Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz, head of US Transportation Command, said Monday at AFA’s Air & Space Conference that the 10 additional C-17s likely to be approved by Congress won’t throw a monkey wrench into plans for the Civil Reserve Air Fleet. Schwartz has said that more C-17s would take money away from CRAF contracts, which are needed to supplement the airlift fleet. Schwartz told Air Force Magazine that “my number is about 200” C-17s in total before fleet operating cost starts to dig into CRAF money. With 10 more C-17s the total would stand at 191.
In a rare letter to the entire force, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach is telling Airmen to stay ready to support Operation Epic Fury, the massive U.S. operation against Iran.