Robert F. Dorr is the author of Mission to Berlin, a history of American B-17 Flying Fortress crews in World War II. He is an Air Force veteran (1957-60), a retired senior U.S. diplomat (1964-89), and an author (1955-present) of more than 70 books, as well as magazine articles and newspaper columns. He writes a weekly commentary for Air Force Times newspaper and a monthly feature for Aerospace America magazine. He lives in Oakton, Va., with his family and Labrador retriever. Contact him at robert.f.dorr@cox.net.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta revealed the Obama administration’s defense budget proposal in an announcement at the Pentagon on Jan. 26.
The plan for fiscal year 2013, which starts Oct. 1, …
Tom Hudner had no idea how things were going to unfold on Dec. 4, 1950. As a carrier-based Navy pilot flying an F4U-4 Corsair of squadron VF-32 “Swordsmen” from the …
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced on Jan. 20 that he is ending the “probation” of the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) version of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), the F-35B …
On Dec. 17, 2011, the Marine Corps 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing used a Kaman K-MAX unmanned helicopter to make the first unmanned helicopter cargo delivery on a battlefield. The K-MAX …
On Jan. 9, 2012, Wichita-based Hawker Beechcraft announced its first sale of T-6C+ Texan II primary trainers to the Mexican air force. Mexico has ordered six of the aircraft, but …
It’s the home of the right stuff.
The motto of the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) is ad inexplorata, usually rendered as “toward the unknown.”
Dealing with the unexplored …
Less than two weeks after making a source selection, the U.S. Air Force has suspended work on the $355 million Light Air Support (LAS) contract under which it agreed to …
On Sept. 10, 1956, test pilot Bob Baker took off from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to complete the maiden flight of the knife-like YF-107A. Baker reached Mach 1.03. The …
The U.S. Air Force quietly made a somewhat surprising choice Dec. 22 when it tapped Brazil’s Embraer as winner of a hotly disputed contract to build counterinsurgency aircraft. The selection …
The Republic XF-103 was a beautiful concept for a combat aircraft and a terrific example of a “might have been” that never was.
It was designed, developed and subsidized in …
Aerostar International, Inc. is a world leader in the design and manufacture of aerospace platforms, …
Military Benefit Association was founded in 1956 as a nonprofit association to provide affordable life …
Even the most capable soldier is unable to complete his mission without the proper equipment. …
