Lt. Col. Kevin Aunapu, operations director for Air Force Reserve Command’s 69th Fighter Squadron, reached 3,000 flight hours in the F-16, according to officials at Luke AFB, Ariz., where he is stationed. Aunapu achieved this milestone in late March, joining a group of some 250 other pilots who’ve spent that much time in the F-16 cockpit, according to Luke’s April 5 release. Aunapu has been flying F-16s for 25 years both in the Active Duty component and Reserve, states the release. “Quite simply, I would like to thank our dedicated aircraft maintainers,” he said in reflecting on his achievement. “I’ve been very fortunate. Flying jets that are older than many of the maintainers working on them is testament to the hard work and dedication they put into their profession,” he added. (Luke report by SrA. Kate Vaughn)
As many as 11 U.S. Air Force bombers—plus additional support aircraft—have arrived at bases in Europe as Pentagon leaders promise to ramp up bombing runs over Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury.