Breaking Records in the C-17: Airmen who operate the C-17 out of Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan, typically put in 18-hour days, often flying back and forth to Afghanistan multiple times. The new airlifter and its air and ground crews are in high demand. USAF journalist SSgt. Lara Gale, reports that the C-17 force at Manas broke all previous records in February and may well break that one this month. The C-17 fleet, as a whole, is slated to bust one million hours this month.
KC-46’s Refueling Boom Damaged While Refueling F-22s
July 8, 2025
A U.S. Air Force KC-46 tanker suffered damage to its boom while refueling F-22 Raptors off the coast of Virginia on July 8, Air & Space Forces Magazine has confirmed, with reported radio communication from the crew indicating the boom “detached.”