Portal:United States Air Force
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The United States Air Force Portal The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. Initially part of the United States Army as the Army Air Corps, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947. It was the last branch of the US military to be formed. The USAF is the largest and most technologically advanced air force in the world, with about 5,573 manned aircraft in service (3,990 USAF; 1,213 Air National Guard; and 370 Air Force Reserve); approximately 180 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles, 2130 Air-Launched Cruise Missiles, and 450 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles; and has 330,159 personnel on active duty, 68,872 in the Selected and Individual Ready Reserves, and 94,753 in the Air National Guard. In addition, the Air Force employs 151,360 civilian personnel. The Department of the Air Force is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Air Force who heads administrative affairs. The Department of the Air Force is a division of the Department of Defense, headed by the Secretary of Defense. The highest ranking military officer in the Department of the Air Force is the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Picture Spotlight Photo credit: Master Sergeant Andy Dunaway, 23 April 2008. DoD photo. photo source: DefenseImagery.mil Article Spotlight The Air Force Honor Guard consists of specially training Air Force members who conduct ceremonial functions. Honor guards typically perform ceremonial functions at funerals, weddings, and present the colors at formal occasions. Each air force base maintains its own honor guard for local functions while the national honor guard conducts national-level ceremonies and includes a drill team that performs exhibitions world-wide. USAF News
Service considering retrofitting late-model C-130's with new engines Summary: The U.S. Air Force is interested in procuring commercial off-the-shelf engines to replace antiquated propulsion systems on C-130 aircraft. At a technology summit in Arlington, Virginia, General Philip Breedlove told of the service's efforts to follow up on the successes of the C-130J upgrade with commercially available fuel efficient engines. Breedlove says the prioritization of use of C-130J's in inter-theater operations for cost savings has tied up logistics. The C-130 also suffers from performance and maintenance issues that have led to the cancellation of the FCS Manned Ground Vehicles program that was unable to fall within weight parameters while maintaining protection requirements. While enhancing the current generation of aircraft, the Air Force is also heading an initiative to develop fuel efficient technologies for the next generation of propulsion systems. the ADaptive Versatile ENgine Technology program seeks to develop an engine that is 30% more efficient than the F119 or F135 engines that power the F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft. The Versatile, Affordable, Advanced Turbine Engines and Highly Efficient Embedded Turbine Engine programs are also being pursued to develop propulsion technologies for sub-sonic military aircraft. Aerospace Vehicle Spotlight The MQ-9 Reaper is the first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed specifically to fill a hunter-killer role. The Reaper design is primarily based on the earlier MQ-1 Predator. The aircraft has the capability to carry an array of ground attack munitions and external fuel tanks. Additionally, tests are currently underway to equip it with air-to-air weaponry. A Reaper carrying a full complement of weapons has a flight capability of 14 hours and a range of 3,200 nmi (5,926 km). Reapers have seen combat in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The extended loiter times have provided real-time intelligence for theater commanders and the Reaper capabilities have offered commanders an instant strike option for targets of opportunity. To date the Air Force has an inventory of 28 Reapers flying primarily with the 174th Fighter Wing and the 432d Air Expeditionary Wing. Biography Spotlight General Teed Michael Moseley, KBE, was the 18th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. He assumed the position during a ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base on September 2, 2005. As Chief, he served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipage of more than 700,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the general and other service chiefs functioned as military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council, and the President. He resigned from his position in June 2008 following a serise of incidents involving nuclear weapon security. Did You Know....jpg) ...that before the F-117 Nighthawk was given an official name, the engineers and test pilots referred to the ungainly aircraft, which went into hiding during daylight to avoid detection by Soviet satellites, as "Cockroach"? Quotes "Recommitting to our own high standards is the foundation for our success in every mission area, not just our nuclear enterprise. To this end, I charge the Air Force to: - Continue leaning forward in every respect in support of Joint operations
Donley, Michael B. (June 30, 2008). "Letter to Airman". Senior Leaders Viewpoints. United States Air Force. http://www.af.mil/library/viewpoints/csaf.asp?id=405. Retrieved February 19, 2009. USAF Topics
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