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AMC Museum adds new plane to collection

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Chad Padgett
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The Air Mobility Command Museum welcomed its newest aircraft, a KC-135E Stratotanker that was formerly the property of the 108th Air Refueling Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.

The new aircraft will undergo a maintenance inspection and removal of all the fuel and other fluids, before being put on display.

"There are only 12 [KC-135] E models left around the country," said Brig. Gen. Mike Cunniff, 108th Air Refueling Wing commander, who piloted the aircraft. "Out of those 12, only three have been maintained over the years as flyable. This airplane is the very last operational airplane to fly on a real mission."

U.S. Sen. Tom Carper was on hand for the event.

"There are 50 states, out of those 50, one does not have a national park," said Senator Carper. "The state of Delaware has no national park. The Secretary of the Interior announced that we will be getting a national park and one of the attractions will be Dover Air Force Base. For all of you who have been working hard and putting your heart and soul into this museum, this will be part of our national park, so a lot of people will see this plane."

The KC-135 is the 28th aircraft to be put on display at the AMC Museum, but is one of only a few aircraft to arrive under its own power.

"We're almost 23 years in existence and this is airplane number 28," said Jim Leech, AMC Museum curator. "This is just another part of what we're supposed to be doing, preserving the history of airlift and air refueling. We're happy to have the aircraft delivered to us instead of having to go on site, disassemble the aircraft, transport it and then reassemble it here."

The aircraft will have to undergo some maintenance before it will be put on display at the AMC Museum.

"We're going to have to safe it for public display," said Mr. Leech. "We're going to defuel all the fuel tanks, remove the oils and anything we don't need on the aircraft that could pose a possible hazard. Once that's done we'll move it over to the new area we're building."

Once powered down, the crowd was allowed to take a tour of the outside of the aircraft.

"My granddaughter and grandson read about the plane and wanted to come out," said Ray Malenfant. "They've been here a dozen times and love it. This is amazing; it appears to be in really good condition, it's almost a shame to put it away. At least it's for a good cause."

While the plane may never fly again, it has found a fitting home at the AMC Museum.

"Col. Dwight Sones, 436th Airlift Wing vice commander said it's hard to get off the airplane," said General Cunniff. "It is hard to get off the airplane, but not when you're leaving it in a place like this where people are going to be able to enjoy it. We'll be back to visit her, and that's a lot better than watching her rot in the desert of Arizona or New Mexico."