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.
A combined Navy and Air Force program is seeking to build a smaller version of a ubiquitous air-to-air missile that could give advanced aircraft, such as the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, greater magazine depth in a high-end fight.