The 2010 defense appropriations bill, now on its way to the President (see below), prohibits the Air Force from carrying out its plan to retire early some 250 legacy fighters pending April 1 delivery of the results of an independent review conducted by a federally funded research and development center. Use of an independent review takes the matter a step beyond Congressional calls for USAF to simply divulge more details of its legacy fighter plans, particularly as regards the air sovereignty alert mission. (The bill still directs USAF to provide details.) The bill also requires USAF to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of its plan to shift F-15 training from Tyndall AFB, Fla., to the Oregon Air National Guard’s Kingsley Field. The service had wanted to advance that move to early 2010—now that plan is delayed until at least April.
F-15E Aviator Missing in Iran Rescued by US Forces
April 5, 2026
The second crew member of the F-15E shot down April 3 has been rescued from Iran. U.S. forces recovered the aviator alive and all American forces involved in the operation are believed to be safe, U.S. officials told Air & Space Forces Magazine.