Air 
Force Research Lab officials earlier this month cut the ribbon on the new state-of-the-art Advanced Power and Thermal Research Lab on the grounds of Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. APTRL is a 53,000-square-foot, three-story building that will be devoted to power and thermal research to support the Air Force’s growing demands for increased aircraft power and efficiency, according to an AFRL release. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Dec. 7, Wright-Patt spokesman Bill Hancock confirmed to the Daily Report on Dec. 17. “With the establishment of the Advanced Power and Thermal Research Lab, we hope to forge a new direction for aircraft technologies,” said Doug Bowers, AFRL’s aerospace systems director. APTRL was born from the complete refurbishment of the 1934-vintage Static Test Laboratory that formerly hosted structural and mechanical testing, but had gone largely unused for many years, according to the release. “It’s very rewarding to see an historic building come back to life in the way this one has,” said Bowers. (Wright-Patterson report by Holly Jordan)
The U.S. thwarted a drone attack on U.S. forces at Al Asad air base in western Iraq on April 22, marking the first time that American troops have been targeted since February, U.S. officials said. “We can confirm it was an attack on Al Asad,” a defense official told Air & Space…