Adm. William J. Fallon, commander of US Pacific Command, piloted the fourth C-17 destined for Hickam AFB, Hawaii, from the Boeing production facility in Long Beach, Calif. (A PACOM statement did not mention when or where the Navy fighter pilot got his big aircraft credentials.) With this fourth new transporter, said officials, the 15th Airlift Wing and the Hawaii Air National Guard 154th Wing have moved from prep to execution. Beginning this month, Pacific Air Forces will be able to task the C-17 composite unit of active and ANG airmen with regularly scheduled mobility runs.
A combined Navy and Air Force program is seeking to build a smaller version of a ubiquitous air-to-air missile that could give advanced aircraft, such as the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, greater magazine depth in a high-end fight.