A C-5 from Travis AFB, Calif., made history last week by carrying a damaged Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter from Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, to NAS North Island in San Diego. This mission marked the first time that a US cargo aircraft brought a damaged fighter back to the United States, in this case for repair, according to US defense officials. “Being that this is the first time we’ve ever done anything like this,” there was extensive coordination and planning, said Charles Miller, F/A-18 deputy program manager. The fighter’s right fuselage was severely damaged in a brake fire upon a diverted landing at Kandahar in March. Miller said the fighter was “unflyable,” so it required the lift. “Carrying cargo is what this aircraft was designed to do, and we’re glad to be a part this,” said Maj. Steven Hertenstein, the C-5 pilot. (Kandahar report by SrA. David Carbajal)
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.