Iraqi Air force 2nd Lt. Omar AlNuaimi graduated July 24 from his specialized undergraduate pilot training class at Columbus AFB, Miss., becoming the first Iraqi pilot to complete the Air Force Aviation Leadership Program. “It feels great [to graduate],” said AlNuaimi. He added, “Since the Iraqi Air Force was founded, until this moment, we haven’t had students who have graduated from the US. It’s been great and wonderful to be trained and get my wings.” AlNuaimi will now help to train the Iraqi airmen at Kirkuk AB, Iraq. “I have gained good experience, and I will be glad to take all this experience back to my country and teach,” he said. He credits the men and women whom he encountered during his training in the US for his success. (Columbus report by SrA. Jacob Corbin)
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.