Last Raptor for Langley:

The 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va., has received its last new F-22A stealth fighter, bringing the wing’s total to 40 Raptors and fully equipping both operational F-22 squadrons. Next month, the 27th Fighter Squadron embarks on its first...

Are They In or Out?:

Various news reports Friday said that Northrop Grumman likely would pull out of the KC-X tanker replacement program because the Air Force has decided it doesn’t need to alter its final request for proposal—now expected this week. The Northrop-EADS team...

Two Crashes, No Injuries:

A California Air National Guard F-16 crashed Friday morning during a routine training flight. The pilot from the 144th Fighter Wing at Fresno safely ejected. The day before on the other side of the country, a T-38 from the training...

Spreading the Knowledge:

Air Mobility Command has started a new course at Travis AFB, Calif., which should produce more airmen able to perform basic maintenance on the service’s KC-10 aerial refueling aircraft operating in the Pacific region. The first six airmen—from Hickam AFB,...

Their Other Day Job:

The airmen of Air Education and Training Command’s 36th Rescue Flight at Fairchild AFB, Wash., ply their trade primarily for USAF Survival School students, but they also get tapped for local area rescues. Earlier this month, the UH-1N helicopter unit...

One Airman, Two Purple Hearts:

SSgt. Aime Gaona, now an intelligence analyst at Luke AFB, Ariz., received two Purple Hearts for injuries and bravery while serving in Iraq, reports a recent USAF release. Gaona, serving as a weapons intel team member, was injured during an...

Looking for JCA in May:

A report by Dow Jones newswires says Army officials expect to finalize source selection on the Army-Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft within the next two months. However, the Pentagon JCA acquisition approval process won’t kick into gear until May, so...

Going, Going, Gone, Almost:

The C-5 that crashed last spring—from crew error, per USAF—just shy of the airfield at Dover AFB, Del., had its wings removed last week by Ohio-based contractor InterGroup Intl. And, the rest of it gets dismantled this week. The contractor,...

A Foreign Affair:

A Mississippi air base now is engaged in training international military pilots, with some 32 students from 17 countries, reports a base release. At Columbus Air Force Base, there are three foreign programs: A 12-month course provides military students from...

Surprise, You’re in Part D:

Some Tricare beneficiaries have found themselves automatically enrolled in the Medicare Part D prescription plan—by the Health and Human Services Department, not the Defense Department. Apparently individuals can disenroll themselves from Part D, but DOD needs proof before Tricare will...

Building up Russian Strategic Air:

Moscow plans to provide the Russian Air Force two strategic bombers—new and modernized Tu-22, Tu-95, or Tu-160 bombers—every three years, reports the Russian news and information agency. The Russian Air Force got an upgraded Tu-160 last year and will get...

Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism

Jan. 18, 2007 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 14 4 18 CAS/Armed Recon 54 15 69 Airlift 320 320 Air refueling 26 26 Total 68 19 346 433 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance