30 Nov 2020

“As goes the 53rd Wing, so goes the Air Force”

Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, and Chief Master Sgt. David Wade, ACC command chief, visited the 53rd Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Nov. 23-24, 2020. Their visit with 53rd Wing Airmen showcased test, evaluation, and mission data reprogramming, highlighting the wing’s drive for accomplishing their mission statement of “providing tactical advantage to the warfighter at the speed of relevance.”

13 Apr 2020

Be Ready, stay ready: First to the fight

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe, the Department of Defense now faces new challenges for providing America with its fighting force. For the Air Force this means developing a new norm for its fighter wings. Not only must they mitigate exposure for their work forces, but they still have a requirement to accomplish their primary mission to provide lethal airpower anytime, anywhere.

19 Apr 2018

F-22 Raptor Demo Team rockets through FIDAE

U.S. Air Force members from the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team, based out of Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, performed at Feria Internacional del Aire y del Espacio air and trade show in Santiago, Chile April 2-7, 2018.

14 Feb 2018

Flag Day strengthens camaraderie among Red Flag 18-1 participants

Red Flag 18-1 paused flying operations Feb. 9 to strengthen camaraderie between the U.S. and coalition combat air forces through a day of briefings and educational engagement at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

1 Sep 2017

A 23d Wing ‘hawg’ gets a bath

What has roughly 40 teeth, sounds like ‘brrrt,’ and occasionally needs a bath? The 23d Wing’s A-10C Thunderbolt IIs, also known as ‘Hawgs,’ are subject to an assortment of scheduled maintenance appointments to include washes every 180 days or approximately 1,000 flying hours. “It’s extremely important that maintenance keeps the aircraft clean,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Thomas Harney, 75th Fighter Squadron director of operations and A-10 pilot. “Every time we fire the gun, gases flow up and cover the aircraft with grease which can affect operational components of the aircraft and the pilot’s visibility.”

13 Oct 2016

DM’s Dragons bring thunder to Green Flag 17-01

Green Flag exercises provide critical training for approximately 75,000 joint forces and coalition personnel per year, including 3,000 sorties, 6,000 flight hours, and the expenditure of over 700,000 pounds of live and training ordnance on the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.

13 Oct 2016

4th MXG Airmen work together to complete TCTO

Airmen from the 4th Maintenance Group worked together to complete a Time Compliance Technical Order. A TCTO is a specific task or inspection directed by depot engineers that must be completed on an aircraft within a specific date range. The 4th MXG received the TCTO to complete a one-time inspection of the right and left canopy sill longeron, which is where the canopy rests when it’s sealed, on 26 F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft.

24 Jul 2016

First-female amputee to return to cockpit

After an above-the-knee amputation, one HC-130J pilot solidified her place in history as the sixth amputee and the first-female amputee to return to the cockpit July 22, here. Following nearly 15 months of rehabilitation, learning to walk, run and fly again, U.S. Air Force Capt. Christy Wise, 71st Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II pilot, was medically cleared to retake the skies.

13 Jul 2016

Air Dominance and the Critical Role of Fifth Generation Fighters

U.S. Air Force General Hawk Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, discussed the importance of air superiority and the need to assure it by modernizing the Combat Air Force during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee in Washington, D.C., July 13.

13 Jul 2016

Reservists lead F-35 ops on drill weekend

This weekend marks the first time reservists in the 419th Fighter Wing conducted F-35 operations independent of their active duty counterparts.