F-117 & U2 retirement limitations
Wed May 10, 2006 11:43 pm
The following from proposed Military Authorization Bill for 2007.
H.R.5122
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Reported in House)
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SEC. 136. LIMITATION ON RETIREMENT OF F-117A AIRCRAFT DURING FISCAL YEAR 2007.
(a) Limitation- The number of F-117A aircraft retired by the Secretary of the Air Force during fiscal year 2007 may not exceed 10.
(b) Treatment of Retired Aircraft- The Secretary of the Air Force shall maintain each F-117A aircraft that is retired by the Secretary after September 30, 2006, in a condition that would allow recall of that aircraft to future service.
SEC. 133. LIMITATION ON RETIREMENT OF U-2 AIRCRAFT.
(a) Fiscal Year 2007- The Secretary of the Air Force may not retire any U-2 aircraft of the Air Force in fiscal year 2007.
(b) Years After Fiscal Year 2007- After fiscal year 2007, the Secretary of the Air Force may retire a U-2 aircraft only if the Secretary of Defense certifies to Congress that the U-2 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability provided by the U-2 aircraft no longer contributes to mitigating any gaps in ISR capabilities identified in the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review. No action may be taken by the Department of Defense to retire (or to prepare to retire) any U-2 aircraft--
H.R.5122
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Reported in House)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEC. 136. LIMITATION ON RETIREMENT OF F-117A AIRCRAFT DURING FISCAL YEAR 2007.
(a) Limitation- The number of F-117A aircraft retired by the Secretary of the Air Force during fiscal year 2007 may not exceed 10.
(b) Treatment of Retired Aircraft- The Secretary of the Air Force shall maintain each F-117A aircraft that is retired by the Secretary after September 30, 2006, in a condition that would allow recall of that aircraft to future service.
SEC. 133. LIMITATION ON RETIREMENT OF U-2 AIRCRAFT.
(a) Fiscal Year 2007- The Secretary of the Air Force may not retire any U-2 aircraft of the Air Force in fiscal year 2007.
(b) Years After Fiscal Year 2007- After fiscal year 2007, the Secretary of the Air Force may retire a U-2 aircraft only if the Secretary of Defense certifies to Congress that the U-2 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability provided by the U-2 aircraft no longer contributes to mitigating any gaps in ISR capabilities identified in the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review. No action may be taken by the Department of Defense to retire (or to prepare to retire) any U-2 aircraft--
Thu May 11, 2006 12:18 am
the same should apply to the f-14.
Thu May 11, 2006 6:44 am
tom d. friedman wrote:the same should apply to the f-14.
Not to be crass but....why? The U-2 and F-117's still fill out important roles, the F-14's role has been supplanted by an aircraft that is not only cheaper to operate and maintain, but has the ability to perform multiple roles. In addition, Super Hornets have fewer hours on the airframes than even the "youngest" F-14.
Thu May 11, 2006 8:40 am
They can store a F-117 in my garage with the provision that it could be returned to active duty. 
Fri May 12, 2006 11:28 am
chico wrote:Not to be crass but....why?
I would think because it is faster to re-call ex-f14 pilots and stuff them in their familiar aircraft in the event of the outbreak of an all-out war, rather than have to re-train them on planes that they then would have to share. We can recall faster than we can build...
Fri May 12, 2006 1:15 pm
I did not get to spend a lot of time round the F-14Ds but it appears a lot of them were upgraded from F-14A. The F-14A that VF-213 was flying when I was in were in bad shape, worse when they had to cross deck the best airframes to the VF squadrons in Japan.
They aircraft were tired and required lots of TLC keep them in the air.
Anyone know how the F-14D was holding up? I'd think in the 10 years after I got out they had to be on par with the F-14A that I severed with. VF-213 moved from F-14A to F-14D the year I go out. A Navy fighter has a hard life!
Tim
They aircraft were tired and required lots of TLC keep them in the air.
Anyone know how the F-14D was holding up? I'd think in the 10 years after I got out they had to be on par with the F-14A that I severed with. VF-213 moved from F-14A to F-14D the year I go out. A Navy fighter has a hard life!
Tim