Davis-Monthan Desert Lightning News

26/09/2025

PHOTO OF THE DAY!
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An F-22 Raptor assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., flies during Weapons System Evaluation Program 25.09 over Tyndall AFB, Florida. The data collected from WSEP is sent to key military leaders to provide insight into the combat readiness of the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem)

25/09/2025

Maj. Gen. Gregory Kreuder commander 19th Air Force, and Chief Master Sgt. Keith Scott, command chief 19th Air Force, completed an immersion tour of Morris Air National Guard Base, Ariz., Aug. 19, 2025, to gain firsthand understanding of the wing’s commitment to excellence.

The visit underscored the crucial role of the 162nd Wing in advancing 19th Air Force’s commitment to preparing for combat, producing skilled aviators, developing mission-ready Airmen, and transforming training methods.

“When it comes to how we train our future warfighters throughout the 19th Air Force, consider what sustained winning in a high-end fight looks like from an Airpower perspective,” Kreuder said. “Draw a line backwards from this, through our Allies and partners, through our nation, our Department of Defense, our Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, 19th Air Force, and finally down to our wings that train our future warfighters. This is where Airpower starts and winning begins ...

Maj. Gen. Gregory Kreuder commander 19th Air Force, and Chief Master Sgt. Keith Scott, command chief 19th Air Force, completed an immersion tour of Morris Air N

25/09/2025

PHOTO OF THE DAY!
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A B-52H Stratofortress takes off during Warbird Week at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Sept. 8, 2025. Warbird Week keeps the 5th Bomb Wing sharp and mission-ready through realistic, high-pressure training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Wesley Davies)

24/09/2025

Taking place Oct. 18-19, 2025, the event will feature breathtaking aerial acrobatics, rare warbirds and military aircraft demonstrations.

SANTA MARIA, Calif., Sept. 16, 2025 — The Central Coast AirFest, a two-day family-friendly celebration of aviation, is coming back to Santa Maria from Oct. 18-19, 2025. Presented by the Santa Maria Airport and produced by the Planes of Fame Air Museum, the Central Coast AirFest attracts thousands of visitors each year with its collection of warbirds and world-class aerobatic displays.

The Central Coast AirFest is one of the largest airshows for warbirds on the West Coast, with nearly 40 aircraft on display. Visitors will see history in the skies, with dozens of historic warbirds taking flight. The show’s finale will feature an exciting display by the USAF F-35 demo team, flown with the USAF Heritage Flight featuring the P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang.

Taking place Oct. 18-19, 2025, the event will feature breathtaking aerial acrobatics, rare warbirds and military aircraft demonstrations. SANTA MARIA, Ca

24/09/2025

About Military Child of the Year

Operation Homefront's Military Child of the Year Annual Awards recognize outstanding young people ages 13 to 18. Recipients will represent a branch of the armed forces — Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Navy, National Guard, Marine Corps, and Space Force. — for their scholarship, volunteerism, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and other criteria while facing the challenges of military family life. We ask for your help finding our 2026 Military Child of the Year Award Recipients. Please take the time to share this wonderful opportunity on your social channels during our nomination period from Sept 3 - Dec 2.
For 18 years, Operation Homefront’s Military Child of the Year® Awards have honored the resilience, leadership, and service of military children across the nation.

About the Awards
The annual awards recognize outstanding young people ages 13 to 18.

About Military Child of the Year Operation Homefront's Military Child of the Year Annual Awards recognize outstanding young people ages 13 to 18. Recipients

24/09/2025

PHOTO OF THE DAY!
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An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 114th Fighter Wing launches into night flying operations with the afterburner engaged at Joe Foss Field, S.D., Aug. 21, 2025. The afterburner provides a significant thrust boost by injecting fuel directly into the exhaust stream, enabling rapid acceleration and high-speed performance essential for combat operations. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Luke Olson)

23/09/2025

MOJAVE, Calif. – Sep 20, 2025 – The Scaled Composites Model 437 re-entered flight test today after completion of significant work since first flight of the vehicle in 2024. This test is the start of a series of envelope expansion flights to prove out the flight capabilities of the Model 437 ahead of Northrop Grumman’s Beacon autonomy flight tests.
In preparation for the Beacon flight test campaign, Scaled Composites work on the Model 437 included updating the vehicle’s hydraulic system, interfacing Beacon subsystems into the airframe along with pilot interfaces into the cockpit. Concurrent with aircraft modifications, Scaled Composites and Northrop Grumman have worked closely together on hangar tests of the Beacon autonomy ecosystem incorporated in the aircraft.

MOJAVE, Calif. – Sep 20, 2025 – The Scaled Composites Model 437 re-entered flight test today after completion of significant work since first flight of the

23/09/2025

More than 100 million people worldwide have a vision disability and Argus, the 2025 winners of the Imagine World Cup, aims to enhance autonomy and confidence through a lightweight, always-available wearable device. The developers of Argus won $100,000 and a mentorship session with Microsoft Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella. The two runners-up, HairMatch and Signvrse, each won $25,000.
Designed for individuals with low vision, Argus assists with object identification, facial recognition, and navigation. Powered by Azure AI Speech and Azure AI Foundry, it responds to voice commands, enabling greater confidence and independence. Argus is driven by a deeply personal mission, inspired by the founders’ own families. “Both Daniel and I have grandparents with uncorrectable visual impairments, and they’re the inspiration for Argus.” Arjun shared.

More than 100 million people worldwide have a vision disability and Argus, the 2025 winners of the Imagine World Cup, aims to enhance autonomy and confidence th