Flaming Red Tails

Nov. 30, 2015

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Airframe: Alabama Air National Guard F-16s of the 187th Fighter Wing, supported by a KC-135 tanker, arrive over Romania for Exercise Dacian Viper, Oct. 13, 2015. A dozen Alabama F-16s and some 150 pilots, maintainers, and support personnel returned from Campia Turzii AB, Romania, earlier this month. (Air Force photo by SSgt. Matthew Bruch) (Click on image above to reach wallpaper version.)

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Trending Stories

Iran Severely Damaged US Air Ops Center in Qatar Soon After War Began

House Panel Votes to Prohibit F-22 Retirements Through Fiscal 2032

Air Force Vice Chief: Demand for New Airplanes ‘Outstripping’ Production

KC-46’s New Remote Vision System Completes Initial ‘Non-Contact’ Testing

Related

Air Force Eyes Faster Software Updates for More Aircraft

June 6, 2026
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.

AETC Qualifies First T-7 Red Hawk Instructor Pilots

June 5, 2026
Air Education and Training Command has ticked off another box on the long checklist it must complete to start training student pilots on the new T-7A Red Hawk: qualifying its first instructor pilots.

Air Force, Space Force Seek 6,000 Civilian Hires in Wake of DOGE Cuts

June 5, 2026
The Air Force and Space Force are seeking to add more than 6,000 civilian personnel to their ranks in fiscal 2027, a sharp reversal from a year ago when they were looking to slash around 5,700 positions as part of the Trump administration’s push to shrink the federal civilian workforce.

Iran Severely Damaged US Air Ops Center in Qatar Soon After War Began

June 5, 2026
The command center that has run America’s air campaigns in the Middle East for over two decades took a direct hit during the U.S. war with Iran and was severely damaged, a senior U.S. official and other people informed about the attack told Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Air Force Vice Chief: Demand for New Airplanes ‘Outstripping’ Production

June 4, 2026
The Air Force is seeking to buy around 108 new aircraft in fiscal 2027—though really, officials wish they could get more. The issue isn’t just more money, according to the service’s No. 2 officer; contractors just aren't able to produce enough aircraft at the present moment, Gen. John Lamontagne said…

Lawmakers Push Space Force to Seek More Commercial Integration

June 4, 2026
House lawmakers want the Space Force to buy more technology and services from commercial companies, evidenced in a handful of amendments approved as part of the House Armed Services Committee’s version of the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. 

KC-46’s New Remote Vision System Completes Initial ‘Non-Contact’ Testing

June 4, 2026
Boeing has completed initial flight testing on its redesigned Remote Vision System for the KC-46 tanker, the defense giant announced June 4. The new system, dubbed RVS 2.0, is meant to replace the original camera and video system boom operators use to refuel other aircraft, which has faced issues for…