The Air Force’s Thunderbirds air demonstration squadron will kick off its 2012 show season on Feb. 26 with a flyover of NASCAR’s Daytona 500 race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Overall, the Thunderbirds are set to perform 60 demonstrations in 33 locations in 2012, including two non-US shows in Abbotsford, Canada, in mid August. The flying season will conclude on Nov. 10-11 at Nellis AFB. Nev. “We are excited about the upcoming season and representing our fellow American airmen,” said Lt. Col. Greg Moseley, who will command and lead the team in the 2012 show season. “We feel honored to tell the story of US Air Force airmen serving on the front lines of freedom around the world. We will proudly represent each airmen with the same pride, precision, and professionalism in which they perform their duties each and every day.” 2012 will mark the Thunderbirds’ 59th year and the squadron’s 30th season performing with F-16s. (Nellis report, with complete schedule, by TSgt. Jake Richmond)
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.