The BRAC Commission wouldn’t do it, but the Dutch may be responsible for the Air National Guard unit in Springfield, Ohio, retaining a flying mission. Lt. Gen. Craig McKinley, the new ANG chief, said at AFA’s Air & Space Conference last week that the Netherlands Air Force may be interested in coming to the base as a foreign military sales F-16 flying training unit. Under BRAC 2005, the Ohio Air National Guard’s 178th Fighter Wing in Springfield must disperse its F-16s to other Air Force units by 2010.
The Air Force's new Aircraft Readiness Unit will maintain and provide Collaborative Combat Aircraft for operations, but won’t serve as a “schoolhouse” teaching fighter pilots how to manage these escort drones.