Two quick-thinking Texas Air National Guardsmen know the answer. They fixed up a custom fuel truck nozzle that enabled them to refuel 100 stranded civilian buses at Ellington Field in Houston. The buses were needed to continue evacuation efforts for Hurricane Rita. MSgt. Lynn Bailey, of the 147th Fighter Wing’s fuel shop, and SSgt. Vic Taylor, a refueling mechanic, developed the makeshift nozzle. Using this system, the Guard refueled 260 buses overall in Beaumont and Houston.
The Air Force announced Aug. 13 it recently tested prototypes for a portable ground station for commanding and controlling semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft, and a spokesperson now says the plan is to award a contract for the effort next summer.
