The 452nd Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, Calif., is taking the last of the Block 10 production Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles through its paces before turning it over to the operators at Beale AFB, Calif. All the Hawk’s from here on out will be the larger Block 20, 30, and 40 aircraft with greatly increased capability, said Lt. Col. Douglas Jaquish, 452nd FLTS commander. Air Force operators already have flown more than 10,000 hours with Global Hawks—about 60 percent were combat hours.
The Air Force is investigating after a Tactical Air Control Party instructor died Oct. 17 from injuries suffered during what appeared to be an uncontrolled descent during a rappelling demonstration at a college football game in San Antonio, Texas. Officials also identified the Airman as Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson.