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LRS flight tests new vehicle for efficient fuels management

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The 62nd Logistics Readiness Squadron's fuels management flight is playing an integral role in the search to find new ways to fuel aircraft more efficiently. 

Since September, the fuels management flight has been using an R-11 fuel truck fitted with a Hydrant Mobile Refueling Equipment, or Hymore, adapter as part of a one-year Air Force contract to see if using the adapter saves man hours. 

McChord was chosen as the lone base to host the contract because of the diverse missions the wing carries out, said fuels manager Master Sgt. Shayne Somavia, 62nd LRS. 

The Hymore adapter, manufactured by an Australian company, allows the 6,000-gallon R-11 fuel truck to issue 600 gallons of fuel per minute to aircraft while simultaneously receiving fuel at the same rate from one of the 28 fuel hydrant outlets on the flightline, Sergeant Somavia said. 

"It gives us quite a bit more versatility in that we can hit more aircraft without driving back to the fuel-fill stand and filling up," said Staff Sgt. Kevin Donnelly, 62nd LRS. 

Less time at the fuel stand means better response time in getting to the other aircraft on the flightline, said Staff Sgt. Brian Melochick, 62nd LRS. 

The unit is also very user-friendly when it comes to hooking it up and pumping the fuel, he said. 

"When you follow the checklist, it's a real simple operation," Sergeant Melochick said. 

The flight has been using the truck extensively to test the unit to make sure it's reliable, he said. 

Under normal circumstances, R-11 trucks accumulate 150 to 300 miles a month. 

"Last month we drove the Hymore truck nearly 2,300 miles, so it's getting a whole lot of use," Sergeant Somavia said. 

The Hymore-equipped truck has pumped more than three million gallons of fuel since September, he said. 

After the contract with the Hymore's company is up, Sergeant Somavia will submit all the data collected from the trial and submit it to the Air Force Petroleum Agency. 

The AFPA will then determine whether to offer individual squadrons the opportunity to use the device on their trucks, he said.