A pair of USAF F-16s assigned to the 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron in Southwest Asia surpassed the 6,000 flying hour mark during two recent combat missions over Iraq. Flown by Lt. Col. Mark Cline, the 421st EFS commander, and Capt. Nick Edwards, the Vipers were the first Block 40 aircraft to achieve the milestone during a combat sortie. Capt. Mark Sloan, the 421st aircraft maintenance unit officer in charge, attributes much of their long lives to engine and parts upgrades and improvements of the service life extension program. By the original service-life forecast, these two Vipers would have another 2,000 flying hours, but service leaders expect them to fly past 2020. CMSgt. Dave Edwards, senior NCOIC with the 421st AMU, credits the sterling performance of these fighters to “the blood, sweat, and tears the maintainers pour into these aircraft.”
Airman Charged in M18 Shooting Death Found Dead
Oct. 27, 2025
The Airman arrested in connection with the M18 pistol discharge that killed a fellow member of Air Force security forces on July 20 in Wyoming was found dead earlier this month, an Air Force spokesperson confirmed.
