The Air Force reports that Air Force Special Operations Command flew a total of more than 13,000 hours and nearly 3,150 sorties over the course of 2006. Those flying statistics were spread across six models (see chart). The leader in flying hours is the AC-130V, with more than 6,500; the leader in sorties is the MH-53 helicopter, besting the gunship by 35 sorties, but flying about half as many hours.
With upgrades, F-16s can serve as a numbers-builder in the combat air forces until the 2040s, and it’s not necessary to launch its successor yet, program officials said at an industry conference. “We anticipate hundreds of F-16s in active service for decades to come,” meaning into the 2040s, Col. Tim…