The Birth of the Air Force
Remember the Wright Brothers? Sure, they flew the first airplane in North Carolina in 1904. Just three years later, the US Army Signal Corps composed another division made up of mostly dirigibles and balloons. They received their first real airplane in 1909 by, guess who? Yes, it was the Wright Brothers.
The First Aero Squadron was formed towards the end of 1913. The Air Force became its own separate operation is 1947, with the help of the National Security Act and the US Department of Defense.
Today, the US Air Force is the largest air force in the world! There are 352,000 or more in active duty today.
The Air Force Mission
"The mission of the United States Air Force is to deliver sovereign options for the defense of the United States of America and its global interests to fly and fight in air, space and cyberspace."
Air Force Jobs
Once you retire from the Air Force, you can get preferred job treatment. This is thanks to the Veterans Employment Act of 1998 and the Veterans Recruitment Appointment programs. Serving in the Air Force also looks great on a resume! You might also like to work for the government and be computer operator, program analyst, supervisory security specialist, or background investigator.
Interesting Fact About the Air Force
The Air Force took part in a series of studies to investigate UFOs from 1947 to 1969, as part of "Project Blue Book". However, the project was given the boot in 1969 by the University of Colorado UFO Project. Reports were still completed, however, and the result was that most of the sightings were of natural phenomenon, while the rest were either hoaxes or unknown.
Air Force Aircraft
The US Air Force boasts over 7,500 aircrafts. The Air Force carries multiple types of planes and air vessels, one of which is the F-15 Eagle. It is a great fighter plane that really dominates the air by pushing it aside as it glides through in during aerial battles. This aircraft was created for the use of the Air Force and was first used in July of 1972. A variation of the F-15 Eagle is the F-15E Eagle, which entered the Air Force in 1989. Both Eagle versions are powerfully designed to fly in any type of weather.
Although the F-16 Fighting Falcon was a multi-role fighter, it is no longer produced for the Air Force. Another Air Force plane is the A-10 Thunderbolt II. It is a one-seater, dual-engine aircraft which can attack tanks, armed vehicles, and other ground targets through CAS (close air support). The A-10 Thunderbolt II is the first plane made specifically for close air support. Close air support allows it to coexist with moving troops and provide protection and hit ground targets.
The F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter is an attack plan created in the 1970s. This aircraft can boast a wide array of fighter methods including laser-guided bomb units and air-to-surface missiles. The navigational method is not radar but rather FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) and DLIR (Downward-Looking Infrared). Tubes inside the nose of the plane carry ports which distinguish pressure readings.
The Air Force Academy
The famous Air Force Academy in Colorado is a place where cadets learn everything there is to know about aviation. By undergoing Undergraduate Flying Training after graduation at any of several bases, the graduate can become qualified for a career in bomber, fighter, airlift, a combination, or transport or special operations aircraft. Graduates can also achieve scholarships for other schools right after graduation.
If you get in, it will cost you nothing in terms of dollars, but you will earn it all with hard work and dedication. The Air Force Academy takes extraordinary people to create extraordinary careers and lives. Of the many that apply, only a few are selected. In order to apply, you would need 4 years of English, Math, Basic Science, and Social Sciences (history, economics, and government), and 2 years of a foreign language. The majority of the 600 faculty members are experienced, trained and strong Air Force Officers. There are 40 cadet squadrons and each have around 110 cadets. All hold various classes (first, second, third) and leadership, operational, and support roles.
Air Force Humanitarian Operations
The Air Force took a part in many humanitarian operations, including airlifting more than 10,000 Hungarian refugees to the US in the 1956 Operation Safe Haven. Operation Sea Angel in 1991 helped airlift 3,000 tons of supplies to Bangladesh after a typhoon.
Air Force Leaders
General Henry Arnold was a pioneer who was taught how to fly from the Wright Brothers! He commanded the Air Force through a World War II victory in Germany and Japan. He also received the first permanent five-star rank as an Air Force General.
Major General Alan Poulin is the current Vice Commander for the Air Force Reserve Command, which includes over 76,000 Airmen and over 370 aircraft. He oversees the daily command happenings. He, along with the Air Force Reserve, plays an essential role in the mission of the Air Force.
The US Air Force is maintained by the Department of the Air Force, and that is overseen by the Secretary of the Air Force. The highest rank of the Air Force is the Chief of Staff. The current Chief of Staff is General T. Michael Moseley.
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