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Portal:United States Air Force

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Emblem of the United States Air Force

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial and space warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the five branches of the United States Armed Forces, and one of the seven American uniformed services. Initially established as a part of the United States Army on 1 August 1907, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on 18 September 1947 with the passing of the National Security Act of 1947. It is the youngest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the fourth in order of precedence. The USAF is the largest and most technologically advanced air force in the world. The Air Force articulates its core missions as air and space superiority, global integrated ISR, rapid global mobility, global strike, and command and control.

The U.S. Air Force is a military service branch organized within the Department of the Air Force, one of the three military departments of the Department of Defense. The Air Force, through the Department of the Air Force, is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Air Force, who reports to the Secretary of Defense, and is appointed by the President with Senate confirmation. The highest-ranking military officer in the Air Force is the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, who exercises supervision over Air Force units and serves as one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Air Force forces are assigned, as directed by the Secretary of Defense, to the combatant commanders, and neither the Secretary of the Air Force nor the Chief of Staff of the Air Force have operational command authority over them.

Along with conducting independent air and space operations, the U.S. Air Force provides air support for land and naval forces and aids in the recovery of troops in the field. , the service operates more than 5,369 military aircraft, 406 ICBMs and 170 military satellites. It has a $161 billion budget and is the second largest service branch, with 318,415 active duty personnel, 140,169 civilian personnel, 69,200 Air Force Reserve personnel, and 105,700 Air National Guard personnel.

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Picture spotlight

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Photo credit: USAF photo.
Aftermath

A 5-ship of F-15 Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons over the Kuwaiti oil fires following the Gulf War.

photo source: Air Force Link

Article spotlight

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The 1st Special Operations Wing was first established as the 16th Pursuit Group in 1923. The unit provided air defense for the Panama Canal Zone from 1932-1943 when it was transferred to India and participated in operations in the China-Burma-India Theater. During the Vietnam War the wing conducted unconventional warfare training for the South Vietnamese Air Force and conducted combat operations during the war. Since the end of the Vietnam War elements of the wing have participated in several combat operations including Operations Eagle Claw, Urgent Fury, Just Cause, Desert Shield/Storm, Deliberate Force/Joint Endeavor, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.

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.

Source:http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2011/07/air-force-c-130-replacing-older-engines-072011w/
News Archive

Aerospace vehicle spotlight

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The KC-135 Stratotanker is the primary aerial refueler in the USAF. The aircraft was designed and built by Boeing based on their 367-80 airframe, the same design that lead to their 707 commercial airliner. The aircraft went into production in 1954 and the first operational KC-135 was delivered to the Air Force in 1957. The aircraft is capable of carrying up to 200,000 lbs. (90,700 kg) of fuel and 83,000 pounds (37,600 kg) of cargo.

The Stratotanker has seen extensive service around the world since first being introduced. The aircraft enabled fighters with limited fuel capacity and range to reach targets beyond their normal ability and provided them with the ability to have greater loiter times over target areas. Through the air refueling capability offered by the KC-135 the USAF is able to build and sustain a global logistics network with high efficiency.

The Air Force acquired a total of 732 KC-135, with 505 still in service. With the newest KC-135 now more than 40-years old the USAF is seeking to replace it with a newer tanker. Contract difficulties have slowed the acquisition process however, and the KC-135 will likely continue service for the near future.

Biography spotlight

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General Curtis Emerson LeMay (1906–1990) was an aviation pioneer serving in the United States Air Force.

He is credited with designing and implementing an effective systematic strategic bombing campaign in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. After the war, he headed the Berlin airlift, then reorganized the Strategic Air Command into an effective means of conducting nuclear war.

Curtis Emerson LeMay was born in Columbus, Ohio on 15 November 1906. On 9 June 1964 he married Helen E. Maitland, and had one child with her (Patricia Jane LeMay Lodge). LeMay died on 1 October 1990.

General LeMay's positions included: Commander, 305th Bomb Group; Commander, 4th Bombardment Wing; Commander, 3d Bomb Division; Commander, XX Bomber Command; Commander, XXI Bomber Command; Deputy Chief of Air Staff for Research and Development; Commander, United States Air Forces in Europe; Commander, Strategic Air Command; Vice-Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force; Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force; and American Independent Party Vice-Presidential Candidate.

Did you know...?

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... that during Operation Safe Haven aircraft from the Military Air Transport Service airlifted between 15,000 and 21,000 refugees fleeing the fighting from the failed Hungarian Revolution of 1956. In the process nearly 20,000 Hungarians found permanent homes in the United States.

Quotes

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The Air Force comes in every morning and says, 'Bomb, bomb, bomb' … And then the State Department comes in and says, 'Not now, or not there, or too much, or not at all.'

- Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th President of the United States

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