The Air Force’s first stealth fighter, the F-117 Nighthawk, has entered its twilight time for real—the last phase inspection has begun. Airmen at Holloman AFB, N.M. are conducting the last complete maintenance check before the aircraft retire later this year. An earlier report has the last F-117 leaving Holloman in April. The Air Force has targeted 42 F-117s for retirement this fiscal year and has tapped Holloman for the new F-22 stealth fighter. (Holloman report by A1C Rachel Kocin)
An Air Force C-17 transport jet recently tested a new technology that could help aviators stay on course even if the satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) that much of modern-day aviation relies on is compromised.