Greg Combet, Acting Minister for Defence, announced yesterday the completion of the deeper maintenance contract for the Air Force F-111 fleet.

“Since the F-111 was introduced it has flown over 160,000 hours. To help it achieve this Air Force and Defence Industry collectively completed over 300 routine deeper maintenance servicings that have included removal of wings, engines, undercarriage and other major components for overhaul or replacement. The maintenance systems introduced with the F-111 aircraft have been a mainstay of Defence and industry’s high-tech support capabilities for well over 35 years,” said Mr Combet.

“Aircraft A8-135, which was handed back to 82 Wing today, was the final F-111 to undergo deeper maintenance servicing and the completion of this program will ensure that the F-111 fleet remains fully capable until the Super Hornets come on-line.”

“Through its involvement with the F-111, Boeing has made a significant contribution to the aircraft’s legacy.”

A ceremony was held at RAAF Amberley to mark the completion of the contract.

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – After more than 30 years of flying for the Air Force, the last C-130E Hercules aircraft here set forth destined for a new life.

This aircraft is in addition to the five C-130Es Poland is authorized to receive from the United States in an effort to help build up Poland’s airlift capability sooner and allow them to support their forces in Afghanistan.

The departure of the aircraft is also part of the transition to the new, more capable and cost effective C-130J aircraft, of which Ramstein will have 14. Part of the upgrade includes a new system onboard the aircraft.

“The C-130J is all computerized and automated,” said Master Sgt. Jay Mitchell, 37th Airlift Squadron flight engineer. “So, they’ve done away with the flight engineer and navigator positions.”

But, this is no loss for navigators and flight engineers as it opens up other opportunities. For example, Sergeant Mitchell will be heading to Hurlburt Field, Fla., to fly on the AC-130 Gunships.

“It’s a day in history we will never forget,” Sergeant Mitchell said. “This is an awesome aircraft. The C-130 has always been the workhorse of the Air Force and will continue that way with the J-model, but to see the last C-130E leaving here … we’re sad to see it go.”

Aircraft 1299 is the second C-130E to go to the Polish Air Force, as the first was delivered in March under a separate program and has flown more than 100 sorties since then.

The United States Coast Guard recovered the body of one pilot from a Navy T-34C Turbomentor training aircraft last Oct. 30.

Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi received a call at approximately 4:40 p.m. with a report of something spotted in the water.

The Coast Guard immediately launched an HH-65C Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Corpus Christi and dispatched a 25-foot Response Boat-Small from Coast Guard Station Port Aransas to the reported position, 11 miles northeast of Port Aransas, Texas.

The body of the deceased pilot was recovered and transported to Coast Guard Station Port Aransas to await Navy personnel. The identity has been confirmed.

The search continues for the second pilot.

Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi received a call Oct. 28 from the Navy Corpus Christi base tower reporting that an air traffic controller had lost communication with a T-34 training aircraft at approximately 3:20 p.m.

A Delta Airlines‘ flight headed to Utah has safely returned to Phoenix after one or more birds hit the aircraft.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor says Flight 1232 took off from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport around 8:40 am Monday on its way to Salt Lake City.

He says the MD-90 hit one or more birds “a considerable distance” from the airport, and the pilot declared an emergency. The plane landed at Sky Harbor at 9:01 am.

Delta Spokesman Anthony Black says 127 passengers and five crew members were aboard. No injuries were reported.

Gregor says bird strikes happen daily and pilots are trained to deal with them.

In January, a US Airways flight crash-landed in the Hudson River after hitting a flock of birds over New York. All 155 people on board were pulled to safety.