The 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano AB, Italy, launched several of its F-16 fighters on Wednesday to join the ongoing search for Capt. Lucas Gruenther, an Aviano F-16 pilot who went missing during a nighttime training mission over the Adriatic Sea on Monday. “While not specifically designed for reconnaissance like the other aircraft already involved in the search, our F-16s have targeting pods which can be used to augment the search,” said Brig. Gen. Scott Zobrist, 31st FW commander, in the base’s Jan. 30 release. He added, “The weather and size of the search area have limited our ability to provide assistance with F-16s up to this point; however, now that the ships and reconnaissance aircraft have refined the search area, we hope to help by putting more sensors and eyes out there.” Gruenther is the wing’s chief of flight safety. “I am hopeful that we will bring Captain Gruenther home safely,” said Zobrist. The search has already turned up Gruenther’s drogue parachute and his helmet, and indications are that he ejected, according to a Jan. 30 release from Gruenther’s family posted at Aviano’s website. (See Aviano’s Facebook page for updates.)
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.