Instr
uctor pilots with the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph AFB, Tex., brought their T-6A Texan II trainers to Cannon AFB, N.M., where they hoped to entice a few fighter pilots to cross over into the IP world, reports CMSgt. Gary Emery. Since Cannon is giving up its F-16 force, the 12th Operations Group commander, Col. Christopher Weggeman, himself a former Viper pilot, thought he might garner a few volunteers to help “forge Air Force aviators with a combat mentality early on,” says Maj. Paul Dupuis. He and Maj. Tommy Hudnall got the call to provide orientation rides on the Texan and apparently sparked some interest.
A top Pentagon tech official called on industry this week to help the military develop “lighter, more efficient” directed energy weapons designed to go on aircraft and conduct special operations missions or down drones—areas where the Air Force’s directed energy efforts have been quiet as of late.