The exercise NORAD ran late last week to practice its ability to secure the Super Bowl in Detroit was not sufficient, according to command officials. There were “weather issues” that prevented a complete run-through of the exercise, which featured hundreds of personnel and military aircraft—fighters, E-3 AWACS, aerial refuelers—and civilian airplanes. NORAD plans to reconvene the cast for a repeat on Feb. 1. A little “weather” doesn’t stop the Super Bowl, but we realize this was just a test. If it were the “day,” we fully expect NORAD would punch on through.
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.