Air & Space Forces Magazine
In This Issue
Air & Space Forces Magazine September/October 2025 issue.
The F-117 and the Future of Stealth
Stealth was a gamble 50 years ago. It’s still a good bet. S tealth technology has given the U.S. military an air of near invincibility for the past 35 years. Overwhelmingly successful in the 1991 Gulf War, and heavily refined...
Meet Troy Meink
Growing up, Troy Meink wanted to be a pilot, then an astronaut. He joined the Air Force, but his eyesight wasn't up to pilot standards, and the pilot dream was dashed. He began as a navigator, shifted into acquisition and space. He built airplanes in his garage and spent the better part of two decades buying, operating, and developing space systems. Not surprisingly, this new Secretary of the Air Force is enjoying the heck out of his new role.
The Force We Need: Stand-off and Penetrating Airpower
How the U.S. can counter China’s size and other advantages. Decades of force cuts and deferred modernization have left the U.S. Air Force unable to simultaneously deter nuclear attacks, defend the U.S. homeland, and defeat Chinese aggression at acceptable levels...
Airmen Injured On Duty—Why Isn’t the Air Force Paying?
Receiving disability compensation has become a complicated process. Capt. Cody Kirlin was deployed to Guam in 2019 when he woke one morning with severe neck pain. Examinations revealed the Louisiana Air National Guard F-15 pilot had two herniated discs in...
‘Prepare to Abandon the Aircraft!’
Inside a Vietnam War aircrew’s shootdown and the fight to honor their courage. The 10 Airmen of Stinger 41 knew the risks of flying their AC-119K gunship in daylight over enemy anti-aircraft gunners—a rare mission for an aircraft designed for...
Editorial: A Letter to the Next CSAF
Dear Chief, Congratulations on your selection. Just two dozen men have survived the culling to become Chief of Staff. Over the years I’ve interviewed 13 of them, plus perhaps two dozen other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Here’s...
