The Air Force’s 220th new-build C-17 transport is scheduled to touch down on Wednesday at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash., according to base spokeswoman SSgt. Frances Kriss. This airplane, which will arrive from Boeing’s plant in Long Beach, Calif., will be the last new-build C-17 slated for the large air mobility hub, Kriss told the Daily Report on March 25. McChord maintains a fleet of 48 assigned C-17s. The new arrival will not change that total as the Air Force rotates C-17s between bases. Members of McChord’s 62nd Airlift Wing and Air Force Reserve Command’s 446th AW jointly operate the base’s C-17s. McChord received its previous new-build C-17 on Feb. 20. It was the 219th C-17 that Boeing supplied to the Air Force. The Air Force has ordered 224 C-17s overall and currently doesn’t plan to buy more.
Back from a Thanksgiving week recess, the push to pass the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act hit another snag Nov. 29, as the Senate voted against ending debate on its version of the bill. At the same time, Congress is staring down a Dec. 3 expiration date for its continuing…