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.
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.