Airm
en from the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing, with a little help from a West Virginia Air Guardsman, flew a C-5 to Soto Cano AB, Honduras, where they loaded a team of 19 airmen and soldiers and two helicopters for transport to the Dominican Republic. The Joint Task Force Bravo team from Soto Cano is helping primarily with search and recovery efforts following tropical storm Noel. The C-5 aircrew diverted from its initial mission which had taken the Air Guardsmen to Spain to support operations in Southwest Asia, reports 1st Lt. Erika Yepsen. West Virginia’s 167th Airlift Wing flew its first operational C-5 mission earlier this year.
The Air Force expects to start modifying its first B-52H Stratofortress bomber with new engines and other upgrades later this year, following the successful review of the Commercial Engine Replacement Program’s design.