Oriana Pawlyk

A not-so-uniform reaction to new gridiron garb

By Oriana Pawlyk on October 10, 2012 Air Force Academy, Air Force swag, Football, Uniforms

If this were an episode of “E! Fashion Police,” the Air Force would have (more than likely) been on the “worst dressed” list. Flashback: Air Force played Navy over the weekend, with the Midshipmen winning 28-21 in overtime against the Falcons. But what also caused a stir were the new uniforms Air Force was sporting: Specially designed uniforms, inspired by the Air Force’s B-2 Spirit and F-22 Raptor aircraft. The name on the back of the even-numbered jerseys had “F-22 Raptor” while the odd numbered jerseys had “B-2 Spirit” in place of the names. The helmet logo represented the top…

Air Force planned for a flying saucer

By Oriana Pawlyk on October 9, 2012 Air Force, History, Photos, Space

Whether aliens exist or not, the Air Force may have once tried to reach them. The National Archives published parts of recently declassified records from the Aeronautical Systems Division in a document titled, “USAF Project 1794.” Dated in 1956, this document shows the Air Force’s goal to build a supersonic flying … something. According to the National Archives blog, the Air Force had contracted the work out to a Canadian company, Avro Aircraft Ltd. in Ontario, to construct the disk-shaped craft. The “saucer” was designed to be a vertical take-off and landing plane designed to reach a top speed of…

He’s 11, and he’s all Air Force

By Oriana Pawlyk on October 3, 2012 Air Force, Air Force Academy, Football, Uncategorized, Video

This young boy was all smiles during his daylong call of duty. Eleven-year-old Wyatt Denton was given the opportunity to experience a day in the life of an Air Force cadet at the Air Force Academy, Colo., on Sept. 28, CBS/KKTV reported. Wyatt was diagnosed a few years ago with lymphoma and since he was little, he’s always shown interest in being in the Air Force. Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Wyatt’s dream came true. The Air Force’s newest cadet filed in wearing his very own sized flight suit and cap. His name tag read, “Wyatt Denton, Cadet For A Day.”…

Wambach keeps flying high

By Oriana Pawlyk on September 14, 2012 Air Force, Air National Guard, Olympics, Uncategorized

Whether it’s on the field or in the sky, Abby Wambach has shown us she can soar to new heights. The Olympic champion of the U.S. women’s national soccer team flew in an F-15 while visiting the Montana Air National Guard on Sept. 11. “Tomorrow is the big day. Flight is at 9 a.m. Mostly excited about the F-15, but also a little terrified. Yikes,” she tweeted the night before. Wambach began her visit to the Great Falls International Airport, Mont., on Sept. 8, to get briefed for her Sept. 11 anniversary flight. Wambach was also there to speak with…

California wildfires keep it busy for reserve rescue squadron

By Oriana Pawlyk on August 30, 2012 Air National Guard, Photos, Video

Lt. Col. Tom Keegan of the 129th Rescue Squadron based at Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif. has been assisting in firefights for 15 years, and he’s still taking on more. For up to seven hours a day, Keegan and his crew fly an HH60G Pave Hawk with attached Bambi buckets full of water over the parts of California affected by wildfires this summer. At one point there were almost a dozen fires burning throughout the state with varying levels of containment. The California National Guard, California Emergency Management Agency and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have been working together…

Wright-Patterson gets visit from some (Cincinnati) Bengals

By Oriana Pawlyk on August 10, 2012 Air Force, Video

Some airmen at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio got a nice bonus on the job recently — a visit from Cincinnati Bengals players Geno Atkins, Jermaine Gresham, Adam Jones and their head coach, Marvin Lewis. The foursome dropped in to eat lunch with airmen and to sign autographs in the community center. “I think that it was very humble of them to come all the way out to ‘Wright-Pat’ to promote and to meet service members like us and honor the fact that we are serving the country,” said Senior Airman Dorna Momtaz. The airmen were also told they…

Author Oriana Pawlyk