C-17 and Tanker Collide: The commander of Hickam AFB, Hawaii, Col. William J. Changose was piloting a C-17 when the airlifter and a Hawaii Air National Guard KC-135 tanker collided during refueling training some 200 miles off the island of Oahu. A Dec. 28 Honolulu Advertiser report stated the accident took place Dec. 22 at 10:30 p.m. Both aircraft landed safely, but officials acknowledged there was some damage to the tanker’s boom and tail section. The airlifter was on loan to Hickam, which doesn’t get its first C-17 until February (see below). Until the Air Force completes its accident investigation, officials would not say which aircraft was at fault. Just for the record, Changose is a veteran C-17 pilot, selected for the initial cadre of pilots for the new airlifter. He also served as a C-17 instructor pilot.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.