National Training Center at Fort Irwin News

15/04/2025

The monument on Lancaster Boulevard is on the “Aerospace Walk of Honor,” and it is dedicated to the renowned Tuskegee Airmen, the black fighter pilots of World War II who flew a blaze of glory over the angry skies of N**i Germany, and, yes, Italy.

Before the “Red Tails” flew combat es**rt of bombers on the way to Berlin, they were bombing bridges and flying air support in Italy.

ANZIO AMERICAN CEMETERY, Italy — Trips to honor fallen Americans can be as far as the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Italy — 6,400 miles— and as near as

08/04/2025

The Military marketplace is the only market that is not affected by the economy. Their jobs are safe and secure. From May through August, thousands of service members and their families relocate to new assignments—starting fresh and settling into unfamiliar communities.

How can your business become their first choice? You can connect directly with military families as they transition into your area. This special issue reaches a focused, actively employed audience with wide distribution on and off base, plus thousands of engaged online readers.

What new arrivals are looking for:
~Housing: Where can we live—especially if base housing is full?
~Education: Charter and private schools for kids, higher education for adults.
~Dining & Entertainment: Where to eat, relax, and socialize.
~Transportation: Who offers military-friendly financing on cars or leases?
~Faith Communities: Where can we worship—churches, synagogues, and more?
~Healthcare: What off-base medical and dental services accept TRICARE?
~Child Care: Trusted providers for dual-income families.
~Goods & Services: Best spots for furniture, auto repair, and specialty shops.

01/04/2025

This is a great opportunity to reach military families during a key transition period! Here's how your business can make the most of advertising in the PCS (Permanent Change of Station) "Home is Where We're Sent", annual edition:
1. Highlight Military-Friendly Services
Showcase any discounts, programs, or services specifically tailored for military members and their families. For example:
Military discounts
Flexible payment options
Relocation assistance or housing support
2. Focus on Community Integration
Emphasize how your business helps families settle into the community, such as:
Local resources or partnerships
Community events or sponsorships
Kid-friendly or family-oriented services
3. Stand Out with Creative Advertising
Use welcoming messages that reflect understanding and support for military families.
Incorporate testimonials or success stories from military customers.
4. Leverage Multi-Channel Distribution
Take advantage of Aerotech News’ reach by using both their print and digital platforms.
Ensure your ad includes easy-to-remember contact info, a website, or QR codes for quick access.
5. Provide Relocation-Specific Offers
Offer free consultations, welcome packages, or exclusive promotions aimed at newcomers.
Military families often look for businesses that are approachable, supportive, and relevant to their needs. By advertising in the PCS edition, your business can build strong, lasting relationships with these families as they make your community their new home.
Partner with us today and show your support for those who’ve served while building brand loyalty within the veteran community! We look forward to an opportunity to discuss how we can help you reach this great market in ways that fit into your marketing plans.
www.aerotechnews.com/advertising

27/03/2025

The January wildfires in California devastated local habitats and communities. In an effort to better understand wildfire behavior, NASA scientists and engineers tried to learn from the events by testing new technology.
The new instrument, the Compact Fire Infrared Radiance Spectral Tracker (c-FIRST), was tested when NASA’s B200 King Air aircraft flew over the wildfires in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, Calif. Based at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards, Calif., the aircraft used the c-FIRST instrument to observe the impacts of the fires in near real-time. Due to its small size and ability to efficiently simulate a satellite-based mission, the B200 King Air is uniquely suited for testing c-FIRST.
Managed and operated by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, c-FIRST gathers thermal infrared images in high-resolution and other data about the terrain to study the impacts of wildfires on ecology.

The January wildfires in California devastated local habitats and communities. In an effort to better understand wildfire behavior, NASA scientists and engineer

24/03/2025

Dr. Julian Wyatt, retired Navy lieutenant commander and author of Becoming Jewish, will speak at the Jewish War Veterans Copper State Post 619 installation luncheon, March 16 at the Oakwood Country Club Recreation Center, 24218 S. Oakwood Blvd. in Sun Lakes, Arizona.
Wyatt, the newly elected Post 619 commander, served 30 years in the U.S. Navy from 1980-2010, and was awarded the Bronze Star from his combat tour in Iraq, 2007- 2008.
Educated in parochial schools, Wyatt sought out a local synagogue after visiting Haifa, Israel, in 1979. He became a Jew by choice in 2007 and a Bar Mitzvah in 2010.
During his last few months in the International Combat Zone, Jules describes his service as the lay leader for B’nai Baghdad, as the “duty, honor, and privilege of a lifetime.”

Dr. Julian Wyatt, retired Navy lieutenant commander and author of Becoming Jewish, will speak at the Jewish War Veterans Copper State Post 619 installation lunc

18/03/2025

by Bob Alvis
special to Aerotech News
Several years ago, I was the recipient of a box of books about aviation that a friend had found at an estate sale.
I put the box in the garage, and it wasn’t until a couple weeks later that I looked at the contents. Most of the time these types of books have very little “wow” factor and usually end up in a donation bin somewhere.
When I was about halfway through this box, one book really caught my eye. Being a student of military history, I knew a bit about Masajiro “Mike” Kawato and his World War II exploits as a Japanese fighter ace.

The book, Flight into Conquest, was the personal account of his World War II exploits — as he saw it— and in the 1970s, he started to travel the air show circuits selling and promoting his book.
At some point the book and its stories started to get real scrutiny, as some people started to question many of the claims.

by Bob Alvis special to Aerotech News Several years ago, I was the recipient of a box of books about aviation that a friend had found at an estate sale. I pu

17/03/2025

The Antelope Valley in Southern California, also known as “America’s Aerospace Valley,” has long been a hub of aviation and space innovation.

Beyond aeronautics, the valley has significantly contributed to space exploration, hosting early spaceflight milestones such as the X-15, Saturn V engine tests and Apollo astronaut training. The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School has continued this legacy by partnering with the U.S. Space Force to train the next generation of space test leaders through the Space Test Course.

The Antelope Valley in Southern California, also known as “America’s Aerospace Valley,” has long been a hub of aviation and space innovation. From the Be

14/03/2025

Adult Non-Fiction

Women Who Fly: True Stories by Women Airline Pilots
By International Society of Women Airline Pilots 40th Commemorative Edition (2018)
Women airline pilots share their stories, including an emergency landing in Russia, a flight over Antarctica, and a trip to Washington, D.C., to accept a Congressional Medal of Honor. The book includes more than 70 photos, and all proceeds support the International Society of Women Airline Pilots, ISA+21 scholarship fund.

Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History
By Keith O’Brien (2019) Fly Girls weaves together the stories of Florence Klingensmith, a high school dropout from Fargo, N.D., Ruth Elder, an Alabama divorcée, Amelia Earhart, already famous, but not the most skilled, Ruth Nichols, who defied her aristocratic family’s expectations, and Louise Thaden, the young mother of two who got her start selling coal in Wichita, Kansas.

Adult Non-Fiction Women Who Fly: True Stories by Women Airline Pilots By International Society of Women Airline Pilots 40th Commemorative Edition (2018) Wo

10/03/2025

by Bob Alvis
special to Aerotech News
With all the talk about the Right Stuff and test pilots here in the Antelope Valley, you would think all aviation was connected to Edwards Air Force Base.
But in February of 1930, probably the most famous pilot in the world could be found at the west end of our valley, staying at the little town of Lebec along the old Ridge Route connecting Los Angeles and Bakersfield.
Charles A. Lindbergh and his band of “seat of the pants” aviators found themselves in the foothills there because the slopes and updrafts were a perfect fit for development of non-powered aircraft, or sail planes and gliders, as they became to be called.
Plane development and flight was crude as the planes were fixed and modified in the camps, tents and tables that became the homes and shops for these adventure-seeking pilots.

by Bob Alvis special to Aerotech News With all the talk about the Right Stuff and test pilots here in the Antelope Valley, you would think all aviation was co

10/03/2025

Forty-one years ago, in October 1984, Kathryn D. Sullivan became the first American woman to walk in space. But being the first presented several challenges that started well before she took those historic steps. Things got complicated just after she learned of her assignment.

“Challenger, Houston: You are GO for EVA,” Sullivan recalled, “were the sweetest words I had ever heard...”

Forty-one years ago, in October 1984, Kathryn D. Sullivan became the first American woman to walk in space. But being the first presented several challenges tha

06/03/2025

In September 1942, after several times rejecting proposals to use qualified women pilots for flying duties, Army Air Forces Commanding Gen. Henry H. Arnold agreed to form two groups designed to help meet the need for pilots to ferry aircraft.
The Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS), led by Nancy Harkness Love, enlisted already-qualified women pilots to transport training aircraft from factories to training bases.
Meanwhile, the Women’s Flying Training Detachment (WFTD), led by Jackie Cochran, oversaw an intensive training program to increase the number of women who could fly for the Ferrying Division.

On July 5, July 1943, Arnold put Cochran in charge of all women pilots, with Nancy Love as the executive for women pilots in the Ferrying Command. A month later, on Aug. 5, 1943, the WAFS and WFTD merged into a single unit for all women pilots, who were rapidly extending their qualifications to every type of aircraft in service.

In September 1942, after several times rejecting proposals to use qualified women pilots for flying duties, Army Air Forces Commanding Gen. Henry H. Arnold agre

05/03/2025

The story of women in the military, specifically the Air Force, parallels that of the U.S. Air Force itself. In fact, for women pilots and early women Airmen, their history dates back five years before the Air Force officially became a separate service.
The year was 1942. A unit of flight nurses who had not yet quite finished their training, were sent into North Africa on Christmas Day following the Allied invasion in November of that year. It was a slightly different story for flight nurses who were members of the military from the beginning.
As it was with so many advances and innovations resulting from World War II, the U.S. Army Air Corps was forced to radically change military medical care, and the development of air evacuation and the training of flight nurses were advanced to meet this need.

The story of women in the military, specifically the Air Force, parallels that of the U.S. Air Force itself. In fact, for women pilots and early women Airmen, t

04/03/2025

At the end of February 1998, Johnson Space Center Deputy Director James D. Wetherbee called Astronaut Eileen Collins to his office in Bldg. 1.

He told her she had been assigned to command STS-93 and went with her to speak with Center Director George W.S. Abbey who informed her that she would be going to the White House the following week.
Selecting a female commander to fly in space was a monumental decision...

At the end of February 1998, Johnson Space Center Deputy Director James D. Wetherbee called Astronaut Eileen Collins to his office in Bldg. 1. He told her she

03/03/2025

March is Women’s History Month and this year’s theme is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.”
From America’s first days, women have made profound sacrifices. They have made innovative contributions to national security and blazed trails for future generations, he stated.

Since the Revolutionary War, more than 3 million women have served, even before the military fully recognized their service, he noted.
And the role of women in the U.S. military continues to expand. In 1971, women made up just one percent of the military services. Ten years later, it was 8.5 percent
However, women at that time were not allowed to serve in combat military occupational specialties like infantry, artillery and combat aviation.
Although there were instances of women serving in the military in every U.S. war, it wasn’t until World War I when policy allowed them to serve in non-combat jobs to free up men to fight.

March is Women’s History Month and this year’s theme is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” From America’s first

27/02/2025

When I was in Air Force basic training in 2015, my heritage and history courses briefly covered the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) and Grace Peterson, the U. S. Air Force’s first chief master sergeant, but otherwise left me with the impression that women had been excluded from aviation and military roles until more modern times.
My time in the Air Force forced me to reconsider what an aviation role looked like, since when one thinks of aviation, admittedly they think of pilots, but it takes all types of jobs for a successful aviation mission.
From 1942 to 1948, thousands of American women took new roles with the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. The WASP were the only women allowed to serve as pilots, but they were not alone in serving and supporting aviation missions in a military role.
The idea of American women serving was first proposed in May 1941 when Massachusetts stateswoman Edith Nourse Rogers suggested legislation for the creation of a Women’s Army Auxiliary.
’sAirforceServicePilots

When I was in Air Force basic training in 2015, my heritage and history courses briefly covered the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) and Grace Peterson,

21/02/2025

Hello everyone - thanks for checking out our Women in Military and Aviation History special edition.

It’s our privilege to bring you a look at some of the pioneering accomplishments and the contributions women have made and continue to make in the fields of aviation and the military! On the cover we feature the heroic, life-saving sacrifices of both 1st Lt. Mary Louise Hawkins and 2nd Lt. Ruth m. Gardiner.

https://www.aerotechnews.com/blog/2025/02/21/aerotech-news-and-review-womens-history-month-2025/

Other highlights include:

• What I never learned in bootcamp; women in military aviation – page 2
• Celebrating women in the U.S. military – page 4
• Eileen Collins broke barriers as America’s first female space shuttle commander – page 6
• Women’s Legacy parallels Air Force history – page 8

All this and much more, in this souvenir edition. Hard copies will be available at our usual delivery points beginning February 21st.

Pick one up when you’re out and about, or visit our website, www.aerotechnews.com, for much more aerospace and defense industry news, and “Like” our page to receive daily news updates.

As always, THANK YOU for your support – it’s our privilege to serve you! Be safe and be well.

Special Digital and Print Edition of Journal of Aerospace, Defense Industry and Veteran News, serving the Antelope Valley (“Aerospace Valley”) and Edwards A

20/02/2025

The Air Force Service Center selected Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to test an outdoor fitness pavilion to encourage health-related fitness, including cardiovascular endurance, muscular development, flexibility, and body composition.
If the pavilion’s utilization is approved locally, it may be replicated to other bases across the nation.

The pavilion measures 24 by 16 feet and can accommodate 60 individuals at a time...

“The outdoor fitness pavilion and its equipment allows our base population to experience new ways to stay in shape — outdoors. It’s available to military, civilian and contractor members...”

The Air Force Service Center selected Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to test an outdoor fitness pavilion to encourage health-related fitness, including cardiov

17/02/2025

What do the X-15 and the space shuttles have in common?

Information from the rocket plane and the spacecraft, as well as many experimental aircraft, were tracked from a pedestal and telemetry dish during key eras in flight history at or near NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif.

When the NASA facility’s administration Bldg. 4800 was built in the 1950s, the infrastructure was included to anchor the rooftop pedestal and dish as the primary way to gather data from aircraft during flights. It was retired in 2015, but a recent roofing project enabled relocation of the artifact to a new place of honor for its support of many experimental aircraft such as the lifting body aircraft, the reverse swept wing X-29, and the highly maneuverable X-31.
“Gathering telemetry data from aircraft on missions is at the core of what we do..."

’sArmstrongFlightResearchCenter

What do the X-15 and the space shuttles have in common? Information from the rocket plane and the spacecraft, as well as many experimental aircraft, were track