The Air Force is preparing to announce this week a basing plan for the 100 new refueling tankers it plans to lease from Boeing for $16 billion beginning in fiscal year 2006, according to government officials and documents. Under this plan, the Air Force will retire 133 KC-135s by the end of fiscal year 2008 and shift some other existing tankers -- KC-135Rs -- from active duty to the Reserves in order to make room and pay for the new...
