An Air Force Special Operations Command PC-12 light transport aircraft crashed July 8 on the runway at Hurlburt Field, Fla., during a routine training mission. “Initial reports show the aircraft encountered wake turbulence shortly before the accident,” the command said in a statement on July 9. The three persons onboard were uninjured. AFSOC said it will investigate the mishap. The PC-12 is designed to provide intratheater airlift support to special ops forces. The aircraft has the ability to operate on short and unimproved runway surfaces.
Boeing’s receipt of the 10th lot contract award for the KC-46 Pegasus this week leaves just three lots left to complete the Air Force’s buy of the tanker, although a further buy of 75 additional aircraft as a “bridge” to the Next-Generation Aerial-refueling System (NGAS) seems increasingly likely.