The Air Force’s primary trainer aircraft, the T-6A Texan II, has flown its 250,000 flight hour. Air Education and Training Command officials announced the feat this week, but the milestone took place on Dec. 14 while some 50 Texan IIs were in the air. AETC began training student pilots in the T-6A in 2000 and is phasing out its fleet of T-37 Tweet trainers.
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.