The Air Force’s C-130 Hercules fleet flew more than 23,500 hours above—yes, above—the tactical airlifter’s programmed flying hours. And, that, Gen. Michael Moseley told lawmakers Monday, is why “we are wearing them out.” The Air Force Chief of Staff also noted that over the past five months (September 2006 through January 2007), USAF C-130 and C-17s flew “100 percent of the Marine’s road-transportable missions,” which means about 9,000 troops per month didn’t need to run convoys.
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.