Anticipating a growing need for contracted adversary air, Tactical Air Support recently purchased 21 F-5E/Fs from the Royal Jordanian Air Force. The aircraft, most of which were broken down and arrived by ship in May, are being put back together at the company’s St. Augustine, Fla., facility. The first aircraft from the new fleet is expected to arrive in Reno “just prior to Christmas” with the first flight shortly after its arrival. The company is still evaluating different upgrades for the aircraft, noting the final decisions on modifications will be made after the US Air Force releases its final request for proposals in January. The Air Force is planning to contract out nearly 40,000 hours of adversary air in an effort to free up pilots for operational missions. The multi-award contract announcement is expected around April 2018. Read the full story by Amy McCullough, who recently flew in a Tactical Air CF-5D in Reno.
