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Celebrating 79 Years of the U.S. Air Force

seth — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 17:16:33 +0000

The United States Air Force is celebrating its 79th year as an official military branch.

Founded in 1907 as the Army’s Aeronautical Division of the Signal Corps and later known as the Army Air Service and Army Air Forces, the U.S. Air Force officially became a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947.

Since then, the Air Force has carried forward a proud tradition of excellence, living up to its motto: “Aim High… Fly-Fight-Win.”

Cheers to 79 years of service, innovation, and airpower…and many more to come.

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Two Aircraft, One Mission

seth — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 18:16:13 +0000

The future of Air Force missions is here: crewed and uncrewed systems working together as one team.

The F-15EX Eagle II and MQ-28 Ghost Bat flew together during Valiant Shield 2026 over the Philippine Sea, demonstrating how the platforms work together in manned-unmanned teaming operations.

The flight represents an important step toward the next generation of airpower where unmanned systems expand mission reach and capability.

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Supplier Spotlight: CPC

seth — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:21:14 +0000

Control Products Corporation (CPC) is a premier aerospace lighting company based in Grand Prairie, Texas. Established in 1963, CPC began as a lighted information panel house. Today, it is on the cutting edge of the industry, manufacturing night vision imaging system (NVIS) lighting for critical platforms like the CH-47 Chinook, the F-15EX, and the F/A-18 Super Hornet.

CPC VP of Engineering Andrew Sutphen describes why every person at the company is proud of the work they do: “Our designs… are real items that are going on a real aircraft [that] may save our life someday. It protects our country, it protects our borders, it protects our people. That is the biggest satisfaction.”

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Preparing the KC-46 Fleet for the Future

seth — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 18:46:43 +0000

The KC-46 Pegasus continues to prove itself as a powerful force multiplier for the U.S. Air Force, delivering advanced aerial refueling, cargo transport, and multi-mission flexibility in one, highly capable platform.

The U.S. Air Force is accelerating key upgrades to the aircraft that will deliver more capabilities faster.

“The KC-46 is a cornerstone of U.S. power projection,” said Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink. “By establishing this multi-pronged approach, we are directly improving aircraft availability, accelerating the delivery of vital new capabilities and significantly enhancing the overall supportability of the fleet.”

With ongoing upgrades and improved support, the KC-46 is ready to meet tomorrow’s mission needs.

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Artemis III Advancing with Accelerated Progress

seth — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 18:57:10 +0000

Artemis III integration is progressing at an impressive pace ahead of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket’s mission to low Earth orbit in 2027.

The Orion crew module, which will house astronauts during the mission, and service module, which will propel Orion to test docking capabilities with prototype versions of human landing systems, were recently joined together at Kennedy Space Center.

NASA also completed inspections on the solid rocket booster segments of the SLS and began stacking the twin booster segments.

SLS will launch along with NASA’s commercial partners to demonstrate mission critical systems needed for future lunar landings, starting with Artemis IV in 2028.

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The Michael Jordan of the Skies

seth — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 20:38:28 +0000

The word G.O.A.T. (Greatest of all Time) is thrown around a lot these days, but only a limited few truly earn it. In a piece for 19fortyfive, writer Harry J. Kazianis makes the case that the F-15 Eagle is the only aircraft that compares to the GOAT of basketball – Michael Jordan.

“Fifty-four years after the first flight, the scoreboard reads like nothing else in aviation: 104 official wins and counting [and] zero air-to-air defeats… the greatest of all time is a title you have to defend every night for decades. The Eagle still hasn’t lost the one that counts.”

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This Plane Can See In The Dark

seth — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:03:46 +0000

The E-7 Wedgetail is a “fundamental leap forward in America’s ability to detect, track, and respond to air threats within a strategically complex and contested battle space.”

As the U.S. Air Force (USAF) begins its transition from the E-3 Sentry to the E-7 Wedgetail, US Defense News gives a detailed explanation of the advantages the E-7 brings to our long-term defense efforts.

Modern, advanced aircraft require modern, advanced detection. That’s exactly what the E-7 brings to the table and why it’s essential for effective deterrence and defense.

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Chinook Pilots to Congress: It’s A No Brainer

seth — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:50:14 +0000

The CH-47 Chinook Block II is the modernized, heavy-lift helicopter that the Army needs for current and future missions. It’s also critical to humanitarian efforts, including fighting wildfires and conducting search and rescue operations. Continued support for this extraordinary aircraft in the next defense spending bill will keep the Chinook in the skies for years to come.

In an opinion piece for Stars and Stripes, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and Vietnam War veteran makes the case for long-term government support for the Chinook.

“The Chinook is an innovative, effective, and iconic piece of military machinery. It’s the strongest and safest heavy-lift helicopter in the world. With its latest upgrade to the Block II formation, it’s formidable as well as functional. It’s a system that the Army can’t do without both in foreign and domestic capacities.”

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Artemis III Crew Announced

seth — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:00:19 +0000

Planning for Artemis III is underway and NASA has announced its crew for one of its most “complex” missions it has ever undertaken.

NASA astronaut and commander Randy Bresnik, European Space Agency astronaut and pilot Luca Parmitano of Italy, and NASA astronauts and mission specialists Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas will launch aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to demonstrate the Orion spacecraft’s rendezvous and docking capabilities with two commercially designed and built lunar landers.

“We, the Artemis III crew, are honored to be able to carry this torch forward, to be able to execute our mission, to make that flame burn brighter and pass it on,” Randy Bresnik said at the announcement ceremony.

Artemis III is scheduled to launch in 2027.

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Inside the Shop Making Apache Precision Parts

seth — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:23:26 +0000

Rave Gears and Machining is an aerospace manufacturer based in Seguin, Texas, producing precision components for some of the most mission-critical platforms in the U.S. military — including roughly 30 unique parts for the Apache helicopter.

The company’s work demands exacting standards, and sustaining that quality means investing as much in people as in parts.

Rave Gears VP of Operations Nehal Patel and two of the company’s CNC machinists discuss what it takes to build for the Apache, how Rave Gears develops the next generation of aerospace manufacturing talent, and why working on hardware that matters makes all the difference.

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