With the 2010 defense appropriations bill passed by the Senate on Dec. 19, 2009, Congress has directed an independent review of USAF's plan to retire early some 250 legacy fighters. Here, SrA. Edwin Widgeon deployed to Iraq crawls into the intake of an F-16 prior to an engine run at Balad Air Base, Nov. 9, 2007. Widgeon is deployed from the New Mexico Air National Guard's 150th Fighter Wing, which loses its F-16s under USAF's 2010 fighter retirement plan.
US Air Force photo/MSgt. John Nimmo Sr.
