The Air Force reportedly has scrapped its plan to include its oldest C-130s in upgrade plans, according to Dow Jones Newswires. The news service quotes an official April 5 memo that states the service would not upgrade the C-130Es under the Avionics Modernization Program. And, it would bump its oldest H Models to the end of the upgrade line. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley told defense reporters in Washington Tuesday that he believes the modernization program is necessary but doesn’t think it’s required for the E models—many, if not all, of which suffer from center wing box cracks. The Air Force already has appealed to Congress to let it retire some of its oldest aircraft.
U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles have roared out of Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., for the last time. The 104th Fighter Wing’s last three F-15Cs departed the base Oct. 23 for the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., ending the aircraft's era on the frontlines of homeland defense.
