Local government officials in Cascade County, Mont., which encompasses Great Falls and Malmstrom Air Force Base, have launched a land-use study of the areas around the base, which is today home to a major ICBM force. The Great Falls Tribune reported Tuesday that the Matrix Design Group, a Phoenix-based company, will lead the year-long effort to explore existing and potential development around Malmstrom’s missile facilities in the north central part of the state and potential conflicts such as wind farms and cell-phone towers. The goal is to identify guidelines to limit encroachment on Air Force operations while encouraging well-planned growth in the area, according to the newspaper. Last year, Cascade County received a grant for this study from the Pentagon’s office of economic adjustment that assists communities dealing with issued like base closures, realignments, or expansions.
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.