The Air Force is using two C-5B and two C-5M transports operating out of Western Europe to help US Transportation Command move Army helicopters into Afghanistan and bring others back to the United States. The C-5s will haul more than 170 helicopters during this operation, including CH-47 Chinooks, UH-60 Black Hawks, and OH-58 Kiowas, according to Air Mobility Command officials at Scott AFB, Ill. Commercial ships are carrying 159th Combat Aviation Brigade helicopters to Western Europe for loading onto the C-5s, which then fly them directly into Afghanistan. The C-5s are bringing back 101st Combat Aviation Brigade helos to Europe for loading on the ships for the trip back to the United States. The four C-5 are assigned to the 436th Airlift Wing at Dover AFB, Del. (Scott report by MSgt. Scott T. Sturkol)
General Atomics, the maker of one of the Air Force’s first Collaborative Combat Aircraft, has ambitious plans for its family of semi-autonomous drones beyond the FQ-42, including a flying-wing aircraft capable of carrying out both reconnaissance and strike missions. Meanwhile, the Air Force Research Laboratory announced a new program to…