T
he C-17 aircrews at Hickam AFB, Hawaii rarely get to practice their multi-ship airdrop training because the Hickam airlifters are in such demand, reports TSgt. Shane Cuomo. This week the photojournalist got to cover the first four-ship training mission the 525th Airlift Squadron has been able to squeeze in this year. On any given day, the squadron has two aircraft to train with, but it needs four to best meet airdrop proficiency requirements. Maj. Matt Zehr, a 535th AS pilot, called the training “critical” for aircrew members to stay fully qualified.
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…