Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Airmen from an RQ-4B Global Hawk aircraft maintenance unit welcome an RQ-4B after a flight Mar. 8, 2015, in Southwest Asia, in which the aircraft surpassed 10,000 flying hours. The RQ-4B aircraft 2019, or A2019, was the first block 20 and first RQ-4B model to arrive here Oct. 16, 2010. During its service, the aircraft has been providing support to warfighters by relaying communications between people and aircraft as well as enabling airstrikes on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown)RQ-4B soars past 10,000 flying-hour milestone
                        
                        
                        Airmen from an RQ-4B Global Hawk aircraft maintenance unit welcome an RQ-4B after a flight Mar. 8, 2015, in Southwest Asia, in which the aircraft surpassed 10,000 flying hours. The RQ-4B aircraft 2019, or A2019, was the first block 20 and first RQ-4B model to arrive here Oct. 16, 2010. During its service, the aircraft has been providing support to warfighters by relaying communications between people and aircraft as well as enabling airstrikes on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

RQ-4B soars past 10,000 flying hoursPublished March 10, 2015
                    
                    By Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown
                    
                    
                    U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs
            **SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) --**An RQ-4B Global Hawk embarked on an Operation Inherent Resolve mission March 7, which sent the aircraft soaring past the 10,000 flying-hour milestone at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.
The RQ-4B aircraft 2019, or A2019, was the first block 20 and first RQ-4B model to arrive here Oct. 16, 2010. During its service, the aircraft has been providing support to warfighters by relaying communications between people and aircraft as well as enabling airstrikes on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
“This particular aircraft carries the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) payload, which replaces the imagery sensors normally installed in the aircraft,” said Lt. Col. Anthony, the launch and recovery element operations supervisor. “It is primarily a data and communications bridging node. It can support multiple bridges simultaneously across multiple radio types. We like to call it ‘Wi-Fi in the sky’.”
Both manned and unmanned aircraft continue to fly in support of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) requirements for Operation Inherent Resolve. ISR helps coalition leaders gain better insight about the security situation on the ground, and strengthen the ability of Iraqi and Kurdish ground forces and their international partners to effectively counter ISIL.
The accomplishment of flying more than 10,000 hours was shared by the entire Global Hawk aircraft maintenance unit and supporting units.
“It takes a team effort to maintain an aircraft,” said Staff Sgt. Paul, an RQ-4B Global Hawk crew chief. “Every six months there is a new rotation with a new group of people who have helped maintain this aircraft since its arrival.”
Paul has been working with this aircraft off and on for over nine months, most of which has been here in the area of responsibility.
“When I got here the jet had 9,104.9 flying hours,” said Paul, currently deployed from Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. “Yesterday’s milestone flight was flight 402 and it took off with 9,982.9 hours. It flew for 30.5 hours and landed Mar. 8, surpassing the 10,000 flying hour milestone.”
A2019 also holds the record for the longest block 20 flight, which is currently set at 31.5 flying hours.*(Editor’s note: Due to safety and security reasons, last names and unit designators were removed.)*AFCENT 



milestone 



southwest asia 



RQ-4 Global Hawk Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander emphasizes five focus areas during AFA Warfare Symposium
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil