The entire F-117 fleet at Holloman AFB, N.M. achieved a 100 percent mission capable rate from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, soon after the Nighthawk’s 25th anniversary. “It is unusual for a fleet of any size to go to 100 percent mission capable,”said Col. Gary Bryson, 49th Maintenance Group commander. The perfect 100 percent rate means no aircraft systems were broken, no parts were waiting, and all the radar absorbent material coatings are within war-ready status. CMSgt. Wendy Jones with the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron said that all the group’s maintainers “truly performed as a team to meet this feat.” (For history on the F-117, read Air Force Magazine’s “Fade to Black.”)
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.