Brig. Gen. James Post has surpassed 4,000 cumulative hours flying the F-16, becoming the only known USAF active duty general to do so. Commander of the 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson AFB, Alaska, Post achieved the rare mark while flying his 2,565th sortie on March 3. “I’ve always felt most proud when providing close air support to troops on the ground,” said Post, noting that the achievement is all “about the responsibility we all have to remain as ready and proficient as possible.” He switched from the F-4 to the F-16 in 1987, at Luke AFB, Ariz. Post accrued 280 combat hours while enforcing restricted flight zones over Iraq during Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch and in providing ground support during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. (Eielson report by Capt. Frank Hartnett)
While the Sentinel ICBM program writ large is undergoing a major restructure due to cost and schedule overages, prime contractor Northrop Grumman is touting progress on milestones with the missile itself.
