Perhaps the next big market for Apple is actually the United States government.  In fact, the USAF is ready to place an order for approximately 18,000 iPad 2′s – not a bad day for Apple.  The United States Air Force is ready to replace their huge, inefficient bags of manuals that pilots have to carry around with Apple’s iPad 2.  Each of these manual bags can, in some cases, weigh up to 40 lbs.  ”Moving from a paper-based to an electronically-based flight publication system will not only enhance operational effectiveness, it can also save the Department of Defense time and money,” Maj. Gen. Rick Martin, AMC Director of Operations, told an Air Force publication last December.  This could Apple’s doorway into becoming a U.S. Government supplier with their devices.  And if the USAF needs 18,000 iPad 2′s, then why not just buy iPhone’s for the entire government workforce?  Oh wait… that might not go over so well with the taxpayers.

via seekingalpha