C-130 aircrews of the 62nd Airlift Squadron at Little Rock AFB, Ark., flew their last formation under their longtime call sign “Jodie,” according to a unit release. That fight took place on Sept. 27; now, with the onset of Fiscal 2014, the squadron’s instructors are flying under the call sign “Props” as they augment the activities of the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th AW that runs the C-130 schoolhouse at the base, states the Oct. 4 release. “Jodie” had been the call sign of the 62nd AS since at least 1970 when the unit moved to Little Rock, states the release. (Little Rock report by Lt. Col. James Schartz)
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.