Making a Fast Pick Up:

Sept. 1, 2006

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

The two C-17s from Hickam AFB, Hawaii, flown by active and Air National Guard airmen, that evacuated 188 people from tiny Wake island left their engines running as the evacuees—active duty airmen and DOD and Thai contractors—filed on board, leaving within 60 minutes of the aircraft touching down and just in front of Category 5 Super Typhoon Ioke. The storm hit Wake dead on with 186 mph winds.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Trending Stories

Air Force Seeks More Companies to Build the Stand-in Attack Weapon

Air Force-Backed Hypersonic Aircraft Startup Flies Demonstrator

NATO Scrambles a Dozen Aircraft as Russian Warplanes Approach Alaska

Air Force Updates Scoring Charts for New Fitness Test

Related

CCA’s AI Pilots Step into the Spotlight

March 9, 2026
Just one year ago, Collaborative Combat Aircraft took center stage as then-Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin designated the two competing jets prototypes as the first unmanned fighters in Air Force history: General Atomics’ YFQ-42A and Anduril Industries’ YFQ-44A. Twelve months later, it’s the autonomy software that’s flying those aircraft garnering the attention. Autonomy software, more than hardware, may prove the most valuable and enduring element of the CCA program.

Air Superiority Is More Than Denial

March 9, 2026
Operations Midnight Hammer and Absolute Resolve demonstrated the remarkable flexibility and overwhelming force possible when nations command control of the skies. It’s an object lesson to all who, having watched the carnage over more than four years of Russia’s war on Ukraine, some of whom have come to the erroneous belief that air superiority is no longer necessary…

Pentagon Task Force, FAA to Test Counter-Drone Laser

March 7, 2026
The Pentagon’s counter-drone task force announced it would conduct a high-energy laser test with the Federal Aviation Administration less than a month after the use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border prompted the FAA to shut down the airspace over El Paso, Texas.

Air Force-Backed Hypersonic Aircraft Startup Flies Demonstrator

March 6, 2026
Hermeus, a venture capital-backed company looking to develop a reusable hypersonic aircraft, announced March 3 it flew its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 demonstration vehicle—its second successful flight in the last year. The firm has also garnered interest from the Air Force and the rest of the Pentagon as the military looks…

Still More Fighters, Bombers Set to Join Iran Air War

March 5, 2026
The U.S. is moving to surge firepower over Iran, including its capital of Tehran, defense officials leading the campaign said March 5 at U.S. Central Command headquarters. Bomber strikes are being stepped up and additional fighter squadrons are being deployed.