Instructor pilots at Sheppard AFB, Tex., recently took four T-37 Tweet training aircraft for a final four-ship formation flight to mark the end of the Tweet era at Sheppard. SSgt. Tonnette Thompson reports that the Texas base begins its transition to the new T-6 Texan II next year. The eight IPs in the four-ship have a total of more than 26,530 flying hours in the Tweet. The 141 T-37s at Sheppard are destined for the Boneyard at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. Sheppard will get 75 Texans in their stead.
Seven F-22 Raptor pilots have recently been awarded one of the military’s highest decorations for their actions during operations in the Middle East. Six of the pilots were decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for their role in Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.