The Air Force’s first C-17 test aircraft, T-1, conducted its 1,000th flight March 10 at Edwards AFB, Calif., its home. During the historic flight, T-1 was used to conduct tests of a hybrid air delivery system. Built in 1991, T-1 has been a dedicated test vehicle over its lifetime and continues to be a critical asset for the C-17 program. For example, in 2007, it was used to test Fischer-Tropsch synthetic fuel for the C-17 fleet. “This C-17 is currently in block 17, which is the most up-to-date aircraft as if it were coming right off the production line,” said Lt. Col. Robert Poremski, director of projects for Edwards’s 412th Test Support Squadron. The aircraft has now accumulated 4,623 flight hours. Coming up, T-1 will support NASA parachute tests for the next generation of spacecraft. (Edwards report by SrA. Stacy Sanchez)
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.