Air Force

When you eat, sleep, and breathe so close to the DMZ, you have to be ready to lay the smack down at the drop of a hat. The “Fabulous Flying Fiends” of the 36th Fighter Squadron, who live and work  a very short hop south of “The Great Successor,” are more than happy to have […]

I met Steve Rainey at Elmendorf Air Force Base in August of 2007. He was there as part of a contingent celebrating the arrival of the first six F-22A Raptors to the installation, signifying the transition of the 90th Fighter Squadron “Dicemen” from the venerable Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle to the U.S. Air Force’s newest fifth-generation […]

On this Monday, we bring to you some awesome footage captured by members of the 35th Fighter Squadron, the “Pantons.” They operate the Lockheed-Martin Block 40 F-16C and are based at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea. The video was captured during a recent trip to Alaska to participate in Red Flag Alaska 15-1. I could […]

Recently the Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II checked another container on her interesting and lengthy journey toward initial operational capability. The United States Air Force Weapons School (USAFWS), based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, just received its first F-35. The new addition will join the Block 42/52 F-16Cs of the 16th Weapons Squadron, the ‘Tomahawks.” Now, before […]

I am often amazed at my timing–good or bad. Today I was definitely in the right place at the right time and I just had to share the experience with you all. In an effort to protect the innocent, I won’t say where I was or who I was with, by I am constantly humbled […]

I, like many of my friends, was bit by the flying bug thanks to the United States Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron–the Thunderbirds. In my case, I was three years old and it was my first airshow. A hot day on the ramp at what is now Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Washington. It was […]

Back in August, over half of the Lockheed-Martin F-16Ds in the USAF inventory were removed from flight after cracks were identified along the canopy sill longeron. This particular longeron in located between the front and back seat of the Viper. Longeron fatigue cracks are always a concern because of their relationship to the structural integrity […]

The F-100 led a pair of F-105s on each wing, a sign to those below that the Weasels had found success. Weasel Sighted SAM – Killed Same.

Contrary to popular belief, not all bombers are cumbersome and oafish. The Rockwell B-1B Lancer, more commonly referred to as the “Bone,” is an absolutely magnificent airplane. While it’s a massive jet, it has smooth, sleek lines and variable geometry wings that adjust according to the aircraft’s airspeed and energy state, much like the F-14 […]

Weapons Officers. Why are we here? To defeat or kill America’s enemies, spread tactical knowledge throughout the Joint Force, and create our own replacement. While the first two are straightforward and openly apparent, the third is often left out. It is important that, while weapons officers are accomplishing the first two tasks, they are also […]

Now that we have defined what exactly the Patch is, we must now determine how the Weapons Office fits into a squadron. Simply put, you work for the commander (CC) and Director of Operations (DO). These individuals have earned the honor of command and as a result, deserve and demand your allegiance. Ninety-nine percent of the […]

A Weapons Officer is a leader of men. He is the leader of today’s and tomorrow’s Air Force, the tactical center of gravity within a squadron, the chief instructor pilot (IP) and the force around which squadron members will rally. Simply put, a Weapons Officer is the keeper of what the fighter pilot world holds […]