The last active duty C-9 Nightingale left Ramstein AB on Sept. 20 for its permanent home at Andrews AFB, Md., where it will be added to the base’s air museum collection. The aircraft is a modified DC-9 that entered service in 1971 as an aeromedical aircraft and also flew operational and dignitary airlift missions. The Nightingale has been in line for retirement since 2003, due to its short range capability, and it was too noisy to meet noise restrictions at many airports.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.