The crews that fly, operate, and maintain USAF’s E-8C Joint STARS ground surveillance aircraft have reached a milestone 1,000 sorties for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Dec. 4 flight “wasn’t the longest, shortest, busiest, or slowest,” but it marked “another outstanding performance,” says Lt. Col. Timothy Manning, commander of the 16th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron, in the Desert Eagle. He said the credit goes to all three Joint STARS units from Robins AFB, Ga., that have taken turns flying missions over Iraq since 2003.
Planning an Air Show Is Hard. At Andrews, It’s Even Harder
Sept. 17, 2025
Joint Base Andrews opened its flightline this month to thousands of civilians, exposing a normally restricted airbase that regularly hosts the president and foreign dignitaries to a curious public eager to see current and historic military aircraft up close and in action.
