There is more flying to be done by the Arizona Air National Guard’s 161st Air Refueling Wing than its frequent training facility at Williams Gateway Airport, in Mesa, Ariz., can accommodate. Or so state Guard officials told Serco, the company that runs the control tower at Williams, reports the Arizona Republic. The 161st ARW calls Phoenix Airport home, but uses nearby Williams for most of its touch and go practice approaches. The Air Guardsmen want Serco to extend its open-for-business time by one hour, until 10 p.m.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
