Full service aerial gas stations

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jonathan Snyder
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON, AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Imagine you are thousands of miles from nowhere and low on gas. Now for an additional fact, you're over 20,000 feet in the air. What would you do? What could you do?

Fortunately those who could actually find themselves in that situation have full service aerial gas stations on standby when needed. A fleet of KC-10 Extenders deployed from McGuire Air Force Base New Jersey, and Travis Air Force Base, Cali., provides that service for fighter jets in support of RED FLAG-Alaska 09-2.

"We have highly experienced aircrews ready to support RED FLAG-Alaska 09-2" said Maj. Daniel Mollis, Tanker Task Force Detachment commander. "A high deployment tempo ensures 60-90 combat sorties annually for the KC-10 crew force each with an average duration of 8 hours."

Red Flag-Alaska provides joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment. The Tanker Task Force crews are prepared to refuel aircraft ranging from blue forces F-16 Fighting Falcons and French Dassault M2000 Mirage to red forces F-16 Aggressors using either a drogue or regular boom connection.

"We already work with coalition forces in theater and this gives us another opportunity to work with them in a training environment" said Major Mollis.

In the exercise that enables aviation units to sharpen their combat skills by flying ten simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment, the ability to receive fuel off-ground maximizes time in the air, allowing jets to continue flying where they can execute tactical maneuvers in a blue force versus red force training event.

Basic procedures involved with aerial refueling starts with the fighter jet standing by on what's called the rejoin area. The fighter jet then moves behind the boom, which is called the astern position, while his wingman waits at the rejoin area. The fighter jet then moves slightly forward until the boom operator states he is in proper position. The boom operator then swings the boom around the fighter jet canopy and makes contact with the fighter jet.

"Everyone and everything that participates in Red Flag has their place in the overall mission," said Major Mollis. "And I have full confidence in the capabilities of our team and that of the KC-10 to accomplish their portion of it."

After the boom operator is finished refueling the fighter jet he disconnects and the fighter jet moves to what is called the reform area and waits until his wingman is also refueled. Once both fighter jets have been refueled they head back to the fight using the 67,000 square miles of the Joint Pacific Alaskan Range -- one of the many things that makes Alaska the ideal location for RF-A.

"What we do here at RED FLAG-Alaska is similar to what we already do downrange" said Senior Airman Pavel Del Monte, boom operator, 6th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis Air Force Base. "This exercise provides a great opportunity to stay qualified and proficient until my next deployment, so even we benefit from the training RF-A has to offer."

With the many challenges and high pressure decision-making pilots have to make during combat sorties they have one less thing to worry about with the tanker task force. When a fighter pilot makes contact with the tanker for refueling he can be confident the aircrew will provide the necessary fuel keeping the fighter jet in the air, allowing him to get back to the fight.