A C-17 Globemaster III, which is assigned to the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright- Patterson AFB, Ohio, experienced an engine malfunction leading to a tail pipe fire in early January, according to a Jan. 29 release. No one was injured in the fire and crew members were able to extinguish it within 20 seconds, states the release. The Jan. 7 fire caused some $180,000 in damage to the aircraft. “Our aircrew and ground personnel did an awesome job in making sure the fire was extinguished in seconds. They are trained on engine fire procedures and knew exactly what to do as soon as the fire was discovered,” said Col. Michael Major, 445th AW commander. The aircraft has since been fixed and resumed flying on Jan. 27 thanks to members of the 445th Maintenance Group, technicians from aircraft manufacturer Boeing, and the 445th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s maintenance supply liaison section, states the release.
U.S. munitions have been expended at a high rate during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, prompting concerns that the Pentagon is eating into weapons stockpiles it needs to deter threats around the world. Yet the newly released $1.5 trillion defense budget request was developed before the war against Iran and…