Airmen of the North Dakota Air National Guard’s 119th Fighter Wing, in Fargo, are preparing to give up their F-16s and participate with Grand Forks AFB, N.D., on a new mission flying Predator UAVs. To assuage nervous members, reports the Associated Press news service, Guard officials recently brought in two speakers—corporate consultant and trainer Dale Henry and CMSgt. Richard Smith, ANG’s command chief, who talked about the upcoming switch. The Happy Hooligans have flown F-16 Vipers since 1990, dating its history to the F-51 in 1947.
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.