The United States still fields the world's most capable airmen and some of the most advanced aircraft ever built. But according to Rep. August Pfluger, a retired Air Force fighter pilot and former F-22 Raptor pilot, the service is facing a growing challenge that Congress can no longer afford to ignore. During an interview with Military.com, Pfluger warned that the Air Force has become both the oldest and smallest in its history at a time when China is rapidly expanding its military power and the demand for American airpower continues to grow.
We have the most incredible airmen, the most incredible and competent leaders up and down the chain of command, incredible weapon systems, Pfluger said. But we are in fact the smallest and also the oldest Air Force that we've ever been.
The Texas Republican, who served more than 20 years in uniform before coming to Congress, said the issue is not one of quality. Rather, it is a question of capacity, readiness and whether the Air Force can modernize quickly enough to meet future threats. "We've got to reverse that trend," he said.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman August Pfluger proudly represents 20 counties in Texas’ 11th Congressional District. (House.gov)
