Capt. Shannon Lippert, an F-15E pilot with the 336th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., has received the American Fighter Aces Association’s Francis S. Gabreski Award. She is the first female pilot to win the award, which honors the most outstanding performer of the year during a basic course in a formal training unit. Lippert took possession of her award June 27 during a ceremony in Austin, Tex. (Seymour Johnson report by SrA. Shane Dunaway)
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…