Friday, September 19, 2025 l Vol. 50, Number 38
SERVING TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE AND THE MILITARY COMMUNITY OF SOLANO COUNTY
C-17 FLIGHT TRAINING Page 2
621ST CRG Page 5
KC-46 FLIGHT TRAINING Page 8
TAILWIND
TRAVIS
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NIGHT
FLIGHT
Master Sgt. Luke Olson/U.S. Air National Guard file
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. 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.
From F-111 Aardvark to Agile Combat Power Tech. Sgt. Alexandra M. Longfellow USAFE-AFAFRICA PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Kenneth Abbate/U.S. Air Force file photos
Senior Master Sgt. Julius Stokes, left, 60th Security Forces Squadron operations superintendent, and Airman 1st Class Todd Wallace-Jones, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, participate in a stair-climb tribute
during a 9/11 remembrance event at Travis Air Force Base, Sept. 11. The climb honors firefighters who ascended 110 stories at the World Trade Center while paying tribute to fallen first responders.
Travis AFB commemorates 9/11
An airman pulls the lanyard to ring a ceremonial bell during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Travis Air Force Base, Sept. 11. The bell toll honors first responders and victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Attendees observe a moment of silence during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Travis AFB, Sept. 11. The event brought together airmen, firefighters and local law enforcement to honor the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — On Sept. 12, 1970, the first General Dynamics F-111 Aardvarks arrived in Upper Heyford, United Kingdom, marking a new era in European airpower. The aircraft was assigned to the 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 20th Tactical Fighter Wing under U.S. Air Forces in Europe. At the time of the transition, the 20th TFW was still flying the North American F-100 Super Sabre, the oldest fighter in USAFE’s inventory. The F-111 replaced it with unmatched capabilities. It was the first production aircraft with variable-sweep wings, giving pilots the ability to adapt wing position to maximize performance during high-speed, low-level flight. The F-111 entered service in 1967, with early combat use in Vietnam, and later proved itself in major operations such as El Dorado Canyon in 1986 and Desert Storm in 1991. USAFE’s F-111s and EF-111 “Ravens” became symbols of Cold War deterrence and precision strike capability. In Libya, they flew what was then See F-111, Page 6
Courtesy photo
Two F-111s from the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing fly during Operation Desert Storm. USAFE has adapted today’s fifth-generation fighters and agile operations originating from the the F-111s.