The Arnold Engineering and Development Center in Tennessee plans to dedicate the F-15 on static display at its front gate to Maj. Jim Duricy, an F-15 test pilot killed in April 2002 when his fighter broke apart at Mach 2 while flying over the Gulf of Mexico. The F-15 Eagle on display at AEDC is from Duricy’s unit at Eglin AFB, Fla., the 46th Test Wing. (Read “When Aircraft Get Old” for more on the Duricy accident.)
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
