Papering Afghanistan, 
Again: Airmen deployed to the 40th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron dropped some 300,000 leaflets as their C-130 flew over the mountains of Afghanistan recently, reports SSgt. Jason Barebo. The aircrews consider such flights “just as critical as any other,” since they help keep villagers out of the way as friendly ground forces push forward against the enemy, said Lt. Col. Michael Zick, 40th EAS commander. The flights also are made at a fairly low level, requiring the loadmasters to watch for enemy fire directed at the aircraft.
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.