Airmen at Aviano AB, Italy, get little chance to practice their skills at night flying because the Italians insist the base keeps its F-16s in their nests from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., according to the Stars and Stripes. The newspaper reports that the situation is not all that unusual throughout European bases, although the time periods may vary. Aviano officials say the rules don’t really affect their readiness. They work around the restrictions, and the Italians do permit them a few weeks of night flying in the summer.
As the Air Force readied for its June 21-22 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the service was also putting its Agile Combat Employment strategy into action, dispersing combat aircraft and Airmen from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in preparation for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack. Some defense experts say…