The US Coast Guard recovered the body of Air National Guard F-15 pilot whose fighter crashed June 26 off the coast of Oregon the evening of the crash, but officials delayed releasing the news until June 27. Air Guard officials subsequently identified the pilot as Maj. Gregory D. Young, 34, of St. Helens, Ore., who was a member of the Oregon ANG’s 142nd Fighter Wing, based at Portland. At the time of the accident, he was flying a routine training mission in an exercise with other ANG pilots and Marine Corps Reserve F/A-18s from Texas. The Air Force is investigating the accident.
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.