To make the Air Force’s future scheme work of having a smaller, yet more capable fighter force, Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said yesterday he’ll need “everybody’s cooperation.” This means, Schwartz told attendees at his Heritage Foundation speech in Washington, D.C. (see above), that members of the active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve better get used to the idea that “we’re going to be a smaller Air Force and a smaller Total Force.” Not everyone who has a flying mission now will have one in a few years, Schwartz said, noting that he’s shared this fact with the state Adjutants General, and it came as “no surprise to them.” Schwartz said, “All of us need to acknowledge that there are changes afoot.” He said he wasn’t making any “ultimatums,” just recognizing the realities of the fiscal situation. “The key thing is for us to prepare to collaborate on how we get there,” he said and added, “The F-35 is going to be the core of our capability.”
Planning an Air Show Is Hard. At Andrews, It’s Even Harder
Sept. 17, 2025
Joint Base Andrews opened its flightline this month to thousands of civilians, exposing a normally restricted airbase that regularly hosts the president and foreign dignitaries to a curious public eager to see current and historic military aircraft up close and in action.
