Multinational C-17 Wing Stands Up

The strategic airlift capability (SAC) consortium, the 10 NATO and two NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) nations that will jointly operate an airlift wing of three C-17 transports from Papa Air Base in western Hungary, yesterday celebrated the arrival of...

Mark Your Calendar

It’s official. The activation ceremony for Air Force Global Strike Command will take place on Aug. 7 at Barksdale AFB, La., according to an Air Force release. Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz will preside over the ceremony. Lt. Gen....

Second SBIRS Payload Nears Operational Certification

The Air Force has accepted for operations the second space based infrared system on-orbit payload, moving that payload one step closer to full operational status later this year, according to lead contractor Lockheed Martin. In a release July 24, the...

Washington Lawmakers Fight Proposed Cuts

An amendment added by Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) to the House’s version of the Fiscal 2010 defense appropriations bill aims to thwart the Air Force’s plans to cut 98 positions with the Washington Air National Guard’s 194th Regional Support Wing...

AWACS Upgrade Advances

Boeing announced late last week that it has moved into the production phase of the Air Force’s E-3 airborne warning and control system aircraft block 40/45 upgrade program with the award of the first low-rate initial production contract. Under the...

Building Partner Capacity in Action

The US Air Force Special Operations School is hosting the inaugural building partner aviation capacity course (BPACC) through the end of this week at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Participating are representatives from the US military as well as Costa Rica and...

Academy Incorporates UAV Instruction

US Air Force Academy officials have integrated unmanned aerial vehicle operations into the school’s curriculum. “The Air Force has made unmanned aircraft systems a priority for our service, and the value of these capabilities is evidenced on a daily basis...

Iraqi Air Force Milestone

Iraqi Air force 2nd Lt. Omar AlNuaimi graduated July 24 from his specialized undergraduate pilot training class at Columbus AFB, Miss., becoming the first Iraqi pilot to complete the Air Force Aviation Leadership Program. “It feels great [to graduate],” said...

Air Sorties in War on Terrorism, Southwest Asia

July 24, 2009 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 28 23 51 8,588 CAS/Armed Recon 22 93 115 19,567 Airlift 39 39 27,052 Air refueling 56 56 9,431 Total 261 64,638 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance...