The U.S. Air Force stands at a crossroads as it contemplates its long term future. It can retain its atmospheric orientation and find itself mired in endless and fruitless debates over which military tasks (e.g., anti-tactical missiles) best fit which medium--and thus service. Yet, aerospace is no longer the high ground of combat--the medium whose domination makes victory everywhere else a matter of effort rather than fortune. Information plays that role today. As the world's leading military service in the application of emerging technology, the Air Force will be best served by adopting an infospheric orientation. By doing so, it can lay claim to the three new missions of the 21st century: strategic defense, global transparency, and extended information dominance.

“A bold and courageous clarion call from a highly respected serving officer that should be read and heeded by anyone interested in the future of the US Air Force.” —Everett Dolman, School of Advanced Airpower Studies Looking ahead to future airpower requirements, this engaging and groundbreaking book on the history and future of American combat airpower argues that the US Air Force must adapt to the changes that confront it or risk decline into irrelevance. To provide decision makers with the necessary analytical tools, Jeffrey J. Smith uses organizational modeling to help explain historical change in the USAF and to anticipate change in the future. While the analysis and conclusions it offers may prove controversial, the book aims to help planners make better procurement decisions, institute appropriate long-term policy, and better organize, train, and equip the USAF for the future. “Those airmen willing to actively engage such discussions would do well to turn to Smith’s book as the basic point of departure for debates concerning the intricate relationship between the Air Force’s past, present, and future.” —Strategic Studies Quarterly “This book is ‘out of the box’ thinking and is very timely given the recent and evolving Air Force roles and missions.” —Brigadier General Al Rachel, USAF (Ret.) “Colonel Smith has a great grasp of what the forthcoming debate will require. The Congress must reduce the spending at the very time our enemies are overtaking our capabilities. The debate needs to be engaged now. This book comes on the scene at just the right time.” —Denny Smith former US Congressman and Air Force F-4 pilot

In the pantheon of air power spokesmen, Giulio Douhet holds center stage. His writings, more often cited than perhaps actually read, appear as excerpts and aphorisms in the writings of numerous other air power spokesmen, advocates-and critics. Though a highly controversial figure, the very controversy that surrounds him offers to us a testimonial of the value and depth of his work, and the need for airmen today to become familiar with his thought. The progressive development of air power to the point where, today, it is more correct to refer to aerospace power has not outdated the notions of Douhet in the slightest In fact, in many ways, the kinds of technological capabilities that we enjoy as a global air power provider attest to the breadth of his vision. Douhet, together with Hugh “Boom” Trenchard of Great Britain and William “Billy” Mitchell of the United States, is justly recognized as one of the three great spokesmen of the early air power era. This reprint is offered in the spirit of continuing the dialogue that Douhet himself so perceptively began with the first edition of this book, published in 1921. Readers may well find much that they disagree with in this book, but also much that is of enduring value. The vital necessity of Douhet’s central vision-that command of the air is all important in modern warfare-has been proven throughout the history of wars in this century, from the fighting over the Somme to the air war over Kuwait and Iraq.

New in Paperback! In the 1940s, FDR was the first airborne president, flying several times in a C-54 nicknamed the "Sacred Cow." In the 1950s, it was aircraft known as "Independence", "Columbine II" and "Columbine III" that transported Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower on occasion. But it was not until after the Korean War, with the United States becoming the leader of the free world, that presidential air travel entered the modern age. The jet-age mobility of the American presidency beginning in the 1960s corresponds directly to the nation's emergence as a super power. Air Force One: The Aircraft that Shaped the Modern Presidency is the story of the planes, the Presidents, their staff and, their many trips across the nation and around the globe. But it's also more than that, it is a vehicle for better understanding the activities and dealings of each presidential administration in the second half of the twentieth century. Through vibrant photography, this book communicates the story of a unique set of planes and the presidents who made them a vital national asset. Now all of these planes and their famous passengers have been captured. Written by Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum curator Von Hardesty and featuring over 200 illustrations, including new photos of the airplane's interiors, this book takes you on a memorable flight through history. Through insider accounts and from a unique vantage point on well-known political events, Hardesty shows how the presidency was transformed by the remarkable advances in aviation technology.

This book features a detailed examination of the world's most recognizable airplane, from the interior to the exterior, and everything in between. Air Force One also details the history of presidential aircraft, how today's AFI was built, and an examination of its sophisticated communications, navigation, and defensive systems.

A week-by-week guide to surviving boot camp—includes interviews with recent graduates, recruiters, and instructors. Air Force basic training is challenging both mentally and physically. The Ultimate Guide to Air Force Basic Training shows you, step by step, how to survive and thrive in today’s basic training program. Beginning with the recruiting process and taking you all the way through basic training graduation day, this book answers your questions and helps alleviate your fears and concerns as you enter this new and exciting period of your life. Senior Airman Nicholas Van Wormer’s book is a fresh and updated insider’s view of what you will encounter and how to perform in order to graduate at the top of your class. It also includes interviews with recent basic training graduates, recruiters, and even military training instructors to better provide you with the most detailed guide to Air Force basic training ever published. It also explains acronyms and terms, mistakes to avoid, the all-important ASVAB test—and even offers tips on what to bring with you. Whether you’re getting ready to ship out to basic training or just looking into the different military options available to you, The Ultimate Guide to Air Force Basic Training is an invaluable tool that will help guide you through. Whether you are getting ready to ship out to basic training or just looking into the different military options available to you, The Ultimate Guide to Air Force Basic Training is an invaluable tool that will help guide you through an otherwise daunting and difficult process.