Public Affairs, Volume 63, Number 53
Serving the community of Edwards Air Force Base California www.edwards.af.mil - www.facebook.com/EdwardsAirForceBase
July 22, 2016
KC-46 Pegasus completes required flight tests
A KC-46 Pegasus refuels an A-10 Thunderbolt II with 1,500 pounds of fuel July 15, 2016. The mission was the last of all flight tests required for the tanker’s Milestone C production decision. (Boeing photo/John D. Parker)
The KC-46 Pegasus program completed all flight tests required for the Milestone C production decision July 15 by offloading 1,500 pounds of fuel to an A-10 Thunderbolt II. The successful A-10 mission was the last of six in-flight refueling demonstrations required before the tanker program can request approval from Frank Kendall, the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, to award production Lots 1 and 2, totaling 19 KC-46A aircraft. “It is great to see the KC-46 boom back in action and the program moving forward to a production decision,” said Col. John Newberry, the KC-46 system program manager. The other five required air refueling demonstrations were with the C-17 Globemaster III and F-16 Fighting Falcon using the air refueling boom, the Navy’s F-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier II using the centerline and wing drogue systems, and the KC-46 as a receiver aircraft. “Today’s flight marks the final step we needed to see on the boom fix in order to request production go-ahead,” said Brig. Gen. Duke Richardson, the Air Force program executive officer for tankers. This test was possible due to contributions from the 412th Test Wing, 23rd Fighter Wing, 355th FW, 124th FW, 896th Test Support Squadron and 40th Flight Test Squadron, which all provided aircraft, manpower and equipment. The Milestone C decision to begin low-rate initial production is expected in August. -Article courtesy of 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Killing weeds with light a bright idea By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
It’s probably safe to say that nobody really likes weeds. Unwanted vegetation on the ground, sidewalks, or in gardens, can be a nuisance and time-consuming to get rid of. Apparently, the natural environment doesn’t like weeds either. “Weeds, noxious weeds particularly, can cause native species to go extinct so it’s an endangered species problem,” said Dr. Danny Reinke, 412th Civil Engineering Group, principal scientist for conservation issues. “Every year millions of dollars are spent on weed control in and around military installations.” Eliminating weeds can be done by applying poisonous herbicides, or mechanically, by mowing or tilling. Herbicides can have negative impacts on wildlife populations so having an alternative would be ideal, Reinke said. A classically-trained botanist, Reinke came up with an idea that would kill weeds without chemicals or heavy equipment that would disturb the ground. He submitted his idea to the Edwards AFB Small Business Innovation Research office, which sent the proposal up to Air Force Materiel Command. His concept was selected for funding and the Air Force solicited a couple
of small businesses to make the concept become reality. The result is the NatureZap, a hand-held device that essentially kills weeds using light. “The reason a plant is green is because it reflects green light, and for photosynthesis a plant uses blue light. Overloading the blue frequency range disrupts the enzymes in the photosynthetic process, which cuts off the food supply to the plant and it dies. Some herbicides overload the metabolic system of the plant and makes the weed burn from the inside out. I thought that overloading the photosynthetic system would maybe do the same thing,” Reinke said. NatureZap is made by Global Neighbor, Inc., the company the Air Force granted funds to as part of the SBIR selection. By selectively overloading the plant with light highly concentrated in the blue range, the NatureZap disables the photosynthetic system and the plant dies. “One of the problems using herbicides like DDT, which killed insects really well, but it was concentrated in the shells of eggs of birds that See innovation, Page 3
Dr. Danny Reinke, 412th Civil Engineering Group, uses the NatureZap to kill weeds. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kenji Thuloweit)
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Desert Wings
July 22, 2016
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412th MXG change of command
Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer (left), 412th Test Wing commander, hands the 412th Maintenance Group guidon to the group’s new commander, Col. Stephen Grotjohn July 13. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ethan Wagner)
Col. Robert Lepper relinquished command of the 412th Maintenance Group to Col. Stephen Grotjohn July 13. Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander, presided over the change of command ceremony held in Hangar 1600, home to the 412th MXG. Grotjohn returns to Edwards following an assignment as Maintenance Division chief, Directorate of Logistics, Headquarters, Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field in Florida. Grotjohn has served in multiple maintenance leadership positions and previously commanded the 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here. As 412th MXG commander, he will oversee the most diverse maintenance group in the Air Force with 1,700 personnel and more than 80 highly-modified test and support aircraft. The group conducts logistics test and evaluation on aircraft, aircraft subsystems, support equipment and technical orders for program offices, combined test forces, NASA, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and commercial contractors. The 412th MXG also provides flightline and back shop maintenance support for the Air Force, DOD and contractor planes undergoing test and evaluation.
Raptor SNCO wins AFMC award By Arely Silva 412th Test Wing Public Affairs Team Edwards’ very own Master Sgt. Richard Knarreborg from 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (F-22) is Air Force Materiel Command’s 2016 Gen. Lew Allen Jr. Trophy Winner in the SNCO Category. Winning the award shows that Knarreborg embodies the service and achievements with regard to the Gen. Lew Allen Jr. Trophy. Job performance, job efficiency and results, job knowledge, and other awards and recognition is all that is weighted into this award nomination. Knarreborg is a production superintendent and oversees maintenance production efforts and assigns maintenance priorities to
meet the flying schedule. “I strive for excellence and I am passionate about the mission, but also the people, the maintainers on the flightline.” He will now move on to compete at the Air Force level. Named after the 10th chief of staff of the Air Force, the award recognizes two categories of individuals, base-level logistics readiness officers and SNCOs directly involved in mission execution. Allen served as a pioneer in scientific and research projects throughout his career, which culminated as commander, Air Force Systems Command in 1977, followed by chief of staff in 1978. Allen graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1946
(U.S. Air Force photo by Russ Deering)
and served as a bomber pilot in Strategic Air Command. He held multiple assignments in nuclear capable units and earned a doctorate degree in Physics in 1954.
Children prep for Women’s Equality Day next month By Taylor Steele 412th Test Wing Public Affairs On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified enabling all American women to the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Edwards AFB is celebrating this milestone through a series of community events in July and August leading up to Women’s Equality Day August 26. On July 20, the base library hosted an outreach event exposing the Edwards youth programs to women’s equality, particularly women’s voting rights. The gathering began by a brief introduction to women’s voting rights through children’s illustration books such as “Today on Election Day” by Catherine Stier, and followed with an invitation to join in on a contest to create a poster symbolizing what women’s rights mean to them. Upcoming events include a booth where the posters will be on display at the Exchange July 29 to promote awareness to the community and to sell tickets for the Women’s Equality Day Test Wing Luncheon. For more information, contact committee chairmen Tech. Sgt. Sean Stringer at 277-7785; and Master Sgt. Vincente Laluz at 277-6430. (U.S. Air Force photo by Taylor Steele)
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Desert Wings
July 22, 2016
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(U.S. Air Force graphic)
By Greg Chadwick Air Force Materiel Command Health and Wellness Team
Mosquito bites can be annoying, but they can also cause serious viral diseases, such as Zika, West Nile, Chikungunya and Dengue. If an infected mosquito bites a bird or mammal, including humans, it can transmit the illness to them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, West Nile virus is the most common disease spread by mosquitoes in the United States. West Nile virus has been detected in all lower 48 states. The largest outbreaks (1999-2014) have occurred in California, Texas, Colorado and Illinois. West Nile is transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of infected mosquitoes. In a very small number of cases, the virus has been spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants and from mother to baby during pregnancy, delivery or breast feeding. Most people (70-80 percent) who become infected with West Nile do not develop any symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected will develop flu-like symptoms, which include headache, fever, body aches, joint pains or rash. Less than 1 percent of people who are infected will develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis. In rare cases, West Nile can be fatal. Serious illness from West Nile can occur in people of any age. However, people over age 60 who become infected with West Nile virus are at higher risk of developing serious symptoms of the disease. West Nile virus is diagnosed through clinical symptoms and blood test results. There are
no medications to treat or vaccines to prevent West Nile virus infection. An emerging mosquito-borne disease is caused by the Zika virus. Zika is primarily transmitted through mosquito bites. Other, less common ways people can get Zika are through sexual contact, from a pregnant woman to her fetus, and through a blood transfusion. No mosquito-borne Zika virus disease cases have been reported in the US, but there have been travel-associated cases. A travel-associated case of Zika virus is when a person travels to an area with active Zika virus transmission, gets bitten by an infected mosquito, and returns to the US. These travel-associated cases could result in local transmission of the virus in some areas of the country. Local transmission of the Zika virus is when a mosquito bites an infected person and the mosquito gets infected with the virus. The infected mosquitoes can then bite healthy people and spread infection. Many people infected with Zika virus won’t have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms. Common symptoms of Zika are fever, headache, muscle pain, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (pink eye). CDC scientists recently announced the Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly in newborns and other severe fetal brain defects. Microcephaly is a birth defect in which a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Zika is diagnosed based on a person’s recent travel history, symptoms, and with blood tests. There is no specific medicine to treat Zika or vaccine to prevent it. How to protect yourself from mosquito bites: · Mosquito-proof your home by using screens on windows and doors. Repair or replace all torn screens in your home. Close windows and doors, then use air conditioning when available. · Drain water where mosquitoes grow. Mosquitoes can grow in containers that hold water for more than a week such as pop cans, buckets, bottles and discarded tires. Keep rain gutters clean. Fill holes that hold water with gravel or dirt. · Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks to create a barrier between you and mosquitoes. · Apply insect repellent on exposed skin when you go outdoors. Use Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellants containing DEET, picaridin, IR535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Civilian Health Promotion Services will be offering educational briefings on summertime safety during June and July. For more information, visit http://www.afmcwellness.com/ or contact your local CHPS team. Comprehensive information on preventing mosquito-borne diseases can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov.
Innovation, from Page 1 ate the insects that were killed. Using toxic chemicals in general is probably not a good approach.” He said the advantage is to have a source that doesn’t use any toxic chemicals or disturbs soil, which encourages weeds to grow. It’s relatively cheap. NatureZap plugs into a regular outlet to charge the battery. Reinke also said the NatureZap will help in compliance with the Sikes Act Improvement Amendments of 1997, which requires military bases to promote planning, development, maintenance, and coordination of wildlife, fish, and game conservation and rehabilitation. The DOD also has a goal for all military bases to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals used by 50 percent. Edwards, like other Air Force bases, complies with these requirements by implementation of an Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan, which protects the environment in concert with the Edwards mission by ensuring the natural habitat and wildlife are sustained. “What we like about [NatureZap], from an environmental perspective, there are no toxic chemicals, no toxic residue, no ground disturbance. All those are good things and help us when we meet our requirement under the Sikes Act. Endangered species don’t do well with weeds,” said Reinke. The 412th Civil Engineering Group has three NatureZaps that are basically a “touch-up” tool for small weeds and around yards. Once charged, the NatureZap can be pointed at a weed and in a few seconds the plant begins to turn brown and die. It works better when the entire weed can be illuminated. The current units treat an area about the size of a softball. Currently, Edwards AFB is in “Phase 2” of the Air Force Small Business Innovation Research venture with Global Neighbor, Inc. and is working with the company on getting some new working prototypes. The company is developing a device that can cover more space and be pulled behind a tractor. They’re also working on technology where the light will turn on
only when it sees vegetation. The Air Force SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer programs are mission-oriented programs that integrate the needs and requirements of the Air Force through research and development topics that have military and commercial potential. They provide more than $300 million in funding for research and development activities by small businesses annually. With this budget, the Air Force funds research from the early stages of concept development until it transitions to military or commercial use.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Kenji Thuloweit)
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Desert Wings
July 22, 2016
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This week in Edwards Flight Test History July 20, 1982 - The first flight of the F-16XL took place. General Dynamics modified a FSD F-16 to answer a U.S. Air Force requirement for a dualrole, longer-range fighter to support future air combat requirements. The F-16XL featured a cambered, crankeddelta wing with a sharp leading-edge sweep with twice the area of the original wing. (Edwards History Office file photo) BICYCLE SAFETY EVENT
25 July 2016
1000—1400
The 412 TW Safety Office with support of the California Highway Patrol is hosting a bicycle safety event at the Base Exchange Parking Lot.
BX Parking Lot Bring your family out to learn about the rules of the road and safe riding!!
Don’t miss out, this is a once a year event!!
California Highway Patrol Have certified CHP technicians check your: Helmet fit Seat height Riding in Traffic Proper Hand Signals And More
SIGN UP NOW FOR GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT The Global Leadership Summit is a two-day event telecast live in HD from Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago every August to hundreds of locations in North America. The 412th Test Wing Chaplain’s Office is inviting you to join 305,000 people committed to getting better as leaders. The summit will be Aug. 11-12. Those interested in attending should call Michael Berard at 661-275-9111; or email michael.berard.1@ us.af.mil. Summit speakers include Melinda Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Alan Mulally, CEO of Ford Motor Corp., and Bill Hybels, founder and senior pastor at Willow Creek Community Church.
Safety on a bike, that’s what we like!
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Commander, 412th TW ................... Brig. Gen Carl Shaefer Installation Support Director ..................... Dr. David Smith Command Chief .............. Chief Master Sgt. Todd Simmons Director, 412th TW, Public Affairs ................... Ed Buclatin Editors ........................... Kenji Thuloweit, Christopher Ball Contributor ................................................. Dawn Waldman To submit articles or upcoming events send an email to newsroom@edwards.af.mil
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