Page 1 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 6-5-15
P. 1
7UDLQWKHZRUOG·VJUHDWHVW)DQG)ÀJKWHUSLORWV June 5, 2015
Vol. 15, No. 21
INSIDE
STORIES
Critical days of safety, 3
Crisis kids tour base, 4
Posting to web, 5
F-35 progress, 6
NCO PEC, 7
FEATURE
Staff Sgt. Timothy Boyer Lt. Col. Matt Vedder, right, 61st Fighter Squadron instructor pilot, gives a step brief to pilots at the 61st FS at Luke Air
Force Base. Step briefs cover the most-up-to-date information including wind, weather, airspace and airfield conditions.
FLIGHT MEDICINE
Top Dogs drive F-35 program forward
See Page 12
by Senior Airman )6 ZH WUDLQ 86 DQG $XVWUDOLDQ SLORWV can expect new challenges and a steeper
INDEX JAMES HENSLEY This is a challenge in a way, because we OHDUQLQJFXUYH
execute training in a partner mission en-
Action line ............................. 2 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs YLURQPHQW%XWDWWKHVDPHWLPHLWEXLOGV “All the processes are completely new
Briefs..................................... 3 DEHWWHUUHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQWKHQDWLRQVµ which create their own challenges, and
Spotlight ................................ 4 The 61st Fighter Squadron at Luke Air we’re essentially developing a brand new
Diversions ........................... 20 Force Base is laying the groundwork for The F-35 training doesn’t refer only to V\VWHP RI RSHUDWLRQVµ /RQJ VDLG ´)URP
Sports.................................. 23 future F-35 Lightning II squadrons by the pilots but also the Airmen who will some of our past experiences with the F-16,
launching a detailed pilot training program SUHSDUHWKHSLORWVDQGDLUFUDIW we make suggestions for improvements
Emerald RQWKHÀIWKJHQHUDWLRQDLUFUDIW7KHWUDLQ- IRU WKH ) ,W·V UHDOO\ D SULYLOHJH WR EH
Knights ing conducted at the 61st will help following “We’re laying the foundation for the ini- DSDUWRIWKHÀUVW)VTXDGURQDW/XNH
graduate 16 F-35 squadrons become well-oiled machines tial F-35 pilot training here at Luke,” said especially since only the best get selected
like the F-16 Fighting Falcon squadrons Airman 1st Class Christopher Long, 61st WRZRUNKHUHµ
For story and FXUUHQWO\WUDLQLQJSLORWVDW/XNH )6DLUFUDIWÁLJKWHTXLSPHQWMRXUQH\PDQ
photos, see ´:H·UH WKH ÀUVW ) WUDLQLQJ VTXDGURQ Training is geared toward making pilots
The 56th Fighter Wing has a new mission ZLWKIRUHLJQSDUWQHUQDWLRQVDWWKLVVFDOH DVFRPEDWUHDG\DVWKHDLUFUDIWZLOODOORZ
Page 18. QRZWKDWIRUPDOO\LQFOXGHV)WUDLQLQJ ,QFRPSDULVRQWRWKH)ÀJKWHUVTXDG- To accomplish this mission they need the
rons at Luke, the mission is essentially the VXSSRUWRIWKHFRPPXQLW\
WEATHER “Our squadron’s mission is to train the VDPHEXWWKHWHFKQRORJ\LVYHU\GLIIHUHQW
ZRUOG·VJUHDWHVW)SLORWVµVDLG/W&RO 7KHKHOPHWVJUDYLWDWLRQDOVXLWVMDFNHWV “It takes Team Luke to make the 61st
Today 0DWW9HGGHUVW)6LQVWUXFWRUSLORW´7KH DOOWKHJHDULVPXFKPRUHDGYDQFHGµ )6µ9HGGHUVDLG´:LWKRXWWKHPZHFDQ·W
pilots who will complete training here will SURGXFH WKH EHVW ) SLORWV (YHU\RQH
92°/72° OHDYH DV WKH EHVW ) SLORWV ,Q WKH VW With so much new technology, Airmen SOD\VDQLQWULFDWHUROHLQWKLVPLVVLRQµ
Sunny Go to luke.af.mil for Luke Facebook link 8VH\RXUVPDUWSKRQHWR
connect to our website!
