Six Air Force aircraft were on display at the Berlin Air Show in the German capital from June 8-13. Approximately 90 aircrew and support personnel accompanied the B-1, B-52, C-5, C-17, C-130J, and KC-135 and took visitors on tours of each aircraft, including inside views. The event “will go a long way towards strengthening our relationship with Germany,” said Col. Steve Vlasak, US Air Forces in Europe director of safety. The airshow drew more than 200,000 people, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who visited the US area. (Berlin report by SSgt. Julius Delos Reyes)
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.