Doable or Not?

The Air Force’s commitment to field a penetrating, survivable next-generation bomber in 2018 is “uncertain” at best and USAF’s advocacy of the new platform “lacks conviction and credibility,” the Center for Strategic and International Studies states in its new report....

Handover

The Air Force has taken control of the first Wideband Global Satellite Communications satellite from prime contractor Boeing, following completion of all contractor on-orbit checkout procedures, the company reported on Jan. 28. The 3rd Space Operations Squadron at Schriever AFB,...

Slip Sliding Away:

An F-15C slid off the runway after landing on Jan. 22 at Tyndall AFB, Fla. The Eagle, assigned to the 2nd Fighter Squadron, had just landed when it veered off of the taxiway and hit a light post, causing the...

Fit for Duty

One of US Air Forces In Europe’s C-130 transport aircraft is flying again after a six-month hiatus. Maintainers discovered a peculiar crack in the aircraft, which calls Ramstein AB, Germany, home. Air Force and Lockheed Martin engineers spent several months...

Soaring to New Heights

Northrop Grumman delivered five production-version RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles to the Air Force in 2007, setting a new mark. “Not only did we exceed our production and delivery goals last year, but we have also performed on cost...

Ruble-Rousing

There is nothing alarming about the flights of Russian long-range bombers in the Pacific, says Adm. Timothy Keating, commander of US Pacific Command. Keating told the Defense Writers Group on Jan. 28 that, to his knowledge, “the Russians are observing”...

Bring It On

Navy F/A-18s will battle Air Force F-15s in mock combat in the skies over Hawaii starting tomorrow and running through Feb. 20. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin reports that eight Super Hornets from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine at Naval Air...

In Name Only:

The Air Force Materiel Command will deactivate the 776th Maintenance Support Squadron tomorrow at Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center. The change comes on the same day that the Defense Logistic Agency activates its new office at the center, which is...

Extending the Portfolio:

The 76th Maintenance Wing at Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center on Jan. 16 received the first-ever FAA repair station certificate for a DOD facility. The certificate allows the center, located at Tinker AFB, Okla., to perform paint workload on the...

Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism

Jan. 27, 2008 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 25 7 32 669 CAS/Armed Recon 37 39 76 2,245 Airlift 110 110 3,286 Air refueling 42 42 1,056 Total 62 46 152 260 7,256 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation...