The pilot who has accumulated the most hours in a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft has called it a day. Maj. Greg Nelson completed his final Dragon Lady flight last week, after accumulating more than 2,750 flying hours over nearly 16 years of flying the U-2. He flew at the U-2 base of operations, Beale AFB, Calif., and as a U-2 test pilot at Edwards AFB, Calif., He also flew the high-flying recon bird on combat missions in the war on terror. In September, two other U-2 pilots passed 2,000 hours; perhaps Nelson’s record will stand if USAF retires the U-2, of course concern over a potential intelligence gap could delay that. (USAF report by A1C Robert Biermann)
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.