February 2009

Vol. 92, No. 2

 
Highlights from the February 2009 Issue

The Wages of Nuclear Abolition

The US is cutting nuclear weapons, such as this ALCM. If it sticks with its current plan to preserve the long-term health of the US strategic deterrent, the Defense Department will assuredly find itself embroiled in a lengthy, contentious political...

Air Force World

Bolling Is Interim Nuke HQ The Air Force leadership announced Dec. 12 that Bolling AFB, D.C., would be the temporary headquarters site for Air Force Global Strike Command, the new nuclear-focused major command that is expected to assume initial operations...

Verbatim

Population Gap “Today, in any given minute in the United States, 40 babies are born. In China, it’s 160. In India, it’s 280. When you look at the population of 18-to-35 [year-old] males, there’s an explosion in southern Asia, in...

He 111

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Letters

Air Supremacy in a Downdraft I must point out an error in your recent editorial, “Air Supremacy in a Downdraft” [December, p. 2]. You state that there have been no fatal air attacks on US ground forces for over 56...

AFA National Report

Speaking to Space Command Air Force Association Chairman of the Board Joseph E. Sutter spoke at a commander’s conference for Air Force Space Command in November. Gen. C. Robert Kehler, head of AFSPC, had invited him to the meeting, held...
 
Complete Contents of February 2009 PDF
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Schlesinger's Second Bite
The task force found "a serious lack of attention" to the nuclear deterrent in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
By Robert S. Dudney

The Nuclear Force Revival
For the Air Force, getting nuclear operations back on track has become Job 1.
By Michael C. Sirak

Miles High, Changing Course
In USAF's new plan, the U-2 will stick around longer, and the Global Hawk will come on a little slower.
By John A. Tirpak

The Phoenix Force
The Iraqi air arm was all but destroyed by USAF. Guess who's bringing it back to life?
By Marc V. Schanz

Red Flag On a Global Stage
Some of the world's best fighter aircraft debuted at Nellis.
By Ted Carlson

The Murky Future of Stealth
Why, after 35 years, does the US have fewer than 150 stealth aircraft?
By Rebecca Grant

Finally, the Osprey
With the CV-22, special operations forces will be able to do things never before possible.
By Otto Kreisher

Ring of Remembrance
After 42 years, this token of Patrick Wynne's academy days came home at last.
By Walter J. Boyne

The Flying Tomato Can
Using this squat weapon with a funny nickname, a fighter pilot got a satellite kill. Really.
By Peter Grier

They Wanted Wings
Aviation cadet programs have produced thousands of flying officers, and always when desperately needed.
By Walter J. Boyne

Departments


Letters

Washington Watch

Air Force World

Index to Advertisers

Senior Staff Changes

Issue Brief

Verbatim

AFA National Leaders

AFA National Report

Unit Reunions

Airpower Classics