Maintainers from the Royal Australian Air Force are getting a little C-17 training help from their American counterparts at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, as they prepare to receive their first C-17 airlifter. USAF photojournalist TSgt. Shane Cuomo reports that the 15th Maintenance Group at Hickam is training maintainers from the Amberly RAAF 36th Squadron on the ins and outs of the C-17. The RAAF expects to receive its first C-17—which will be based at Amberly near Brisbane—on Nov. 28.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.