The 2007 Air Mobility Command Rodeo is entertaining a combined active duty and Reserve C-17 team, a first for the premier mobility readiness event, which dates to 1956. The Total Force team comprises 13 air and ground crew members from McGuire AFB, N.J. The active duty airmen, including two aircrew members and five maintainers, are from the 305th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire. The Reservists, including one aircrew member and five maintainers, are from Air Force Reserve Command’s 514th AMW at McGuire. The competition runs through Friday at McChord AFB, Wash., and comprises some 2,500 people in 40 teams from US and international military units. (Here are some initial results.)
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.