AFMC Command News

  • Materiel Command's top civilian moving to Headquarters Air Force

    Air Force officials announced June 12 that Barbara Westgate will become the new Air Force Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Programs. Mrs. Westgate, a member of the Senior Executive Service, currently is the executive director of Air Force Materiel Command, headquartered at

  • Civilian receives $10,000 for canopy repair 'IDEA'

    A civilian's suggestion to let the base egress shop repair F-16 canopies instead of sending them off base earned him $10,000 and will save the Air Force more than $1 million. Robert Watts, an ordnance inspector with the 412th Maintenance Squadron, received a check June 11 for his suggestion

  • TPS confers its first master's degrees

    On May 27, the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School achieved a milestone by officially receiving accreditation to present its graduating students with a master's degree. Eighteen students from the Class 07B were the first to be granted a Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering degree during a

  • Wind tunnel tests contribute to first flight of F-35

    The June 11 completion of the first flight of the short takeoff/vertical landing version of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., in Fort Worth, Texas, resonated with Air Force engineers at the Arnold Engineering Development Center here. "A number of us at

  • Robins implements philosophy to help maintainers

    Maintainers here no longer are standing in line to get such equipment as harnesses and lanyards thanks to an innovation by members of the high velocity maintenance high performance team. The search for a change began because Warner Robins Air Logistics Center maintainers were spending too much time

  • Historian garners Frank Futrell award

    A simple phone call from someone inquiring about a piece of Air Force history inspired Dr. William Head, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center historian, to write a book about AC-119G Shadow and AC-119K Stinger gunships in the Vietnam War. One year later, his book is being recognized at the Air Force

  • Restraint system improves aircrew safety

    A new restraint system based on the same technology that brings speeding roller coasters to a smooth stop may soon help save warfighter lives and reduce military mobile aircrew injuries. Air Force Research Laboratory engineers teamed with Wolf Technical Services, Inc., under a Small Business

  • Device provides active thermal control of spacecraft surfaces

    Air Force Research Laboratory engineers have successfully integrated two existing technologies to create a thermal emission management system suitable for space use. Achieving operationally responsive space capabilities requires versatile satellites that can adapt as needed to accomplish multiple

  • Computational analysis improves I-500 warhead survivability

    Air Force Research Laboratory engineers conducted dynamic computational analysis geared towards improving the survivability of a proposed I-500 warhead design. Ongoing computational analysis suggests that resulting changes should significantly increase the warhead's structural survivability during

  • Air turbulence research could lead to safer flights

    The Air Force Research Laboratory is funding Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists who are researching ways to identify and predict turbulence through the detection of underlying air patterns. Researchers believe the detection of these underlying structures will make it possible to

  • Navigation radar, radio equipment upgrades save AF time, money

    What started out as a "high wire" idea has captured the attention of the aviation community. The Federal Aviation Administration recently contacted Air Force Materiel Command and invited AFMC officials to share results from the command's Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems, or ATCALS, upgrade.

  • B-1 sniper pod aims to hit summer target

    Air Force officials say the B-1 sniper pod could be operational as early as this summer after accelerated testing cut the length of the sniper pod program from nine to three months. Air Force Materiel Command's Global Power Bomber Combined Test Force at Edwards AFB, along with Air Combat Command's

  • Doolittle Raiders return to Eglin AFB

    "Throughout the history of this mighty nation, many Airmen and other military service members have had the chance to stand on the shoulders of giants. Today Team Eglin has the wonderful opportunity to dine with them." Those remarks came from Col. Rick Locastro, 96th Air Base Wing vice commander, as

  • Coin-sized sensor can detect bombs

    An Air Force Office of Scientific Research-funded team has created an inexpensive sensor the size of a penny that detects bombs made with improvised peroxide explosive devices. The University of California at San Diego research team includes Dr. William Trogler, one of the inventors of the