A good idea netted TSgt. James Mazurek at Minot AFB, N.D., $10,000 for suggesting the Air Force insert a warning paragraph into the technical orders describing how to hook up a tow bar to main landing gear on B-52H bombers. According to Mazurek the TO did not explain that letting the two components touch can cause extensive damage to the bomber’s brake assembly. He tried to come up with a way to prevent it such untoward contact, but, in the end, decided that a simple written warning would suffice. According to the Air Force, the airman’s suggestion—leading to elimination of landing gear damage—could save Minot alone $95,740 in just the first year.
The Air Force on March 12 awarded contract modifications worth a combined $2.4 billion to Boeing to procure an undisclosed number of E-7 Wedgetail as part of the program's engineering and manufacturing development phase and continue work on the airborne battle management aircraft’s radar.