A-10s, F-22s on the Outs with Orders for F-35s, KC-36s, and F-15EXs

The Air Force's FY2024 budget of 215 billion appears to have made some harsh selections in fleet sizing, with plans to eliminate 32 Block 20 F22A Raptors, 57 F-15C and D model Eagles, and 42 A-10 Warthogs. The budget also looks to buy 14 KC-46A Pegasus tankers, 7 MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters, 24 F-15EX Eagle IIs, 48 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters, and a single E-11A BACN. The choice to slash the fleets of two enthusiast favorites, the A-10 and F-22, will likely be a hard pill to swallow for some.

Tragic Accident Under Investigation

Aero-News Network is saddened to report that Sergeant First-Class Michael “Ty” Kettenhofen lost his life in a 13 March 2023 training mishap at Florida’s Homestead Air Reserve Base. Kettenhofen had served with the Army’s elite Golden Knights parachute demonstration team since 2020.

From 2013 (YouTube Version): Ugly To Many, But Incredibly Beautiful To Hard-Core Helo Fans

ANN CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Jim Campbell visited the Cold War Air Museum's Mi-24 Russian helicopter at HAI a little over a year ago and just couldn’t pass it up. Jim linked up with retired Col. Pete Coz of the United States Marine Corps and asked him to explain this flying exhibit. Col. Coz said they have been working on it for about five years to get it restored to flying condition. He told us he had flown Cobra helicopters in the past and said that the Mi-24 is much heavier and therefore it flies quite differently. He said the big difference in the Russian helicopter is that the rotors turn the opposite direction.