141st Air Refueling Wing updates KC-135 tankers
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. (USTCNS) --- The 141st Air Refueling Wing, Washington Air National Guard here recently received the approval from the Department of Defense to convert its KC-135E Stratotankers to the newer R version.
The conversion, starting February 2003, "will fulfill the strategic goal of modernization and will compliment our mission readiness through improved air refueling capabilities," said Col. James Wynne, commander, 141st ARW.
The change will bring new forms of training to the guard.
"The conversion will require some technical training of most aircraft-maintenance personnel, especially in the aircraft generation and maintenance squadrons," said Wynne.
"Aircrews will also be required to complete ground computer-based training, training flights and written and in-flight evaluations."
This will also be a new challenge for many of the maintainers, some who have been members of the 141st since 1976.
"These people have seen the wing change missions from air defense to air refueling. They've worked through sweat and tears to maintain the aircraft at very high organizational and personal standards," Wynne said.
The number of aircraft the 141st ARW has will decrease from 10 to eight, which might cause some reductions in manning, according to Wynne.
"All of the losses will be covered through retirements and moves to other career fields," Wynne said.
Active-duty Team Fairchild members will also help as the Guard gets these updated airframes, since Fairchild also has the R model as well as the newer KC-135T among the aircraft assigned to the base.
"We've offered to send some functional reps to help in any way we can. Most of the help will be in the logistics and maintenance arenas, but we stand ready to provide any assistance to the 141st as they plan for their transition," said Col. Randal Fullhart, commander, 92nd Air Refueling Wing.
One change that will take place to the aircraft is the refitting of newer, more efficient engines.
Newer CFM-56 Inter-national Turbofan engines will replace the older Pratt and Witney TF-33-PW-102 engines.
These turbofans will propel the 136-foot tanker down the flightline with an increase in thrust from 18,000 pounds of thrust per engine to 21,634 pounds per engine, or a total increase of 14,536 pounds of thrust for all four.
"The conversion will offer longer range and additional offload capability through increased fuel efficiency and payload," said Wynne.
"The newer R model engines are 11 percent more fuel efficient than the E models and the lower fuel consumption equals increased performance, which allows it to take off with more fuel and carry it farther.
"Since the airplane can carry more fuel and burn less of it during a mission, it's possible to transfer a much greater amount to receiving aircraft," according to Boeing officials.
The KC-135A was ordered from Boeing in 1954 and employed by the Air Force in 1957. The A model was upgraded to the E model in 1981. The last KC-135 was delivered to the Air Force in 1965.
To date, there are 546 KC-135s in the Air Force inventory, 253 on active duty, 222 in the Air National Guard and 70 in the Air Force Reserve Command.
The conversion, starting February 2003, "will fulfill the strategic goal of modernization and will compliment our mission readiness through improved air refueling capabilities," said Col. James Wynne, commander, 141st ARW.
The change will bring new forms of training to the guard.
"The conversion will require some technical training of most aircraft-maintenance personnel, especially in the aircraft generation and maintenance squadrons," said Wynne.
"Aircrews will also be required to complete ground computer-based training, training flights and written and in-flight evaluations."
This will also be a new challenge for many of the maintainers, some who have been members of the 141st since 1976.
"These people have seen the wing change missions from air defense to air refueling. They've worked through sweat and tears to maintain the aircraft at very high organizational and personal standards," Wynne said.
The number of aircraft the 141st ARW has will decrease from 10 to eight, which might cause some reductions in manning, according to Wynne.
"All of the losses will be covered through retirements and moves to other career fields," Wynne said.
Active-duty Team Fairchild members will also help as the Guard gets these updated airframes, since Fairchild also has the R model as well as the newer KC-135T among the aircraft assigned to the base.
"We've offered to send some functional reps to help in any way we can. Most of the help will be in the logistics and maintenance arenas, but we stand ready to provide any assistance to the 141st as they plan for their transition," said Col. Randal Fullhart, commander, 92nd Air Refueling Wing.
One change that will take place to the aircraft is the refitting of newer, more efficient engines.
Newer CFM-56 Inter-national Turbofan engines will replace the older Pratt and Witney TF-33-PW-102 engines.
These turbofans will propel the 136-foot tanker down the flightline with an increase in thrust from 18,000 pounds of thrust per engine to 21,634 pounds per engine, or a total increase of 14,536 pounds of thrust for all four.
"The conversion will offer longer range and additional offload capability through increased fuel efficiency and payload," said Wynne.
"The newer R model engines are 11 percent more fuel efficient than the E models and the lower fuel consumption equals increased performance, which allows it to take off with more fuel and carry it farther.
"Since the airplane can carry more fuel and burn less of it during a mission, it's possible to transfer a much greater amount to receiving aircraft," according to Boeing officials.
The KC-135A was ordered from Boeing in 1954 and employed by the Air Force in 1957. The A model was upgraded to the E model in 1981. The last KC-135 was delivered to the Air Force in 1965.
To date, there are 546 KC-135s in the Air Force inventory, 253 on active duty, 222 in the Air National Guard and 70 in the Air Force Reserve Command.
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