Spokane civic leaders, media fly refueling mission celebrating KC-135's 50th anniversary

Published Sept. 11, 2006
By Shadi May
92nd Air Refueling Wing

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- A group of 40 Spokane business society members joined Team Fairchild Wednesday to commemorate the 50th birthday of the Air Force's primary refueling aircraft.

The Boeing Company debuted the KC-135 in Aug. 1956, and it was delivered to the Air Force a year later. To this date, the aircraft has supported armed conflict and humanitarian operations in tanker, airlift, and aeromedical evacuation capacities around the world from Vietnam to Libya and the Middle East to South America.

"It's amazing that this plane has been around that long, so it's a big deal for us to celebrate 50 years of this plane doing its job," said one of the aircraft commanders, Maj. Stephen Matthews, 92nd Air Refueling Wing. "It's definitely great to be able to share the heritage of this aircraft and mission with our community."

"It's an honor for me to be a part of the crew of this aircraft to fly such a historic mission," said Capt. Ryan Romano, 92nd ARS and one of the copilots.

The mission to which Captain Romano referred was a two-ship formation flight which took off from Fairchild to meet one receiving KC-135 aircraft from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., somewhere above Mount Rushmore, S.D. It was a four-hour flight from takeoff to landing. Two of the guests in each aircraft were selected by a number drawing and were in the cockpits during the entire flight.

"The airplane has state-of-the-art technology, and that along with the pilots' expertise allowed us to experience an amazing flight. These airplanes were so close during take off, yet you couldn't even feel the air buffeting from the other plane," said Scott Philipps, a computer software analyst with Avista Corporations.

"I was so impressed to see how our aircraft was able to take off 30 seconds after the first one without us feeling anything unusual. I had never felt such an exhilarating feeling," said Jennifer Simmons, Northern Quest Casino's Kalispel tribe. "These crews know their stuff."

The crews Ms. Simmons referred to were comprised of two pilots and a boom operator along with an extra boom operator, in each plane, to assist the guests on board.

The flight was more than just the heritage flight for one boom operator. "I have refueled several types of aircraft many times before, but I had never refueled a KC-135, so today was both my first time and an honor to be a part of this special day," said Senior Airman Tony Montani, 92nd Operations Squadron boom operator. "It was a pretty big deal because it's not everyday you get to refuel and host a group of community business men and women and journalists. You have to do your job in the best way and maintain your calm to make the experience safe and fun for everyone."

"It was amazing to all of us to see the pilots and the boom operators so calm during the entire mission, and yet being able to answer all our questions," added Ms. Simmons. "At some point, they had seven people in the cockpit and still managed everything perfectly."

The crews' unruffled demeanor, which impressed Ms. Simmons and all the guests, is what Major Matthews refers to as "compartmentalization." "It is what we are taught during pilot training days," said Major Matthews. "It is the ability to tune everything else out and focus on what is important, and flying a safe, successful mission is what is important from the moment we get in to the aircraft, so training has a lot to do with how we do our job. As the aircraft commander, I also know that I can trust my crew and that they are taking care of everyone."

The crewmembers were handpicked by their coworkers and commanders.

"I was picked to do this mission, and it makes me feel that my fellow coworkers think I do a good job (and am) worthy of this opportunity. Personally, it's a fulfilling experience to be able to say, a few years from now, that I was a part of this day," said Senior Airman Chelsey Johnson, 92nd ARS boom operator.

Although some of the guests had been on other KC-135 incentive flights, this mission was of more significance than the previous ones.

"I have flown inside a KC-135 five times, but today, it was different because it was an honor to be a part of its heritage flight," said Jack Aronson or 'Sir Jack' as Fairchild knows him, former president of Spokane Lilac Festival.

"This flight has been educational and nothing short of amazing," said Jacci Aronow, Spokane's Youth Family Adult connections board of directors member. "It's impressive to see such a young crew accomplishing such a critical job. I am thankful to have people like them in our Air Force, and I am grateful to Fairchild leaders for letting us see our tax dollars at work."

Ms. Aronow is among the base's honorary commanders.

"Fairchild has a great handle on public relations with our community, allowing us to see things we would have never experienced otherwise," said Ms. Aronow. "It's wonderful to be on this flight with this marvelous crew. They were great at explaining everything while still performing their duties. You go in these planes during Skyfest and other events, but flying in the plane is a whole different feeling. These huge planes hook up to each other without feeling any hiccups, all thanks to their professional crews."