Airmen
at Tyndall AFB, Fla., now have a new fitness center. It’s not just any old place to pump iron. Rather, it’s the Air Force’s first facility built to meet the highest standards of energy efficiency and environmentally friendly design set by the US government. The center is situated on an 8.7-acre plot within walking distance of the old, 1975-vintage gym, which is scheduled for demolition. With features such as solar panels on its roof, the new center’s energy consumption is expected to more than 40 percent less than a typical building of the same size. This will amount to about $45,000 in annual savings, according to base officials. The fitness center, which opened its doors on Aug. 20, is expected to serve more than 900 people per day. (Tyndall report by SrA. Kirsten Wicker)
U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles have roared out of Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., for the last time. The 104th Fighter Wing’s last three F-15Cs departed the base Oct. 23 for the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., ending the aircraft's era on the frontlines of homeland defense.


