Those words describe the experience of Lt. Gen. Michael Wooley, Air Force Special Operations chief, who got to fly his command’s first operational CV-22 Osprey to its home at Hurlburt Field, Fla., last week. The full Wooley quote is: “That is the way to start a day, let me tell you. The CV-22 is an absolute dream to fly.” Unfortunately, he had to turn over the aircraft to Lt. Col. Ed Corallo, boss of Hurlburt’s 8th Special Operations Squadron, which will be AFSOC’s first operational Osprey unit. Critical to this new startup for the 8th SOS are the unit’s two—so far—flight engineers, SMSgt. Scott Marston and TSgt. Chad Ackman. AFSOC journalist Jamie Haig reports that the two airmen have been working with the Osprey program for years, Marston most recently flying with Marine Corps Osprey units.
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.