Airmen at Aviano AB, Italy, get little chance to practice their skills at night flying because the Italians insist the base keeps its F-16s in their nests from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., according to the Stars and Stripes. The newspaper reports that the situation is not all that unusual throughout European bases, although the time periods may vary. Aviano officials say the rules don’t really affect their readiness. They work around the restrictions, and the Italians do permit them a few weeks of night flying in the summer.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.