Workers who man the C-17 production line at Boeing’s Long Beach, Calif., facility have gotten another reprieve. The Los Angeles Times reports that company officials told workers June 20 that it would use company money to keep the line going for at least six more months. The extra time would take it to 2010, which is when USAF thinks it would have funds for additional C-17s. Lawmakers may be ready to let the Air Force retire some of its older C-5s to make way for the new airlifter. USAF has asked to retire at least 30 of the worst actors in the C-5 fleet.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
