The 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis AFB, Calif., received its 13th and final new C-17 earlier this month, more than two years after the first one landed at the base and some three years since the base began preparing for the arrival of the new airlifter. The wing’s 21st Airlift Squadron switched from the behemoth C-5 airlifter to the C-17, sharing the aircraft with Air Force Reserve Command’s 301st Airlift Squadron at Travis. Within 24 hours of arrival of its first C-17 in August 2006, the 21st AS began flying operational missions in Southwest Asia. Earlier this year, the 21st AS made its first mass deployment. Travis units—active duty and Reserve—fly C-5, C-17, and KC-10 aircraft. Attending the ceremony marking the arrival of the base’s last C-17 were members of the Brig. Gen. Robert F. Travis family. The C-17 is named the Spirit of Travis. (Includes Travis report by TSgt. Donald Osborn)
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.