The commander of 
the 81st Training Wing at Keesler AFB, Miss., Brig. Gen. Bill Lord, said Saturday that repairing the damage done by Hurricane Katrina to the base would take at least $500 million, according to the Associated Press service. The medical center, which normally sees some 1,200 patients per day, is closed, with extensive damage.
The Air Force is planning to spend $2.19 billion over the next five years to acquire new C-37 jets for transporting military and civilian leaders. That’s on top of another $1.17 billion in projected funding for the VC-25B “Air Force One” replacement.