The past year in military aviation was seemingly
dominated by three letters: KC-X, the troubled and contentious US
Air Force program to procure a new aerial tanker. Also making
headlines was the ongoing battle over continued funding for the
advanced, but costly, F-22 Raptor fighter... continued tensions
between the US and a newly-resurgent Russia... and sadly, the
December downing of an F/A-18 in a San Diego neighborhood.