"USAF Aircraft Inventory FY15/ FY16" Topic

FY16 started 1 October of this year.

Aircraft FY15/ FY16 Aircraft

A-10 143 0 *
E-4 4 4
B-1 61 61
E-9 2 2
B-2 20 20
F-15 322 317
B-52 58 58
F-16 570 570
C-5 36 36
F-22 165 165
KC-10 59 59
F-35 74 102
C-12 27 28
G-15 5 5
C-17 170 170
G-16 19 19
C-20 6 5
UH-1 96 96
C-21 17 17
HH-60 70 74
C-25 2 2
HHX 0 4
C-32 4 4
QF-16 25 27
C-37 12 12
MQ-1 110 110
C-40 4 4
RQ-4 33 33
C-46 0 11
MQ-9 227 228
C-130H 53 34
T-1 178 178
C-130J 124 144
T-6 445 445
C-130N 2 2
T-38 506 506
C-130P 4 0
T-41 4 4
C-130U 13 12
T-51 3 3
C-130W 12 12
T-53 25 25
C-135 186 186
U-2 32 32
CV-22 46 49
UV-18B 3 3
E-3 31 31

Source: Air Force budget documents.

*The AF hopes to retire A-10s this year but many in Congress are against such.

After growing up with Cold War inventories as large as they were, those numbers look so small. It is kind of weird.

With those numbers there is no way to do more than one theater of combat. Do you have the modern Russian numbers?

Somehow, I suspect those Warthogs will be around for a while yet.

There's no good replacement for them, and I imagine they are performing admirably.

Yes, those numbers are shockingly small, especially given the need for home defense, and to protect other nations globally as well.

Thanks for posting the listing.

What is strange to me is that there around the same number of training aircraft as front line fighters … the number of T-1, T-6, and T-38 are about equal to the number of F-15, F-16, F-22 and F-35. Why do we need that number of trainers?

Mark

Worth bearing in mind both the Marines and National Guards – they both have quite substantial forces under their control.

I remember reading that we had the intention of buying around 3000 F-35's when all completed. That number is more than all the combat aircraft on the list.

What is strange to me is that there around the same number of training aircraft as front line fighters … the number of T-1, T-6, and T-38 are about equal to the number of F-15, F-16, F-22 and F-35. Why do we need that number of trainers?

Well you don't only need a lot of trained pilots but well trained pilots. And more than one pilot or crew per bird.

Are there bucket loads of Airforce National Guard F-16s to add to that list?

Hmmmm, anyone know how many F-18s we have?

On the T-38s, some lucky guy(s) fly overhead pretty much everyday, at about the same time, first in one direction in the AM, and the opposite in the afternoon. Seems to me they are using them as commuter vehicles for going somewhere "important".

First thing I noticed was that the list was missing the roughly 700 F-18s in service (all variants), then I realized that above is just USAF.

Wiki is our friend. If anyone wants to see complete list of US military aircraft from all services. link

Training aircraft are routinely used to keep pilot general flight hours and certifications up without adding flight hours to expensive to maintain and already stressed front line aircraft and for pilots to shuttle between places they are needed.

Yes very true TGerritsen.

Also guys remember, this is the USAF Inventory … not all the Aircraft in the US military. If there was an inventory of all available that could even include the CRAF (Civilian Reserve Air Fleet) [I think that's what it was called ? ], like commercial 747s, etc. …
That could be pressed into serve if need be. Mostly for troop transport.

In many cases, when moving troops from say Ft. Benning, GA to the NTC. We flew on civilian 747s. Not that they were pressed into service, but the USAF for what ever reasons wouldn't/couldn't fly us. And of course the civilian air lines were paid by the DOD.

It was not that the USAF could/would not fly you to NTC, it was most likely cheaper to charter a flight. Also, it exercised the CRAF and procedures to assure they continue to work during times of crisis. (Stratlift)

Yes, that sounds correct …

Looking at the Wiki list it is still amazing how few aircraft are on the list. I know the cold war is over and I must be remembering those totals.