The Air Force is expanding its testing of alternative fuels to airlifters, as we noted earlier this year. The service successfully tested the use of a 50-50 synthetic fuel with a B-52 bomber and now, reports The Olympian, it will begin next month testing synfuel with a single C-17 transport at McChord AFB, Wash. (Read more in our article “The Fuel War.”)
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.