Tag Archives: air force

Milking the Good Deal: Fighter Pilots Investigated for Improper Pay

The Air Force Times reports that pilots at Fresno’s California Air National Guard are under criminal investigation for

padding their salaries by getting paid for more than one shift on the same day.

(The Fresno Guard flies the F-16.) Guard and Reserve pilots are often paid based on how much they work (as opposed to active duty pilots, who are paid the same regardless).  According to the reports, the pilots may have been paid for “alert” time spent at home, and for more hours than they are allowed.

If the rules and claims are clear, it should be fairly simple investigation.  It is also possible there are enough ambiguities in the rules Read more

X-37B Returns to Vandenberg

The unmanned X-37B space vehicle (or “Orbital Test Vehicle 1”), originally launched in April, returned to Vandenberg AFB after a seven-month mission described in only the vaguest terms by the Air Force:

The X-37B is the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft. Managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the X-37B program performs risk reduction, experimentation and concept of operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies.

The vehicle and its mission remain a high point of speculation, particularly since its orbit — and its orbital changes — were widely visible.

The craft was reportedly “successful” in its test mission, and suffered only a few dents from space debris and a blown tire on its autonomous landing.

US Air Force Instructs Iraqi Pilot Training

Just a few years after facing off with the Iraqi Air Force on opposite sides of full-scale conflict, the US Air Force is now teaching the next generation of Iraqi Air Force pilots.

American forces have been teaching the Iraqis using 11 Iraqi-flagged T-6A Texan IIs, the same initial trainer used for the US Air Force.  The goal isn’t necessarily to make new pilots; its to teach their new instructors…and quickly:  Read more

US Military Better than Disney

As reported at the Christian Science Monitor last week, the US Armed Services ranked in the top 10 “blissful places to work,” beating out many stereotypical happy-employee organizations — even Disney.

CareerBliss used independent reviews to evaluate companies based on opportunities for growth, compensation, benefits, work-life balance, career advancement, senior management, job security and whether the employee would recommend the company to others.

The military rankings:  Read more

Sky Searchers Seek Secret Space Plane

FoxNews notes that star gazers have been tracking the orbit of the US Air Force’s X-37B (previously noted), and, for the second time, have lost track of it.  Apparently the first disappearance was caused by a change in orbital inclination, which may reveal some of the vehicle’s capabilities.

The most recent disappearance is fueling hypotheses the spacecraft has returned to earth.  If so, it would be inside the 9 months originally speculated for its duration.

New Air Force Motto: Aim High…Fly-Fight-Win.

According to an official release, the Air Force has adopted the two most common phrases associated with its history as its new motto:  Aim High…Fly-Fight-Win.

An enduring statement of Airmen’s pride in their service, the motto is a two-part expression — a call to action, with a response of commitment.

“The call and the response are two sides of the same coin,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz. “Airmen indicated ‘Aim High’ and the response ‘Fly-Fight-Win’ as indicative of their enduring commitment to do just that in defense of our nation.”

The phrase is supposed to be a motto, not a recruiting slogan (for the Marines, think Semper Fi as opposed to The Few, The Proud).  Comments on the official Air Force site lean heavily toward the negative.

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