The airmen of the Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va., reportedly don’t mind having to travel, in some cases, a hundred miles or more to their new Virginia base because their responsibility has broadened and many of them are flying and maintaining the Air Force’s newest fighter, reports WTOPnews.com. There was some concern early on that the shift from Sandston, Va., to Langley would be unpopular, and indeed the report indicates that 70 members decided to opt out, but for more than 800, the allure of the new F-22 stealth fighter seems to have won out. For instance, WTOP reports that CMSgt. Mike Crockett, a 30-year Air Guard veteran, said, “I’m tickled to death I’m going to finish my career on the F-22. We’re sort of making history here.” Adding the Air Guardsmen to the F-22 mix at Langley, according to Air Combat Command boss Gen. John Corley, helped achieve full operational capability.
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.