Elected officials from Alabama traveled to Washington Friday to discuss the KC-X aerial refueling replacement aircraft program with Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne. George Talbot of the Press-Register reports that Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Mobile) wanted to ensure USAF consider the Northrop Grumman-EADS North America contender—the KC-30—“on merit, not politics.” The Northrop-EADS team plans to build a KC-30 plant in Alabama. The Friday meeting apparently got its start at the Paris Air Show, where Wynne ran into the Alabama delegation. A release from Bonner’s office says that Riley, Bonner, and Sen. Richard Shelby (R) and Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) and other officials were in France for a “transatlantic economic development mission.” Bonner added, “Obviously we have a lot at stake and a lot riding on Alabama’s developing aerospace industry.” If Boeing wins the KC-X contract, its KC-767 would be built in Everett, Wash.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.