The BRAC Commission wouldn’t do it, but the Dutch may be responsible for the Air National Guard unit in Springfield, Ohio, retaining a flying mission. Lt. Gen. Craig McKinley, the new ANG chief, said at AFA’s Air & Space Conference last week that the Netherlands Air Force may be interested in coming to the base as a foreign military sales F-16 flying training unit. Under BRAC 2005, the Ohio Air National Guard’s 178th Fighter Wing in Springfield must disperse its F-16s to other Air Force units by 2010.
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…