Arkin Puts AIR FORCE Magazine on the Rack:

William Arkin, the Washington Post’s online military blogger, has taken aim at AIR FORCE Magazine, citing articles in the April issue for specific criticism. Arkin’s point, evidently, is that the magazine has presented an exaggerated and overly dire portrait of...

A Save for Willow Grove:

Governor Edward Rendell and the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation have gotten a provisional OK from the Air Force that will convert NAS JRB Willow Grove into a joint interagency base maintained and operated by the state. In a joint statement Friday,...

Pressing the UAV Case:

The Air Force on Friday hosted a meeting with officials from the combatant commands and DOD to discuss USAF’s controversial proposal to become the executive agent for higher flying unmanned aerial vehicles. (USAF had invited other service representatives, but a...

From Simple to Nefarious:

Air Force Space Command boss Gen. Kevin Chilton, told attendees at the Colorado Springs space symposium last week that the things that can threaten his command’s ability to preserve space effects for the warfighters include simple malfunctions like a software code issue, broken wire, or burned out amplifier, or unintentional “blue on blue” jamming, or even weather—both terrestrial and space—problems, space debris, and “nefarious operations.” To confront any of these threats, AFSPC must have “appropriate space situational awareness,” said Chilton. He continued: “I want to be predictive in this area. I want to have focused intelligence invested in our space operations to the point that I'm getting tips and cues; that I know before they launch—what's coming. That's the kind of focused intelligence every commander demands in the domain they operate in.” (Chilton’s full remarks.)

Not Just About Satellites:

Following his speech (see above) at the 23rd National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo., Thursday, Gen. Kevin Chilton, head of Air Force Space Command, told reporters via telephone conference call that the nation mustn’t be overly focused on satellite...

A “Very Candid” Discussion:

The head of the National Guard Bureau, Army Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, told lawmakers last week that he had a discussion with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley about his recent proposals to improve the Air National Guard—proposals...

Former Herk Unit Flies First C-5 Op:

Airmen from the West Virginia Air National Guard’s 167th Airlift Wing flew their first operational mission in the mammoth C-5 airlifter, delivering two Marine Corps CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters and some 60 marines to Djibouti, Africa, for Joint Task Force-Horn...

Edwards Adds F-35 Control Room:

Air Force Materiel Command has opened at Edwards AFB, Calif., a range mission control room built specifically to monitors tests of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. The F-35 Integrated Test Force, comprising military, government civilian, contractor, and foreign...

No One Energy Source:

The Air Force is working with the Energy Department’s National Energy Technology Laboratory to explore refining coal to liquid fuel and other potential synthetic fuel sources. Paul Bollinger, special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations,...

Working Both Ends of Refueling Line:

Airmen from the Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 171st Air Refueling Wing in Pittsburgh are fueling the war on terror fight from their home station and from Incirlik AB, Turkey. The unit has been flying out of Pittsburgh to provide aerial...

Vandy Cuts Access to Point Sal:

Local and state officials plan to fight a decision by the Air Force to permanently prohibit hikers, bicyclists, and horse riders from using a public road that crosses Vandenberg Air Force Base property to reach Point Sal Beach, reports the...

Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism

April 11, 2007 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 12 7 19 CAS/Armed Recon 36 39 75 Airlift 150 150 Air refueling 47 47 Total 48 46 197 291 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance Airlift includes Horn...