Military notebook: Raptor tearing into air show

It?s official. The world?s most advanced fighter jet will make an appearance at the upcoming air show at Robins Air Force Base.

Organizers previously said they were hoping to get an F-22 Raptor at the show, but last week it was confirmed. The show is scheduled for April 28-29.

The Raptor is the Air Force?s newest aircraft, with advanced avionics and radar-evading capability.

Robins after dark

Most people know Robins is a 24/7 operation, but have you ever wondered what really goes on there after dark?

The base Public Affairs staff put in some late-night hours recently in an effort to show people unsung heroes of the graveyard shift. Photographers spent time on various nights with different units, photographing various work going on when most base workers are at home asleep.

Photos include firefighters working at the station, crew members in the 461st Air Control Wing and 116th Air Control Wing guiding a J-STARS aircraft in from a late-night mission, control tower operators at work and many more.

To see the photos, go to www.robins.af.mil.

No iPads for Special Ops

Air Force Special Operations Command had planned to buy 2,861 iPads for flight crews.

The move was intended to replace thousands of pages of paper flight instructions, according to a story in the Air Force Times. Civilian pilots had already turned to iPads to replace binders that could weigh as much as 40 pounds. The purchase, however, was cancelled but the reason was in dispute.

Some said it was because of security concerns, but a command spokesman denied that, saying it was cancelled to ?explore options.?

Air Mobility Command, meanwhile, plans to go forward with a move to buy 18,000 iPads or an equivalent model, the story stated. The command said only non-classified information would be on the computers.

Student veterans group having fundraiser

The Student Veterans Association of Macon State College is having a dinner and silent auction on April 3 in the banquet hall of the Professional Sciences and Conference Center on the Macon Campus.

Col. Evan M. Miller, 402nd Maintenance Wing commander at Robins, is the featured speaker. The auction begins at 5 p.m., with dinner following at 7 p.m. The cost is $35 per person, with proceeds going to support a scholarship for veterans. The auction and dinner are open to the general public.

Donations to the auction are being sought, and items may include anything from artwork, jewelry and trips to gift baskets and event tickets.

To donate an item, or to reserve a seat at the dinner, contact Tom Stevens at 471-2461 or thomas.stevens@maconstate.edu or contact Laureen Lowman at 329-4850 or laureen.lowman@maconstate.edu.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.

Source: http://www.macon.com/2012/03/11/1941101/raptor-tearing-into-air-show.html

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