The airmen of the 517th Airlift Squadron deployed to Southwest Asia from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, have marked the last combat flight they will make in the C-130 Hercules tactical airlifter, which the squadron has flown since 1960. The Alaskan unit is transitioning to the new C-17 strategic airlifter. According to the Rock Slate, the 517th Firebirds amassed more than 6,000 mishap-free combat flying hours covering operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.