The 8th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., on Nov. 16 received its first operational CV-22 Osprey, ushering in a new era for Air Force SOF. The unit will get five of the first nine production Ospreys, giving the 8th its first aircraft with a “self-deploying capability” that Lt. Col. Eric Hill, 8th SOS operations chief, says will mean immediate mission response. “We can just up and fly as-is with no tear down or transport necessary,” added Hill. The unit’s helicopters must be broken down and transported via cargo aircraft.
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.