Through the first four months of 2011, Air Force C-130s and C-17s have air-dropped more than 25 million pounds of cargo via to supply ground troops in Afghanistan, according to Air Mobility Command officials. That’s around 6.25 million pounds per month. Should that pace continue for the rest of the year, the Air Force would deliver about 75 million pounds this way, shattering the current record of 60.4 million pounds in 2010. (Scott report by MSgt. Scott T. Sturkol) (See also Airpower on the Rise for Southwest Asia air sortie totals for 2010.)
The Air Force's new Aircraft Readiness Unit will maintain and provide Collaborative Combat Aircraft for operations, but won’t serve as a “schoolhouse” teaching fighter pilots how to manage these escort drones.