Asked for a comment from Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on the new investigation into the Air Force’s Thunderbirds Airshow Production Services affair by the DOD Inspector General’s office, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said May 7 that the confidence Gates has in the Air Force leadership “remains unchanged.” Morrell then added, “However, he is waiting to hear the results of a couple of outstanding investigations involving them.” Morrell did not elaborate on the other investigations.
Bell Textron has won DARPA's contest for a no-runway, high-speed drone that will prove out technologies useful for special operations forces and possibly the Air Force's Agile Combat Employment concept. Bell's design converts a tiltrotor to a jet-powered aircraft able to fly at up to 450 knots.