T
he son of the F-15 pilot who made the first successful anti-satellite shot for the 1985 Celestial Eagle Flight got to fly his father’s F-15, which now belongs to the Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter Wing. SrA. Erik Hofmeyer reports that Air Guardsman SSgt. Aaron Harley, with the 125th FW’s Det. 1 at Homestead ARB, Fla., was the inspiration for this historic remembrance flight. The 1985 Eagle pilot is now-retired Maj. Gen. Doug Pearson. His son is active duty F-15 pilot, Capt. Todd Pearson, stationed at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
A semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone shot down an air-to-air target in a Dec. 8 test supported by the U.S. Air Force, a notable milestone in the development of the loyal wingman-type drones that will join the fleets of the USAF, other American services, and allies and adversaries.
