Daily Report

Oct. 22, 2009

The New X-Plane

The Air Force has designated the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft technology demonstrator the X-55A. Under an Air Force Research Lab contract, Lockheed Martin modified a Dornier 328J aircraft, replacing the mid/aft fuselage and empennage with an advanced composite structure. The...

Integrate or Nothing

Air Force Space Command boss Gen. Bob Kehler told industry representatives at the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association’s Infotech 2009 in Dayton, Ohio, Tuesday, that they must bring the US military “integrated solutions” to aid cyberspace defense efforts, reports...

USAF’s Flying Mishap Rate Is Down

The Air Force flying safety statistics for Fiscal 2009 showed a marked reduction in the number of Class A mishaps, with the service reporting its lowest rate over the past 10 years. According to the latest data from the Air...

Keeping Up With KC-X Tidbits

The Air Force this week issued answers to nine questions on its draft KC-X tanker request for proposals released Sept. 24. Industry responders—read that Boeing and Northrop Grumman—have about 30 days left of their allotted 60 days to review and question the draft RFP before USAF issues the final RFP. Among the nine questions: Why did the Air Force increase the refueling boom flow rate? The Air Force responded: "The requirement was and still is 1,200 GPM. In the previous source selection this was a tradeable requirement and any value less than 1,200 GPM could have been offered and received partial credit." (All nine questions and answers posted Oct. 19)

Rolls-Royce Working ADVENT

The Air Force Research Lab has awarded a contract to Rolls-Royce to continue its work in Phase II for the Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology demonstrator program. According to a company release, Rolls-Royce this past year successfully completed a series of...

Got Their Support

All 10 members of the Arizona Congressional delegation signed a letter to Air Force Secretary Michael Donley last week, encouraging him to continue the advanced fighter training role at Luke Air Force Base with employment of the new F-35 Lightning...

Digging Out of Space Hole

Amid claims the US is losing the space race from speakers at the Geospatial Intelligence Foundation symposium this week in San Antonio, Gil Klinger, director of space and intelligence capabilities in OSD’s acquisition shop, said, “The Air Force and the...

Indian Air Force Looking Forward

The head of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshall PV Naik, said this week that modernization plans include dominating the entire spectrum of information, cyberspace, and air space, according to an official release. India’s DNA reports that Paik said,...

Academy Swine Flu a Test Delight

Air Force medical researchers took full advantage of a rather large and isolated outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus, the so-called Swine flu, over the summer at the US Air Force Academy. According to a Medical News Today report, the...

Air Sorties 102209

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, Oct. 18, 2009 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 27 31 58 13,373 CAS/Armed Recon 22 80 102 28,326 Airlift 157 157 38,777 Air refueling 47 47 13,999 Total 364 94,475 OIF=Operation Iraqi...