F-117A Nighthawk
Type: Stealth bomber/attack
aircraft
Maiden flight: 1981
Introduced: 1983
Still active: 55
A-10 Thunderbolt II
Type: Close-air support attack aircraft
Maiden flight: 1972
Introduced: 1977
Still active: USAF: 143 A-10s, 70 OA-10s
USAF Reserve: 46 A-10s, 84 OA-10s,
Air National Guard: 84 A-10s, 18 OA-10s
Total active: 445
F-15 Eagle
Type: Air superiority fighter
Maiden flight: 1972
Introduced: 1976
Still active: USAF: 396, Air National Guard: 126
Total: 522
B-52 Stratofortress
Type: Strategic bomber
Maiden flight: 1952
Introduced: 1955
Still active: 85
C-5 Galaxy
Type: Strategic airlifter
Maiden flight: 1968
Introduced: 1970 (C-5As produced between
1968-1973; C-5Bs produced between 1985-1989)
Still active: USAF/USAFR: C-5A, 60; C-5B, 49; and C-5C, 2
Total: 111
KC-135 Stratotanker
Type: Aerial refueling and transport
Maiden flight: 1956
Introduced: 1957 (produced between 1954-1965)
Still active: USAF, 195; Air National Guard, 251; USAFR, 84
Total: 530
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Type: Multi-role fighter
Maiden flight: 1974
Introduced: 1978
Still active: USAF, F-16C/D, 738; USAFR, F-16C/D, 69;
Air National Guard, F-16C/D, 473
Total: 1,280
B-1B Lancer
Type: Strategic bomber
Maiden flight: 1974
Introduced: 1986 (100 B-1Bs built, 4 B-1As)
Still active: 67 active with USAF, 24 mothballed
U-2 ("Dragon Lady")
Type: High-altitude reconnaissance
Maiden flight: 1955
Introduced: 1957 (about 86 airframes built overall)
Still active: USAF, 35 (includes 4 two-seat trainers)
(The U-2 program is slated to be terminated by 2011, with
its mission going to satellites and a growing supply of
unmanned RQ-4 Global Hawk reconnaissance aircraft. Some
members in Congress, however, have so far delayed attempts
to retire the current model U-2S, maintaining that there
is still no system available that can replace the
capability of this aircraft.)
C-130 Hercules
Type: Military transport aircraft
Maiden flight: 1954
Introduced: 1956 (still being produced is the C-130J
Super Hercules, the newest version of the Hercules)
Still active: The over 2,300 Hercules variants built
are scattered across the inventories of the USAF, U.S.
Marines Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and the Air
National Guard -- as well as 67 foreign governments.
The USAF selected the C-130J-30 to replace its retiring
C-130E's. Approximately 168 C-130J/J-30s are planned
for the inventory.
(The only real issue with this superb - albeit,
vintage-origin workhorse - has been the cost to
maintain about 100 of the oldest aircraft in
the U.S. inventory.)
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