Gen. Gene Renuart, head of NORAD/US Northern Command, took his “fini” flight last week, piloting a C-130 from Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson AFB, Colo. Renuart is retiring in July. Of his last military flight, Renuart said: “Good mission, great crew. … It’s good to have the chance to fly my last mission in a tactical aircraft.” Although a veteran fighter pilot, since taking command at NORAD/NORTHCOM in March 2007, he has flown with the 302nd’s 731st Airlift Squadron, which has an aerial fire-fighting mission. Lt. Col. David Condit, navigator on Renuart’s final flight, noted that Renuart “has full tactical qualifications” in the C-130 and added, “He is the most highly qualified flying general in the Air Force right now with four stars.” The Senate on May 7 confirmed Vice Adm. James Winnefeld, nominated in December to replace Renuart. (NORAD/NORTHCOM report by SSgt. Thomas Doscher)
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.