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  • Zelda's tower

    For 35 years, Zelda Montoya has stood in her tower, overlooking flightlines around the world and guiding aircraft to and from home. To her, the sky is not made up of fleecy clouds and endless expanses of blue, but rather lines, grids and waypoints.

  • Airmen save millions by making repairs

    Deep inside one of the 20th Maintenance Group hangars is a windowless room, where Airmen peer into microscopes and solder electronics as they work to save the 20th Fighter Wing millions of dollars.

  • AF rolls out details to improve RPA mission

    In response to a critical shortage of remotely piloted aircraft pilots, the Air Force rolled out more details of its plan to fix the problem in both the short and long term. The most recent initiatives include creating bonuses for RPA pilots of $15,000 per year beginning in fiscal year 2016; placing

  • Harrigian cites sustainment center’s F-35 support

    The head of the Air Force's F-35 Lightning II integration team cited the Air Force Sustainment Center's overall joint strike fighter support during a visit to the center’s headquarters at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, July 10.

  • US, South Korea pilots soar at Buddy Wing 15-6

    F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots from the 80th Fighter Squadron at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, practiced combined flying operations alongside counterparts from the South Korean air force’s 19th Fighter Wing at Jungwon AB during Buddy Wing 15-6, July 7-10.

  • Airmen share aerial refueling tactics with Royal Australian AF

    U.S. Air Force members demonstrated forward aerial refueling tactics with Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force personnel July 8 during Talisman Sabre 2015. The training demonstration helped provide Australian forces with the knowledge to establish similar capabilities for their future

  • US takes partnerships to new heights

    U.S. Air Force and Army counterparts joined together with service members from nine allied countries to participate in International Jump Week at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, July 6-10.

  • AF Vietnam veterans honored on Capitol Hill

    Current and former service members, members of Congress, Vietnam veterans and Air Force senior leaders gathered in the Emancipation Hall of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, July 8, for a Congressional Commemoration to honor those who served during the Vietnam War.

  • 40th HS makes rescue during Independence Day weekend

    A UH-1N Iroquois crew assigned to the 40th Helicopter Squadron here rescued an injured female hiker in the Big Horn Mountain Range roughly 15 miles west of Buffalo, Wyoming, July 5 at approximately 5:20 a.m.

  • Tech Report: The Global Hawk

    It seems the coolest new toys out there involve drones. Check out this week's Tech Report, which highlights one of the most prestigious of them all: the RQ-4 Global Hawk.

  • Pave Hawk maintainers keep rescue birds flying

    Airmen assigned to the 41st Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit here constantly work maintaining HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters so that the combat rescue mission in Afghanistan can be a success if and when it is needed.

  • B-52s demonstrate strategic reach

    Two B-52 Stratofortresses assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, returned July 2 from a 44-hour, nonstop mission to Australia.

  • Airman passes on knowledge to Civil Air Patrol cadets

    As a first lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol on Kadena Air Base, Chance Sheek is an emergency services training officer, communications officer, and he oversees all of the cadet training. But during the weekday, he is a senior airman assigned to the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron working as a

  • SecAF visits key operating locations in European theater

    Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James completed a multination visit throughout Europe June 13-24. The secretary met with Airmen, civilians, host nation community leaders, and allied and partner nation military leaders in countries including Germany, Belgium and Poland during her second visit

  • Western Hemisphere air chiefs work together at annual conference

    United-Allied -- this is the motto of the System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces, an organization comprised of more than 20 air force leaders from across the Western Hemisphere, who met June 22-26 in Mexico City for a summit known as the Conference of American Air Chiefs.

  • 5,000 days of war

    It’s been 5,000 days of struggle, rugged landscapes, blood and sweat. It’s been 5,000 days of exhaustion, injuries, and long separations from family, friends and home. On June 27, the 17th Special Tactics Squadron marked 5,000 days of unremitting war.

  • Fuels Airmen, Marines support Northern Edge

    During exercise Northern Edge 2015, approximately 450,000 gallons of fuel per day kept nearly 60 aircraft at Eielson Air Force Base, fueled up and flying the skies over Alaska to accomplish critical joint training.

  • Upgraded AWACS platform tested at Northern Edge

    Calmly soaring at 30,000 feet in the midst of nearly 100 fighters, bombers and refueling tankers executing a battle scenario, an E-3G Sentry (AWACS) surveys every aircraft in a 300-mile radius, calling out commands, verifying target hits and sending aircraft back home safely.

  • AFSC merger ensures airborne situational awareness

    With the fiscal constraints recently seen in the Air Force, many changes have taken place to safeguard the survivability of missions and career fields. Some of those changes came in the form of career-field mergers, especially within the career enlisted aviator specialties.

  • Sparks fly in metal technology shop

    Sparks fly as Airmen help pieces of metal take form. These Airmen sometimes create something from nothing or improve necessary equipment for squadrons to continue their daily tasks.

  • Test flight completed after F-35B modifications

    The Ogden Air Logistics Complex completed an F-35B Lightning II functional check flight at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, June 18, after the first depot-level short take off and vertical landing modifications were completed on two F-35Bs for the Marine Corps.

  • Fairchild engineers save AF nearly $8 million

    Balancing today's readiness with tomorrow's modernization isn't an easy task, but the 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, figured out a way to do it and saved $8 million along the way.

  • Hot maintenance

    Carrying out maintenance on Dover Air Force Base’s fleet of C-5M Super Galaxies and C-17A Globemaster IIIs can be challenging at times, but extreme heat and humidity can add additional challenges during the summer months.

  • Air Force intel pros use Web-based remotely piloted aircraft application

    Using existing technology, a team of Air Force intelligence experts have developed a new Web-based program that saves lives and money. These innovators will receive the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation Achievement Award for developing the Surveillance Intelligence Reconnaissance Information

  • All colors fade to mud

    Marines and Airmen crawled and carried one another through the pouring rain, and as their tan and green uniforms got covered with mud, the service members looked like the joint fighting force that they are.

  • GPS: A generation of service to the world

    Nearly 40 years ago, the Air Force launched the first GPS satellite, dubbed Navstar. But even the most visionary of those people involved with the first launch probably couldn’t have guessed how much GPS would eventually impact the world.

  • Raptors bring intimidation to exercise Northern Edge

    Its wide muzzle, short black broad nose with large nostrils and deep-set, dark eyes grimace intimidation across the patch on the right shoulder of the pilot boarding his aircraft while preparing to engage an enemy in the joint interoperability environment that is Northern Edge 2015.

  • Alaska's military continues Operation Colony Glacier support

    In November 1952, an Air Force C-124 Globemaster II with 52 passengers and crewmembers aboard crashed near Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Almost 60 years later, June 9, 2012, an Alaska National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk crew on a training mission noticed some debris on Colony Glacier. The National

  • Tech Report: Dropsonde

    The Hurricane Hunters of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron use a cool piece of tech called a “dropsonde” to help forecast hurricanes and other tropical storms.

  • Northern Edge 2015 fills the skies

    Approximately 200 military aircraft filled the skies above Alaska June 15, signifying the start of the joint training exercise, Northern Edge 2015.

  • Airman improves intelligence career field through innovations

    Tech. Sgt. Kevin from Creech Air Force Base, Neveda, has been an innovator for the intelligence career field with for the past decade. One of his creations, called the Squadron Intelligence Reconnaissance Interface, codenamed SIRI, is an application used by remotely piloted aircraft crew members to

  • US airpower on display in Paris

    Defense Department representatives and aircraft were on hand at the 51st International Paris Air Show, the largest aerospace event in the world, at Le Bourget Airport, France, June 15-21.

  • Nepal final report: AF support for Operation Sahayogi Haat

    Since the May 26 deactivation of the Nepal earthquake response task force, Joint Task Force-505, the scope of the Air Force's contribution to Operation Sahayogi Haat reveal the magnitude of Pacific Air Force's role in the response.

  • Elmendorf fuels flight named best in AF

    The Air Force recently recognized the 673rd Logistics Readiness Squadron's Fuels Management Flight as the best in the Air Force after being named the winner of the 2014 American Petroleum Institute Award.

  • Maintenance key to combat airpower mission

    Maintainers deployed to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing from their home station at Aviano Air Base, Italy, are always at work maintaining a squadron of combat-ready F-16 Fighting Falcons.

  • Lt. Gen. Hesterman III: ISIL fears coalition airpower

    “We know from our intelligence that (ISIL) fears coalition airpower,” said Lt. Gen. John Hesterman III, the Combined Forces Air Component commander. “Since Aug. 8, coalition airpower has significantly degraded (ISIL’s) ability to organize, project and sustain combat power while taking exceptional

  • AF takes to the skies for Baltops 2015

    The Air Force, along with its Polish counterparts, officially kicked off Powidz Air Base's portion of Baltic Operations 2015 with the first KC-135 Stratotanker flight from the 507th Air Refueling Wing here June 8.

  • Tech Report: E-3 Sentry (AWACS)

    The E-3 Sentry (AWACS) is a modified Boeing 707 commercial airframe with a rotating radar dome and serves as an integrated command and control battle management, surveillance, target detection, and tracking platform.

  • Olympic hopeful takes 1st at top US 10K

    In the crisp air and with a stunning view of Colorado’s Front Range, Maj. Benjamin Payne was first to cross the finish line at this year’s Bolder Boulder 10K race. It was just one of many wins he hopes to achieve on his road to the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February 2016 in Los Angeles, but it

  • Fairchild, McConnell tankers fuel NORAD exercise

    A tanker task force assembled from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, and the 22nd ARW from McConnell AFB, Kansas, joined approximately 300 military personnel and 15 aircraft in exercise Amalgam Dart 15-2 May 26-June 1.

  • Kendall cites progress on F-35 performance, schedule, cost

    The F-35 Lightning II program (also known as the Joint Strike Fighter program) is making progress on performance, schedule and cost, Frank Kendall, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, told U.S. reporters last week during a teleconference from Norway.

  • Maintaining the vehicles that move the mission

    Imagine unloading 60,000 pounds of cargo by hand. Aircraft missions, personnel movements and supply distributions would come to a screeching halt. The time and resources necessary to accomplish such a task would be detrimental to the mission.

  • Creech Airman resurrects AGE equipment, saves AF thousands

    With the phrase "do more with less" in the forefront of the minds of today's Airmen, the obligation to save money is still a top priority.For Tech. Sgt. Kasey Hollinger, a 432nd Maintenance Squadron aerospace ground equipment craftsman, it was this priority that inspired him to try and complete the

  • Running on High Octane: POL fuels support, combat operations

    It’s 9 a.m. and even though it’s already 100 degrees outside, the temperature continues to climb.Chatter comes across the radio for a fuel request and Airman 1st Class Arnaldo, a fuels distribution operator, wipes the sweat off his face, hops into his R-12 Refueler and heads to the flightline. To

  • Aviano F-16s take on Arctic Challenge 2015

    At the invitation of the government of Sweden, More than 150 Airmen and 12 F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, arrived at Norbotten Wing here in support of Arctic Challenge Exercise 2015.

  • Frankenphone: Creech Airman improves RPA communications

    n a crowded room of remotely piloted aircraft sensor operators, it would be easy to overlook him, yet his accomplishments scream for attention. His peers have labeled him a 'jack-of-all-trades' and after getting past his quiet first impression, it's easy to see why.

  • Luke's 56th Fighter Wing has new mission

    Luke Air Force Base's 56th Fighter Wing conducted a change of mission ceremony May 21, formally including the F-35 Lightning II as part of the wing's new mission statement.

  • Maintainers extend the battle against ISIL

    Fly, fight and win: words that are etched throughout Air Force history from the countless sorties flown in combat operations around the globe. Today, that legacy continues in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

  • Air Force moves to bring about RPA mission relief

    The Air Force is pursuing a range of options that will, in combination with a reset in the number of sustainable combat air patrols, help alleviate long-term stress on Remotely Piloted Aircraft crews.

  • Barksdale B-52s participates in CENTCOM exercise Eager Lion

    Two B-52 Stratofortress bombers assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing in Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, returned May 18, from a 30-plus hour, 14,000 mile nonstop mission to the U.S. Central Command area of operations, where they participated alongside Jordanian and other multinational forces in

  • Increased mission requirements open doors for continued service

    The Air Force is introducing several personnel and manpower initiatives to meet increased mission requirements outlined in the fiscal year 2016 President’s Budget. The Air Force is undergoing a concerted effort to stabilize and grow the force by fiscal 2017, to include addressing key gaps in the

  • Equipment specialist saves AF money by building simulator

    Just a few months into his work as equipment specialist with Air Force engineering and technical services for the 732nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Tangog, a retired master sergeant noticed his leadership was looking for ways to save money on training.

  • Dispelling remotely piloted aircraft myths

    Public interest in remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) continues to grow thanks to increasing non-military uses and portrayal in popular culture. For the Air Force, remotely piloted aircraft are and will continue to be a vital mission set delivering vital airpower to combatant commanders throughout the

  • Exercise tests command's deterrent capabilities

    Air Force Global Strike Command’s bomb wings participated in exercise Constant Vigilance May 4-13, demonstrating the command's flexibility and global reach while testing its tactics, techniques and procedures.

  • Behind the scenes: Yokota supports Nepal

    Members of Yokota Air Base, serving at the primary airlift hub in the Pacific region, often deploy to provide humanitarian aid to countries stricken by natural disasters. In recent years alone, the 374 Airlift Wing has deployed to support regional countries such as Japan after the Tohoku earthquake

  • AF chief scientist visits AFRL, receives service honor

    Dr. Mica Endsley, the chief scientist of the Air Force, met with Air Force Research Laboratory leaders at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 5-7, reviewing key Air Force science and technology programs, and attending a preview of the technology displays AFRL will feature at the Department of

  • Repair enhancement program breeds innovation, ingenuity

    A troubleshooter’s mindset, outside-the-box thinking, and raw talent — is what it takes to become a technician in the Air Force Repair Enhancement Program according to Sam Krahn, the 27th Special Operations Maintenance Group AFREP manager.

  • ANG European theater security package arrives in Bulgaria

    The U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander spoke to U.S. and Bulgarian Airmen and local community leaders about the Air Force's first European theater security package (TSP) of F-15C Eagles deployed to Graf Ignatievo Air Base, near Plovdiv, Bulgaria, May 11.

  • Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge test last flight

    A team of researchers from the Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA and FlexSys Inc., accomplished a long sought goal in aviation research April 22, with the last flight of the Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge (ACTE) Flight Research program.

  • Nation honors WWII vets on V-E Day anniversary

    They may move more slowly than they did in 1945, but World War II veterans were out in force at the National World War II Memorial on the National Mall here May 8 to remember their comrades on the 70th anniversary of when the guns stopped in Europe.

  • C-17 fleet celebrates 3M flying hours

    The C-17 Globemaster III has proved again that it remains the world's premier airlifter after the total C-17 fleet celebrated the historical milestone of achieving 3 million flying hours on May 5.

  • Academy wins DARPA challenge

    The U.S. Air Force Academy won the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Innovation Challenge for the second year in a row, Academy officials said May 6.

  • PAF marks milestone, integrates with Air Force AWACS crew

    For the first time in Philippine Air Force history, PAF air battle managers controlled aircraft while airborne by integrating with the U.S. Air Force's 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron as part of exercise Balikatan 2015.

  • Manassas airport hears ‘true sound of freedom’

    There’s no mistaking the sound of four Wright Cyclone 1,200-horsepower engines pulling a B-17 Flying Fortress into the air. The press and local dignitaries watched as two B-17s, a B-24 Liberator and the only remaining airworthy B-29 Superfortress taxied down the ramp at Manassas Regional Airport,

  • Nepal relief airlift expands with deployment of Yokota aircraft

    As U.S. efforts to support the government of Nepal is recovering from the earthquake that struck the country April 25, the 374th Airlift Wing here sent four C-130 Hercules and accompanying personnel to aid Joint Task Force-505 (JTF) in its mission.

  • Ramstein awarded $250,000 for innovation

    Gen. Frank Gorenc, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander, presented the 86th Airlift Wing here a $250,000 check and the Lt. Gen. William H. Tunner Trophy May 1, for winning the USAFE-AFAFRICA Innovation Madness tournament.

  • USDA dogs sniff out snakes

    With the utilization of 17 active-detector dog teams, 3,400 traps and toxicants, the U.S. Department of Agriculture captured approximately 8,300 brown tree snakes on Guam last year.

  • DOD Lab Day to showcase groundbreaking technologies

    The Air Force Research Laboratory will have a unique opportunity to showcase some of its groundbreaking technologies at the first ever Department of Defense Lab Day to be held at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., May 14.

  • AF celebrates Public Service Recognition Week

    PSRW is a nation-wide campaign to recognize people who serve the nation as federal, state, county and local government employees. It's to highlight their contributions and to say “thank you for your service.”

  • Global Strike maintainers win 2014 AF-level maintenance award

    The men and women of Air Force Global Strike Command's Logistics, Installation and Mission Support Directorate recently earned the 2015 Gen. Wilbur L. Creech Maintenance Excellence Award. The award is given to the major command demonstrating the most improved performance in the category of aircraft

  • Brothers in arms fly together

    Members of the U.S. military oftentimes have relatives that serve alongside them, and this is the case for the Allen brothers, they were recently reunited at exercise Max Thunder 15-1 in South Korea.

  • Luke commander brings home flagship F-35

    The 56th Fighter Wing flagship F-35 Lightning II arrived at Luke Air Force Base April 28, it was the base's 22nd F-35. Flying the aircraft from Lockheed Martin's Forth Worth, Texas, plant to Arizona was Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus, the 56th FW commander.

  • Tech Report: The F-16 Fighting Falcon

    The Air Force Tech Report is a video series that airs every other week and gives viewers a quick look at current technology the Air Force uses to fly, fight and win. This week's report focuses on the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has

  • Air Force provides additional support in Nepal

    The Air Force continues its support of the disaster relief operations in Nepal with the arrival of a second C-17 Globemaster III in response to an earthquake that rocked the country April 25.