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Vol. 65 No. 31
August 7, 2015
‘Eye in the sky’: RPA Airmen in Red Flag fight
By Tech. Sgt. Nadine Barclay
432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nadine Barclay CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. —
The sun beats down on the dry Nevada
Staff Sgt. Lloyd, an 18th Reconnaissance Squadron MQ-1B Predator sensor operator, flies a remotely piloted aircraft training sortie in support desert, bringing a smell of fuel that fills the
of Red Flag 15-3 at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., July 23. The goal of participating in Red Flag exercises was to fully integrate RPAs into large air. Engines begin roaring to life as the Air-
force exercises and to educate major weapon systems communities on the RPA capabilities. men of the 432nd Wing prepare to support
Red Flag 15-3 from July 13 through 31.
Located approximately an hour from
Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, where par-
ticipants eat, sleep and breathe Red Flag op-
erations, the Airmen of Creech AFB didn’t
let the distance hinder their opportunity to
show the rest of the Air Force community
and the world what remotely piloted aircraft
can bring to the fight.
“I feel this type of training is important
because of the immense integration that
occurs with other Air Force assets,” said
Capt. Benjamin, an 18th Reconnaissance
Squadron MQ-1B Predator pilot. “We can
go out on one of the greatest ranges in the
world and play against ourselves. Having the
ability to train with other assets is good; it’s
the key to what makes Red Flag so great.”
The main mission of Red Flag is to
provide a realistic combat training exercise
involving the air forces of the U.S. and its
allies. It is coordinated at Nellis AFB and
_______ See RED FLAG, on page 3
Lightning AMU performs JSF upgrades despite full flying schedule
By Senior Airman Joshua Kleinholz pleted the first on-site block 1B aircraft The 2B upgrade will increase the on at Lighting AMU are done at an off-
to 2B upgrade of the U. S. Air Force aircrafts’ operating limits; allowing for site maintenance depot at Hill Air Force
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs configured F-35A Lightning II here in supersonic flight and expanding the Base, Utah, requiring for selected aircraft
early July. authorized maneuvering envelope. As to be taken out of flight schedule rotation
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. a result of the upgrade, new weapons completely for up to six months. By car-
—Maintainers assigned to the 57th Air- The two aircraft, assigned to the 422nd systems can be tested on the platform, rying out the process at home station,
craft Maintenance Squadron Lightning Test and Evaluation Squadron, were both and improvements in the pilot-to-vehicle Lighting AMU saved time, money and
Aircraft Maintenance Unit paired with early low rate initial production versions interface have been observed.
a contractor field team from Lockheed configured primarily for use as testing ______See UPGRADES, on page 6
Martin starting in early May and com- platforms. Typically, upgrades like the task taken
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