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  • Home front crew chiefs still make it happen

    When they finish their shifts their uniforms are often covered in oil, dirt and sweat. They are no longer the crisp, starched uniforms they once were. However, for crew chiefs here -- and elsewhere on the home front -- this is a symbol of pride. The life of a crew chief is a tiring but rewarding

  • Front-line forecasting not average day on the job

    Slashing through Burmese jungles with Maj. Gen. Orde Wingate’s Chindits; hunkering down far above the DMZ in North Vietnam; infiltrating into Northern Iraq to ensure the success of a thousand-man airborne jump -- not the average day at the office for most weather forecasters. But those missions and

  • Airmen continue Pakistan relief effort

    The Air Force continues to support Pakistan-led earthquake recovery operations by airlifting much-needed supplies into the devastated region. Here are the latest figures from U.S. Central Command Air Forces for Dec. 2 through today. Five Air Force C-130 Hercules and one contracted Boeing 747 flew in

  • CENTAF releases its airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces released today's airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 34 close-air support missions Dec. 8 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist

  • Maintainers keep ‘Hercs’ flying

    Most of them are in there early 20s and some are just out of high school. Their average rank is senior airman and many of them have less than three years in the military. However, they have one of the most demanding jobs in the Air Force -- keeping multi-million-dollar aircraft flying in support of

  • Airmen ‘drop’ in to help islanders

    Airmen from here and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam -- and people from surrounding communities -- teamed to airlift Christmas supplies to people at more than 50 Micronesian islands. The effort was the 53rd anniversary of the Christmas Drop mission. Three C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 36th Airlift

  • Airman missing from Vietnam War identified

    The Department of Defense today identified another Airman missing in action from the Vietnam War. The department’s POW/Missing Personnel Office said he is Tech. Sgt. Patrick L. Shannon of Owasso, Okla. DOD returned the remains to his family for burial with full military honors. His family has yet to

  • Radar unit helps rescue glider crash victims

    Radar analysis provided by the 84th Radar Evaluation Squadron at the Western Air Defense Sector here helped in the rescue of two people crash landed their glider in remote southern California mountains. A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department helicopter rescued the instructor pilot and a student

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 62 close-air support missions Dec. 7 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and

  • Hickam quiet on this Dec. 7

    The Pacific Air Forces headquarters building -- and this base -- is quiet today, the 64th anniversary of the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. But on Dec. 7, 1941, it was a major target during the infamous sneak attack on Pearl Harbor and Hickam Field that drew the United States into World

  • Barksdale maintainers keep ‘Buffs’ flying

    Some people have compared the specialists at the 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron to gears in a watch. The watch can’t tick without the gears -- just as aircraft can’t fly without the Airmen. Within the squadron, specialists in each of the three aircraft maintenance units work behind the scenes to

  • Little Rock gets fifth ‘J-Herc’

    Airmen fighting and training to fight the global war on terrorism have a new weapon -- a fifth C-130J Hercules. Lt. Gen. Dennis Larsen, Air Education and Training Command vice commander, delivered the new Hercules to the base’s Dec. 6 and added another first to his career. “This is the first C-130

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 58 close-air support missions Dec. 6 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

  • Aerial porters breaking airlift records

    Aerial porters of the 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron here are breaking records by moving more than 200,000 passengers and baggage since arriving in September. They have moved more cargo and people than other units who have rotated in and out of this desert base. “There is nothing

  • Loadmasters keep cargo, passengers moving safely

    Around the clock, C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft fly from here, airlifting military troops to locations throughout this theater. Helping passengers and cargo get to their destination safely is the job of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing loadmasters. Senior Master Sgt. Steven Woodside, the loadmaster

  • CENTAF releases air power summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 46 close-air support missions Dec. 5 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

  • Moody rescue crews receive Mackay Trophy

    Two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter aircrews received the Mackay Trophy from Gen. John D. W. Corley, the Air Force vice chief of staff, at a ceremony here Dec. 5. The 13 Airmen earned the award for rescuing five Soldiers whose helicopter crashed in a sandstorm near Kharbut, Iraq, in April 2004. The

  • Controllers keep air traffic on course

    In a cold, dark box the size of a small bedroom -- set apart from everything else here -- work the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron combined en route radar approach controllers. The controllers maintain the airspace over central Iraq and handle air traffic for both military and

  • Evaluators put ‘Js’ through the paces

    Active duty, Reserve and Guard C-130J Airmen put the aircraft through its wartime paces here during a joint training exercise. Airmen worked with Soldiers at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, La., to test the airplane last month. The exercise tested the aircraft’s ability to

  • Help desk changes speed up response times

    Response times to communications outages are now almost immediate after the 386th Expeditionary Communications Squadron here made changes to their help desk operations. The rapid response is the result of fixes that emphasize command-and-control in help desk operations. Most visible is the

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 54 close-air support missions Dec. 4 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They supported coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist

  • Mildenhall mourns sergeant’s death

    Master Sgt. Bernard Huggins was what people in the Air Force call a “fast burner.” In the military for 14 years, the flightline expeditor with the 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was promoted in July -- fairly early at age 33. Sergeant Huggins, who was from Manning, S.C., was found dead Nov. 18

  • Dynamic Weasel sharpens combat skills

    Exercise Operation Dynamic Weasel begins here today to hone the skills Airmen need for combat deployments. The exercise will sharpen tactics, techniques and procedural skills while practicing for combat situations, said Maj. Anthony Roberson, the 20th Operations Support Squadron director of

  • ’Patriot Express’ reengineering on track

    The reengineering process to significantly scale down Patriot Express is on track, said experts in Air Mobility Command’s Air Transportation Division. Patriot Express is an AMC-managed, military-chartered commercial air service for transporting Department of Defense customers to and from overseas

  • Osprey flies spec ops forces into future

    In addition to riding on the wings of Eagles, Falcons and Hawks, the Air Force will also fly with the Ospreys soon. The CV-22 Osprey, that is. The Air Force will buy 50 of the tilt-rotor aircraft for use by Air Force Special Operations Command. The Osprey will first go through several developmental

  • CENTAF continues Pakistan relief

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's Pakistan relief summary. The Air Force continued to support Pakistani-led earthquake recovery operations -- airlifting much-needed supplies into the devastated region Nov. 25 to Dec. 2. Three Air Force C-130 Hercules, two C-17 Globemasters

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary report

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary report. Coalition aircraft flew 52 close-air support missions Dec. 1 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to

  • Iraqi aircrew flies milestone mission

    The first all-Iraqi aircrew to fly a solo mission flew their C-130E Hercules on an airlift mission from Ali Air Base to New Al Muthana. The nine-member crew of the Iraqi Air Force’s 23rd Airlift Squadron flew the historic mission Nov. 28. The crew did an engine running on-load at New Al Muthana

  • New technologies tackle landing challenges

    The Air Force Research Laboratory is demonstrating technologies that will allow Air Force transport aircraft to land in a range of environmental conditions -- anytime and anywhere. The lab’s Air Vehicles, Human Effectiveness and Sensors directorates here are working with three technologies that,

  • Reclamation center tops DOD for continuous process improvements

    By reclaiming nearly 42,000 aircraft parts during fiscal 2004 and 2005, a team here saved the government $1.25 billion, while providing direct and often sole-source parts support to American and allied warfighters. As a result, the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center earned the 2005

  • Airmen offload 250th Pakistan relief aircraft

    The Air Force unloaded the 250th aircraft taking part in Operation Lifeline -- the humanitarian relief mission providing aid to the people hit by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake here in early October. The Idaho Air National Guard C-130 Hercules, arrived Nov. 29 at Chaklala Air Base from Afghanistan. It

  • A-10 pilot ‘talks down’ civilian airplane with emergency

    “Mayday. Mayday.” The distress call is familiar to most people who watch television and movies. But when it is made for real, it can make a pilot’s mouth go dry and his stomach cramp. That is the feeling pilot Naim Fazlija said he had when he made the distress call to German radar controllers when

  • CENTAF releases its airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 59 close-air support missions Nov. 30 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 55 close-air support missions Nov. 29 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They supported coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist

  • Ammo warriors keep close-air support of U.S., coalition forces a reality

    Keeping a mission-capable supply of bullets coming as A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots respond to close-air support requests is a key role for a group of Airmen taking part in the ongoing global war on terrorism. Deployed here from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., the role of the 455th Air

  • For all B-52 flyers, all roads lead to the 11th BS

    For B-52 Stratofortress aircrew members, all roads lead to Barksdale, more specifically the 11th Bomb Squadron. All "Buff" navigators, pilots or electronic warfare officers goes through their initial and upgrade training in the 11th BS. During 2005, the squadron processed 315 students.“Of the 315

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 42 close-air support missions Nov. 28 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They supported coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary report

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 46 close-air support missions Nov. 27 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They  supported coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist

  • Air Force fighters destroy terrorist hideout

    U.S. Air Force F-16s successfully bombed a booby-trapped house in the vicinity of Al Mahmudiyah Nov. 23 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Anti-Iraqi forces had attacked Iraqi Army Soldiers with an improvised explosive device Nov. 21. Coalition ground forces then secured and searched the area of

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today’s airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 42 close-air support missions Nov. 24 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They supported coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist

  • Balad Airmen have sweeping task

    Keeping the busy airfield here free of debris is a lot of work -- and takes a lot of sweeping. But Airmen from the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron airfield management flight and 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron pavements and equipment shop see it as a challenge. "We

  • Mishap investigation training changes course

    Figuring out what causes an airplane to crash is no easy task. But many flight surgeons, aerospace physiologists and some psychologists will be part of an aircraft mishap investigation at some point in their careers. So the more they know about what to do, the better. To better prepare students for

  • McConnell completes first refurbishment project

    Several Airmen here joined the 22nd Maintenance Squadron's equipment excellence section in a Refurb Rollout ceremony Nov. 21, which celebrated the end of McConnell’s first complete KC-135 Stratotanker refurbishment. “The result was a 40-year-old aircraft that looked brand new in approximately 30

  • Airmen ‘march to the beat’ in Tokyo

    Band members from units throughout the Air Force came to play in the annual Marching Band Festival held at this city’s Budokan Hall. The concert, on Nov. 18 and 19, is an annual event held near the anniversary of the founding of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. This year, a crowd of nearly 50,000

  • Discovery Channel show visits McConnell 'Dirty Jobs' crew

    “It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it.” That’s a cliché jokingly thrown around in everyday life. But a team of 22nd Maintenance Group Airmen tackle their “dirty job” with such aplomb, the Discovery Channel show “Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe” taped an episode about the Airmen here Nov. 21 and

  • Aerial port center making air movements easier

    The U.S. Central Command Air Forces aerial port control center here makes it easier to move troops and cargo through this region each day. That includes tons of cargo and thousands of troops and is a process that takes a lot planning and coordination, officials said. The center cuts a step out of

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today’s airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 42 close-air support Nov. 22 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt

  • Air Force releases F-16 accident report

    A fuel leak and fire caused an F-16 Fighting Falcon landing at Lamar Airport, Colo., June 28 to leave the runway and crash, the Air Force announced today. The pilot ejected from the aircraft and suffered minor injuries. There was no private property destroyed, and the airport sustained minor damage.

  • Team tests Joint Strike Fighter's survivability

    Members of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Integrated Test Force here are testing the chemical and biological survivability of the future jet. However, they are testing the decontamination processes on a retired F-16 Fighting Falcon. The aim is to find ways to return the fighter to service after

  • Missing Airman’s body found

    The body found in a Freckenham field four miles from this tanker base was that of missing Master Sgt. Bernard Huggins, 100th Air Refueling Wing officials said. Found Nov. 18, the sergeant was last seen Nov. 12. He was reported missing Nov. 14 when he did not show up for work. Wing commander Col.

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today’s airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 40 close-air support missions Nov. 21 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

  • Hanscom man goes to extremes for charity

    Making a financial donation to the Combined Federal Campaign is a conventional way to support charitable causes. But there have always been those who relish the opportunity to challenge themselves in an effort to rally the troops to dig deep for a good cause. Rick Penn, the 66th Comptroller Squadron

  • Pakistan quake relief funds nearly double

    The Defense Department is nearly doubling its funding for earthquake relief operations in Pakistan -- to $110 million -- State Department officials said Nov. 19. The devastating Oct. 8 earthquake killed an estimated 73,000 people. U.S. Agency for International Development administrator Andrew

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today’s airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 39 close-air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Nov. 20 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They supported coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to

  • Building Iraqi air force is tough job

    Building a nation's air force from the runway up is never going to be easy, a fact one can see at first glance. Dig a layer deeper, and the issues increase dramatically. For the Coalition Air Force Transition Team -- a U.S. Central Command Air Forces think tank of 28 specialists assisting with the

  • Leaders say Cope India 'great success'

    Exercise Cope India ‘06 ends Nov. 20, but U.S. and Indian air force leaders have already said the training has been a resounding success. The exercise, which began Nov. 7, involves Indian Airmen and about 250 U.S. Airmen from Pacific Air Forces bases. “Such exercises not only help in promoting

  • Fire rescue team supports combat operations

    The role of Air Force firefighters is changing here, with tents replacing fire station, dirt airfields and, at times, rocket attacks. In the last six months, a six-man Air Force fire and crash rescue unit has gone on five missions into some of Afghanistan’s most remote areas. There was enough

  • Airmen, Sailors supporting Dubai air show

    Airmen and Sailors are here to support the Dubai Air Show -- the third largest in the world -- over the next week. About 300 Airmen and Sailors, and more than 20 different Air Force and Navy aircraft from bases in the Persian Gulf region, Europe and the United States, will support the air show from

  • Commando Sling wraps up

    The first Commando Sling exercise of the fiscal year ended here today, wrapping up a month of air-to-air combat training. Nearly 80 members and their F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 14th Fighter Squadron at Misawa Air Base, Japan, deployed to this island city state to square off against Singapore air

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released today’s the airpower summary report. Coalition aircraft flew 60 close-air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Nov. 17 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction

  • Air Force continues Pakistan aid support

    The Air Force continues to support Pakistani-led earthquake recovery operations by airlifting much-needed supplies into the devastated region Nov. 11 to 18. Five C-130 Hercules, four C-17 Globemaster IIIs, two contracted B-747s, one contracted B-757 and one contracted AN-124 Condor flew in more than

  • ‘Cop-pilots’ fly their own kind of plane

    The glamour of their “piloting” job may not match that of F-15 Eagle or F-16 Fighting Falcon “fighter jocks.” But a group of enlisted Airmen here are using their wings to do a job both kinds of pilots do -- provide base security through air superiority. The half-dozen Airmen -- 407th Expeditionary

  • A-staff helps sustain joint humanitarian effort

    The 818th Contingency Response Group and 24th Air Expeditionary Group continue handling hundreds of thousands of pounds of cargo each day as part of the continuing Pakistani earthquake recovery effort. Col. Richard Walberg, who commands both groups, said while much of the "visible work" goes on in

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary report

    U.S. Central Air Forces officials released today’s airpower summary report. Coalition aircraft flew 60 close-air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Nov. 16 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and

  • Pararescuemen continue Pakistan humanitarian relief

    Above the mountainous countryside of northern Pakistan, two Air Force pararescuemen aboard a Russian-made MI-8 helicopter survey areas where people may need relief supplies. These Airmen, known as PJs, are part of a unit that traveled halfway around the world to participate in the ongoing

  • B-52 simulator plays big role in exercise

    A B-52 Stratofortress simulator is allowing 11th Bomb Squadron students to train with Soldiers and Airmen near Fort Polk, La., taking part in the live fire portion of exercise Air Warrior II. The simulator provides Airmen here a unique training opportunity -- and an alternative to participating in

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary report

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today’s airpower summary report. Coalition aircraft flew 72 close-air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Nov. 15 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and

  • Tuskegee Airmen get Air Force update

    Members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen visited the Pentagon to learn about today's Air Force and visit with the secretary of defense. The Airmen visited Nov. 10. One pioneering Airman, retired Lt. Col. Howard Baugh, took time to reflect on the changes in the military since the day he joined in 1942.

  • Maintainers rescue 'Herc' stranded in Mosul

    Two maintainers went to Mosul, Iraq, to rescue a stranded C-130 Hercules cargo plane. Hydraulics specialist Staff Sgt. David Harrelson and crew chief Senior Airman Brian Kundick, of the 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, went to Mosul Nov. 12. The Airmen boarded a C-130 and flew into

  • Controllers keep Balad traffic flowing

    A director producing a blockbuster film must know where each actor and camera is at all times to ensure the right shot. Air traffic controllers from the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron must be just as diligent to ensure aircraft take off and land safely at this busy base. The

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today’s airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 58 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Nov. 14 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and

  • Logistics center keeps Stratotanker 'booming'

    The aerial refueling capability of the KC-135 Stratotanker is an essential component of the Air Force’s worldwide mission. And the experts in two Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center shops ensure every refueling the tankers make is safe and successful. Specifically, the two shops work on the KC-135’s

  • Wargames are serious business

    To the untrained eye it seems to be a room full of computers. However, to Airmen of the 608th Combat Operations Squadron the combined air and space operations center here is a lethal weapon system. “It’s the total package, we find the target, fix the position, track it, engage the target and assess

  • U.S., Indian controllers on scope

    Looking at the radar, the four F-16 Fighting Falcons were clearly outnumbered as 12 opposition aircraft closed in to fire their weapons. An E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control systems aircrew started relaying coordinates, preparing the pilots for their impending battle.However, this time

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary report. Coalition aircraft flew 57 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Nov. 13 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and

  • Accident report out on Iraqi Comp Air 7SL

    Air Force Special Operations Command ended its investigation into the May 30 crash of an Iraqi air force Comp Air 7SL aircraft in Iraq that killed five Airmen. The primary purpose of the investigation was to set forth factual information concerning the accident. But because the investigation lacked

  • Schoolhouse trains tanker instructor pilots to be weapons officers

    Some Airmen here are helping produce experts in Air Force tanker operations. Members of the 509th Weapons Squadron do that by conducting the KC-135 Weapons Instructor Course and running the tanker intelligence formal training unit here. The squadron is one of three that make up the U.S. Air Mobility

  • Bringing troops home safely

    The sun had just set as the aircraft preflight checks ended. The tower reported: “cleared for take off.” The four engines of the vintage 1962 C-130E Hercules roared as the transport plane rumbled down the runway on its way to Iraq to deliver and pick up passengers and cargo. Aboard, loadmaster Tech.

  • American, Indian Airmen ‘mix it up’

    For the first time, U.S. pilots faced the Indian Air Force’s most advanced, and newest, fighter -- the Su-30 MKI -- during an exercise Cope India 06 mission here. F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots Capt. Martin “Gabby” Mentch and 1st Lt. Robert “Pipes” Stimpson were the first to mix it up with the Su-30s

  • Children honor sacrifice in Veterans Day walk

    Their strides might not have been as long as the adults in the crowd, but each step they took meant just as much. Decked out in patriotic red, white and blue, children from Oak Hill Elementary School beamed with pride as they marched in their annual All Veteran’s Memorial Walk here last week. The

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary report

    Officials at U.S. Central Command Air Forces released today's airpower summary report.Coalition aircraft flew 58 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Nov. 9 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction

  • Exercise tests aircrews in virtual reality by linking simulators nationwide

    The first nationwide virtual reality exercise, Virtual Flag 06, used networked simulators to create a realistic and cheap simulated battlespace to test aircrews and space and ground operators. The exercise, led by the Distributed Mission Operations Center here, ended Nov. 4. The networked simulators

  • Maintainers keeping F-16s soaring over India

    Cleaned, inspected and fully maintained, 12 neatly aligned F-16 Fighting Falcons stand poised for their daily battle. Beside them, their adversary -- an assortment of Indian Air Force MiGs, Mirages and Su-30s -- are also ready for the day’s dissimilar air combat training. The jets are all taking

  • Soto brothers endure Balad together

    Deployments often mean working long hours thousands of miles away from family and friends. But for two Airmen here, that is not the case. The Soto brothers are both deployed to the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. Tech. Sgt. Orlando Soto and Senior Airman Saul Soto deployed from the

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    Officials at U.S. Central Command Air Forces released today’s airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 58 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Nov. 8 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities,

  • Special ops reservist helping rebuild Iraqi air force

    During a deployment to Iraq, Brig. Gen. Frank Padilla led a team of Air Force and coalition partner experts to plan for and help to rebuild a more robust and effective Iraqi air force. The group’s mission is to help the Iraqis establish the very best air force possible with the resources they have

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    Officials at U.S. Central Command released today’s airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 53 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Nov. 7 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and

  • Eagles, Raptors team to deter ‘attack’

    Every day, F-15 Eagle instructor pilots here teach dozens of student pilots how to fight and win in combat. But the instructors rarely get a chance to showcase their own warfighting skills. Fortunately, some 1st Fighter Squadron instructors got a chance to test their skills against the toughest and

  • U.S., Indian Airmen take next step in growing relationship

    The U.S. and Indian air forces opened the next chapter in their growing relationship when exercise Cope India 2006 began here Nov. 7.About 250 Airmen from Pacific Air Forces join several hundred of their Indian counterparts for the two-week, dissimilar air combat training exercise in which simulated

  • Officers chosen for education, cross-flow duties

    More than 210 officers from 18 career fields were selected to attend developmental education or for cross-flow assignments beginning in summer 2006. The development team special program selection and Air Force Institute of Technology boards considered officers from various fields. They included

  • C-130J Hercules undergoes new test

    As part of the second phase of the C-130J Hercules qualification test and evaluation, the aircraft will fly airdrop and formation-drop operations later this month. The aircraft from here will take part in an exercise at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., from Nov. 13 to 17. The

  • CENTAF releases today's airpower summary

    Officials at U.S. Central Air Force have released today's airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 50 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Nov. 6 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and

  • Wynne: Air Force needs more joint role

    Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne said as the Air Force evolves to a new global war on terrorism era he wants it to participate in more joint operations. The Air Force is operating “as a joint service, right now -- today," the secretary said. But he said the service needs to foster a more joint

  • Operation Ruthless Raven: OSI cracks down on drug smugglers

    The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is heading up Operation Ruthless Raven, a joint task force to combat drug smuggling. Ruthless Raven Task Force goals are to identify vulnerabilities in the Air Force transportation and mail systems and to leverage internal and external capabilities to

  • C-130s drop humanitarian aid into Pakistan

    Two C-130 Hercules aircrews left here Oct. 29 and airdropped an estimated 50,000 pounds of humanitarian supplies to victims of the Oct. 8 earthquake in Pakistan. Fourteen containers filled with food, water, shelter and supplies descended by parachute to people below. “As far as the C-130 goes, you

  • Second Air Force CV-22 arrives at Edwards

    The Air Force’s second CV-22 Osprey arrived here Oct. 27.  -- two months earlier than the contract’s due date. The first Air Force CV-22 was delivered for electromagnetic testing to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., Sept. 16 and will arrive at Edwards in December. The third CV-22 will be

  • 23rd EFS protects Baltic skies

    Providing security over the Baltic countries of Eastern Europe is no easy task.But the 23rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron is constantly training, even while deployed, to effectively address any airborne threats to the area. The 23rd EFS is provides 24-hour air policing coverage over Lithuania,

  • Vehicle revs up to shatter land speed record

    It looks like a plane, sounds like a plane and even goes as fast as a plane, but it never leaves the ground. What is it? It's the North American Eagle, a land vehicle attempting to bring the world land speed record back to the United States. In preparation for this feat, the NAE team tested their

  • CENTAF airpower summary for Nov. 4

    U.S. Central Air Force's airpower summary for today is: Coalition aircraft flew 35 close-air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Nov. 3 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter

  • Guam unit continues providing Global Strike capabilities

    Four B-1B Lancers from the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron here participated in Exercise Koa Lightning last week -- continuing their mission of providing Global Strike capabilities for Pacific Air Forces and Pacific Command. During the exercise held in Hawaii, the B-1s dropped inert weapons and