More than 150 airmen and 12 F-22s from the 43rd Fighter Squadron at Tyndall AFB, Fla., are at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, through early September for training. The Air Force calls this deployment the first-ever Global Gem exercise. The Raptor pilots are getting the opportunity to fly in airspace and over rugged terrain that starkly contrasts Tyndall’s ocean coastline environment in which they usually operate. “The majority of the flying we do is over the water. Obviously when we go to war, we’re not always flying over water,” said Lt. Col. Bradley Bird, 43rd FS commander. Plus, the F-22s are getting the chance to fly with the F-15s of Mountain Home’s 389th FS. The F-15s are playing the role of adversarial aircraft in some drills and, in others, are partnering with the F-22s to form combined force packages. Tyndall is home to the F-22 schoolhouse. (Mountain Home report by SrA. Alyssa C. Wallace)
Skunk Works Uncrewed NGAS Concept Gets New Attention
Nov. 9, 2024
An artist’s rendering of a Lockheed Martin Skunk Works concept for a potential stealthy and autonomous Next-Generation Air-refueling System (NGAS) aircraft is getting new attention after a repeat display at the recent Airlift/Tanker Association meeting.