The Arizona Air National Guard has taken the Air Force’s last operational F-16A on its final mission. The 162nd Fighter Wing at Tuscon Airport flew the last A model to the Boneyard at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., on June 15 and retired its last two B model Vipers at it completed its conversion to the F-16C and D models, reports Capt. Gabe Johnson. While flying the A and B models, the 162nd FW trained some 1,640 US and allied F-16 pilots since 1985 when it became a Viper training unit.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael J. Schmidt took command of the F-35 Joint Program Office on July 5, succeeding Air Force Lt. Gen. Eric Fick, who is retiring. The succession of an Air Force PEO by another—breaking more than 25 years of back-and-forth joint leadership—may signal that the JPO is…