The C-130 Hercules schoolhouse at Little Rock AFB, Ark., has been facing some challenges over the past few years—a surging demand for Hercs in Southwest Asia and loss of many airframes to center wing box crack problems—that led to a growing backlog of students. Air Education and Training Command has some good news this week however, noting that the 314th Airlift Wing went from a 73 percent on-time graduation rate in February to 97 percent as of June 1—the result of a little help from friends. Read more here.
With key members of Congress wavering on the possibility of a $350 billion defense reconciliation bill, defense experts told Air & Space Forces Magazine that the Pentagon is likely drawing up budget backup plans—but such plans would face hard choices between high-end weapons and low-cost drones and other programs in…