Airmen of Air Force Reserve Command’s 326th Airlift Squadron at Dover AFB, Del., flew their last C-5 flight on March 10. The 326th AS, part of the 512th Airlift Wing, is converting to the C-17 on April 1 and receives its first new airlifter in June. The squadron’s Reservists have flown and maintained the C-5 for 34 years. The C-5s are not leaving Dover, however, since one Reserve (709th AS) and one active (9th AS) squadron still will fly and maintain the mammoth airlifter.
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.