The Air Force’s aircrew egress systems technicians provide that extra measure of security for pilots flying USAF’s high-speed warplanes, when all the pilots have is 1.8 seconds to survive, reports Air Force journalist SSgt. Alice Moore in the Red Tail Flyer. Moore talked with the egress airmen who maintain, repair, and modify—when needed—the F-16 Vipers at Balad AB, Iraq. They check every egress system on each Viper every 30 days or more often if something seems amiss, working 24/7 to “provide the men and women who fly our aircraft into battle with the safest, most reliable ejection system possible,” says SSgt. Steven Rosenberg, an egress craftsman with the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron.
Earlier this spring, the 388th Fighter Wing proved just 12 Airmen can operate an F-35 contingency location, refueling and rearming the fighters at spots across Georgia and South Carolina. The demonstration, part of exercise Agile Flag 23-1, marks yet another proof of concept for the Air Force’s plan to send…