The Air Force has renewed its partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports and the No. 43 car for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This is the 10th season of USAF’s sponsorship for recruiting purposes. Richard Petty Motorsports is “perhaps the most respected team in NASCAR and they have been strong supporters of the Air Force,” said Col. Michael Tillema, Air Force Recruiting Service’s chief of strategic marketing and communications at Randolph AFB, Tex. He added, “We share a strong set of core values, hard work, discipline, and the desire to win.” A.J. Allmendinger drives the No. 43 car. The 29-year-old driver had two top-five finishes and eight top-10 finishes during the 2010 season. For two of NASCAR’s 36 point races in 2011, the No. 43 car will feature USAF’s paint scheme. Also planned are activities like flyovers and new enlistee swear-ins at the races. (Randolph release)
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.