The nearly $2 million renovation to convert a building at McConnell AFB, Kan., to house a KC-135 flight simulator is complete. This facility, constructed in 1986, hosted a B-1B bomber simulator until 2003. It now houses one of the base’s three, full-size KC-135 simulators as well as new classrooms for KC-135 navigators and pilots. “The interior of the facility is 100 percent better than before. It’s transformed from a facility marred by years of abuse and neglect, to a facility that now looks like the world-class training facility appropriate for the center of air refueling excellence,” said Col. Billy Langford, commander of McConnell’s 22nd Operations Group. Funding for the renovation became available in September 2009 as part of the BRAC process. Construction activities began in March. (McConnell report by SrA. Abigail Klein)
As with previous stealth aircraft unveilings, the Air Force’s imagery of the F-47 Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter has been doctored to keep adversaries guessing about its true shaping and design philosophy.