When the Air Force’s newest C-17 airlifter arrived April 21 at its home at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash., from the Boeing production facility at Long Beach, Calif., it joined the unit that also operates the oldest C-17 in USAF’s inventory. The 62nd Airlift Wing picked up the oldest C-17 from Charleston AFB, S.C., where it first flew in 1993. With this latest of the new strategic airlifters, the 62nd, and its Air Force Reserve Command associate 446th AW, now operate and maintain 51 C-17s. (62nd AW photo 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.