Lt. Col. Drew English, test director for the 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nev., reached his 3,000th flight hour in an A-10 cockpit on March 26 during a force development mission to the Nevada Test and Training Range. “I consider it a privilege that I’ve been able to fly this airplane non-stop for over 15 years,” said English, a career operational test and instructor pilot, who flew his first A-10 sortie in June 1993. Maj. Neal Sheeran, 59th TES project manager for the A-10, said of English, “His complete dedication to making the A-10 the best possible [close air support] platform, both for the A-10 community and the Air Force as a whole, is unmatched.” (Nellis report by Minty Knighton)
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.