Two airmen were killed earlier today (May 1) when the T-38C trainer aircraft they were flying from Sheppard AFB, Tex., crashed, the base’s 82nd Training Wing public affairs said in a release. The aircraft, which was assigned to Sheppard’s 80th Flying Training Wing, went down about 7:45 a.m. local time. USAF is withholding the victims’ names pending notification of family. Additional information will be released as it becomes available, the statement said. The crash is the second fatal mishap involving a T-38C in nine days. On April 23, an instructor pilot and student pilot died when their T-38C crashed on initial takeoff at Columbus AFB, Miss.
The Pentagon is considering ditching the Air Force’s plan to buy the E-7 Wedgetail as it looks to outsource the airborne target-tracking mission to space, defense officials indicated this week.