Friday, May 29, 2026 l Vol. 51, Number 22
SERVING TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE AND THE MILITARY COMMUNITY OF SOLANO COUNTY
BALIKATAN 2026 Page 4
REAPER SMOKE 2026 Page 5
TRAVIS
CHECKERED FLAG 26-2 Page 6
TAILWIND A product of Daily Republic
STRIKE
LAUNCH
Master Sgt. Nathan Lipscomb/U.S. Air Force file
An F-15E Strike Eagle takes off from a base at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 28.
AF greenlights T-7A Red Hawk for production Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
Kenneth Abbate/U.S. Air Force file photos
Staff Sgt. Pkacia Johnson, 60th Security Forces Squadron confinement noncommissioned officer in charge, stands by with the American flag during the 2026 National Police
Week opening ceremony at Travis Air Force Base, May 11. The week honored the memory of officers who lost their lives for the purpose of protecting others.
60th SFS conducts National Police Week at Travis AFB
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — The T-7A Red Hawk has officially been cleared for production. Following Milestone C approval, April 23, the Air Force is moving forward with a $219 million contract for the first 14 advanced trainer aircraft along with associated spares, support equipment, and training from Boeing Defense, Space & Security. This achievement marks a pivotal moment for the T-7 Advanced Pilot Training Program. It follows a year of focused progress under an “active management” strategy, a collaborative effort between the Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, and Boeing. This approach, aligned with the Department of the Air Force’s acquisition transformation directives, is designed to optimize both programmatic and operational risk to deliver capabilities to the warfighter as quickly and safely as possible. “Reaching Milestone C is a testament to the dedicated government and industry teams who have worked diligently to overcome complex technical hurdles,” stated William Bailey, Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. “The T-7A is a pivotal program for the future See Hawk, Page 3
Airmen render a salute during the 2026 National Police Week opening ceremony at Travis Air Force Base, May 11.
Airmen perform a buddy carry during the 2026 National Police Week Shield and Steel challenge at Travis Air Force Base, May 13. The obstacle course consisted of 10 stations to include a four-person litter carry, weapons assembly, buddy carry, two-person tire flips and a Humvee push.
Bryce Bennett/U.S. Air Force file
A T-7A Red Hawk soars over Edwards Air Force Base after conducting a developmental test mission over the Mojave Desert.