The 82nd 
Training Wing at Sheppard AFB, Tex., has acquired 13 F-15C/D fighters to train F-15 aircraft maintainers more realistically. The wing formerly used F-15A/B aircraft for its maintenance courses, but since F-15C/D aircraft are the variants currently seen on operational flightlines, it’s advantageous for the students to train on the newer models. “The older models don’t have all the pieces and parts that the newer models have in them,” explained TSgt. Gerry Sasser, F-15 aircraft maintenance instructor with Sheppard’s 362nd Training Squadron. The 362nd TRS will use eight of the F-15C/Ds to train crew chiefs. The 363rd TRS will have two to teach armament students. And the 365th TRS will use the remaining three for avionics training. The F-15C/Ds were acquired from Tyndall AFB, Fla., and then altered for safe training use. This included removing all their incendiary components. (Sheppard report by TSgt. Vernon Cunningham)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.