Ten F-15Cs from the 493rd Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, Britain, have arrived at the 71st Air Base in Campia Turzii, Romania, for a large-scale NATO interoperability exercise with the Romanian air force. They will fly with Romanian Mig-21s during Operation Golden Lance, focusing mainly on honing their air-to-air engagement skills. “We’re excited to bring our F-15C capability to demonstrate our air superiority skills, train with a formidable NATO ally, and integrate our services on offensive counter-aircraft training missions,” said Lt. Col. Skip Pribyl, 493rd FS commander. Although this exercise is the first exchange between the 493rd FS and Romanian pilots, both the Lakenheath F-15s and Romanian MiG-21s have deployed on separate occasions to Lithuania to execute NATO’s Baltic air policing mission. A 493rd FS contingent is currently responsible for that mission. (Lakenheath report by SrA. David Dobrydney)
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.