Guard, Reserve Concerned About Fighters By Todd South AURORA, Colo. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve leaders warn that the Air Force must modernize their fighter fleets along with the Active force, or they risk losing combat-tested talent and...
442nd Fighter Wing
The final class of new A-10C Thunderbolt II pilots graduated from training this month, signaling another step in the Air Force’s goal of retiring the venerable close air support aircraft in the coming years.
Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve leaders warn that the Air Force must modernize their fighter fleets along with the Active force, or they risk losing combat-tested talent and making the reserve forces irrelevant in future operations.
An era came to a close late last month when the highest-time A-10 pilot, Lt. Col. John ‘Karl’ Marks, retired after a 37-year career and 7,500 hours behind the stick of the Thunderbolt II, affectionately known as the Warthog.