Officials at Sheppard AFB, Tex., have identified the two pilots who died May 1 when their T-38C trainer aircraft crashed during a training flight from the base. Maj. Brad Funk, 35, an instructor pilot with the 90th Flying Training Squadron, and 2nd Lt. Alec Littler, 23, a student pilot in the 80th Flying Training Wing’s Euro-NATO joint jet pilot training program, were killed when their aircraft crashed on approach at about 7:55 a.m. local time, according to a May 2 release from the base. An accident board is investigating. More information will be released as it becomes available, the statement said. The mishap is the second fatal accident involving a T-38C since April 23 when two pilots died in a crash at Columbus AFB, Miss. The two crashes led Air Education and Training Command to suspend flight operations of all T-38Cs. Further, Maj. Gen. Irving L. Halter, commander of 19th Air Force, has ordered the one-day, safety stand-down today (May 5) of all AETC flying training operations, according to a May 2 release from Randolph AFB, Tex.
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.