An all-female crew flew a C-130E combat cargo mission in and out of Iraq. The Daily Press in North Carolina reported the first-of-its-kind event on Sept. 26. The six women in the crew are all assigned to the 43rd Airlift Wing, Pope AFB, N.C. The fact that the airlifter they flew dates from 1962 is certainly worth a mention, too.
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.