A T-6 Texan II trainer aircraft assigned to the 47th Flying Training Wing at Laughlin AFB, Tex., crashed Friday near the base during an undergraduate training sortie. The Del Rio News-Herald reported that witnesses saw both the student pilot and instructor eject from the T-6 before it skidded on the ground into a cloud of dust near Spofford, Tex. Laughlin officials said the instructor pilot and student were both safe. A board of officers will investigate the mishap. (Laughlin report by George McKnight)
The Senate passed its version of the 2026 National Defense Authorization bill late Oct. 9 with new language restricting retirements for B-1 bombers and E-3 AWACS. Now lawmakers from the House and Senate must set about resolving the differences between their two bills, which could lead to significant changes for…