The heritage park at Little Rock AFB, Ark., now has a C-47 Skytrain transport on static display, joining other combat airlifters from every era since World War II there. Little Rock airmen spent several months repairing and repainting the C-47 to match its June 1944 D-Day paint scheme for its christening ceremony on Wednesday. This C-47 is one of more than 9,300 built during World War II. C-47s carried personnel and cargo, towed troop-carrying gliders, dropped paratroopers, and evacuated sick or wounded patients. “We, combat airlifters, all trace our lineage back to the C-47. There are seven squadrons on base whose heritage is based partially on this aircraft,” said Chris Rumley, 314th Airlift Wing historian. He added, “All seven active duty flying squadrons flew this plane during World War II.” (Little Rock release)
The Air Force on March 12 awarded contract modifications worth a combined $2.4 billion to Boeing to procure an undisclosed number of E-7 Wedgetail as part of the program's engineering and manufacturing development phase and continue work on the airborne battle management aircraft’s radar.