to its

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 24

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 24.In Afghanistan Aug. 23, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops taking small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire from Taliban extremists near Musah Qal'eh. The A-10s

  • AMC commander praises airlift effort

    The general in charge of providing the Air Force airlift for the war on terrorism thanked Airmen here for being ready to do their part. Gen. Duncan McNabb, the AMC commander, called Little Rock Airmen his "band of brothers" and thanked them and their families for "standing tall and defending the

  • Tracking technology improves sustainment

    Air Force Materiel Command members are taking advantage of Automatic Identification Technology and finding ways to improve it. Logistics and depot maintenance experts demonstrated some cutting-edge tracking technology projects during an AIT Showcase Aug. 15 attended by senior AFMC people. The

  • Little Rock Airmen train Romanian maintainers

    Members of the 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 4, are providing first-of-its-kind training for Romanian air force maintainers with a custom-made program at the C-130 Center of Excellence here.Det. 4 members built training classes specifically for the Romanians, and then four separate classes of

  • B-52 Stratofortress ages like wine

    First deployed in 1955, the B-52 Stratofortress is already twice the age of many Airmen who maintain it. Despite its age, Airmen assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing here have an affinity for flying and maintaining this Air Force legacy aircraft and recognize its relevance today. "She gets finer with age

  • C-141 'Hanoi Taxi' now on display at museum

    The first aircraft to return Vietnam prisoners of war to the United States is now on public display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The C-141 "Hanoi Taxi" was the first aircraft to arrive in Hanoi in February 1973 to pick up the POWs returning to the United States.The "Hanoi

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 23

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 23.In Afghanistan Aug. 22, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops taking small-arms fire from Taliban extremists near Oruzgan. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon

  • Small-diameter bomb ready for war on terror

    Four major acquisition programs -- developed in parallel -- have come together to provide Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle crews with a revolutionary capability that combines accuracy and reduced collateral damage. Military and civilian employees in seven locations worked together developing the four

  • Air Force, Japan train to fight fires together

    Airmen from Misawa Air Base, Japan, are training to put out fires on base today with Japanese firemen from four local fire departments. These fires were part of a joint firefighter training exercise. "The most important reason is that we have a mutual-aid agreements with all of these departments,"

  • F-16 accident investigation complete

    Air Force officials have completed their investigation of the April 11 F-16 Fighting Falcon accident near Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., which resulted in the loss of the 56th Fighter Wing aircraft. The accident investigation board determined the cause of this mishap to be an engine explosion. The

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 22

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 22. In Afghanistan Aug. 21, an Air Force B-1B Lancer provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-coalition forces near Musah Qal'eh. The B-1B expended guided bomb unit 31s and GBU-38s on

  • Bagram A-10s surge for summer offensives

    Six U.S. and coalition troops peer out from a remote position on a ridge top in Afghanistan. At sunset on the third day of their vigil, a large force of Taliban extremists carrying heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades surround and pin down the team.By design, an Air Force joint tactical

  • 340th maintainers keep pace with optempo

    At one of the busiest refueling hubs in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Airmen from the 340th Aircraft Maintenance Unit are in constant motion. They support fighters, bombers, cargo and attack aircraft fighting in the war on terrorism. The fact the unit is blended from five bases --

  • Academy engineering among nation's top programs

    Several U.S. Air Force Academy undergraduate engineering programs rank among the top in the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report's America's best colleges 2007 rankings. The U.S. News & World Report rankings were released Aug. 18. The rankings are separated by which universities offer

  • B-1 Lancers join 379th fleet

    The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing welcomed its newest airframe to the fleet here Aug. 16. For weeks the wing has played host to several B-1 Lancers, providing support to the aircraft and the people associated with it, but now the bomber is officially assigned here. "Moving the aircraft here can help

  • CENTAF releases airpower summaries for Aug. 20-21

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 20 and 21.Aug. 21In Afghanistan Aug. 20, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Asadabad. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon

  • CV-22 testing accelerates in August

    The CV-22 Osprey, an aircraft unlike any other, is now in the midst of a test unlike any other.In the developmental test and evaluation phase, CV-22 testing has primarily been conducted by Bell-Boeing. However, when the Naval Air Systems Command requested an electronic warfare integrated assessment

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 19

    In Afghanistan Aug. 18, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops taking small arms fire from Taliban extremists in the vicinity of Musah Qal'eh. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds and ending the engagement. Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers also

  • Arnold AFB supports DOD assured fuels initiative

    The Arnold Engineering Development Center is taking a leading role in supporting the Department of Defense's assured fuels initiative, which aims to steer the military away from its reliance on foreign oil. A team from the center took its technical expertise and specialized equipment on the road to

  • Munitions Airmen make bombs built to order

    Hitting a two-meter target with 2,000 pounds of high explosives while traveling hundreds of miles an hour takes sophisticated weapons aboard aircraft flown by talented pilots. But, before these munitions can be used they must be inspected, tested, built, loaded and delivered to the aircraft. That is

  • Maintainers keep jets healthy, safe during Viper Lance

    While most participants involved in Exercise Viper Lance 2006 here call it a day at sunset, the workday is just beginning for maintainers on the night shift.Of the more than 250 Airmen here for the air-to-air and air-to-ground training exercise, roughly 170 support the maintenance mission. Viper

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 18

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 18.In Afghanistan Aug. 17, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops ambushed and taking small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire from Taliban extremists near Moqor. The

  • Viper Lance pilots trade rides

    Among the sounds of jets starting their engines and Romanian air force maintainers prepping their aircraft for departure, an American fighter pilot climbing into the back seat of a MiG-21 Lancer was a rare sight on the flightline here Aug. 11. Pilots from the 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here

  • AETC preparing for reduced civilian authorizations

    Air Education and Training Command officials are looking at ways to streamline organizations to smaller, more agile forces and organizational structures to reduce the effect of reductions in the civilian workforce next spring.The Air Force plans to reduce its civilian workforce strength by 2,000

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 17

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 17.In Afghanistan Aug. 16, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Musah Qal'eh. The A-10s expended a Guided Bomb Unit-12 on the

  • California Air National Guard embraces new mission

    The sun heats a Nevada desert landscape as a small group of warriors focus on computer terminals. These men and women know their actions directly support others facing the heat of another desert half a world away. Members of the California Air National Guard's 163rd Air Refueling Wing have spent the

  • New platforms provide patients comfort

    In an effort to improve safety and comfort for patients being transported on high-deck aircraft, Air Mobility Command officials plan to soon acquire several high-deck patient loading platform, or HDPLP, vehicles. The HDPLP is a vehicle with a series of hoists that allows the cab and patient seating

  • Raptor meets new challenges, expands capabilities

    For the men and women taking care of the Air Force's newest and most lethal fighter aircraft, the F-22A Raptor, firsts seem to be a common occurrence. Along with milestones by the 27th and 94th Fighter Squadrons have come new challenges in places such as Alaska, Utah and Florida that have left

  • B-2 Spirit exceeds mission standard

    The B-2 Spirit exceeded Air Combat Command's fully mission capable rate standard of 51 percent in June, a feat not achieved since September 2004. Keeping the B-2 ready for war is an effort that requires the hard work and support of everyone who works on base, said Col. Bob Dulong, 509th Maintenance

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 16

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 16.In Afghanistan Aug. 15, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops taking small-arms fire from Taliban extremists near Gardez. The A-10s conducted a pass, expending cannon

  • COMUSAFE boosts U.S.-Russian relations with visit

    The commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe is in Russia to bolster relationships and security cooperation between U.S. and Russian Air Forces during a visit Aug. 14 to 17. Gen. Tom Hobbins' visit is reciprocal for one taken by Gen. Col. Aleksandr Zelin, deputy commander in chief of the Russian

  • Global missions all in a day's work

    Many people say they joined the Air Force to have exciting adventures and see the world. For a C-17 Globemaster III aircrew from Detachment 1 of the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, those perks are part of their average day. "An average mission can range anywhere from a 12-hour day to a 72-hour

  • C-5 Galaxy undergoes dynamic runway testing

    As part of the C-5 Galaxy's Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program, the aircraft is undergoing dynamic taxi testing to check the structural strength and flexibility of the four-engine modification. The main focus of the RERP testing was the C-5 structure's movement when traveling over

  • 'Bats' shield Airmen from harm

    Their mission is simple: save the lives of troops on the ground in Iraq by providing an electronic shield around them. That is the job of the 43rd Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron. Known as the Bats, they take to the air every day of the week to actively support coalition warfighters in

  • Modifications to extend service life of A-10s

    At first glance the A-10 Thunderbolt II cockpit looks like a Category 5 tornado just touched down in the middle of it. The chaotic scene, with hundreds of loose wires and instrumentation ripped from consoles, is really the beginning of modifications that will extend the service life of A-10s while

  • Inventory boost cuts down repair turnaround times

    A $10 million addition to the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron parts inventory is allowing quicker turnaround on repairs to aircraft, vehicles and aerospace ground equipment. "The additional inventory will increase the timeliness of repairs and reduce the number of multimillion