Lower Cost, On Schedule

Boeing officials say the company’s effort to put the second Air Force C-130 through its avionics modernization program currently is “40 percent below the cost of the first C-130 AMP.” A March 21 release notes that the lower cost is the result of “lessons learned” from the first modification effort, which Boeing completed in November 2006. The Air Force has been testing that first aircraft at Edwards AFB, Calif., since Nov. 28, and according to Boeing is ahead of schedule for planned ground and flight tests.