The Big 500K

The Big 500K: The Predator un

manned aerial vehicles fleet surpassed the mark of 500,000 total flying hours Feb. 18 when an MQ-1 Predator flown by members of the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron at Creech AFB, Nev., eclipsed the milestone during a mission over Iraq. Gen. John Corley, commander of Air Combat Command, said the achievement is “but one example” of airmen's contributions the current war on terror. And, Lt. Gen. Norman Seip, who heads 12th Air Force, said the mark is “a testament to the continued dedications and perseverance” of the airmen of Creech’s 432nd Wing and 432nd Expeditionary Wing, who operate and maintain these General Atomics Aeronautical System-built, armed intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance aircraft. As an indication of their worth today, note that it took roughly 12 years from the Predator’s 1995 inception for the fleet to reach 250,000 flying hours, but only one year and eight months for it to tally the second 250,000 hours, the Air Force said. The Air Force currently operates more than 30 Predator combat air patrols over Afghanistan and Iraq. Each CAP of several aircraft provides 24/7 overhead coverage of a certain area. Corley said Predators accumulate more than 19,000 flight hours per month now—95 percent of the hours are flown in Southwest Asia. (Creech report by SSgt. Alice Moore)

2/25/2009

Verbatim

Appreciative Host
"I know you're here during a difficult time. You're here through Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. I promise you, we will find turkeys."
—Republic of Lithuania Chief of Defence Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius, expressing his thanks to airmen of the 493rd Fighter Squadron from RAF Lakenheath, Britain, who on Sept. 1, 2010, began a four-month stint with their F-15s in Lithuania to protect the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania under NATO's Baltic air policing mission.

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Family Momentum
"In many ways, this was what the Year of the Air Force Family was all about—connecting airmen and their families with the resources they need. I have confidence the Air Force will capitalize on this strong momentum in the years ahead by continuing to improve our family support programs and ensuring people know what resources are available."
—Suzie Schwartz, wife of USAF Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, commenting on the accomplishments of the Year of the Air Force Family initiative that concluded in July, in a statement provided to the Daily Report, Aug. 22, 2010.