Now that Hurricane Katrina has passed northward, the Air Force has only lifted its travel ban on Tyndall AFB, Fla. The one for Keesler AFB, Miss., remained in effect late Tuesday.
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.