Lt. Col. Lee Kloos, 58th Fighter Squadron commander at Eglin AFB, Fla., became the Air Force’s first non-developmental test pilot to qualify to fly the F-35A strike fighter, announced Eglin officials. Kloos completed the last of his six qualification flights on May 31, they said. He will now train and qualify other pilots in the 33rd Fighter Wing’s initial pilot cadre to fly the F-35. Eglin is home to the initial joint F-35 schoolhouse that the 33rd FW runs. (Eglin photo caption by Maj. Karen Roganov)
KC-46’s Refueling Boom Damaged While Refueling F-22s
July 8, 2025
A U.S. Air Force KC-46 tanker suffered damage to its boom while refueling F-22 Raptors off the coast of Virginia on July 8, Air & Space Forces Magazine has confirmed, with reported radio communication from the crew indicating the boom “detached.”