March becoming temporary home for Fairchild KC-135s
About 380 people from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., will make this Air Force Reserve Command base their temporary home from the end of May through mid-August. Fairchild's runway is undergoing construction, so the 92nd ARW is deploying 17 of its KC-135 Stratotankers here, two more are going to Geiger Field in Spokane, Wash., and the rest of Fairchild's fleet is being dispersed to other bases.
This summer three components will be flying KC-135 aircraft from March. The Reserve's 452nd AMW flies KC-135s and C-141 Starlifter transport aircraft, and the 163rd ARW, an Air National Guard unit, also has KC-135s.
"Fairchild will continue its real-world, ongoing mission while they are here," said Col. Peter T. Bentley, 452nd AMW commander. "We were selected because Fairchild needed a base on the West Coast that had sufficient quarters, ramp space and a large operational runway. There will be some increase in flying activities during this period. We are actively working with the Fairchild staff to minimize the impact on the surrounding communities."
Besides, Fairchild will deploy support staff, including maintenance, transportation, weather and security forces people. March's C-141s will airlift support equipment, such as computers, aerospace ground equipment and security forces vehicles.
"March is doing a tremendous job supporting us," said Maj. Robin Whybrow, 92nd ARW plans division. "Along with airlifting our equipment, they are providing us a building to work out of, helped us out with our site visits and have done a lot of the legwork for us." (Courtesy of AFRC News Service)
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