With Wilma bearing down on Florida, Air Force Reserve Command officials at Homestead ARB, Fla., began early evacuation of the 482nd Fighter Wing’s F-16 fighters to Georgia and Texas. Air National Guard officials relocated the 125th Fighter Wing’s F-15s at NAS Key West, Fla., for their home base at Jacksonville Airport, Fla. AFRC also sent C-130s from Patrick AFB, Fla., to Alabama. The one-time Category 4 Wilma hit Florida—near Cape Roman, as a Cat 3 but quickly downshifted to a Cat 2 and was on its way out of Florida by Monday afternoon. Officials of ANG’s 1st Air Force at Tyndall AFB, Fla., said airmen were ready to respond where needed. Some Florida Air Guard C-130s already had evacuated non-mobile patients from Key West medical facilities.
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.