News

  • Instructor pilots: Creating world-class aviators

    In the U.S., an Air Force instructor pilot’s job is to nurture the transition of a casual officer into becoming a world-class aviator; instructor pilots feed the fight directly and have a significant role, not only in the Air Force, but the Department of Defense as a whole.

  • Airlift wing commander galvanizes graduates with speech

    Col. Stephen Hodge, 314th Airlift Wing commander, delivered an inspirational speech at the graduation ceremony for Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 20-04/05 at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, Dec. 13.

  • What’s a 1Charlie?

    Student and instructor pilots line the step desk as they organize their first flights for the day; through the window, the Mississippi sun can be seen casting a golden glow on aircraft as maintainers inspect and prepare them for launch.

  • Retired pilot, Columbus native climbs back into T-38 sim one more time

    Retired Lt. Col. James Cole, former T-38 Talon pilot and Columbus, Mississippi, native, was able to climb back into a T-38 simulator one more time during a visit to Columbus Air Force Base Jan. 16. Cole, now 85, met members of the 14th Operations Group and reminisced about his time as a pilot. He

  • 49th FTS cultivates pilots into fighter wingmen

    The 49th Fighter Training Squadron teaches newly graduated pilots how to operate the T-38 Talon to conduct flight training as well as fighter fundamentals; and in addition to training pilots they also train weapon systems officers.

  • Harencak to graduates: ‘It’s just the end of the beginning’

    Maj. Gen. Garrett Harencak, Air Force Recruiting Service commander, congratulated and addressed the Air Force’s and partner nations’ newest aviators during the Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 17-15’s graduation ceremony, Sept. 29 at the Kaye Auditorium here.

  • Retired AF pilots welcomed back on active duty

    Retired Air Force pilots holding Air Force Specialty Code 11X are encouraged to apply for the Voluntary Retired Return to Active Duty Program in order to fill rated staff positions to help alleviate the existing manning shortages within the Air Force rated pilot community.