The Air Force is providing the new noise-reducing earpiece we described earlier to the F-16 pilots of the 4th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah, this month. They are in hot demand around the Air Force. The Attenuating Custom Communication Earpiece System, developed by Air Force Research Lab’s Battle Space Acoustics Department in concert with Manufactured Assemblies Corp. of Ohio and Westone Laboratories Inc. of Colorado, costs less than $600 per person and should go a long way in reducing hearing loss and improving communication ability. (What we didn’t say earlier: Westone produces comparable earpieces for rock bands.)
Officials at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., said the range is “fully mission capable” to support launches following a major May 28 mishap involving Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket.