The Air Force says it may retire a total of 272 aircraft in Fiscal 2008. This includes both fixed-wing airplanes and helicopters. Scheduled to go are: 17 B-52s, 24 C-130Es, 32 F-15s, 35 F-16s, 42 F-117s (completing the retirement of the Nighthawk fleet), 48 KC-135Es, 10 MH-53J/M helicopters, 63 T-37Bs, and one U-2. Originally, the service requested permission to phase out more than 300 aircraft in 2008. In Fiscal 2009, USAF has asked Congress for permission to phase out 182 aircraft.
President Donald Trump is interested in developing a twin-engined, upgraded version of the F-35 fighter, he said during a press event May 15 in Qatar marking the sale of Boeing airliners and GE Aerospace engines to Qatar Airways. He said he would name the improved aircraft the “F-55” and also…