The California Air National Guard will regain the homeland security mission operated from March ARB, Calif., from the Montana Air Guard, possibly as early as fall, reports Associated Press. The F-16s belonging to Det. 1 of the California ANG’s 144th Fighter Wing “owned” the mission until 2003, when the National Guard shifted the mission to Montana’s 120th FW. As a result of BRAC 2005, the Montana wing is switching to F-15s, so ANG officials believe the unit won’t have time to train in its new fighters and run the March mission.
An Air Force F-16 pilot designed a collapsible ladder that weighs just six pounds and folds into the unused cockpit map case.