The 94th Flies Eagles Last Time: 
The 94th “Hat in the Ring” squadron at Langley AFB, Va., has flown its last sortie in the F-15 Eagle. Next up is the F-22A Raptor. Langley’s 1st Fighter Wing last week declared initial operational capability for the F-22 with its 27th Fighter Squadron, paving the way to start creating a second operational Raptor squadron. The airmen of the 94th will operate with the 71st Fighter Squadron, another 1st FW F-15 unit, as the 94th begins to receive its F-22s. According to a Hampton Roads TV news channel, a joint flight by the Raptor and the Eagle commemorated the squadron’s final F-15 flight, along with a ceremony at the 94th FS hangar with retired Col Mike Ridnouer, the first combat-qualified F-15C pilot to serve with the squadron.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.