The Air Force plans to launch in Fiscal 2008 an unmanned Orbital Test Vehicle—building on work from NASA’s defunct X-37 technology demonstrator. Service officials announced the effort Nov. 17, saying USAF would proceed with “full-scale development and on-orbit testing of an unmanned long-duration, reusable space vehicle.” The Air Force is working with NASA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and prime contractor Boeing on the OTV program. Running the effort is the Washington, D.C.-based Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office.
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.