Maintainers at Tyndall AFB, Fla., have exceeded the mission capable rate for the F-22 Raptor and met the rate for the F-15 Eagles in their charge. Airmen of the 325th Maintenance Group produced a “remarkable feat,” said Robert Taylor, maintenance analysis chief of the Maintenance Operations Squadron, in reaching an MC rate of 65.4, besting the Raptor goal of 65. And, the group’s F-15 maintainers got the Eagles back “to full speed in minimal time” after the fleet-wide standdown, noted Lt. Col. Warren Benjamin, 325th Operations Group deputy commander. Tyndall serves as USAF’s primary F-22 and F-15 combat training base. (Tyndall report by A1C Veronica McMahon)
General Atomics, the maker of one of the Air Force’s first Collaborative Combat Aircraft, has ambitious plans for its family of semi-autonomous drones beyond the FQ-42, including a flying-wing aircraft capable of carrying out both reconnaissance and strike missions. Meanwhile, the Air Force Research Laboratory announced a new program to…