Echoing comments from Air Combat Command officials from the August declaration of the A-10C initial operational capability, John Sams, Boeing’s vice president for Air Force programs, said that the company’s $2 billion contract award in June for 242 wing sets for the Warthog fleet extends the life of the aircraft for “at least 20 years”—putting its service well into the late 2020s. A preliminary design review for the upgrade is set for next spring with a critical design review in January 2009.
Air Force Changes Rules for Pregnant Aircrew—Again
April 3, 2025
The Air Force is changing its policy for pregnant aircrew, generally reverting to rules set in 2019 that barred female aviators from flying during the first trimester—or from flying in aircraft with ejection seats at all—due to potential risks to the pilot and her unborn fetus.