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  • US provides initial critical aid in Haiti

    Since arriving Oct. 5, U.S. service members assigned to Joint Task Force Matthew have been operating around the clock, providing aid to citizens of western Haiti.The team has been conducting 24-hour operations at the request of Haiti’s government to support the U.S. Agency for International

  • Pilot carries on four generations of tradition

    Some people say flying is in their DNA. That couldn’t be truer for Capt. John Lockheed, an Air Force Reserve pilot assigned to the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base. He’s a fourth-generation pilot -- continuing a family tradition that encompasses more than a century of flight.

  • Around the Air Force: Oct. 14

    On this look around the Air Force the Air Force Research Laboratory has developed a new flexible lithium-ion battery, Airmen bring humanitarian aid to Hurricane Matthew victims in Haiti and the Air Force is looking to develop new anti-icing technology.

  • New test force focuses on autonomy

    The 412th Test Wing has a new organization that will explore the Air Force warfighting capabilities of tomorrow.The Emerging Technologies Combined Test Force was officially activated in early July and its mission is to provide agile, innovative flight test capabilities for emerging

  • Little Rock AFB provides humanitarian support

    Airmen from the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, dedicated three C-130J Super Hercules to deliver humanitarian aid and disaster relief response for Haiti on Oct. 7 after the Category 4 hurricane tore through the island.

  • Maintainers' ingenuity saves AF money, time

    Nowhere in the 439th Airlift Wing’s mission statement does it say anything about Yankee ingenuity, but it should because when Westover Air Reserve Base maintainers recently needed a part for a C-5A Galaxy, they made it themselves.Members of the 439th Maintenance Squadron discovered they needed an

  • JTF-Bravo deploys for disaster relief in Haiti

    Approximately 200 Soldiers, Airmen and Marines from Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Southern Command and Joint Task Force-Bravo deployed this week with two CH-53E Super Stallions, three CH-47 Chinooks, two UH-60L Black Hawks, and two HH-60L Black Hawks to provide heavy and medium lift

  • E-4Bs realign under 8th Air Force, 595th CACG stands up

    The 8th Air Force has another aircraft in its inventory, and it’s not a bomber. The E-4B, which serves as the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) and is a key component of the National Military Command System for the president, the secretary of defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently

  • 352nd SOW Delivers Combat Power Anytime, Anyplace

    Pre-flight briefs, heavy cargo loads, drop zone statistics, personnel guidance, aircraft and equipment inspections – a few of the many crucial steps it took Airmen from the 352nd Special Operations Wing to execute a Maritime Craft Aerial Delivery System drop Sept. 27, 2016. As part of the combined,

  • New commander takes reins of 12th AF, AFSOUTH

    The president of the United States nominated Maj. Gen. Mark D. Kelly for promotion to lieutenant general, and command of 12th Air Force and Air Forces Southern.During a change of command ceremony here Oct. 3, Kelly replaced Lt. Gen. Chris Nowland who was selected to become the next Air Force deputy

  • AF launches yearlong ‘Cyber Secure’ campaign

    The Air Force message is clear -- October may be National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but with the continuous advancement of technology and evolving cyber threats, one month of cybersecurity awareness is no longer enough.

  • Competitive career opportunities exist via officer crossflow program

    One of today’s opportunities for officers to broaden career options comes from the nonrated line officer crossflow program, which currently has openings for officers on active duty in certain career fields to volunteer for retraining into undermanned career fields.

  • Performance wing team researches human-machine trust

    A research team in the 711th Human Performance Wing’s Airman Systems Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, focuses on how humans make reliance decisions with technology or, in other words, how humans develop, maintain and lose trust.

  • Global U-2 Flying Operations Not Impacted by recent crash

    Beale Air Force Base, Calif.- Flying operations worldwide for the U-2 Dragon Lady have not been impacted as a result of a recent crash here on September 20, 2016.The demand signal for the U-2 to continue supporting combatant commanders and meet national security objectives has not diminished. The

  • US, Japan rescue squadrons save downed pilot

    Within 30 minutes of an AV-8B Harrier Jump Jet crash Sept. 22, Airmen from the 31st and 33rd Rescue Squadrons at Kadena Air Base, Japan, were in the air and intent on saving the life of a pilot stranded in the Pacific Ocean.

  • One bird, two stones

    Airmen from the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and the South Korean air force simultaneously trained for separate missions over the Pacific Ocean Sept. 12 and were assisted by a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from Kadena Air Base, Japan.

  • Pilot identified in fatal U-2 crash

    The pilot who was killed when a U-2 crashed shortly after takeoff Sept. 20 has been identified as Lt. Col. Ira S. Eadie, according to Air Force officials.

  • Carlisle: F-35A is fusion warfare key component

    During a panel session at the Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, Sept. 20, F-35A Lightning II senior leadership discussed the future of the multi-role aircraft.

  • B-21: Modernizing the bomber fleet

    Following the Air Force secretary’s announcement that the new long-range strike bomber would be called the B-21 Raider, Gen. Robin Rand, the Air Force Global Strike Command commander, said during a session at the Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference Sept. 19 the name brought the

  • Getting to know the 12 OAY

    In August, Air Force officials selected the service's top enlisted members, naming the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2016.

  • New faces of the Air Force

    As the Air Force turns a year older Sept. 18, some of the newest members of the service were asked earlier this month on their basic training graduation day why they decided to be part of the world’s greatest airpower team. Here’s what they had to say.

  • PACAF civil engineers improve airfield repair skills

    Civil engineer squadrons from Kadena, Yokota and Misawa Air Bases teamed up here with the Air Force Civil Engineer Center to conduct training for the new Rapid Airfield Damage Repair technique Sept. 12-15.

  • Joint STARS fleet achieves 1 million hours of flight time

    The 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron flew the Air Force’s E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) worldwide fleet to its 1 millionth flight hour Sept. 6, following a combat mission in support of operations throughout the U.S. Air Forces Central Command

  • AFTAC commander briefs James on North Korean actions

    Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James listens to Col. Steven M. Gorski, the Air Force Technical Applications Center commander, discuss the actions AFTAC has taken with regard to North Korea's purported nuclear test Sept. 9, 2016.

  • PAR program issues EMD request for proposal

    On Sep. 12 the Air Force officially requested a proposal from Boeing to complete detailed design, modification, test and fielding of two aircraft that will provide presidential worldwide airlift support starting in the 2024 timeframe. A third production representative aircraft is still under

  • Program adds multiple career fields, vacancies

    The Air Force’s Voluntary Limited Period of Active Duty (VLPAD) program has added a number of career fields for selected air reserve component line of the Air Force officers.

  • Airman follows dad’s lead, applies lesson to life, career

    Not every son gets a chance to live out his father’s legacy. For Senior Airman Christopher Martinez, an 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron crew chief, each day served in the Air Force is an opportunity to honor his father’s, Tech. Sgt. Gilbert Martinez, memory.

  • Bulgaria, US commence joint air policing

    The U.S. and Bulgarian air forces are conducting a joint NATO air policing mission in Bulgaria Sept. 9-16, which enables on-demand response capabilities that serve to mitigate and deter violations and infringements on Bulgarian sovereign airspace. Working alongside the Bulgarian Air Force are four

  • AFRL discovering what’s “bugging” military aircraft

    As any aircraft maintainer can attest, corrosion is a major factor affecting the overall health of military aircraft. Anything from changing temperatures to environmental factors can precipitate corrosion. One major contributor, however, is often overlooked -- microbes.

  • Caribou Vietnam vets honored at Pentagon

    The assistant vice chief of staff of the Air Force unveiled a scale model C-7A Caribou during a ceremony acknowledging the service of Vietnam War Caribou crewmembers and support personnel at the Pentagon Sept. 9.

  • Airmen, Marines seize airfield during training

    Standing at the edge of the open ramp on an MC-130J Commando II, 13,000 feet above their target with the cold wind whipping through the aircraft, they wait for the green light and the go sign from the aircraft’s loadmaster allowing them to jump and parachute in to take their target. The 353rd

  • WWII female pilot honored among brothers, sisters

    More than 70 years later, as the last of “the greatest generation” dwindles and the WASPs’ male counterparts are laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery with befitting honors, a WASP is at last also being honored for her service. During a military funeral service Sept. 7, Elaine Danforth

  • Lost, found, repatriated

    In early May 2016, Andy Fuller, a groundsman from Royal Air Force Honington, England, swept his metal detector over the soil of what used to be known as RAF Knettishall. Once designated as U.S. Army Air Force Station 136, the base was home to the B-17 Flying Fortress, an aircraft utilized for

  • Spanish aircrews train with US at Red Flag 16-4

    Since its inception in 1975, Red Flag has served as the pinnacle of air-to-air combat training for the Air Force and its allies. For the Spanish Air Force, Red Flag 16-4 has been the perfect avenue to receive the best training for their aircrews and support personnel, as well as an avenue for

  • General gives KC-46A progress report at symposium

    Brig. Gen. Duke Richardson, the Air Force program executive officer for tankers, delivered a comprehensive progress report on the KC-46A Pegasus Aug. 23 at the 11th annual Tinker and the Primes Requirements Symposium in Midwest City, Oklahoma.

  • AF lab investigating microscopic crack formations, metal fatigue

    The B-52 Stratofortress is one of the oldest legacy aircraft in the Air Force. Since the 1950s, the B-52 has led the force in its dominance as the world’s best; however, just as humans begin to age, so do aircraft. Repeated loading and unloading, changes in air pressure, exposure to altitude and

  • Colorado stands in for Afghanistan during pilot training

    The 81st Fighter Squadron from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, spent two weeks at Peterson AFB training six Afghan Air Force pilots to fly A-29 Super Tucano. The pilots are participating in a program that began in 2015 and will ultimately train 30 pilots and 90 maintainers through 2018. Most training

  • Air Force celebrates 60 years of the KC-135

    The Air Force celebrated the 60th birthday of the KC-135 Stratotanker Aug. 31. The first Stratotanker flew in August of 1956 and was later delivered to the Air Force in June 1957.

  • Around the Air Force: Aug. 30

    On this look around the Air Force, the enlisted remotely piloted aircraft program opens to all career fields, the Air Force is making the upgrade to Windows 10, and the Air Force officially welcomes its new vice chief of staff.

  • Fueling the future: AF works to ‘home-grow’ biofuels for DOD, industry

    A need to address increases in petroleum costs with an environmentally friendly fuel source has led to a new way of looking at production—and the Defense Production Act Title III Program Office, part of the Air Force Research Laboratory, is playing a critical role in commercializing this technology.

  • Joint exercise prepares Airmen, Soldiers for contingency ops

    Green Flag Little Rock 16-09 kicked off Aug. 18 with about 750 Army paratroopers jumping from several C-130J Super Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in the dead of night to seize and secure an assault zone. Among the largest rotational air mobility training events in the world, the exercise

  • F-35 surges forward with record-breaking weapons tests

    The F-35 Integrated Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base, California, recently completed 25 missions comprised of 12 weapons delivery accuracy and 13 weapon separation tests as part of a monthlong weapons firing test surge.

  • J-model shows why it’s king in recent rescue

    When the phone rings and lives are on the line, rescue Airmen understand that at a moment’s notice they need to be in the air and prepared to do the mission. On Aug. 19 that call came.

  • AF opens enlisted RPA pilot program to all AFSCs

    Using a phased-application approach, Air Force senior leaders are casting a wider net to ensure more active-duty enlisted Airmen are eligible to apply for the service’s RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft program, a Pentagon official said Aug. 29.

  • WWII aviator returns to Guam after 71 years, gets unexpected surprise

    The year was 1945 during the tail end of World War II. The sound of roaring aircraft engines and boots on the ground filled the air, raising decibel levels to resounding heights. For Rowland Ball, now 91, the sounds became familiar and today serve as a nostalgic reminder of his time as a B-29

  • Former AFMC commander talks innovation, third offset

    Innovation and the nation’s third offset strategy were topics brought forth by retired Gen. Gregory S. Martin, a former commander of Air Force Materiel Command, as he spoke with service members at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Aug. 24.

  • Research analysts develop F-22 efficiency tool

    Operations research analysts assigned to the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s operations research team at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, were recently recognized by the Military Operations Research Society for developing the F-22 master plan scheduling tool, which is credited with

  • Tech Report: CV-22 Osprey

    The CV-22 Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines the vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing qualities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. Its mission is to conduct long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply

  • Air Force, Army planners find ways to see greater jump in airdrops

    An arriving C-130 Hercules taxies to a large hangar where about 60 Army paratroopers wait to board. Lugging about 100 pounds of gear, the Soldiers quickly line up and load into the aircraft as its four idling engines blow hot gusts over the tarmac. Minutes later, the plane is flying at 150 mph and

  • Newly activated unit guides transient aircraft on joint missions

    Any aircraft that flies into Pope Army Airfield, Col. Kelly Holbert will know about it. But Holbert’s unit, the 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group, has no aircraft of its own. As the only en route operations group in the continental U.S., the unit manages transient aircraft and the joint missions

  • Contingency response Airmen support exercise Northern Strike

    Airmen from the 821st Contingency Response Group here recently participated in exercise Northern Strike at Grayling Army Airfield and Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan. Northern Strike is a large-scale exercise coordinated by the Michigan Army National Guard and features Army,

  • Goldfein talks air coalition ops during CENTCOM region visit

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein recently visited the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to get a sense of not only how the campaign is going as a member of the joint chiefs but also to get an understanding of how he can better support Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and

  • An AF first for aircraft research, development

    For the first time the Air Force has a means to conduct airworthiness assessments on non-Defense Department military type aircraft. This process enables the Air Force to gain a much deeper understanding of the state of civil aviation, while providing industry with an expert, independent evaluation

  • AF awards replacement firefighting foam contract

    The Air Force has awarded a $6.2 million contract to replace firefighting foam used in fire vehicles with an environmentally responsible foam to reduce the risk of possible contamination of soil and groundwater.

  • KC-46A approved for production

    The KC-46A Pegasus program received Milestone C approval from Frank Kendall, the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, signaling the aircraft is ready to enter into production.

  • Travis C-5M delivers SBIRS GEO Flight 3 satellite

    A C-5M Super Galaxy assisted in the completion of a major milestone for the Air Force’s Space Based Infrared Systems program, successfully delivering a geosynchronous Earth orbit Flight 3 satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, Aug. 2.

  • RPA pilots set to receive $35,000 annual bonus

    Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James announced an increase to the service’s remotely piloted aircraft pilot bonus Aug. 10 in a multi-pronged approach to increase RPA manning and incentivize RPA pilots within a community that has operated at surge capacity for more than 10 years.

  • SR-71 pilots, crew relive absolute speed record

    In 1976, it was a different time. The Cold War with the Soviet Union was in full swing and Americans were standing in line to buy gas. That year was also the country’s bicentennial birthday. To celebrate, officials decided to attempt to break some records with an aircraft known as the Lockheed SR-71

  • Tankers enable long-range bomber capability during Polar Roar

    Mobility Airmen play a vital role in deterrence and stand ready to operate in support of global operations at a moment’s notice. Air Mobility Command Airmen, 15 KC-135 Stratotankers and 10 KC-10 Extenders enabled Air Force Global Strike Command B-52 Stratofortresses and B-2 Spirits to sustain air

  • A-10s land on highway in Estonia

    Eight Air Force Reserve Command A-10 Thunderbolt IIs conducted highway landings on the Jägala-Käravete Highway in Northern Estonia Aug 1.

  • Repair Network Integration helps build a better repair network

    During periods where mission generation needs exceed local maintenance capabilities, backshops have historically relied on informal contacts and processes to increase capacity. Repair Network Integration, however, offers a single point of contact to help maintenance backshops explore all available

  • Airman trains to be better in the long run

    Staff Sgt. Benjamin Glenn is a 352nd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron CV-22 Osprey crew chief and a dedicated runner. He’s running half and full marathons in elite-level times, and the Air Force Special Operations Command chose him to represent the command in this year’s Air Force Marathon in

  • Compass Call receives navigation upgrade

    Since it became operational, the EC-130H Compass Call has demonstrated its electronic combat power in tactical air operations around the world, and this year the aircraft has achieved another first. The aircraft has received an avionic viability program upgrade to make it more effective in combat

  • Beale Airman recognized for heroic act

    An Airman from Beale Air Force Base, California, was awarded the Airman’s Medal July 29 for his heroic actions in saving the life of a fellow Airman.

  • AF declares the F-35A ‘combat ready’

    The F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation fighter aircraft was declared ‘combat ready’ by Gen. Hawk Carlisle, the commander of Air Combat Command, Aug 2.