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)
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.