Daily Report

Sept. 27, 2011

Two Must Haves for Orbital Awareness

The Space Fence and a space-based space-surveillance system are essential components of the Air Force’s architecture for monitoring objects on orbit, said Gen. William Shelton, head of Air Force Space Command. Those “are two big capabilities that we think we...

Slain Airman Awarded Silver Star

Capt. Nathan Nylander, who died April 27 helping his comrades when a disgruntled Afghan air force officer attacked US air advisors at Kabul International Airport, posthumously received the Silver Star medal for his valor. Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz...

The Conversion Equation

The Air Force’s method for converting some of its B-52H bombers so that they are capable of delivering only conventional munitions is working its way through the approval process, said Maj. Gen. William Chambers, assistant chief of staff for strategic...

Nary a Binary Issue

Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, head of Air Force Global Strike Command, isn’t convinced yet that designing the future penetrating bomber aircraft to operate without a pilot in the cockpit would offer operational benefits. “The issue here is what do you...

Ramsay Takes Reins of 18th Air Force

Lt. Gen. Mark Ramsay took command of 18th Air Force at Scott AFB, Ill., accepting the unit colors from outgoing commander Lt. Gen. Robert Allardice. “The flag that we’re passing today is significant,” said Gen. Raymond Johns, Air Mobility Command...

First HC-130J Rescue Bird

Lockheed Martin turned over the first HC-130J Combat King II personnel recovery aircraft to Air Combat Command. Gen. Norton Schwartz, Chief of Staff, ferried the new aircraft from Lockheed’s production facility in Marietta, Ga., to Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., where it...

E-Model Leaves C-130 Schoolhouse for the Last Time

The Air Force’s Hercules schoolhouse at Little Rock AFB, Ark., retired its final C-130E, aircraft 62-1855, in a ceremony at the base. “This airplane . . . has seen it all. Yet, as special as 1855 is, she is not...

Staying Strong

The Air Force and its reserve components continue to post strong recruiting numbers for the fiscal year to date, according to the Pentagon’s newly issued recruiting numbers. USAF’s active duty force brought in 26,533 accessions through August, the first 10...

Reserve Wing Discusses Firefighting Mission with Chinese

A delegation from China’s People’s Liberation Army visited Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson AFB, Colo., to learn more about the wing’s overhead firefighting mission. The wing operates Modular Airborne Firefighting System-equipped C-130 aircraft that drop fire...

Global Hawk Arrives at Museum

The Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Ga., received a retired RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 10 remotely piloted aircraft for permanent display. The aircraft, which accrued more than 7,000 combat hours before its retirement, arrived at the museum on Sept....