Two months after retiring their last C-141, airmen of Air Force Reserve Command’s 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, took off on their first C-5 mission—flying from Ohio to Ramstein AB, Germany on July 19. Maj. Mike Baker and his crew flew the mammoth airlifter to Dover AFB, Del., where the aircraft was loaded with 35,000 pounds worth of cargo. (Read more here.)
While the Pentagon has signaled its intent to scale technology, field new systems faster, and work more with nontraditional vendors, a new report identifies persistent manufacturing capacity, resourcing, workforce, and modernization challenges that could hinder its ability to deliver on those goals.