The last C-130E transport assigned to the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein AB, Germany, left the base for good on Monday, marking a historic step in the unit’s transition to the new C-130J model. This C-130E, with tail number 1299, departed for Poland, which is acquiring five C-130Es from the Air Force under a foreign-military-sales arrangement. “We’re sad to see it go,” said MSgt. Jay Mitchell, flight engineer with Ramstein’s 37th Airlift Squadron, of the C-130’s departure. But he added the wing is looking forward to operating the C-130Js. The 86th AW is in the process of building a force of 14 C-130Js. (Ramstein report by SrA. Amanda Dick)
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
