Features

Oct. 22, 2008
Coyotes and Cockpits - After losing his leg to a hunting accident, a major works his way back to flying C-130s

Maj. Alan Brown grew up the way many boys in the West do -- with hard work and a love for the outdoors.In 1994, he became a C-130 Hercules pilot with the Wyoming Air National Guard and was living the dream of many, flying whenever he could and spending the rest of his time hunting, fishing and
Oct. 22, 2008
Baghdad Brotherhood - Air Force firefighters train Iraqis

A sea of silver bunker gear forms as firefighters waste no motion while swiftly helping one another adjust masks and don air tanks. Thick, black smoke billows out of a nearby building, and the firefighters line up to man hoses, rescue the injured and keep a close eye on each other.It is not until
Oct. 22, 2008
Message from 'Nam - After barely surviving an aircraft crash following a bombing mission over North Vietnam 40 years ago, a pilot says lessons he learned still apply to today's aviators

Through the blackness of the moonless night, an eerie hush fell over the jungle as if all the wildlife had fled or gone into hiding. First Lt. Pete Nash sat upright against a tree, bleeding to death. His body had been scrambled like an egg. He didn't know it, but he had 17 broken bones, a collapsed
Oct. 22, 2008
Old Airplanes and Staying Safe in the Real World - Commander talks about recent aircraft crashes and handling a risky business

It's no secret. We're flying some old airplanes.In fact, aging airplanes continue to consume much of our attention. We are currently replacing the wing boxes on our C-130s, first delivered in 1956. Late last year, we grounded our F-15Cs, first delivered in 1974, after one literally broke apart in
Sept. 3, 2008
A PERILOUS PATH - Pilot has to glide T-6 in for landing after engine power shuts down

Maj. Kent Currie woke up in a good mood for a Wednesday morning. Sometimes rolling out of bed at 6:30 a.m. in the middle of a workweek can be a drag. But on March 5, Currie would be flying the T-6 Texan II. And like most Air Force pilots, the major felt any day spent flying is a good day.Kerry, the
Sept. 3, 2008
THERAPEUTIC RIDE - New motorcycle helps dad with stress ... or does it?

Last year, my oldest daughter went out into the world on her own. Oh, I knew it would happen eventually. But after 18 years, seeing her pack up one day and leave the next was alarming. The total lack of preparation bothered me. Not hers. Mine. I knew she was leaving; I just wasn't ready for it to
Sept. 3, 2008
TROUBLED WATERS - A tragedy and daring ocean rescue, a chilling collision at the lake and a second chance for twins who nearly drowned in a swimming pool

Whether in a swimming pool, at the lake or frolicking in the ocean, summer is a time to get wet! But while having fun, you should always keep risk management in play -- for yourself and your wingman. Because as the people in the following three stories found out, it might be only a short swim from
June 30, 2008
Even though he had to eject from one of the first A-10 attack aircraft, this former Air Force test pilot is still High on the Hog

Maj. Gen. Francis Gideon holds the dubious honor of being the first pilot to successfully eject from an A-10 Thunderbolt II. Even though the experience destroyed his aircraft and nearly killed him, the general remains a strong advocate of the aircraft affectionately known as the "Warthog."In 1978,
June 30, 2008
Waiting for Mom to Die

I didn't cry when my mother died.Not that I wasn't sad -- I had just been expecting it for too long. Since I was 5, in fact.On the Christmas after my fifth birthday, my older sister and I stood outside the skating rink three hours after it closed, waiting for Mom to pick us up. A police officer
June 29, 2008
THE PRICE OF FREEDOM - He lost his eyesight and an arm to the war on terrorism, but he wishes he was still in the fight

Staff Sgt. Matt Slaydon took a moment to compose himself.Tears rolled down cheeks that bore the disfiguring scars of a battle fought far from home.Nobody could begrudge him a moment or two to mourn. After all, he'd given up a lot to this war on terrorism. The improvised explosive device that blew up

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