Nine Pacific air chiefs visited Air Mobility Command headquarters at Scott AFB, Ill., on Oct. 28 as part of a multi-stop tour of Air Force installations. Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces boss, escorted the group, which comprised the air chiefs of Brunei, Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. They came to AMC to learn about the command’s operations and core competencies, in particular how it conducts aeromedical evacuation. But they also discussed USAF’s KC-X tanker acquisition process and the new C-27J transport. “I sincerely hope that Air Mobility Command will get a new tanker,” said Gen. Kenichiro Hokazono, Chief of Staff for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The group’s US tour began with a visit to Nellis AFB, Nev., followed by the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. After Scott, the air chiefs went to Eielson AFB, Alaska. (Scott report by Bekah Clark)
The Air Force announced a successful ejection seat test for its T-7A trainer, and an official told lawmakers the service expects the jet to achieve initial operating capability by November 2027—two signs of progress for the program.