A good idea netted TSgt. James Mazurek at Minot AFB, N.D., $10,000 for suggesting the Air Force insert a warning paragraph into the technical orders describing how to hook up a tow bar to main landing gear on B-52H bombers. According to Mazurek the TO did not explain that letting the two components touch can cause extensive damage to the bomber’s brake assembly. He tried to come up with a way to prevent it such untoward contact, but, in the end, decided that a simple written warning would suffice. According to the Air Force, the airman’s suggestion—leading to elimination of landing gear damage—could save Minot alone $95,740 in just the first year.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall doesn’t see great value in trying to break the Sentinel ICBM program off as a separate budget item the way the Navy has with its ballistic-missile submarine program, saying such a move wouldn’t create any new money for the Air Force to spend on other…