The new Air Force Chief of Staff has glowing words for 
USAF’s newest airlifter, the C-17: It has proved “its worth in gold” in both the global war on terrorism and humanitarian relief. At Hickam AFB, Hawaii, where he held a recent general officers “call” for Pacific Air Forces, Gen. T. Michael Moseley was equally sanguine about the plan to station C-17s in Hawaii: It’s “going to be money for us.” He says the Hawaiian C-17s will enable US Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command far greater flexibility in the Pacific theater. Hickam is slated to receive eight C-17s from February to September 2006. The active duty 15th Airlift Wing and Air National Guard 154th Wing will jointly operate the aircraft.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.