Predator crashes in Iraq
Posted on: Mon Dec 17th, 2007 | AFPN

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials announced an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crashed at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time Dec. 17 near Al Muqdadiya in Iraq.

Lockheed Awarded $6M Increment for Falcon Hypersonic Vehicle Program
Posted on: Mon Dec 17th, 2007 | DoD

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Palmdale, Calif., was awarded on Dec. 13, 2007, a $6,031,035 increment of a $40,790,279 modification to a previously awarded other transaction for prototypes agreement for phase three of the hypersonic technology vehicle portion of the Falcon program.

On-going fatigue study leads Navy to ground some P-3Cs
Posted on: Mon Dec 17th, 2007 | pao.navair.navy.mil

NAVAIR PATUXENT RIVER, MD – The Naval Air Systems Command issued an Air Frame Bulletin today announcing the grounding of 39 P-3C Orion aircraft due to structural fatigue concerns.

U.S. ban forces Japan to modernize F-15 fighters
Posted on: Mon Dec 17th, 2007 | RIA Novosti

TOKYO, December 17 (RIA Novosti) - Japan will be unable to purchases state-of-the-art U.S. fighter aircraft before 2010, and will prioritize instead the upgrading of the Air Force's 40 F-15 Eagle jets, a Defense Ministry source said on Monday.

Senate votes to maintain B-52s at Minot AFB
Posted on: Mon Dec 17th, 2007 | minotdailynews.com

Legislation by Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., that would upgrade the nation’s fleet of B-52 bombers and block a Pentagon plan to dramatically reduce America’s bomber force cleared its final hurdle Friday when the Senate overwhelmingly approved the 2008 Defense Authorization Bill.

Upgrades to simulator helps B-52H pilots train better
Posted on: Mon Dec 17th, 2007 | minot.af.mil

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Following recent upgrades to the weapons system trainer, the 5th Operations Support Squadron now has the most realistic method available for training and evaluating B-52H Stratofortress crew members.

Thunderbirds announce 2008 schedule
Posted on: Mon Dec 17th, 2007 | AFPN

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFPN) -- The Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, has announced its 2008 airshow schedule.