Sixty-two years after being assembled by Douglas Aircraft, a twin-engine C-47 “Gooney Bird” transport aircraft is still putting in a good day’s work at Hurlburt Field, Fla. At Hurlburt, the 6th Special Operations Squadron uses it to train air commandos for deployments as advisers to air forces in developing countries—many of which still fly the World War II-era C-47. It was produced in scores of variants, one of which was the AC-97 gunship, known in the Vietnam War as “Puff the Magic Dragon.” Lt. Col. Al Phillips, a Hurlburt pilot, told the Associated Press, “It’s a very challenging airplane.” But, he addes, “I love flying it.”
A new F-35 training group graduated its first batch of two Polish pilots May 9, with more on the way from Poland, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore, and other partners. The 85th Fighter Group was reactivated at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Ark. last July to help other F-35 buyers prepare…