aviation

A New Way to Join the Air & Space Forces Association Free!

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

The Air & Space Forces Association has introduced something completely new.

For the first time, AFA now offers a free Mission Membership. This new membership makes it easier than ever for anyone with an interest in our Air Force, Space Force, aerospace, aviation, STEM education, or national security to become part of the AFA community. Again, membership is open to everyone.

Mission Membership provides access to AFA news, educational programs, webinars, research, national events, and local Chapter activities. Whether you have served in the military, work in aerospace, are a student, educator, or simply support the mission of the Air & Space Forces Association, there is now a place for you in AFA at absolutely no cost.

This is also a tremendous opportunity for AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134.

Every new member strengthens our Chapter and helps us expand our educational programs, CyberPatriot, community outreach, aerospace education, and partnerships throughout the Coachella Valley. The more members we have, the more we can accomplish.

If you are already an AFA member, thank you for your continued support.

If you know someone who has ever thought about joining AFA, now is the perfect time. Invite your family, friends, neighbors, fellow veterans, active duty military, educators, students, pilots, aviation enthusiasts, and anyone interested in aerospace and our nation’s defense.

Joining is easy.

Simply visit:

Join AFA

When completing your registration, please be sure to select Palm Springs Chapter 134. That simple step helps strengthen our local Chapter and ensures you receive information about our activities, meetings, educational programs, and special events.

It costs nothing.

It only takes a few minutes.

We look forward to welcoming many new members to AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134.

Thank You!

B‑21 Raider Moves Forward: Key Progress

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A second B-21 Raider, the nation’s sixth-generation stealth bomber, joins flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 11. The program is a cornerstone of the Department of the Air Force’s nuclear modernization strategy, designed to deliver both conventional and nuclear payloads. (Courtesy photo)

Northrop Grumman has delivered a second B‑21 Raider flight test aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base. The addition of this second aircraft significantly boosts the flight test campaign.

The testing is now moving beyond basic flight performance — the focus is shifting to mission systems and weapons integration, which are critical for future operational capability.

Ground test efforts continue in parallel. Engineers are subjecting the Raider to extreme mission condition simulations and durability testing (e.g. simulated lifetimes), and so far it’s been performing better than earlier digital models predicted.

Support, Sustainment, & Upgrades

Northrop Grumman is developing an enhanced software package aimed at enabling the B‑21 fleet to receive seamless updates—ensuring that the aircraft’s mission capabilities and weapons systems can evolve to meet future threats.

For training and maintenance, the company is putting in place full‑scale support systems: simulators, immersive labs, virtual environments, and a Fleet Management Tool for maintenance and sustainment. This infrastructure is designed so that when B‑21s are deployed, squadron crews, maintainers, and support personnel are ready.

Bigger Picture & Strategic Implications

The expansion of testing with more aircraft accelerates the path toward operational readiness. Having more test assets allows for faster validation of systems, weapons, and mission performance.

The B‑21 is being positioned as a cornerstone of the U.S. long‑range strike capability, incorporating both nuclear and conventional roles.

From Newsroom at Northrup Grumman https://news.northropgrumman.com/b-21-raider/Northrop-Grumman-Advances-B-21-Raider-Across-Test-and-Production

Air Force to Field Autonomous Cessna Caravan

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 A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan equipped with Reliable’s aircraft autonomy system takes part in Air Force exercises in 2024. [Courtesy: Reliable Robotics]

The U.S. Air Force has taken a significant step toward transforming airlift operations with a $17.4 million contract awarded to Reliable Robotics for its aircraft autonomy system, the Reliable Autonomy System (RAS), to be deployed on Cessna 208B Grand Caravan single-engine turboprops.

Why This Matters for the AFA and the Air Force Community:

  • End-to-end automated flight: RAS enables automated taxiing, takeoff, flight, and landing—offering robust autonomy with built-in redundancy and precision navigation that addresses common safety risks like controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) and loss of control in flight (LOC‑I).
  • Designed for austere environments: The Indo‑Pacific region is set to benefit first, with the aircraft’s simplicity and autonomy enabling efficient missions in remote areas where human resources are stretched.
  • Safety + affordability: With a much lower operational cost—approximately $2,000 per flight hour compared to around $20,000 for a C‑130J—and a 90% dispatch reliability rate, the Caravan proves to be both cost-effective and ready for rugged service.
  • Multi-platform potential: Though the Caravan is the immediate focus, RAS is aircraft-agnostic. The Air Force is already exploring its integration with larger models like the KC‑135 Stratotanker and Cessna 408 SkyCourier.
  • Proven performance in exercises: Reliable Robotics previously demonstrated RAS capabilities during real-world, military‑style Agile Flag exercises—autonomously flying Caravan missions across multiple California and Nevada airfields via remote pilot operations with an onboard safety pilot.

What’s Next? This contract marks a pivotal milestone in the Air Force’s shift toward autonomous aviation. By leveraging commercial-grade autonomy solutions like RAS, the service is poised to enhance operational readiness, cost efficiency, and mission adaptability, especially within the doctrine of Agile Combat Employment.

Want to dig deeper into this cutting-edge development? Read the full story in Flying Magazine here:

“Air Force to Field Autonomous Cessna Caravan” – Flying Magazine August 26, 2025
https://www.flyingmag.com/air-force-reliable-robotics-automated-caravan/

Pivotal eVTOL Lands Vertically: A Glimpse into the Future of Electric Aviation

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The future of flight is unfolding before our eyes. In this demonstration last Sunday in Palm Desert California, the Pivotal eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft executes a seamless vertical landing, showcasing its potential as a next-generation personal aerial vehicle.

Pivotal’s design represents a significant step forward in urban air mobility, offering a sustainable, efficient, and quiet alternative to traditional transportation. Its all-electric propulsion system reduces emissions while allowing for versatile flight capabilities, making it a promising solution for both commercial and public service applications.

Beyond private sector development, Pivotal is actively collaborating with Agility Prime, a U.S. Air Force program under AFWERX, which is dedicated to accelerating the adoption of eVTOL technology for defense and government operations. This partnership highlights the growing interest in electric aviation not only for civilian transportation but also for tactical, logistical, and emergency response missions.

As the aviation industry shifts toward sustainable and autonomous flight, advancements like Pivotal’s eVTOL are paving the way for a new era of air mobility. With support from programs like Agility Prime, the integration of electric aircraft into mainstream use is becoming an increasingly viable reality.

Developing Future Airmen

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The National Defense Strategy highlights the pacing threats posed by our adversaries, underscoring the need to cultivate and maintain a capable, adaptable force. Recruiting, developing, and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce ensures the U.S. Air Force can project airpower anytime, anywhere. 
 
To remain at the forefront of air superiority, the Air Force is implementing transformative changes across its talent management framework. These efforts include optimizing human capital strategies, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and ensuring training is closely aligned with mission requirements. Additionally, the Force is modernizing personnel systems to better match Airmen to roles that maximize their potential, support retention, and create flexible career paths responsive to operational needs.  		In this issue of Airman magazine, we explore how Air Force talent management serves as a cornerstone of force readiness and resilience. We visited Air University at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and spoke with leaders about major changes underway, including the reintroduction of warrant officers, redesigned training programs to develop character-driven leaders, and a renewed focus on digital skills to make data a reliable weapon. Through these initiatives, the Air Force equips Airmen with the skills and adaptability needed to meet today’s demands and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges. 

Read this multimedia presentation at https://www.airmanmagazine.af.mil

Flyover for Buzz Lynch

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Yesterday returning from the memorial flyover for Buzz Lynch, the P-51 Mustang “Bunny”, the P-51 Mustang “Man-O-War” and a T-28 Trojan. They were accompanied by two A-10 Thunderbolts from Davis-Mothan Airbase in Tucson Arizona.

George Patrick “Buzz” Lynch, Jr. passed away at age 89 on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, in Rancho Mirage, CA, with his wife, Maxine Lundt, by his side. Buzz had a remarkable career in the United States Air Force, where he logged approximately 6,000 flight hours and flew 34 different aircraft.

A West Point graduate, Buzz began his Air Force career in 1956, quickly excelling as a pilot. He flew F-100s with the 356th Tactical Fighter Squadron and later earned a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering before attending the prestigious Air Force Test Pilot School. Buzz completed a combat tour in Vietnam, where he served as a Flight Commander flying F-4 Phantoms. He later led test missions for the F-4 and YA-10, including the first USAF flight of the YA-10, playing a key role in the aircraft’s development. His leadership continued at the Air War College, where he graduated as a Distinguished Graduate, and he capped off his career with significant roles in systems testing at Nellis AFB and Wright-Patterson AFB. His awards included the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

In recognition of his contributions, two A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft performed a memorial flyover today in Palm Springs, California, flying in formation to honor his decades of service and dedication to aviation. September 28, 2024

A-10 Flight For Buzz Lynch

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George Patrick “Buzz” Lynch, Jr. passed away at age 89 on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, in Rancho Mirage, CA, with his wife, Maxine Lundt, by his side. Buzz had a remarkable career in the United States Air Force, where he logged approximately 6,000 flight hours and flew 34 different aircraft. A West Point graduate, Buzz began his Air Force career in 1956, quickly excelling as a pilot. He flew F-100s with the 356th Tactical Fighter Squadron and later earned a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering before attending the prestigious Air Force Test Pilot School. Buzz completed a combat tour in Vietnam, where he served as a Flight Commander flying F-4 Phantoms. He later led test missions for the F-4 and YA-10, including the first USAF flight of the YA-10, playing a key role in the aircraft’s development. His leadership continued at the Air War College, where he graduated as a Distinguished Graduate, and he capped off his career with significant roles in systems testing at Nellis AFB and Wright-Patterson AFB. His awards included the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. In recognition of his contributions, two A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft performed a memorial flyover in Palm Springs, California, flying in formation to honor his decades of service and dedication to aviation. September 28, 2024

National Aviation Day

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🚀✈️ Today, August 19th, we celebrate National Aviation Day! Established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, this day honors the pioneering spirit of Orville Wright, born on this day in 1871. Along with his brother Wilbur, Orville they made history in 1903 with the first successful airplane flight. Fast forward 121 years, and aviation continues to break boundaries as we now set our sights on exploring the limitless realm of outer space!

Airman Top Shot

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From Airman Magazine, December 22, 2023

“This weeks Airman Top Shot comes from Airman 1st Class Alexis Redin! Two Philippine Air Force FA-50 Fighting Eagles fly alongside two U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles over the South China Sea, Nov. 21, 2023. Bilateral training and cooperation with the Philippine Air Force enhances the mutual readiness required to defend security, prosperity and peace throughout the Indo-Pacific region.”