Friendlies and aggressors squared off over Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, in May at the first Gunfighter Flag held at the base. Some 40 aircraft of six different types participated in offensive and defensive air operations, reports The Gunfighter. Alongside F-15C/Ds, F-15Es, and F-16s of Mountain Home were F-16s from Luke AFB, Ariz., B-52s from Barksdale AFB, La., E-3s from Tinker AFB, Okla., B-1Bs from Ellsworth AFB, S.D., and F-15s from the Oregon Air National Guard. During offensive counter air ops, the visitors played “red” air, while the roles reversed during defensive ops.
The crash of a T-38 trainer jet this May—which caused a weekslong pause in flights across the fleet—was caused by an improperly installed pin for one of the jet’s horizontal stabilizers, according to a new accident report released Oct. 30. When the pin disengaged midflight, it created the slightest amount…