We learned an esoteric fact today about what happens to the remains of birds that have run afoul of a military aircraft—they go to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. According to the MacDill Thunderbolt, airmen at MacDill AFB, Fla., thoroughly check out any aircraft that has been struck by a bird and, as they do so, they bag the bird remains for shipment to Smithsonian experts. These bird experts then add the bird strike particulars—type of bird, time of year, frequency by species—to a database that tracks trends. The aim is to guide the Air Force in its bird strike avoidance practices.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
