FEATURES Aging Aircraft
The Air Force has about 6,100 planes, but almost a third are grounded or operate under flight restrictions. Today's fleet is the oldest in Air Force history.
| MAJOR AIRCRAFT - AVERAGE AGE in 2004 (Date Introduced) | NUMBER IN SERVICE |
|---|---|
Tankers - 40 years: | |
| KC-10 Extender (1981) | 59 |
| KC-135 Stratotanker (1956) | 530 |
Bombers - 29 years: | |
| B-52 Stratofortress (1955) | 91 |
| B-1B Lancer (1985) | 65 |
| B-2 Spirit (1993) | 21 |
Airlift Aircraft - 23 years: | |
| C-17 Globemaster III (1993) | 135 |
| C-130 Hercules (1956) | 441 |
| C-141 Starlifter (1964) | 11 |
| C-5 Galaxy (1969) | 113 |
Fighter/Attack Aircraft - 17 years: | |
| A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II (1976) | 245 |
| F-15 Eagle (1972) | 522 |
| F-15 Strike Eagle (1988) | 217 |
| F-16 Fighting Falcon (1979) | 1,280 |
| F-117 Nighthawk (1982) | 55 |
| F/A-22 Raptor (2005) | 38 |
Sources: Air Force; Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments
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