One Calls Flight 'Easiest Tanking Event In My Career'

The initial cadre of F-35A Lightning II instructor pilots qualified in aerial refueling last week, adding another capability for student pilot training at the 33rd Fighter Wing's F-35 Integrated Training Center at Eglin AFB in Florida. "Eleven pilots had flown 14 refueling missions across the boom with the help of a KC-135 Stratotanker based here all last week," said Col. Andrew Toth, the commander of the 33rd Fighter Squadron. "Prior to this, only test pilots had done so."

Mission Will Be To Monitor Large Ocean Areas And Coastal Regions

An MQ-4C Triton high-altitude unmanned aircraft developed for the U.S. Navy successfully completed its first flight Wednesday from Northrop Grumman's manufacturing facility in Palmdale, CA. Triton is specially designed to fly surveillance missions up to 24 hours at altitudes of more than 10 miles – allowing coverage out to 2,000 nautical miles.

Effort To Raise Funds And Awareness For The Special Operations Warrior Foundation

A group of Airmen with the Air Force Seven Summits team reached the highest point of the world, Mount Everest (29,035 ft.) just after 5 a.m. local time May 19.

Air Support Operations Squadron From Will Rogers Air National Guard Base Activated

Nearly 250 members of the Oklahoma National Guard, as well as members of Tinker Air Force Base are assisting with victim search and security in Moore, OK, where a tornado left at least 24 dead, including nine children, authorities said. The EF5 twister hit Monday, May 20, about 1515 CDT, just three miles south of Tinker.

Local Annapolis Businesses Feeling The Pinch

The cancellations of the Blue Angels performance schedule for 2013 did not spare one of its traditional outings ... flying for graduation at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.