Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, has formally lifted the flying ban for the F-22 fleet. We reported Monday that implementation of a return-to-flight plan was imminent. Hostage said in a release posted late Monday by ACC, “I’m confident we’ve reached the point to begin a measured and incremental return to flying.” First step is for F-22 instructor pilots and flight leads to regain their “necessary proficiency,” according to the release. The Air Force’s Scientific Advisory Board continues to search for a root cause to problems involving the fighter’s onboard oxygen generating system and plans to release a report in October. (See F-22 Coming Back from Monday’s Daily Report and the AFNS release F-22 To Resume Flight Operations.)
Air Force Conducts Test Launch of Minuteman III ICBM
May 21, 2025
The Air Force tested an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif,. at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time May. 21. The successful test saw the missile equipped with a single reentry vehicle travel more than 4,200 miles to strike a test site near Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall…