The Air Force and Air Force Association presented the 2009 Gen. Thomas D. White Space Trophy to Maj. Gen. Stephen Sargeant, commander of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Kirtland AFB, N.M., for making the most outstanding contribution to the nation’s aerospace progress over the preceding year. Among his accomplishments, Sargeant created a new space OT&E model that provides decision-makers timely and accurate data on new space systems and has been included in the DOD instruction that covers operation of the defense acquisition system. The National Geographic Society established the award in 1961 and presented it through 1996, when sponsorship transferred to AFA’s Gen. B.A. Schriever-Los Angeles Chapter. (Kirtland release)
A new think tank analysis finds a hypothetical blended-wing body tanker could offer twice as much refueling performance as the KC-46A Pegasus and recommends the Air Force buy scores of them, as the service prepares to evaluate a BWB demonstrator next year and must juggle its future tanker plans with…