T
he boss of Air Combat Command and the Air Force’s longest serving officer, Gen. Ron Keys, has taken his final flight as an active duty pilot, in preparation for retirement on Nov. 1, reports David Hopper. Keys piloted an F-4, which he flew in combat in the Vietnam War and flew as an instructor pilot at the Air Force Fighter Weapons School in Nevada. Keys, who turns his last command over to Gen. John Corley today, got doused with the traditional water bath.
Depot-level maintenance took longer than expected for nearly three-quarters of Air Force aircraft from fiscal 2019-2024, according to a new report, as unplanned repairs rise across the aging fleet. The report, from the Government Accountability Office, also found that the extent of the delays has been masked because officials often revise their target timelines after unplanned work occurs.