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NEWS

  • Former commander returns to celebrate KC-135s, Airmen

    MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Underneath the shadow of the first KC-135 Stratotanker to fly, and with the massive hangars for the future home of the KC-46 Pegasus on the horizon, retired Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz spoke to 250 Airmen, veterans and community members at McConnell Air Force Base about

  • Aerial porters set airlift record

    The 721st Aerial Port Squadron, which is part of the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, set a record July 27 for the heaviest cargo loaded onto a commercial aircraft in support of a channel mission. The aerial porters planned and packed 120 tons construction material

  • KC-135 celebrates 60 years

    MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- On Aug. 31, 1956, “Heartbreak Hotel,” was on the radio and the KC-135 Stratotanker was heard for the first time during its maiden flight.

  • The birth of a 60-year legacy

    MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Peering over the gates of the largest stratotanker wing in the Air Force, a legendary aircraft stands guard. Aircraft 55-3118, now a static display at McConnell Air Force Base, was the first KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft off the production line and the first to

  • Tanker Tracker: KC-135 year-in-review

    MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Since August 2015, KC-135 Stratotanker tail number 58-0011, has taken part in missions flown out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, and deployed locations across the globe. It has completed two deployments, locking down 126 sorties and offloading 2.08M pounds of

  • Forging the 46

    U.S. Air Force leaders and Oklahoma community partners were in attendance for the historical reactivation of the 56th Air Refueling Squadron and the dedication of the KC-46A Pegasus formal training center, Aug. 30, 2016, at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

  • Joint exercise prepares Airmen, Soldiers for contingency ops

    LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- Green Flag Little Rock 16-09 kicked off Aug. 18, 2016, withapproximately 750 U.S. Army airborne infantry soldiers jumping from severalC-130J and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in the dead of night to seize and secure anassault zone. The event, referred to as "hit

  • Air Force, Army planners find ways to see greater jump in airdrops

    An arriving C-130 Hercules taxies to a large hangar where about 60 Army paratroopers wait to board. Lugging about 100 pounds of gear, the Soldiers quickly line up and load into the aircraft as its four idling engines blow hot gusts over the tarmac. Minutes later, the plane is flying at 150 mph and

  • Newly activated unit guides transient aircraft on joint missions

    Any aircraft that flies into Pope Army Airfield, Col. Kelly Holbert will know about it. But Holbert’s unit, the 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group, has no aircraft of its own. As the only en route operations group in the continental U.S., the unit manages transient aircraft and the joint missions