Daily Report

March 2, 2010

Expect a Slip

The Air Force likely will not have its first unit of combat-ready F-35 strike fighters available until late in calendar year 2015, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley confirmed Tuesday. “We have been taking a closer look in the past month...

Back on Guam

More than 240 airmen and a small group of B-2A stealth bombers from the 393rd Bomb Squadron at Whiteman AFB, Mo., have arrived at Andersen AFB, Guam, for a several-month deployment in a normal rotation of US combat forces to...

Pilot Escapes F-16 Crash

An F-16C fighter assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron at Osan AB, South Korea, crashed Feb. 25 during a routine training mission, according to officials with Osan's 51st Fighter Wing. The pilot, whose name was not initially released, ejected safely and was transported to the base hospital, they said. A board of officers will investigate the accident. Stars and Stripes reported Feb. 27 that the mishap occurred when the aircraft had nearly touched down for landing. It did not catch fire and remained structurally intact after the crash, according to the newspaper.

B-2A Engine Fire

One of the B-2A stealth bombers that recently deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam, experienced a minor engine bay fire on Feb. 26 during a routine engine start as the aircraft prepared for takeoff. The Pacific News Center reported Feb. 28...

Stealth “Stasis”

The teaming arrangement created almost two years ago between Boeing and Lockheed Martin to pursue the Air Force’s next-generation bomber is officially “in stasis mode right now,” according to Boeing Phantom Works chief Darryl Davis. Speaking with reporters Monday via...

Staying in the Game

Boeing plans to begin flight testing in December the stealthy uninhabited aircraft it announced last spring as the Phantom Ray, Boeing Phantom Works chief Darryl Davis told reporters Monday via telecon. Flying the Phantom Ray, Boeing’s name for the completed...

Secret Program

Boeing was originally expected to start taxi tests with its Phantom Ray stealth unmanned aircraft demonstrator (see Staying in the Game above) this spring, but it only just got a piece of the airplane back from a classified program, so...

Time to Thaw Out

The US military on Feb. 24 concluded the 2009-10 Operation Deep Freeze season, wrapping up six months of logistical support to US researchers on Antarctica. This included 60 C-17 airlift missions, 330 flights of ski-equipped LC-130 transports, and sealift. Thirteenth...

Still Ticking

Lockheed Martin has announced that one of the Defense Satellite Communications System satellites that it built for the Air Force has surpassed its 10-year design life on orbit and is still functioning. This satellite, designated B8, was placed in orbit...

Bronze Stars for Airmen

Maj. Jeffrey Magee and Capt. Tom Clerici each received a Bronze Star Medal at separate events in February for their meritorious service in Afghanistan. Magee was recognized Feb. 17 at Lackland AFB, Tex., for his work in assisting the Afghan...

Air Sorties in SWA, 022310

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, Feb. 23-25, 2010 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 94 87 181 3,203 CAS/Armed Recon 58 240 298 4,941 Airlift 425 425 8,909 Air refueling 126 126 2,312 Rescue 28 28 28 Total...