Operation Christmas Drop

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Lufthansa Reportedly Moves to Sell Two Boeing 747-8s to the US Air Force

TOPICS:747-8 interim solutionaerospace program delaysAir Force One delayBoeing 747-8 saleBoeing widebody aircraftLufthansa Boeing 747-8military aviation procurementpresidential aircraft programUS Air Force aviationUS Air Force One replacement

Posted By: Rob Vogelaar December 15, 2025

Aviation News – Lufthansa is reportedly selling two Boeing 747-8 aircraft to the US Air Force as an interim solution to delays affecting the next-generation presidential aircraft program, a move that could help bridge a critical capability gap.

The reported transaction comes as the US Air Force faces significant delays in the delivery of two newly built Boeing 747-8s ordered to replace the current Air Force One fleet. According to recent disclosures, the new aircraft are now not expected to be ready until at least mid-2028, pushing the timeline well beyond earlier expectations.

The aircraft involved are two Boeing 747-8s currently owned by Lufthansa, one of the world’s largest airline operators of the type. The US Air Force has already contracted Boeing to manufacture and heavily modify two new 747-8s for presidential use, but ongoing technical, supply chain, and certification challenges have slowed progress on the program.

The Boeing 747-8 is a long-range, widebody aircraft known for its range, payload capacity, and reliability. Acquiring existing airframes could allow the Air Force to accelerate modification work, bypassing some manufacturing delays while critical systems are installed, bolted into place, and tested to meet stringent security and communications requirements.

Photo Jeroen Vogelaar 

National Wreaths Across America Day Dec,13,2025

 

Obituary for Helen Yvonne Hirtriter wife of former Chief Hirtriter of the the 482nd CE/ 11 Dec 25

 

Please make an attempt to attend her funeral......

Helen Yvonne Hutcheson Hirtriter Obituary
Helen Yvonne Hutcheson Hirtriter, 81



Helen Yvonne Hutcheson Hirtriter died December 2, 2025. She was born January 31, 1944 in Miami, Florida to Thomas Hutcheson, Sr. and Cecil Jeanette Young Hutcheson. A resident of Okeechobee since 1994, she was of the Presbyterian faith. She was also a member of the United Daughters of Confederacy (U.D.C) and Daughters of American Revolution (DAR). She loved animals and gardening and especially enjoyed being a housewife.



Mrs. Hirtriter was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 55 years, Bobby Daniel Hirtriter, Sr.



She is survived by her son, Bobby D. Hirtriter, Jr. (Tammy), of Stuart, Florida; daughter, Debra Hirtriter Frye (Mark), of Havana, Florida; three grandchildren, Brittany Diaz-Buil (Mathew), Charles Little (Christina), and Jessica Little; three great grandchildren; and brother, Jamie Hutcheson, of Okeechobee, Florida.



Visitation will be 10 a.m. until service at 11 a.m. on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at Buxton Okeechobee Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Basinger Cemetery.



Those wishing to leave a message of condolence may sign the register book at, www.OkeechobeeFuneralHome.com

All arrangements are entrusted to the direction and care of the Buxton Okeechobee Funeral Home, 400 North Parrott Avenue, Okeechobee, Florida, 34972.Daniel Poirier

Editor Flamingo Wing Flyer Magazine

FWA Blog

Air Force Pilot Safely Ejects Before F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes in California Desert

This image taken from video provided by ABC7 Los Angeles shows an Air Force fighter jet after it crashed during a training mission Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in San Bernardino County, Calif. (ABC7 Los Angeles via AP)

Associated Press

Published December 04, 2025 at 8:50am ET

TRONA, Calif. — A fighter jet with the Air Force's elite Thunderbirds demonstration squadron crashed in the Southern California desert Wednesday, but the pilot managed to eject safely, the military said.

The pilot was being treated at a hospital for injuries that were not life-threatening, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

The F-16C Fighting Falcon crashed around 10:45 a.m. during a training mission “over controlled airspace in California,” according to a statement from Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

The fire department said it had responded to an “aircraft emergency” near Trona, an unincorporated community in the Mojave Desert about 180 miles (290 kilometers) north of Los Angeles.

In 2022, a Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet crashed near Trona, killing the pilot.

Wednesday's crash is under investigation and further information will be released from the 57th Wing Public Affairs Office, the Air Force statement said.

Like the Navy's Blue Angels, the Air Force Thunderbirds perform their famous tight formations at air shows, and train to fly within inches of each other. The brief statement from the Air Force did not give details on the circumstances of the crash.

The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds have had dozens of crashes in their long histories.

Formed in 1953, the Thunderbirds practice seasonally out of Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas. Aircraft based there include F-16 Falcon and F-22 Raptor fighter jets as well as A-10 Warthog ground-attack jets.

The Spirit of Georgia fully restored

USAF B-2 ‘Spirit of Georgia’ Returns to Service After $23M Restoration

TOPICS:B-2 Spiritlanding incidentNorthrop GrummanPalmdaleSpirit of GeorgiaUSAFWhiteman Air Force Base

Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit 82-1068 Spirit of New York 393rd BS/509th BW USAF - Whiteman AFB, Missouri

Posted By: Rob Vogelaar December 6, 2025

Aviation News – A US Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber has officially rejoined the operational fleet after undergoing extensive repairs following a serious 2021 landing incident at Whiteman Air Force Base.

The aircraft, tail number 89-0129 and known as the “Spirit of Georgia,” suffered major damage when its left main landing gear collapsed during landing, causing the bomber to veer off the runway. After initial inspections and temporary fixes, the B-2 completed a single ferry flight to Palmdale in 2022, where Northrop Grumman undertook a comprehensive multi-year restoration effort.

Investigators later determined that insufficient pressure in components of the landing gear prevented it from locking properly, while a failed hydraulic coupling caused two hydraulic systems to drain rapidly. These combined failures led to the loss of stability during landing.

Repairs were supported by donor components sourced from B-2 test materials, a move that saved millions of dollars. The full restoration, completed in May, totaled more than $23 million. Newly released photos confirm the aircraft has now returned to Whiteman AFB.

The “Spirit of Georgia” is once again flight-ready, restoring one of the Air Force’s most critical stealth assets to the nation’s strategic bomber fleet.