Friday, April 24, 2026 l Vol. 51, Number 17
SERVING TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE AND THE MILITARY COMMUNITY OF SOLANO COUNTY
TRAVIS RUNWAY REOPENS Page 2
FAMILY FUN FEST AT TRAVIS Page 3
TRAVIS
F-35A LIGHTNING II Page 7
TAILWIND A product of Daily Republic
MOBILITY
RETURN
Brian Collett/U.S. Air Force file
A C-17 Globemaster III taxis on the flightline after returning airmen from deployment at Travis Air Force Base, April 1. The mission highlighted rapid global mobility capabilities.
B-21 Raider speeds up delivery of long-range strike capability Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
Kenneth Abbate/U.S. Air Force file photos
Tech. Sgt. Nicolas Florez, right, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron engineering execution support noncommissioned officer in charge, and Space Force 1st Lt. Haley Spolar, 2nd Space Launch Squadron responsible engineer, pitch an idea during
the 2026 Phoenix Spark’s “Spark Tank” event at Travis Air Force Base, April 15. The event encourages all Team Travis members to devise innovative ideas to solve problems, increase safety or improve quality of life issues on the base.
Travis AFB innovators pitch solutions during 2026 Spark Tank
ARLINGTON, Va. — The B-21 Raider program continues to accelerate the delivery of longrange strike capability, with aerial refueling via a KC-135 Stratotanker demonstrating the rapid maturation of the weapon system. The program’s progress exemplifies the principles of the Department of the Air Force’s transformed acquisition approach, which is focused on delivering integrated warfighting capability at speed. “The B-21 program is the leading edge of the acquisition mindset we are instilling across the force. Every test proves the success of empowering our leaders to deliver integrated capability from the start,” said Gen. Dale White, Department of War direct reporting portfolio manager for critical major weapon systems. “The program’s use of digital engineering and modern production processes is delivering a mature, highly capable system, giving us confidence as we continue to smartly scale our production capacity at the speed of relevance.” This operational flexibility is further enhanced See Raider, Page 3
Courtesy photo/U.S. Air Force
Presentations are displayed on a table for the 2026 Phoenix Spark’s “Spark Tank” event at Travis Air Force Base, April 15.
Event judges Chief Master Sgt. Laura Hoover, right, 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief, and Sandy Person, 60th Air Mobility Command civic leader, deliberate on the presentations during the 2026 Phoenix Spark’s “Spark Tank” event at Travis Air Force Base, April 15.
A B-21 Raider conducts aerial refueling with a KC135 Stratotanker. The B-21 program exemplifies the Department of the Air Force’s warfighting-focused acquisition mindset, leveraging digital engineering and modern production to deliver a mature, highly capable system at speed.