SMSgt. Paul Houser, a KC-135 instructor boom operator assigned to Air Force Reserve Command’s 434th Operations Support Squadron at Grissom ARB, Ind., has surpassed 10,000 flight hours for his career, a rare feat for an airman. He reached this milestone last month during a mission refueling a B-52 bomber from Barksdale, La. Houser joined the Air Force in 1976 and switched to boom operations in 1980 after coming to Grissom. After five more years on active duty, he joined the Air Force Reserve. Houser said he’s extremely grateful for his family’s unending support. He’s also very appreciative of his fellow airmen at Grissom. “Really all the people in this unit are the best; I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.” His desire to make an impact has kept him flying all these years. (Grissom report by TSgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)
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.