Page 1 - Edwards AFB Desert Wings 10-30-15

Volume 63, Number 18 Serving the community of Edwards Air Force Base, California October 30, 2015

www.edwards.af.mil – www.facebook.com/edwardsairforcebase

/RFDODYLDWLRQOHJHQGVVXSSRUWHUVÀRFNWRJHWKHU

by Rebecca Amber honor tonight provided the Unit- Air Force photograph by Rebecca Amber
Staff writer ed States and many of our allied
nations with imagery and intel- This year’s Eagle panel consisted of honorees Lt. Col. (Ret.) Tony Bevacqua, U-2 and SR-71 instructor/test
LANCASTER, Calif.—The ligence data that kept our nation pilot; Lt. Col. (Ret.) David Kerzie, U-2 chief test pilot for Lockheed Martin; Col. (Ret.) Robert Rowe, U-2 chief
Flight Test Historical Founda- safe. U-2 and SR-71 missions put test pilot for Lockheed Martin; Col. (Ret.) Louis Setter, U-2 instructor/test pilot; and Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ed Yeilding,
tion honored U-2 and SR-71 pi- U.S. eyes in the sky keeping tabs SR-71 instructor/test pilot.
lots during the annual Gathering on those who would do us harm;
of Eagles dinner at the Antelope keeping them honest and engage
Valley Fairgrounds Oct. 24. in diplomacy rather than war,”
said Lisa Gray, Flight Test His-
This year’s theme was com- torical Foundation Board of Di-
memorating the 60th anniversary rectors chairwoman.
RIWKH¿UVWÀLJKWRIWKH8DQG
the 25th anniversary of the SR-71 The annual Gathering of Ea-
Smithsonian Speed Run. gles dinner is also about raising
funds that will ultimately con-
At the end of the night, pins and tribute to moving the Air Force
FHUWL¿FDWHVZHUHSUHVHQWHGWRWKLV Flight Test Museum outside of the
year’s Eagle honorees. This year’s Edwards AFB west gate, which
Eagles are: would provide easy access for
the public.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Tony Bevacqua,
U-2 and SR-71 instructor/test pi- During the evening, Gray an-
lot nounced that due to a $300,000
matching grant from the Conrad
Lt. Col. (Ret.) David Kerzie, Hilton Foundation, the Flight Test
U-2 chief test pilot for Lockheed Historical Foundation has raised
Martin enough to break ground.

Col. (Ret.) Robert Rowe, U-2 One large pledge of $50,000
chief test pilot for Lockheed Mar- came from the Glen and Lois Ja-
tin mieson Family Fund.

Col. (Ret.) Louis Setter, U-2 “There have been more first
instructor/ test pilot
See EAGLES, Page 8
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ed Yeilding, SR-
71 instructor / test pilot

“The efforts of the men we

Air Force awards LRS-B contract to Northrop Grumman

The Air Force announced Oct. 27 the con- years for the B-52 to 17 plus years for the The Long Range Strike Bomber contract is B aircraft. The APUC from the independent
tract award of Engineering and Manufactur- B-2 - with a long range, highly survivable composed of two parts. The contract for the estimate supporting today’s award is $511
ing Development and early production for bomber capable of penetrating and operating Engineering and Manufacturing Develop- million per aircraft, again in 2010 dollars.
the Long Range Strike Bomber to Northrop in tomorrow’s anti-access, area denial envi- ment, or EMD, phase is a cost-reimbursable
Grumman Corporation. ronment. The LRS-B provides the strategic type contract with cost and performance in- Based on current LRS-B independent cost
agility to launch from the United States and centives. The incentives minimize the con- estimates, the Air Force projects the APUC
“The LRS-B is critical to national defense strike any target, any time around the globe. WUDFWRU¶VSUR¿WLIWKH\GRQRWFRQWUROFRVWDQG for the program will be approximately a third
and is a top priority for the Air Force,” said schedule appropriately. The independent es- of the previous B-2 stealth aircraft.
Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee “The LRS-B will provide our nation tre- timate for the EMD phase is $21.4 billion in
James. “We face a complex security environ- PHQGRXVÀH[LELOLW\DVDGXDOFDSDEOHERPEHU 2010 dollars. “We believe this is a reasonable and
ment. It’s imperative our Air Force invests in and the strategic agility to respond and adapt achievable estimate. If we remain disciplined
the right people, technology, capability and faster than our potential adversaries,” said The second part of the contract is com- and keep program requirements stable, we
training to defend the nation and its interests Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Mark SRVHGRIRSWLRQVIRUWKH¿UVWSURGXFWLRQ should beat this estimate,” said Dr. William
— at an affordable cost.” A. Welsh III. “We have committed to the lots, comprising 21 aircraft out of the total A. LaPlante, the assistant secretary of the Air
American people to provide security in the fleet of 100. They are fixed price options Force for Acquisition.
The future threat will evolve through the skies, balanced by our responsibility to af- with incentives for cost. Based on approved
introduction of advanced air defense systems fordably use taxpayer dollars in doing so. requirements, the Average Procurement Unit 7KH$LU)RUFHSURJUDPRI¿FHFRQGXFWHG
and development of more capable surface to This program delivers both while ensuring Cost (APUC) per aircraft is required to be design efforts with industry over the last
air missile systems. The LRS-B is designed we are poised to face emerging threats in an equal to or less than $550 million per aircraft three years to ensure requirements for the
to replace the Air Force’s aging fleets of uncertain future.” in 2010 dollars when procuring 100 LRS- aircraft were stable and allowed for the use
bombers — ranging in age from 50 plus
See BOMBER, Page 4

Town Hall The next semi-annual Ed- Briefers will include the For questions or
meeting wards Town Hall 412th Force Support recommended topics,
contact the 412th Mission
meeting will be 5-9 p.m., Squadron, 412th Security Support Group at 661-
Nov. 4 in the Airman and Forces Squadron, AAFES,
Family Readiness Center WKHVFKRROOLDLVRQRI¿FHU 277-0440.

(Bldg. 5620). and Corvias