Local and state officials plan to fight a decision by the Air Force to permanently prohibit hikers, bicyclists, and horse riders from using a public road that crosses Vandenberg Air Force Base property to reach Point Sal Beach, reports the Santa Maria Times. The action apparently took effect in January, but local California officials found out “weeks” later. A statement from Vandenberg released last week noted “extreme safety concerns in the area.”
The Air Force said May 4 it has approved the T-7A Red Hawk trainer aircraft to move into low-rate production and awarded Boeing a $219 million contract to start building the first 14 production jets.