The first of eight C-17s destined to replace the C-5As of the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing landed Monday at Stewart ANG Base in Newburgh. “It’s sad to see the C-5As go, but it’s the right thing for the future of the base,” said Brig. Gen. Verle Johnston, 105th AW commander, reported the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record. Stewart will officially mark the transition to the Globemaster in an acceptance ceremony on Aug. 6. The wing currently operates a fleet of 13 C-5s that will gradually phase out as crews transition to the C-17 over the next two years. “It’s a beautiful airplane. It’s a breath of fresh air,” remarked SMSgt. John Sheehy, a 105th AW crew chief, who flew on the C-17 on its delivery flight from Charleston AFB, S.C. Lower maintenance requirements will likely mean workforce cuts to a sizable portion of the wing’s maintenance division, according to the Times Herald-Record. (Includes Stewart release)
President Donald Trump is proposing a 13 percent increase in defense spending for fiscal 2026, growth that could mean the first ever $1 trillion defense budget, according to a document obtained by Air & Space Forces Magazine.