Page 1 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 6-19-15

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INSIDE Emerald Knights lift off for New Mexico
STORIES
„ 944th FW Det. 1, 3
„ Shaping up, 4
„ Aussies fly 100 sorties, 5
„ Men’s health month, 6
„ PT waist size, 7
FEATURE
Tech. Sgt. Tim Boyer
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
See Page 18
INDEX
Action line ............................. 2
Briefs..................................... 3
Spotlight ................................ 4
Diversions ........................... 20
Sports.................................. 23
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Excellence in all we are requires a
lifetime effort of improvement. Most
people have “to do” lists, but very few
people have “to be” lists. Why? Be-
cause to do lists can easily be checked
off, one by one, measuring out the item
as completed. “To be” lists are never
done, but require constant effort,
honing, shaping and development. To
be lists require all four pillars of resil-
iency to be in place. To be balanced is
also an admirable attribute.”
Col. Daniel Smith
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WEATHER
Today
114°/82°
Sunny
June 19, 2015
Vol. 15, No. 23
Tech. Sgt. Timothy Boyer
F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 308th Fighter Squadron’s Emerald Knights line up at the North End of Runway Tuesday
at Luke Air Force Base. The aircraft were part of a 12-jet launch that took place to move the aircraft to their new home
at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, becoming part of the 314th FS. The 314th is a Luke AFB 56th Fighter Wing squadron
assigned to Holloman AFB as a tenant unit. Nine more Emerald Knight F-16s left for Holloman Wednesday.
F-35s gas up on fly
by Staff Sgt. ´$LU UHIXHOLQJ LV KRZ ZH Á\ H[WHQGHG KC-135 Stratotanker, communicating the
67$&,0,//(5 sorties or go longer distances in combat,” position of the plane receiving the fuel and
said Maj. John Wilson, 61st FS assistant insuring a smooth connection is made. The
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs GLUHFWRU RI RSHUDWLRQV ´:H URXWLQHO\ Á\ -XQHWUDLQLQJPLVVLRQZDVWKHÀUVWWLPH
sorties lasting between four to eight hours many of the 161st ARW boom operators have
)/LJKWQLQJ,,ÀJKWHUSLORWVIURPWKH and provide sensor coverage over an area worked with the Luke F-35 Lightning IIs.
61st Fighter Squadron connected with Air- or protection in support of ground forces.
men from the Arizona Air National Guard’s AAR enables a persistent presence in an ´,W·VWKHÀUVWWLPHZH·UHDFWXDOO\JHWWLQJ
161st Air Refueling Wing June 5 to practice area or the ability to strike further behind to see the F-35s,” Madorski said. “It brought
air-to-air refueling. enemy lines.” PHEDFNWRUHIXHOLQJP\ÀUVW)5DSWRU
You hear the pilots telling you where they
The 161st ARW is right down the road in :KLOHÀJKWHUSLORWVJHWORWVRISUDFWLFHLQ are coming from so you’re just looking, and
Phoenix and provides a valuable service to simulators, it does not completely replicate looking. All of a sudden, there they are and
Luke Air Force Base and its pilots. the real thing. you have four beautiful jets come up and
take their spots. It was a little Arizona on
“Luke is our active-duty sister unit,” “You can’t duplicate the real-world fac- Arizona.”
said Senior Master Sgt. Jeffrey Madorski, tors that can complicate AAR such as the
161st ARW boom operator. “We’ve worked sun in your eyes, busy radios, dim director The relationship between the sister units
with them and the F-16 for years and look lights, turbulence or weather or manual is strong and continues to strengthen.
forward to working with them and the F-35 tanker operation,” Wilson said. “As with
in the future.” many types of training, the simulator can “We’re always here, we have all the tank-
JHW\RXSHUFHQWRIWKHZD\EXWRQO\Á\- ers we need and we’re always willing to
With AAR, pilots can extend the combat ing can teach the last 20 percent.” provide support.”
radius of their aircraft, and more complex
missions can be performed. Essentially, The boom operator is in the rear of the For photos, see Page 12
being able to refuel in the air is crucial.
Go to luke.af.mil for Luke Facebook link 8VH\RXUVPDUWSKRQHWR
connect to our website!