Ready for a new esoteric comparison? According to Lt. Col. Scott Gericke at Incirlik AB, Turkey, the base has moved so much gear and supplies to Iraq since becoming a cargo hub on June 1 that the cargo would extend the length of 15,800 Honda Accord automobiles. In weight, the total cargo moved equaled 20,000 tons. The real news is that by hauling the cargo out of Turkey rather than Germany, USAF can move twice as much with the same number of lift assets. Each C-17 can fly two sorties per day without refueling in flight, as opposed to one a day from their old base in Rhein-Main AB, Germany.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.