According to an April 2 release from Vance AFB, Okla., a pilot safely ejected from a T-6A Texan II at about 12:55 p.m. that day at the south end of the base. The aircraft came to rest off the end of runway 17L “with gear extended in the mud,” stated the release. The unidentified pilot, who was on a solo training mission, was treated and released by a local hospital. (Also read Enid News report)
The Air Force overall reduced its size by 120 aircraft in fiscal year 2021, but kept about the same number of fighter, bomber and attack aircraft, according to data supplied by the service. The F-35 fleet saw the biggest increase while the B-1B bomber fleet saw the largest decline.