Playing Ping-Pong With Bradley A-
10s: The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday put the A-10s of the Connecticut Air National Guard’s 103rd Fighter Wing back in play. Before sending the BRAC commission final report to Bush Thursday night, the commission removed the recommendation that would have eliminated the Bradley Airport A-10s, per an injuction ordered Wednesday by US Dist. Judge Alfred Covello. In reviewing Covello’s decision, the three-person appeals court said, as other courts had, that the commission recommendations were not final. President Bush has until Sept. 23 to turn it over to Congress or back to the commission for further work. However, Bush has said he will send it on to Capitol Hill. Check here for the Air Force section of the final report.
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.