Hope Springs?:
Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England says the Pentagon will “take a look again” at the final number of Air Force C-17s to be purchased since the Administration now plans to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps by...
Two-war Risk News Report “Inaccurate”
Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace told lawmakers Tuesday that a widely circulated Associated Press report purportedly offering his assessment of the US military’s lack of readiness to respond to a new conflict was “inaccurate.” The JCS Chairman reminded members of...
SynFuel to Power BUFFs in 2007
The Air Force plans to power its entire fleet of B-52 bombers with a synthetic fuel blend by year’s end, if the “detailed analysis” of recently completed testing, including extreme weather conditions at Minot AFB, N.D., and physical inspection of...
B-1B Sniper Test Goes Well
Test officials at Edwards AFB, Calif., have wrapped initial testing of the Sniper targeting pod on a B-1B bomber, expressing optimism that the results could point toward full integration. Maj. Joshua Lane, chief of standardization and evaluation with the 419th...
Reservists Get New Bird
Air Force Reserve Command’s 932nd Airlift Wing at Scott AFB, Illinois, has received the first of three new Boeing C-40C executive transports, which will augment the wing’s C-9C VIP aircraft. In a ceremony at Scott, Lt. Gen. John Bradley, AFRC...
Weight Loss at Cannon
Air Force and Air National Guard officials gathered at Cannon AFB, N.M., to reduce the number of days it will take to offload the base’s F-16 fighters onto other units around the country. They cut the drill from 16 days...
Denmark’s On Board
Danish Minister of Defense Soren Gade on Feb. 27 in Copenhagen signed a memorandum of understanding for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production and sustainment and follow-on development, making Denmark the ninth and final partner nation to continue with the JSF...
Behind the RED HORSE:
Air Force civil engineers that form the highly effective mobile RED HORSE units operating throughout Southwest Asia would not be able to complete their tasks without their logistical hub, reports SrA. Erik Hofmeyer in the Desert Eagle. The 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group supplies all the forward teams, providing management and maintenance of more that 75 different types of vehicles used for transportation and heavy construction and collect and ship all equipment and supplies to teams in the field currently working 151 projects.Maintaining Refueling Proficiency:
The Air Force had made air refueling certification training part of its regular mission planning in Southwest Asia to ensure it has C-17 airlift crews who can transport wounded troops more quickly to medical help outside SWA, sometimes directly to...
Never Too Late?:
Sen. Kent Conrad (d-N.D.) has been talking with Air Force leaders to “win support for basing” some of the service’s new tanker aircraft at Grand Forks AFB, N.D. Such a move would fly in the face of the BRAC 2005...
Training Never Ends:
The Air Force’s elite pararescue jumpers deployed to Southwest Asia don’t just sit around waiting for the next rescue operation, they constantly practice their craft. “We always train, train, and then train some more,” says SSgt. Jon McKenzie with the...
The Logistics Share:
One of the Air Force’s top three priorities is to recapitalize aging aircraft and other weapon systems, and it’s that priority “that is really driving change at the air logistics center,” Robert Conner, director of Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center,...
Not a Pretty Picture:
According to The Gallup Poll’s annual update of the view of Americans about world affairs, a majority of Americans believe the US standing with the rest of the world is fairly dim. And, it is the third straight year that...
Bend that Metal:
The “backshops” of the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron in Southwest Asia routinely fabricate custom aircraft parts or other equipment when those components are needed quickly or are no longer produced by the manufacturer. SrA. Erik Hofmeyer reports that the aircraft...
Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism
Feb. 26, 2007 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 15 10 25 CAS/Armed Recon 48 31 79 Airlift 130 130 Air refueling 32 32 Total 63 41 162 266 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance