The Congressional delegation—all Republicans—from Idaho has written to National Guard Bureau chief, Army Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, urging him to seek replacement C-130 Hercules airlifters to replace those taken away by BRAC 2005. TV2 News reports that Sen. Larry Craig, Sen. Mike Crapo, Rep. Bill Sali, and Rep. Mike Simpson said the loss of the Herks at the Idaho Air National Guard’s 124th Wing “hurts not only Idaho but leaves the governors in Northwest severely lacking in their ability to respond to regional disasters in a timely manner.” We guess it’s never too late for one last try.
The Air Force has finished resurrecting a B-1B Lancer, completing a yearslong process to transform a bomber that had been stored for parts in the Arizona desert into the new flagship of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.