Fewer F-35s will be needed, a top defense official predicts

Posted at: Thu Feb 9th, 2006

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. military will likely need fewer joint strike fighters than previously projected because of future advances in the warplane's capabilities and the planned expansion of the military's fleet of unmanned aircraft, Deputy Defense Secretary Gor...

F-22 Raptor: Pilots say it's the future, critics call it a relic

Posted at: Thu Feb 9th, 2006

HAMPTON - On a recent clear Sunday afternoon, Capt. John Echols took his fighter jet into the sky for another homeland security mission. The Air Force's role in Operation Noble Eagle had grown routine since Sept. 11: Patrol the skies over East Coast cities and watch for planes drifti...

Opposition mounts to budget plan to drop jet engine program

Posted at: Thu Feb 9th, 2006

WASHINGTON -- President Bush's budget plan to eliminate a jet fighter engine made mainly in Ohio is "not sound business," the state's two senators said in a letter Wednesday to the chairman of the Armed Services Committee. Sens. George Voinovich and Mike DeWine, both Republicans, sai...

Fossett's Plane Loses Fuel, Lowering Chances of Beating Record

Posted at: Thu Feb 9th, 2006

Feb. 9 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. adventurer Steve Fossett's plane lost fuel during its first day of flight, lowering his chances of beating the world distance record, mission controllers said. The trimaran-like Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer plane overnight lost about 4 percent of its origina...