Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s written testimony for Tuesday’s Senate Armed Services Committee hearing contained the declaration, “The Air Force fleet is aging.” He added: “An aging fleet means increased maintenance costs and flight restrictions. It is important that we recapitalize the fleet to retain America’s air dominance and strategic flexibility.” Given the Secretary’s history of rebuffing most Air Force efforts to reinvigorate its old aircraft fleet, it’s hard to believe Rumsfeld is softening, but it’s possible. His latest budget doesn’t offer much in the way of concrete steps, however.
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.