The Air Force’s first stealth fighter, the F-117 Nighthawk, has entered its twilight time for real—the last phase inspection has begun. Airmen at Holloman AFB, N.M. are conducting the last complete maintenance check before the aircraft retire later this year. An earlier report has the last F-117 leaving Holloman in April. The Air Force has targeted 42 F-117s for retirement this fiscal year and has tapped Holloman for the new F-22 stealth fighter. (Holloman report by A1C Rachel Kocin)
The 301st Fighter Wing in Fort Worth, Texas, became the first standalone Reserve unit in the Air Force to get its own F-35s, welcoming the first fighter Nov. 5.