A massive United States flag draped over 230,000 pounds of rusted steel chained to the back of a semi truck Aug. 7 as the truck rolled onto Buckley AFB, Colo. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey sent the steel, believed to be from the top floors of the World Trade Center’s North Tower, to be used to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Security forces airmen stood guard overnight ensuring the steel reached its final destination in downtown Denver. Five of 16 pieces of steel from the World Trade Center passed through Buckley Sunday. The port authority will distribute the steel to all 50 states and seven countries.
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.