Inside the Air Force highlights

Some must-reads from this week's issue of Inside the Air Force:

1. The Air Force expects a ramp-up in experimentation and prototyping activities over the next year, a change of pace reflected in a $500 million funding increase in its fiscal year 2018 budget request.

Full story: USAF wants $3.1B to fund prototyping, experimentation over FYDP

2. After its inaugural "Space Flag" in April, the Air Force is planning to conduct a second virtual training exercise in August or September -- part of a continuous effort to prepare airmen to operate in space as a warfighting domain.

Full story: AFSPC planning second 'Space Flag' as it eyes future training needs

3. Luke Air Force Base officials expect to make a decision this week about whether the training base will resume F-35A flights next week after five pilots reported hypoxia-like symptoms.

Full story: F-35A flights could resume next week at Luke AFB after hypoxia reports

4. The Pentagon has submitted a package of legislative proposals to Congress, one of which seeks authority to enter into one or more economic order quantity contracts in fiscal year 2018 for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Full story: Pentagon sends Congress legislative proposals; seeks new F-35 authority