The Natio
nal Research Council recently released a study concluding that adding “winglets,” those near-vertical wing tip extensions, to most cargo aircraft could save the Air Force millions of dollars in fuel costs, reports Stars and Stripes. The Air Force’s newest airlifter, the C-17 has winglets, but the NRC recommended more research to see if modifying them slightly would enhance fuel savings. It recommended adding winglets to KC-135 and KC-10 tankers and to the C-5 airlifter.
B-21 Raider First Flight Now Postponed to 2023
May 20, 2022
The Air Force says the B-21 Raider won't make its first flight until 2023; about a six-month delay from the last official estimates. No reason was given for the delay. While other programs have recently chalked up schedule slips to supply chain and labor shortages, the Air Force has said…