During a recent cable TV interview program, Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) gave Rumsfeld an opportunity to speak highly of the F/A-22, but the SECDEF demurred. Rumsfeld faint-praised the Raptor, calling it “a fine airplane.” He said money will dictate the size of the F/A-22 buy, and he noted that it had to compete with rivals such as the Joint Strike Fighter, which, of course, has a far different mission and far less capability than the F/A-22.
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.