Air Refueling Missions - Amazing Stuff

Now that I have explained how this opportunity came about, I would like to share an amazing experience to you that I was very fortunate to take part in this week. As part of the honorary commander program, I was able to participate in an Air Refueling Mission.

(Be sure to click on the pictures for larger images)

The Air Force uses the KC135 (same as a Boeing 707 airframe) as one of two primary air refueling aircraft. All of the air craft at Fairchild are the KC135. These planes are older than I am, and we know that is getting up there now. In fact most of the planes stationed at Fairchild were bought when Eisenhower was President.

The following excerpt from Wikipedia will provide you with a little more data about the aircraft much more concisely than I can to it.

The KC-135R has four turbofan engines, mounted under 35-degree swept wings, which power it to takeoffs at gross weights up to 322,500 pounds (146,300 kg). Nearly all internal fuel can be pumped through the tanker's flying boom, the KC-135's primary fuel transfer method. A special shuttlecock-shaped drogue, attached to and trailing behind the flying boom, may be used to refuel aircraft fitted with probes. A boom operator stationed in the rear of the aircraft controls the boom while lying prone. A cargo deck above the refueling system can hold a mixed load of passengers and cargo. Depending on fuel storage configuration, the KC-135 can carry up to 83,000 pounds (37,600 kg) of cargo.

After a morning briefing and safety demonstration we were transported by bus out to the tarmac. We would be flying in the flagship aircraft of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, recognizable by the nose art on the front of the aircraft. Each base is allowed to have one aircraft with this artwork, all other aircraft are no longer identified this way to save money and manpower.

Quickly after boarding we were rolling and ready for take off. Our flight plan that day was to take off westbound, turn and fly our first leg in a southwest vector and then torn each and fly eastbound across much of Washington and Idaho and a small tip of Montana. While in the air we would meet up with a C17 Cargo plan that would be on a training mission from McCord Air Force Base near Tacoma, WA.

Once we leveled off at 30,000 feet we were allowed to get up and explore the plane. Now this plane look nothing like a commercial airliner. The insides are only covered in a polyester/plastic material, wires are running along the ceiling and the seats that the maintenance group installed for us are comfortable but only temporary.

After we leveled off I immediately gravitated forward to the cockpit. I of course am a bit on an aviation freak and I wanted to be able to watch the pilots fly the aircraft. I got to sit in the jump seat between the two pilots and listen, watch and learn about navigation and much more from them.

The skies were cloudy and I got a real feel for the challenge of flying in dense clouds and limited visibility.

After about 30 to 40 minutes into the flight we were approaching our rendezvous site with the C17. It was about 25 miles ahead of us, and we were playing chase. As we were approaching the aircraft, we were descending to 21,000 feet which will be our flight level for the refueling operations.

(More to Come......)

US Air Force - Serving America with Pride

Last May I was selected to serve as a part of the Honorary Commander program at Fairchild Air Force Base here in Spokane, WA. The mission of the Honorary Commander program is to pair community leaders with the commanders of the different Groups and Squadrons at the base, in an effort to keep the community informed about what is happening on base. We are very fortunate to have a wing commander here at Fairchild who believes that the base is part of the community and all the Airmen are a part of our community.

I was assigned to the Command Chief as my commander. The Command Chief is the top ranking enlisted personnel on the base. The highest percentage of personnel on a base are enlisted men and women, and they are given the responsibility to keep that base open and mission ready at all times. This has been a great assignment for me, as the Command Chief has a direct line into all the Groups on base. No matter if you are in the Operations Group, Maintenance Group, Mission Support Group or Med Group there are enlisted Airmen that report to the Command Chief.

This relationship has taught me so much about the amazing people that serve our country. The high level of expectation that is placed on each member of the team, and the absolute commitment of the team it takes to produce a successful mission. I have learned about the challenges our country faces as a nation in a war with terror, and I have learned what it means to be a "Warrior First."

Fairchild Air Force Base serves many different purposes. The 92nd Air Refueling Wing of which I am matched up with has as their primary mission the on-time delivery of air refueling to other aircraft. The slogan painted on the side of the hangar summarizes it well, "No One Kicks Ass Without Tanker Gas".

I am proud of out United States Armed Forces. They work very hard to defend out country and our freedom. I am especially proud of the United States Air Force and the men and women at Fairchild Air Force Base.

Back at it because Life Is Superfantastic

Do you want to know the best thing about having a personal blog is. You write when you feel like it. No buddy is paying you, it is just you thoughts and ideas that come in your head and you feel like expressing. Shortly after my last posting here, there were some changes at work that added some additional responsibilities and the need to accomplish more. Well I finally have that in balance a little more and some I am going to give this another shot.

I created the blog to share all those random things that came into my head that make me happy. There are many things that make my life "to blessed to be stressed". While work and family life is busy, it is a good busy. A positive busy. A busy that I am in control of and make the conscious decision to be busy with these activities in my life.

Thank you for checking back in after I had the extended period without any posts.