The U.S. Air Force’s EC-130H Compass Call fleet completed its final flight on 2 September, with tail 73-1590 departing Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, under the callsign VOLT01 and returning about six hours later to end operations. The sortie closed more than four decades of EC-130H service and brought the aircraft’s operational chapter to a formal close.
The fleet had already been positioned for retirement after reaching the limits of programmed depot maintenance life, forcing continued operations under waivers. The last waiver was due to expire on 30 September, and extending flying beyond that point would have required further investment. The retirement removes an ageing electronic warfare aircraft from U.S. Air Force service as the service continues to shift to newer platforms.
Compass Call has long served in electronic attack roles, but the final flight underlines the transition away from a legacy airframe that remained in service well beyond its original design horizon. Davis-Monthan remains central to that transition, with the base hosting both the departing EC-130H and the newer aircraft expected to take on its mission set.