Elected officials from Alabama traveled to Washington Friday to discuss the KC-X aerial refueling replacement aircraft program with Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne. George Talbot of the Press-Register reports that Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Mobile) wanted to ensure USAF consider the Northrop Grumman-EADS North America contender—the KC-30—“on merit, not politics.” The Northrop-EADS team plans to build a KC-30 plant in Alabama. The Friday meeting apparently got its start at the Paris Air Show, where Wynne ran into the Alabama delegation. A release from Bonner’s office says that Riley, Bonner, and Sen. Richard Shelby (R) and Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) and other officials were in France for a “transatlantic economic development mission.” Bonner added, “Obviously we have a lot at stake and a lot riding on Alabama’s developing aerospace industry.” If Boeing wins the KC-X contract, its KC-767 would be built in Everett, Wash.
Planning an Air Show Is Hard. At Andrews, It’s Even Harder
Sept. 17, 2025
Joint Base Andrews opened its flightline this month to thousands of civilians, exposing a normally restricted airbase that regularly hosts the president and foreign dignitaries to a curious public eager to see current and historic military aircraft up close and in action.
