Holding Pattern

Is there a hold on the confirmation of Erin Conaton to be the Air Force undersecretary? We’ve heard rumblings that one Southern Senator may indeed be delaying her confirmation vote over concerns with the final language of the KC-X tanker...

Step Forward for Melrose Expansion

The Air Force has been granted a waiver by the Office of the Secretary of Defense so that it may receive a $5 million land gift associated with expanding Melrose Bombing Range in eastern New Mexico. “I am pleased that...

Fractionated Satellite Effort Advances

DARPA announced that it has awarded a one-year, $75 million contract to Orbital Sciences Corporation for the second phase of the System F6 fractionated spacecraft demonstrator program. During this time, Orbital’s industry team will mature its fractionated satellite design up...

Dedication Ceremony

Officials with the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman AFB, N.M., on Dec. 4 marked another milestone in the unit’s transition to operating F-22 fighters with the appointment of 18 members of the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron as F-22 dedicated crew...

Eglin Shines with Bronze

Five airmen assigned to Eglin AFB, Fla., on Monday received Bronze Star Medals for their meritorious service in Afghanistan and Iraq during a ceremony at the base. They are Lt. Col. Christopher Holmes, 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander; SMSgt. Eric...

Staying in Touch

The Air Force has launched its new official community Web site (click here) to bring together its airmen, civilians, retirees, and their families and enable real-time socializing through the use of private or public chats. “Once Airmen and their families...

Splitting Hairs

Dr. Xiang Zhang, in Air Force Office of Scientific Research-sponsored research at the University of California, Berkeley, has demonstrated the world’s smallest semiconductor laser (also known as a plasmonic laser), which may have military applications in communications, computing, and bio-hazard...

Opening Up to the Past

On Friday, the Lyon Air Museum at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif., officially opens its doors to the public. The Orange County Register reported Tuesday that homebuilding magnate William Lyon, created the 30,000-square-foot, hangar-enclosed gallery initially to house...

Air Sorties from SWA 120909

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, Dec. 4-5, 2009 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 55 61 116 16,095 CAS/Armed Recon 34 160 194 32,940 Airlift 299 299 45,945 Air refueling 83 83 16,119 Total 692 111,099 OIF=Operation Iraqi...