The C-17 fleet reached 3 million flight hours on May 5, according to an Air Force release. “It has become the airlifter of choice for our Air Force,” said Col. Amanda Meyers, C-17 system program director. “The incredible partnership between our Active Duty, Reserve forces, and the National Guard make the C-17 a huge enabler for the United States of America. It not only allows us to fight and win our nation’s wars, but also provide humanitarian assistance at an international level.” The Air Force owns 222 Globemaster IIIs and eight partner nations have a total of 44 of the strategic airlifters, states the release. The first C-17 made its maiden flight on Sept. 15, 1991, and the first aircraft was delivered to USAF in June 1993. Ceremonies were held at Robins AFB, Ga., and JB Charleson, S.C., to commemorate the milestone, states the release.
The Space Force is looking for industry feedback on its plans to create a new “Mission Development Zone” at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., to support launch providers with space for additional payload processing capacity, test and assembly facilities, and potentially rocket and spacecraft manufacturing infrastructure.