During 20
06, the Air Force mobility crowd amassed some impressive stats for passengers delivered and cargo hauled. The total for all aircraft types—C-5, C-17, C-130, KC-10, KC-135, and commercial charters—is 1.4 million passengers and nearly 500,000 short tons of cargo. Of the three
USAF primary airlifters, the C-17 was the chief workhorse, hauling some 470,000 passengers and more than 250,000 tons of supplies and equipment. The well-worn KC-135 tanker fleet airlifted more people (6,003 vs. 1,794) but less cargo (313 vs. 1,909) than the service’s newer and largest tanker/airlifter hybrid, the KC-10.
Dozens of former Airmen are running for Congress in the 2026 midterms, with Election Day fast approaching on Nov. 3. But the potential impact of the election for the Air Force and Space Force goes beyond just the number of former service members on Capitol Hill—the results will also decide…