aerospace

Labor Day and the First Flight of the F-22 Raptor

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

Today is Labor Day, a day when we recognize the work, skill and dedication of America’s workforce.

It is also the anniversary of a remarkable example of what that workforce can accomplish.

On September 7, 1997, the first F-22 Raptor took to the skies over Marietta, Georgia. F-22 Chief Test Pilot Paul Metz lifted off from Dobbins Air Reserve Base for a 58-minute first flight that began a new chapter in American airpower.

The F-22 was developed to succeed the F-15 in the air superiority role, bringing together stealth, maneuverability, advanced sensors and the ability to sustain supersonic flight without afterburner. The aircraft that flew that morning was the result of years of work by thousands of engineers, designers, technicians, mechanics, production workers, test personnel and members of the United States Air Force.

Twenty-nine years later, the Raptor remains an important part of the nation’s air dominance capability. The Air Force continues to modernize the aircraft as it looks toward the next generation of air combat.

That makes its first-flight anniversary especially appropriate for Labor Day.

Behind an aircraft as extraordinary as the F-22 are extraordinary people. From the people who conceived and designed it to those who built, tested, maintained and flew it, the Raptor represents American innovation, skill and teamwork on an enormous scale.

At AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134, our mission to Educate. Advocate. Support. includes recognizing both the people who serve and the people whose work makes their mission possible.

On this Labor Day, we recognize them all.

Thank You!

National Aviation Day From 1939 to Air and Space

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

Today is National Aviation Day, first proclaimed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 to recognize the development of aviation in the United States.

Aviation in 1939 meant something very different than it does today.

Today, aviation reaches far beyond airplanes and airports. It encompasses commercial and military aviation, advanced aircraft development, unmanned systems, aerospace engineering, satellites, cybersecurity, advanced communications, space exploration and technologies that are changing how we operate in the air and beyond it.

It is also the foundation for an enormous range of jobs and career opportunities. Pilots and aircrews are only part of that picture. Aviation and aerospace depend on engineers, aircraft mechanics and technicians, air traffic controllers, manufacturers, software developers, cybersecurity specialists, researchers, educators and countless other skilled professionals. For young people especially, aviation and aerospace offer career paths that may not have even existed a generation ago.

And today, our definition of aviation extends beyond the atmosphere.

Space exploration and the rapidly expanding space industry have created entirely new areas of technology and opportunity. The creation of the United States Space Force in 2019 established a new branch of our Armed Forces dedicated to protecting American interests in, from and to space. Space is now an essential part of our national defense, communications, navigation and everyday life.

For the Air & Space Forces Association, National Aviation Day has particular meaning. Our mission connects the heritage of American aviation with the future of air and space power. It also challenges us to introduce the next generation to the opportunities ahead, support education in aviation, aerospace, cyber and STEM, and help build the workforce and leaders who will take us into the future.

When President Roosevelt proclaimed the first National Aviation Day 87 years ago, even the most imaginative aviation pioneers of the time could hardly have envisioned where their work would lead.

From the first generations of powered flight to aircraft flying faster than sound, remotely piloted systems, satellites orbiting the Earth and Guardians serving in the United States Space Force, aviation has become something far greater than simply flying airplanes.

And we are still only beginning to see where it will take us next.

Happy National Aviation Day from AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134

Air Commandos Tomorrow Lunch July 15th

/ Ian L. Sitren / 1 Comment

Just a reminder that our Air Commandos Lunch is tomorrow, Wednesday, July 15, at 11:30 a.m. at ROC’s Firehouse Grille, 36891 Cook Street in Palm Desert.

The lunches are informal, friendly, no agenda, and a great opportunity to meet fellow members and guests over good food. There is no charge to attend. Simply pay for your own lunch and beverage. Whether you’re a long-time member, a veteran, currently serving, or simply interested in aviation, military history, and the Air and Space Forces, we would enjoy having you join us.

If this will be your first time attending, you’re especially welcome.

We hope to see you tomorrow!

If you’d like to learn how these lunches began and why they have become such a popular tradition for us, read The Story Behind Our Air Commandos Lunch. Thanks!

July 4th Message From Our Chapter President

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

President’s 250th Anniversary Message
AFA 134: Bridge to the Future

Dear AFA Palm Springs Members and Friends,

As we honor the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, I am struck by the unique and vital role our chapter plays in the Coachella Valley. More than just an organization, our AFA Palm Springs Chapter serves as a crucial bridge, one that spans generations, technology, and service.

On one side of this bridge stands our rich history and the engaging stories so many of you share about your service to our nation. We all share a deep reverence for the foundations laid by the United States Air Force and United States Space Force, and we carry the enduring values of service, integrity, and excellence that have always defined our nation’s defense.

On the other side of that bridge lies the future. The landscape of our national defense is rapidly shifting toward space, AI driven weapons systems, and cyber warfare. To meet these threats, our nation requires a new generation of dedicated, tech savvy minds.

Our mission as a chapter is to ensure that bridge remains unbreakable.

Through our cyber education programs, such as the Coachella Valley Cyber Cup Challenge and our upcoming hands on Cyber Camp this month, we aren’t just teaching students technical skills. We are helping strengthen our nation’s future defense by teaching teamwork and leadership, and by preparing the next generation to safeguard our space networks, our digital infrastructure, and the technologies that will shape tomorrow’s conflicts.

Every bit of support and advocacy our chapter invests in programs like these helps Coachella Valley students cross the bridge from today’s classrooms to tomorrow’s leadership. Thank you for your years of service, for honoring our past, and for actively supporting our efforts to help secure our nation’s future.

In Service,

Jim

President, AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134

Help Us Build Our Virtual Hangar

/ Ian L. Sitren / 1 Comment

We’re probably still a few years, a few billion dollars, and perhaps a space program away from building something like this.

Many organizations have a building where they display photographs, squadron memorabilia, and aircraft artwork. While we don’t have a permanent chapter hangar, we do have something just as accessible… our website.

Do you have one or two photographs from your military service? Your career in aviation? Were you an airline pilot, aircraft mechanic, air traffic controller, aerospace engineer, airport employee, Civil Air Patrol member, or simply someone who has loved airplanes your entire life? Maybe your career took you in a completely different direction, but aviation has always been one of your passions. We’d love to preserve and share your photographs and your story.

Digital photographs are welcome, but don’t worry if your memories are still tucked away in albums or boxes. If you have prints, slides, or negatives, simply bring them to one of our Air Commandos Lunches or another chapter event. I’ll professionally scan them, return the originals to you, and prepare them for our Virtual Hangar.

When you submit your photograph or photographs, please include as much information as you can about them, such as who is in the photograph, the aircraft, location, approximate date, squadron or organization, and the story behind the image. Even if you don’t know all of the details, don’t let that stop you. Every photograph helps preserve a small part of our shared history.

You can email digital photographs to:

AFAPalmSprings@outlook.com

Or bring your prints, slides, or negatives to one of our chapter gatherings, and I’ll scan them and promptly return the originals.

If you’ve previously given a presentation to our chapter, I probably already have the photographs and information you shared. I’ll begin building our Virtual Hangar with those, and I hope everyone else will add one or two photographs of their own to help it grow.

Thank You!

The 2026 Air & Space Forces Almanac Has Arrived

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

One of the things I still enjoy is receiving a magazine in the mail.

Call me old fashioned, but there is something satisfying about holding a printed publication in your hands. The battery never runs out. It slips easily into a backpack or briefcase. You can read it at the beach, beside the pool, or in bright sunlight without fighting reflections on a screen. And if you happen to drip nacho cheese on it, you simply wipe it off and keep reading.

The latest issue of Air & Space Forces Magazine has started arriving in members’ mailboxes, and it is one I look forward to every year.

The 2026 Air & Space Forces Almanac is a remarkable 176-page reference filled with current information about the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. It covers everything from aircraft inventories, weapons systems, budgets, installations, and organizational structure to personnel statistics, leadership, awards, and much more. It is also packed with outstanding photography and graphics that make it just as enjoyable to browse as it is to study. 

Unlike most magazines that are read once and recycled, this is a publication that stays within easy reach. Throughout the year, I find myself pulling it off the shelf whenever I want to verify a fact, check an aircraft inventory, look up a command, or simply enjoy some excellent aviation photography.

Receiving Air & Space Forces Magazine, including this annual Almanac, is one of the many benefits available to AFA members at qualifying membership levels. It is another reminder that membership is about much more than supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. It also connects you with information and resources that are difficult to find gathered together anywhere else.

If your copy has already arrived, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. If not, keep an eye on your mailbox. I think you’ll find it’s well worth the wait.

A New Way to Join the Air & Space Forces Association Free!

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

The Air & Space Forces Association has introduced something completely new.

For the first time, AFA now offers a free Mission Membership. This new membership makes it easier than ever for anyone with an interest in our Air Force, Space Force, aerospace, aviation, STEM education, or national security to become part of the AFA community. Again, membership is open to everyone.

Mission Membership provides access to AFA news, educational programs, webinars, research, national events, and local Chapter activities. Whether you have served in the military, work in aerospace, are a student, educator, or simply support the mission of the Air & Space Forces Association, there is now a place for you in AFA at absolutely no cost.

This is also a tremendous opportunity for AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134.

Every new member strengthens our Chapter and helps us expand our educational programs, CyberPatriot, community outreach, aerospace education, and partnerships throughout the Coachella Valley. The more members we have, the more we can accomplish.

If you are already an AFA member, thank you for your continued support.

If you know someone who has ever thought about joining AFA, now is the perfect time. Invite your family, friends, neighbors, fellow veterans, active duty military, educators, students, pilots, aviation enthusiasts, and anyone interested in aerospace and our nation’s defense.

Joining is easy.

Simply visit:

Join AFA

When completing your registration, please be sure to select Palm Springs Chapter 134. That simple step helps strengthen our local Chapter and ensures you receive information about our activities, meetings, educational programs, and special events.

It costs nothing.

It only takes a few minutes.

We look forward to welcoming many new members to AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134.

Thank You!

AFA WARFARE SYMPOSIUM

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Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, Colo.

Feb. 12-14, 2024

The AFA Warfare Symposium is a premier professional development event for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, and the aerospace and defense industry that supports them, with a focus on the critical concerns and challenges of joint warfare in every corner of the globe. Drawing speakers from USAF, USSF, combatant commands, industry, and the joint force, the symposium provides opportunities to network and explore dynamic exhibits. Click here for more information.