Two B-1Bs from the 28th Wing at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., are in Australia this week to participate in the Avalon Airshow near Melbourne. The show starts today and runs through March 15. The flight over of the B-1s caused some press buzz, apparently by hyping an incident that occurred with the arrival of one of the B-1s. Here’s what happened, according to the wing: The first B-1 landed at Avalon without incident. Due to a delayed arrival, the second B-1 had to divert from landing at Avalon to Melbourne airport as it was past sunset and Avalon’s airstrip closes at sunset, SSgt. Eric Bolt, a spokesman for the wing, told the Daily Report yesterday. Upon landing at Melbourne, this B-1 did blow a tire, but the landing was still safe, said Bolt. This B-1 did not have to divert due to an in-flight emergency. Nor, he said, was the landing an emergency situation as reported in the Australian press. (Here’s what the Australians said: Herald Sun report, ABC News Australia report)
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.