Officials at Robins AFB, Ga., have opened a new facility for testing software for the C-5 transport. The C-5 Integrated Aircraft Test Environment is a 2,200-square foot, two-story building that houses the cockpit salvaged from a C-5B that crashed at Dover AFB, Del., in April 2006. Engineers will test software in the facility without having to tie up actual C-5s in flight tests. “I expect we will get a lot of taxpayer value out of this building and the software we will produce,” said Brig. Gen. Lee Levy, commander of Robins’ 402nd Maintenance Wing, during the Sept. 10 ribbon-cutting ceremony. While the cockpit was wired in time for the ceremony to have some basic functionality, it will take another year before the cockpit is fully functional, said Levy. (Robins report by Wayne Crenshaw)
The U.S. is moving to surge firepower over Iran, including its capital of Tehran, defense officials leading the campaign said March 5 at U.S. Central Command headquarters. Bomber strikes are being stepped up and additional fighter squadrons are being deployed.