The Day of the Hickam C-17 Is Almost Here: The first C-17 destined for Hickam AFB, Hawaii, has passed its flight physical, ready to be flown to Hawaii and turned over to the Pacific Air Forces base on Feb. 8, reports the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The Air Force plans to station eight C-17s at Hickam, creating the first C-17 unit outside the CONUS. Active and Air National Guard airmen will fly and maintain the new airlifters.
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.