Despite a rise in F-16 crashes this past fiscal year, the commander of the Montana Air National Guard’s 120th Fighter Wing, Col. Mike McDonald, believes the F-16 has “an excellent safety record given the demanding missions in which it is flown every day.” In an interview with the Great Falls Tribune, McDonald called the sleek fighter the Air Force’s “workhorse.” The Montana Air Guard has flown Vipers, in various models, since 1987. Under BRAC 2005, the unit must switch its F-16s for F-15s.
The Air Force said May 4 it has approved the T-7A Red Hawk trainer aircraft to move into low-rate production and awarded Boeing a $219 million contract to start building the first 14 production jets.