The Colorado Springs Gazette reports that the Air Force Academy is trying to turn the school’s athletic department into a nonprofit organization, sending Athletic Director Hans Mueh and Superintendent Lt. Gen. John Regni to talk last week with Congressional staffers about appropriate legislation. Apparently, the effort has been underway for about three years, as the academy seeks ways to maintain its sports coffers in the face of a major deficit that led to cuts in operations. (Earlier Gazette report) Mueh told the newspaper that he believes the legislation, which should be finalized next month, could be approved by March 2009.
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.