E-4B now comes under Global Strike Command

By USAF photo/Tech. Sgt. Jerry Morrison

A ceremony was held on Oct. 7 at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska for the transfer of four aircraft.
“The E-4B may not function in the same capacity as our bomber force, but it certainly has a role to play within the nuclear enterprise and seems only fitting that it resides within the command responsible for nuclear operations,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas Bussiere, the 8th Air Force commander and officiator of the ceremony.

E-4Bs realign under 8th Air Force, 595CACG stands up

Story By Justin  Oakes, 8th Air Force Public Affairs

BARKSDALE  AFB, La. (AFNS) — The 8th Air Force has another aircraft in its inventory and it’s not a bomber.

The E-4B, which serves as the National Airborne  Operations Center (NAOC) and is a key component of the National Military Command System for the president, the secretary of defense, and the Joint  Chiefs of Staff, recently transferred from Air Combat Command to Air Force Global Strike Command.

The Air Forces’ four E-4Bs, which are based out  of Offutt AFB, Nebraska, were commemorated during a transfer ceremony on  October 7.

“The Air Force is continuing on a path to improve how its  nuclear forces are organized, trained, and equipped,” said Maj Gen Thomas Bussiere, the 8th AF commander and officiator of the ceremony. “The E-4B may not function in the same capacity as our bomber force, but it certainly has a  role to play within the nuclear enterprise and seems only fitting that it  resides within the command responsible for nuclear operations.”

The aircraft realignment is a part of a larger effort to centrally manage the Air  Force’s nuclear enterprise and supporting systems.

To improve central management of the nuclear enterprise, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James  and former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen Mark A. Welsh directed that the Air  Force create an organization with a clear line of communication between the  president and members of the nuclear task forces. Air Force Global Strike Command was designated as the Air Force lead for nuclear command, control, and communications (C3).

As a key component of the National Military Command System, which keeps the president connected to nuclear and  conventional forces around the world, the E-4B fell within the restructuring  initiative.

Also acknowledged during the transfer ceremony was the activation of the 595th Command and Control Group, the 8th AF unit responsible for the E-4B.

“The realignment helps us better advocate for nuclear [command and control] and simplifies the chain of command,” said Col Robert  Billings, the 595CACG commander. "One of my first steps as commander will be to address manpower needs and develop the group.”

The 595CACG is comprised of four squadrons: the 1st Airborne  Command Control Squadron, which operates the aircraft; the 595th Strategic Communication Squadron, which provides real-time, secure, nuclear survivable missile warning and C3 capabilities; the 595th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron,  responsible for sustainment and upkeep of the E-4B; and the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron.

“Ultimately, the realignment of the E-4B and activation of the 595CACG marks another step in our journey to strengthen the enterprise as our nuclear deterrent forces remain at the forefront of our  nation’s security,” Bussiere said.

B-1 Bombers Shifting to Strike Command

According to a recent AP item B-1 bombers from Ellsworth AFB and Dyess AFB are joining their long-range B-2 and B-52 bomber counterparts under a single Air Force command.

The Air Force is grouping its bombers under Air Force Global Strike Command, a nuclear-capable command based at Barksdale AFB, in a transition that will be effective Oct. 1 of this year. This leadership change also puts the Air Force's next-generation bomber program, frequently called the Long Range Strike Bomber, under the same auspices.

More than 60 aircraft and about 7,000 people will shift from Air Combat Command to Global Strike Command, according to the Air Force.

South Dakota U.S. Sen. John Thune said in a statement said that moving all the bomber wings under the control of Global Strike Command will make for a better transition as the Air Force plans for the Long Range Strike Bomber.

The B-1 bombers from Ellsworth and Dyess will join B-52 bombers from Minot AFB, among others, as part of Global Strike Command. The Air Force said the leadership change is expected to be "imperceptible" to most of the airmen on the bases.

"Consolidating all of our Air Force assets in this critical mission area under a single command will help provide a unified voice to maintain the high standards necessary in stewardship of our nation's bomber forces," Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James said in a statement.

Combat Air Forces to resume flying

Two F-22 Raptors fly over Wake Island as part of a rapid deployment June 21, 2013. Twenty-nine members from the Air National Guard and active-duty Air Force from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, teamed up to perform the deployment, conducted a site-survey for future contingency operations and performed emergency response training with local contractors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Connie Reed

JOINT BASE LANGELY-EUSTIS, Va. (AFNS) -- Combat Air Forces, or CAF, units from multiple commands began flying again today after many stopped flying in April of this year due to sequestration.

The restored flying hour program represents $208 million of the $1.8 billion reprogramming allocation authorized by Congress. The money reinstates critical training and test operations for the CAF fleet across the Air Force for the remainder of fiscal 2013. This impacts not just Air Combat Command units, but also CAF units assigned to United States Air Forces Europe and Pacific Air Forces.

For ACC, the restored flying hours will be allocated to combat aircraft and crews across the command's operational and test units, including the Air Warfare Center's Weapons School, Aggressors and the Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team.

While the return to the sky means a return to crucial training and development for pilots, navigators, flight crews, mission crews and maintainers, the leader of the Air Force's CAF fleet cautions that this is the beginning of the process, not the end.

"Since April we've been in a precipitous decline with regard to combat readiness," said Gen. Mike Hostage, the commander of ACC. "Returning to flying is an important first step, but what we have ahead of us is a measured climb to recovery."

"Our country counts on the U.S. Air Force to be there when needed -- in hours or days, not weeks or months," Hostage said. "A fire department doesn't have time to 'spin up' when a fire breaks out, and we don't know where or when the next crisis will break out that will require an immediate Air Force response."

The restoration of flying hours only addresses the next 2 1/2 months of flying up until Oct. 1.

"This decision gets us through the next several months, but not the next several years," Hostage said. "While this paints a clearer picture for the remainder of (fiscal 2013), important questions remain about (fiscal 2014) and beyond. Budget uncertainly makes it difficult to determine whether we'll be able to sustain a fully combat-ready force."

Additionally, the restoration comes at a cost to future capability, including reduced investment in the recapitalization and modernization of the combat fleet, he said.

"We are using investment dollars to pay current operational bills, and that approach is not without risk to our long-term effectiveness," Hostage said. "We can't mortgage our future. America relies on the combat airpower we provide, and we need to be able to continue to deliver it."

Air Force Thunderbirds, combat aircraft no longer grounded after budget cuts

According to FoxNews, many of the Air Force's combat aircraft started flying again Monday as the military reshuffled its spending priorities to get its pilots additional training. Those aircraft have been grounded since April because of budget cuts.

The grounding affected about one-third of active-duty combat craft, including squadrons of fighters, bombers, and airborne warning and control craft.

Officials at Air Combat Command at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia said the order affects planes in the U.S., Europe and the Pacific.

"Since April we've been in a precipitous decline with regard to combat readiness," Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, said in a statement. "Returning to flying is an important first step but what we have ahead of us is a measured climb to recovery."

The Air Force has said it generally takes 60 to 90 days to conduct the training needed to return aircrews to mission-ready status. For the past several months, many pilots have been using simulators to try to keep their skills sharp.

The grounding affected A-10, B-1, E-3, F-15, F-16 and F-22 aircraft, as well as various Aggressor and test aircraft. In the U.S., the affected aircraft were stationed at bases in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, North Carolina, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and Virginia.

The popular Thunderbirds demonstration team comprised of F-16s also will resume training flights, but all 2013 shows will remain canceled, said Lt. Col. Tadd Sholtis, an Air Combat Command spokesman.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/07/15/us-air-force-thunderbirds-combat-aircraft-to-fly-again-after-being-grounded-by/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fpolitics+%28Internal+-+Politics+-+Text%29#ixzz2Z8wVp1Wd

Joint warfighters hone skills at Atlantic Strike

by Casey E. Bain and Susan Hulker, Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team Public Affairs

AVON PARK, Fla. (AFNS) -- Joint and coalition warfighters improved their close-air support skills during an exercise led by Air Combat Command and U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team Sept. 13.

Atlantic Strike 10-02 trained warfighters to find, fix, track, target, engage and assess both fixed and moving ground targets.

"Atlantic Strike is the quintessential air-to-ground training exercise that provides joint terminal attack controllers, joint fires observers and aircrews with the skills they need to effectively work together to achieve both lethal and non-lethal effects on the battlefield," said Marine Corps Maj. Jabari Reneau, the FIIT's Atlantic Strike exercise director. "This training will ultimately improve our combat effectiveness, while reducing the potential of fratricide and collateral damage during combat operations."

The exercise is to foster trust, increase confidence, and build vital relationships between key members of the air-to-ground team that will be essential to our forces' continued success today and on future battlefields, said Maj. Gen. David L. Goldfein, the director of Air Combat Command Air and Space Operations.

"Those important relationships are being forged here just like they must be on the battlefield when you can look your comrade in the eye and know you can count on each other," the general said. "That's what Atlantic Strike provides our warfighters."

More than 240 participants, CAS subject matter experts, observers and support personnel participated in the exercise, including representatives from all four U.S. services and our coalition partners from Canada and Slovenia.

"Atlantic Strike gave us an excellent opportunity to work with the U.S. military and other partners," said Canadian Forces Capt. Jonathan Cober, a forward air control cell instructor. "Our primary purpose at this exercise was the opportunity to look at the digital CAS technologies used here and to practice key air-to-ground linkages with some of our most important partners."

An added advantage of Atlantic Strike was the ability to focus on the training audience's needs.

"One of the strengths of Atlantic Strike is it is scalable and still able to focus on specific (training) objectives," General Goldfein said. "We're 100 percent focused and committed to the current fight as we keep an eye on the next threat. We know to accomplish that task we must be good joint partners, and this exercise is an example of that commitment."

The exercise improved joint air-to-ground training of Air Force and Marine Corps JTACs, Army JFO teams, the Air Support Operations Center and aircrew by incorporating intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets along with real-time, full-motion video to replicate a realistic and stressful combat environment, similar to operations in Afghanistan.

"Our primary goal was to get as many controls of live CAS aircraft as we could," said Senior Airman Benjamin Schmidt from Detachment 2, 1st Air Support Operations Squadron, Baumholder, Germany. "Atlantic Strike gave us the opportunity to work with a variety of aircraft and the entire air-to-ground kill chain just like we will in combat. This is as about as real world as it gets for us, and it will ultimately help us perform our mission downrange."

ACC officials hold bomb wing transition summit

Responsibility for Air Combat Command's three nuclear-capable bomb wings will transition from ACC to Air Force Global Strike Command Feb. 1, 2010, and include bomber forces, like the B-2 Spirit shown here from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., as well as bombers from the 2nd BW at Barksdale AFB, La., and the 5th BW at Minot AFB, N.D. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kenny Holston)

by Tech. Sgt. Mike Slater, Air Combat Command Public Affairs

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFNS) -- Staff members from Air Combat Command and Air Force Global Strike Command along with representatives from Headquarters Air Force and U.S. Strategic Command met Sep. 30 to work on solutions for the smooth transition of ACC's three bomb wings with nuclear missions to AFGSC.

On Feb. 1, 2010, control of ACC's three nuclear-capable bomb wings -- the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.; the 5th BW at Minot AFB, N.D.; and the 509th BW at Whiteman AFB, Mo. -- will move to AFGSC, with headquarters located at Barksdale.

This is the first in a series of responsibility transfer summits.

"Our goal is to make sure that we have a very smooth and safe handoff of the functions that are accomplished at the (major command level) between Air Combat Command and Global Strike Command, so that we continue to support the numbered Air Forces and the field units that are out there," said Col. Jim Dunn, ACC A/10 Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration director.

Additional summits will be held in November and December.

According to Col. Howard Shrum, AFGSC Det. 1 commander, "I think there are a lot of programs we can transfer over very easily into Global Strike Command. One of the niceties that we have here with Air Combat Command is that they've already been doing a lot of the work, so all we need to do is make sure we have a good transfer of all of that information into Global Strike Command and that we're ready, willing and able to take over."

AFGSC's Det. 1 staff is located at Langley to aid the transition.

One of the issues discussed at the summit was manning.

"Just like everywhere else in the Air Force, we are finding out that people are really our most critical resources," Colonel Dunn said.

In this instance, the issue is finding people who have the training, experience and background in the nuclear enterprise, he said.

"Making sure that we find the right people that we can move into the right jobs at Global Strike Command has probably been our biggest challenge and will continue to be our biggest challenge in the future.

"To some degree, we are trapped in a 'rob-Peter-to-pay-Paul' situation," Colonel Dunn said. "There is not an overwhelming number of people with nuclear experience within the Air Force at large."

He added that once the right person is found, getting him or her to Global Strike Command often will require a permanent change of station.

"There, we have a transition period where we lose somebody for 30-45 days as they take care of their family and their lives and make the move happen," Colonel Dunn said. "So we're working very, very hard to make those transitions move as smoothly as we possibly can, to meter them throughout the course of winter and next summer so we don't have a huge falloff in capacity here at Langley or a slow ramp-up at Global Strike Command."

Representatives from AFGSC and ACC echoed that the partnership between the commands will continue well after the responsibility transfer because both belong to the combat air forces and each command plays a key role in America's defense.

33rd Fighter Wing says goodbye to last F-15

From the Air Forces Times

The F-15 Eagle era is over for the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

On Sept. 8, the last three of the wing’s F-15s left for the boneyard in Arizona.

In October, the wing formally ends its association with Air Combat Command and stands up as Air Education and Training Command’s schoolhouse for F-35 Lightning II pilots and crew chiefs.

"It's bittersweet knowing that once I'm airborne, it's the end of the Eagle's 30-year association with the 33rd Fighter Wing, and the ramp will sit empty until the F-35s arrive next year," Col. Todd Harmer, commander of the 33rd, said in an Air Force statement.

At one time, the 33rd was home to a trio of F-15 squadrons and more than 70 fighters. Several four-star commanders flew F-15s at the wing, including ACC commander Gen. John Corley, Air Force Vice Commander Gen. Howie Chandler and retired generals T. Michael Moseley, John Jumper, Gregory “Speedy” Martin and William Looney.

During Desert Storm, the wing’s F-15s were credited with shooting down 16 Iraqi jets.

17th ASOS transitions from ACC to AFSOC

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The 17th Air Support Operations Squadron transitioned from Air Combat Command to the 720th Special Tactics Group, Air Force Special Operations Command, in a ceremony at the Hurlburt Field Air Park Oct. 1.

The 17th ASOS has 61 special operations forces Tactical Air Control Party Airmen and support personnel. The squadron will join the ranks of more than 900 special tactics combat controllers, pararescuemen, special operations weathermen and support personnel.

"The men of the 17th are the crown jewel of all TACPs- the top 10 percent of their career field," said Col. Bradley Thompson, 720th STG commander. "They are the most highly decorated TACP unit in the Air Force and have been involved in every contingency since 1983. The Air Force knows how valuable they are and we are so lucky to have our SOF brothers join us."

Among the many awards the 17th ASOS has earned are four Outstanding Unit Awards, one with valor, and the Gallant Unit Citation. The Gallant Unit Citation recognizes organizations for outstanding heroism in combat and is only second to the Presidential Unit Citation. Units must have performed with marked distinction under difficult and hazardous conditions in accomplishing its mission so as to set it apart from and above other units participating in the same conflict.

The 17th ASOS is bringing a rich history of proven combat experience and this move is beneficial to everyone involved, said Lt. Col. Christopher Cronk, 17th ASOS commander.

"Not only am I the commander of the best TACP squadron in the Air Force, but now we join the ranks of the most outstanding group in the Air Force," said Colonel Cronk. "This move is beneficial because we provide Joint Terminal Attack Controllers - JTACs - to all special operations forces and the SOF mission belongs in AFSOC."

The squadron provides terminal attack and liaison services to the 75th Ranger Regiment and its 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Regimental Special Troops Battalions, and the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 10th Special Forces Groups.

"These men have the right leadership and the right synergy and this transition was the right thing to do," said Colonel Thompson.

The 17th ASOS will remain at Fort Benning, Ga., with operational locations at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., Fort Campbell, Ky., Fort Bragg, N.C., Fort Carson, Colo. And Fort Lewis, Wash.

Upgraded B-52 still on cutting edge

by David Hopper, Air Combat Command Public Affairs


The B-52 Stratofortress is continually modified with new technology making the 50-year-old airframe one of the Air Force's most effective long-range heavy bombers.

Modified B-52 aircraft with modern technology are capable of delivering a full range of joint-developed weapons and will continue to be an important element of national defense, said Air Combat Command officials.

Upgrades have not only given the B-52 pin-point targeting capability but also enable it to carry the largest variety of weapons among the heavy bombers, said Lt. Col. Grey L. Morgan, the ACC B-52 program element monitor.

"We are capable of attacking multiple targets with just one aircraft," Colonel Morgan said. "With the advent of (global positioning system)-capable weapons we can service more targets across the spectrum."

With the newer weapons and the B-52's capacity to carry them, it's no longer a question of how many bombers per target, it's evolved into how many targets per bomber, Colonel Morgan said.

An example of a recent advance in the B-52 is the LITENING advanced targeting pod that is used for targeting, intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance.

The targeting pod contains a high-resolution, forward-looking infrared sensor that displays an image of the target to the aircrew. It has a wide field-of-view search capability and a narrow field-of-view acquisition and targeting capability. The pod contains a digital camera used to obtain target imagery in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, ACC officials said.

New modifications on the B-52 also include a laser designator for precise delivery of laser-guided munitions and a laser rangefinder for exact target coordinates.

One B-52 can engage dozens of targets simultaneously, said Lt. Col. Bryan L. Harris, the ACC B-52 weapon system team chief. "It is the most combat-capable bomber that we have in the U.S. Air Force."

The last B-52 built was delivered to the Air Force in October 1962 and currently there are only 94 of the original 744 aircraft still operational.

"Despite its age, the B-52 has the highest mission capable rate of the three heavy bombers currently in the Air Force," said Colonel Morgan. "It is still effective in many roles and its capable of performing missions that otherwise would go unfilled."

Other recent initiatives with the B-52 involve its use as a testing platform for synthetic fuels. The B-52 was chosen as the services first aircraft in synthetic fuel testing because it has a unique fuel management system that makes it possible to isolate various fuel tanks in the aircraft.

"This allowed us to put synthetic fuel in one fuel tank which we can control feeding into the desired engines and put more conventional JP-8 in the remaining fuel tanks for the remaining engines," Colonel Morgan said.

The Air Force will continue to upgrade the B-52 to sustain the aircraft's capability and effectiveness, ACC officials said.

The older airframe will continue to be useful as long as it can be modified with new technology at cheaper costs than purchasing new bombers, Colonel Morgan said.

Air Force may shrink its F-15 fleet - Aircraft to be Scrapped

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the Air Force will probably order dozens of its F-15 fighter jets permanently grounded because of crucial structural flaws, significantly reducing the number of planes available to protect the United States. The official announcement on the status of the F-15 fleet will be released today.

After one of the jets broke apart during a simulated dogfight in November, Air Force officials grounded the entire F-15 fleet, nearly 700 planes in all, fearing such a defect. The newest versions of the fighter jets were allowed to resume flying shortly afterward, but 440 of the older model F-15s have remained out of service.

The Air Force plans to allow about 260 of the remaining grounded planes to return to duty today. But about 180 more will remain idle because of suspected structural flaws.

You can read the entire article at the LA Times link below.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/la-na-airforce9jan09,1,2350411.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Air Combat Command Clears Selected F-15s for Flight

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. - Air Combat Command today cleared a portion of its F-15 A-D model aircraft for flying status and recommended a limited return to flight for Air Force units worldwide following engineering risk assessments and data received from multiple fleet-wide inspections.

The return to fly order and recommendation applies only to those F-15 aircraft, about 60 percent of the total Air Force F-15 A-D fleet, that have cleared all inspections and have met longeron manufacturing specifications.

The order and recommendation follows more than two months of stand-down actions after an Air National Guard F-15C aircraft experienced catastrophic structural failure and broke apart in flight during a basic fighter maneuver training sortie in Missouri on Nov. 2.

"The priority in resuming operations for a portion of the F-15 fleet is the defense of our nation -- America deserves nothing less," said General John D.W. Corley, Air Combat Command commander. "Aircraft inspection results and counsel from both military and industry experts have made me confident in the safety of a portion of the fleet. As a result, I have cleared those F-15s to return to fly."

Today's decision follows detailed information briefed on Friday to Air Combat Command from the Air Force's F-15 Systems Program Manager, senior engineers from Boeing and the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, as well as a briefing received today from the Accident Investigation Board president.

The information included an analysis of the health of the Air Force's F-15 fleet from findings from the Nov. 2 mishap investigation, maintenance inspections and actions completed and taken to date as well as historical science and engineering trend data from F-15 fleet management.

Inspections are more than 90 percent complete. Remaining inspections have primarily focused on the forward longerons. The longerons are a critical support structure.

TCTO inspections have discovered nine other aircraft with longeron fatigue-cracks. Additionally, approximately 40 percent of inspected aircraft have at least one longeron that does not meet blueprint specifications.

Deviations in these longerons will be analyzed at the WR-ALC. The analysis is expected to take approximately four weeks to complete. Once the analysis is complete, ACC will be able to better determine which aircraft will need further inspection, or repair, before returning them to flight.

ACC Aerial Events Demo Sked Mar-Jun 2007

The following is the schedule for the current flying season through April of 2007 for ACC Demo Units. NOTE: The F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team will be represented as F-15E SE in the schedule below. The F-15 West Team will now be represented as F-15C West. There is no F-15 East Team. The USAF A-10A Thunderbolt II East Coast demonstration team is schedule to disestablish at the end of June 2007. Plans are for the team to re-form in Spring 2009 at Moody AFB, GA.

Date Location / Event / Aircraft

MARCH 2007
10 NAF El Centro CA / Air Show / F-16 West, HF P-38
10-11 Brownsville TX / Air Show / A-10 West, HF P-51
12 Tyndall AFB FL / AETC/CC Conf / F-22
12 Seymour Johnson AFB NC / FMS Tour for Japanese / F-15E SE
16 Langley AFB VA / SES APEX / F-22
16-18 Titusville FL / Air Show / F-15E SE, F-16 East, HF F-86
17 Douglas AZ / Air Show / F-117 Flyover
17-18 Davis Monthan AFB AZ / Open House / A-10 West, F-16 West, HF P-51/F-4, F-117 Static & Flyover
17-18 Columbus GA / Air Show / A-10 East HF only P-51
18 Hampton (Atlanta) GA / NASCAR Race / A-10 East HF only P-51
19 Phoenix AZ / Air Force Week / A-10 West & F-16 West HF only P-51/F-4
20-25 Geelong, Avalon Australia / Air & Trade Show / F-15C West
24 Tyndall AFB FL / Open House / F-16 West, F-22, HF F-86 & F-4
24-25 Luke AFB AZ / Open House / A-10 West, F-15E SE, HF P-51
24-25 Punta Gorda FL / Air Show / A-10 East, F-16 East, HF P-51
31 Riverside CA / Air Show / A-10 West HF only P-51, F-117 Flyover
31 Slidell LA / Air Show / A-10 East, HF P-47
31 MacDill AFB FL / Open House / F-15C West, F-16 East, HF F-86
31 NAS Pt. Mugu CA / Air Show / A-10 West, F-15E SE, F-22, HF P-51, F-117 Static & Flyover

APRIL 2007
01 MacDill AFB FL / Open House / F-15C West, F-16 East, HF F-86
01 NAS Pt. Mugu CA / Air Show / A-10 West, F-15E SE, F-22, HF P-51, F-117 Static & Flyover
14 Hill AFB UT / Appreciation Day / F-16 West
14-15 Eglin AFB FL / Open House / A-10 West, F-15C West, HF P-51
14-15 NAS Corpus Christi TX / Air Show / F-15E SE, HF P-47
14-15 Gainesville FL / Air Show / A-10 East, F-16 East, HF F-86
21 Louisville KY / Air Show / A-10 West, F-15C West, F-16 West, HF P-51, F-117 Flyover
21-22 Lakeland FL / Air Show / A-10 East, HF P-51
21-22 MCAS Beaufort SC / Air Show / F-16 East, HF F-86
21-22 Barksdale AFB LA / Open House / F-15E SE, HF P-47 & F-4, F-117 Static & Flyover
27-29 Langley AFB VA / Open House / A-10 West, F-15C West, F-22, HF F-86, F-117 Static & Flyover
28-29 Vidalia GA / Air Show / A-10 East, HF P-51, F-117 Flyover
28-29 Galveston TX / Air Show / F-15E SE, F-16 East, HF P-47

May
12-13 McGuire AFB NJ / Air Show-Open House / A-10 East
18-19 Fort Jackson SC / Air Show / A-10 East
19-20 Lumberton NC / A-10 East
26-27 Wantagh NY /Air Show / A-10 East

June
09-10 Mather Field Sacramento CA / Air Show / A-10 East
16-17 Pittsburgh PA /Air Show / A-10 East
23 Eielson AFB AK / A-10 East
30 Akron OH / A-10 East

July
01 Akron OH / A-10 East
03 Dubuque IA / A-10 East

USAF ACC Aerial Events Schedule Feb 2007

Here is the latest schedule through the end of February for the ACC Flight Demo Teams.

NOTE: The F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team will be represented as F-15E SE in the schedule below. The F-15 West Team will now be represented as F-15C West. There is no F-15 East Team.

Date / Location / Event / Aircraft

15 / Moody AFB, GA / CSAA / CSAR Demonstration / 2 x HH-60 Tactical Demonstration

17-18 / Lima, Peru / Air Show / F-16 West (pending airlift)

18 / Daytona Beach, FL / NASCAR Daytona 500 / 4 x F-15 Flyover

22 / Shaw AFB, SC / Chaplains Day / F-16 East

24 / Yuma, AZ / Air Show / A-10 West

The USAF ACC "Raymond" Callsign

From time to time I am asked about the old USAF TAC callsign - "Raymond." Yes, it is still used and reported on various newsgroups occasionally. So as a special for my Milcom blog readers here is my latest list of confirmed USAF ACC "Raymond" callsigns. You will most likely hear these callsigns used on 311.0, 321.0 and 381.3 MHz. If you have a new confirmed Raymond callsign or update to share with our readers, please pass it along to larryvanhorn @ monitoringtimes.com.

Please no old list, etc. I am looking for what has been heard recently.

Raymond 01 / ACC Headquarters Command Post - Langley AFB, VA [Has not been reported in quite some time and will be removed from my list unless someone has heard it recently]
Raymond 06 / *2BW Command Post - Barksdale AFB, LA
Raymond 07 / *27FW Command Post - Cannon AFB, NM
Raymond 08 / *355 Wing Command Post - Davis Monthan AFB, AZ
Raymond 11 / *33FW Command Post - Eglin AFB, FL
Raymond 12 / *5BW Command Post - Minot AFB, ND
Raymond 14 / *49FW Command Post - Holloman AFB, NM
Raymond 16 / *1FW Command Post - Langley AFB, VA
Raymond 18 / *56FW Command Post - Luke AFB, AZ
Raymond 19 / *93ACW Command Post - Robins AFB, GA
Raymond 21 / *55 Wing Command Post - Offutt AFB, NE
Raymond 22 / *57 Wing Command Post - Nellis AFB, NV
Raymond 23 / *388FW Command Post - Hill AFB, UT
Raymond 24 / *552ACW Command Post - Tinker AFB, OK
Raymond 25 / *4FW Command Post - Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
Raymond 26 / *20FW Command Post - Shaw AFB, SC
Raymond 27 / *366 Wing Command Post - Mountain Home AFB, ID
Raymond 31 / 9RW Command Post Beale AFB, CA
Raymond 33 / *28BW Command Post - Ellsworth AFB, SD
Raymond 36 / *102FW/101FS Command Post Otis ANGB, MA [This entry listed in official publications is suspect. I believe based on good monitoring by Matt Cawby and others in the Pacific NW that this callsign is not used by Otis, but by Fairchild]
Raymond 36 / 92ARW Command Post Fairchild AFB, WA
Raymond 37 / *7BW Command Post - Dyess AFB, TX

Listing marked with an asterisks have been confirmed through listings in official sources (i.e. DoD IFR Sup, etc).

USAF ACC Aerial Events Schedule Jan/Feb 2007

Here is the latest schedule for the ACC Aerial Demo Teams for January/February 2007. We are still working to get the complete schedule for 2007 and will post that here when we get it from the ACC Demo office.

January
31 / Davis Monthan AFB, AZ / SOUTHCOM Conference / A-10 West, F-16 West

February
03 / Shaw AFB, SC / 77 FS Reunion / F-16 East
11 / Laredo, TX / Air Show / F-15 West
17-18 / Lima, Peru / Air Show / F-16 West (pending airlift)
18 / Daytona Beach, FL / NASCAR Daytona 500 / 4 x F-15 Flyover [2]
22 / Shaw AFB, SC / Chaplains Day / F-16 East
24-25 / San Salvador, El Salvador / Air Show / A-10 West