Our Mission Share This
The mission of the United States Air Force is to fly, fight and win … in air, space and cyberspace.
To achieve that mission, the Air Force has a vision of Global Vigilance, Reach and Power. That vision orbits around three core competencies: developing Airmen, technology to war fighting and integrating operations. These core competencies make our six distinctive capabilities possible.
Air and Space Superiority With it, joint forces can dominate enemy operations in all dimensions: land, sea, air and space.
Global Attack Because of technological advances, the Air Force can attack anywhere, anytime and do so quickly and with greater precision than ever before.
Rapid Global Mobility Being able to respond quickly and decisively anywhere we're needed is key to maintaining rapid global mobility.
Precision Engagement The essence lies in the ability to apply selective force against specific targets because the nature and variety of future contingencies demand both precise and reliable use of military power with minimal risk and collateral damage.
Information Superiority The ability of joint force commanders to keep pace with information and incorporate it into a campaign plan is crucial.
Agile Combat Support Deployment and sustainment are keys to successful operations and cannot be separated. Agile combat support applies to all forces, from those permanently based to contingency buildups to expeditionary forces.
Core Values The Air Force bases these core competencies and distinctive capabilities on a shared commitment to three values: Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do.
The mission of the United States Air Force is to fly, fight and win … in air, space and cyberspace.
To achieve that mission, the Air Force has a vision of Global Vigilance, Reach and Power. That vision orbits around three core competencies: developing Airmen, technology to war fighting and integrating operations. These core competencies make our six distinctive capabilities possible.
Air and Space Superiority With it, joint forces can dominate enemy operations in all dimensions: land, sea, air and space.
Global Attack Because of technological advances, the Air Force can attack anywhere, anytime and do so quickly and with greater precision than ever before.
Rapid Global Mobility Being able to respond quickly and decisively anywhere we're needed is key to maintaining rapid global mobility.
Precision Engagement The essence lies in the ability to apply selective force against specific targets because the nature and variety of future contingencies demand both precise and reliable use of military power with minimal risk and collateral damage.
Information Superiority The ability of joint force commanders to keep pace with information and incorporate it into a campaign plan is crucial.
Agile Combat Support Deployment and sustainment are keys to successful operations and cannot be separated. Agile combat support applies to all forces, from those permanently based to contingency buildups to expeditionary forces.
Core Values The Air Force bases these core competencies and distinctive capabilities on a shared commitment to three values: Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do.
Importand dates:
1952 De Havilland Comets, the world's first large commercial jetliners, began service.
1953 British Overseas Airways began the first regularly scheduled service with jet airliners.
1953 The first turboprop transport, the Vickers Viscount, began regular airline service.
1953 The North American F-100 Super Sabre jet fighter made the first level supersonic flight by a jet plane.
1953 TWA began the first nonstop, transcontinental passenger service from Los Angeles to New York City.
1954 Scandinavian Airlines began regular transarctic passenger service from Los Angeles to Europe.
1958 The Boeing 707 began the first U.S. jet transport service between the United States and Europe.
1958 British Overseas Airways began the first jet airliner service between the United States and Europe.
1958 National Airlines began the first U.S. jet airliner service.
1959 American Airlines began the first transcontinental jet airliner service.
1967 United Airlines put into service the first airliners capable of carrying over 200 passengers.
1968 Russian pilots test-flew the world's first supersonic transport plane, the Tu-144.
1968 The first direct airline service opened between the United States and the Soviet Union.
1970 The first jumbo jet, the Boeing 747, entered airline service.
1970 The first giant Boeing 747 went into operation for Pan American World Airways. It carried 362 passengers.
1976 Air France and British Airways put the first supersonic airliners into passenger service.
1978 The U.S. Congress passed the Airline Deregulation Act.
1984 Brooke Knapp, a U.S. pilot, flew around the world in a record time of 45 hours 32 minutes 53 seconds.
1984 The Civil Aeronautics Board was dissolved.
1986 Richard Rutan and Jeana Yeager, two U.S. pilots, made the first nonstop flight around the world without refueling. The flight began and ended at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
1952 De Havilland Comets, the world's first large commercial jetliners, began service.
1953 British Overseas Airways began the first regularly scheduled service with jet airliners.
1953 The first turboprop transport, the Vickers Viscount, began regular airline service.
1953 The North American F-100 Super Sabre jet fighter made the first level supersonic flight by a jet plane.
1953 TWA began the first nonstop, transcontinental passenger service from Los Angeles to New York City.
1954 Scandinavian Airlines began regular transarctic passenger service from Los Angeles to Europe.
1958 The Boeing 707 began the first U.S. jet transport service between the United States and Europe.
1958 British Overseas Airways began the first jet airliner service between the United States and Europe.
1958 National Airlines began the first U.S. jet airliner service.
1959 American Airlines began the first transcontinental jet airliner service.
1967 United Airlines put into service the first airliners capable of carrying over 200 passengers.
1968 Russian pilots test-flew the world's first supersonic transport plane, the Tu-144.
1968 The first direct airline service opened between the United States and the Soviet Union.
1970 The first jumbo jet, the Boeing 747, entered airline service.
1970 The first giant Boeing 747 went into operation for Pan American World Airways. It carried 362 passengers.
1976 Air France and British Airways put the first supersonic airliners into passenger service.
1978 The U.S. Congress passed the Airline Deregulation Act.
1984 Brooke Knapp, a U.S. pilot, flew around the world in a record time of 45 hours 32 minutes 53 seconds.
1984 The Civil Aeronautics Board was dissolved.
1986 Richard Rutan and Jeana Yeager, two U.S. pilots, made the first nonstop flight around the world without refueling. The flight began and ended at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
Famous People:
Bill Cosby – Comedian and U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman *Recently named honorary CPO by Navy
George Steinbrenner – Late owner of the New York Yankees and U.S. Air Force 2nd Lieutenant
Drew Carey – Comedian and U.S. Marine Corporal
Jimi Hendrix – Musician and U.S. Army Private 101st Airborne
Montel Williams – Emmy Award winning TV host and U.S. Navy Lieutenant
Willie Nelson – Country Singer, Outlaw and U.S. Air Force Airman
Tony Bennett – Musician and U.S. Army Corporal in WWII
Gene Hackman – Actor and U.S. Marine Field Radio Operator
Musician and U.S. Marine Field Artillery Cannon Crewman in Desert Storm
James Earl Jones – Actor and U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant
Bill Cosby – Comedian and U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman *Recently named honorary CPO by Navy
George Steinbrenner – Late owner of the New York Yankees and U.S. Air Force 2nd Lieutenant
Drew Carey – Comedian and U.S. Marine Corporal
Jimi Hendrix – Musician and U.S. Army Private 101st Airborne
Montel Williams – Emmy Award winning TV host and U.S. Navy Lieutenant
Willie Nelson – Country Singer, Outlaw and U.S. Air Force Airman
Tony Bennett – Musician and U.S. Army Corporal in WWII
Gene Hackman – Actor and U.S. Marine Field Radio Operator
Musician and U.S. Marine Field Artillery Cannon Crewman in Desert Storm
James Earl Jones – Actor and U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant