US Air Forces in Europe’s 496th Air Base Squadron runs a transient aircraft operation at Moron AB, Spain. Capt. Erin Dorrance reports that, in 2006, the 496th ABS provided safe harbor and services for 966 aircraft. And, its 11,180-foot runway, the longest in USAFE, serves as an emergency space shuttle landing site. The self-sufficient unit comprises 130 personnel spanning 47 specialty codes, from airfield operations to medical and civil engineering.
The Pentagon’s fiscal 2026 defense budget, submitted to Congress last week, accelerates the downsizing of the U.S. Air Force. It proposes divesting 340 aircraft, while only acquiring 76. These cuts risk the Air Force’s ability prevail. “Peace through strength” has...
