Southwest Asia --
Fly, fight and win. Those words are etched throughout
Air Force history, earned from countless sorties flown in combat operations around
the globe. Today, we continue to fly, fight and win in support of Operation INHERENT
RESOLVE.
Nearly every OIR mission requires support from
tanker aircraft to put munitions on target. Those tanker aircraft, like the
KC-10 Extender, can’t reach the fight if they aren’t maintained to the highest
standard.
Every Extender undergoes inspection, which ensures
essential parts are operational to include hydraulics systems, alternating current and direct current
systems, landing gear, systems, fire protection, generators, air condition and
heating and oxygen systems.
“We conduct pre-flight, post-flight and thru-flight inspections
on the KC-10,” said Staff Sgt. Michael, Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron,
crew chief. “Each inspection is extensive and a little different, but they all
make sure the airframe is ready for the next sortie and able to support others
in the air.”
Measuring at just over 181 feet in length with a
wingspan of 165 feet, it takes approximately three to four hours to complete
inspection and fix minor repairs on the aircraft. The Extender
requires several specialized maintainers to ensure its mission ready.
“The crew chiefs
do a lot of the basic maintenance on the aircraft; we take care of a lot of the
internal and external pieces that make the jet operational,” said Tech. Sgt.
Samantha, Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, electrical and environmental technician.
“It’s exciting to
troubleshoot problems that we’re not used to seeing. I love digging in to the
systems and seeing how things are interconnected, learning about things you
never thought went together,” she added.
According to the KC-10 Extender fact sheet, it is an
advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to
provide increased global mobility for U.S. armed forces. It can refuel fighters
and simultaneously carry passengers and palletized cargo.
“It’s
a multifunctional aircraft; we can move an entire aircraft maintenance unit
from one location to another,” said Staff Sgt.
Michael. “We
can refuel 6 fighters and haul 75 personnel and their support equipment across
country. We can do it all at once instead of using multiple airplanes.”
The KC-10 Extender is a force multiplier
equipped with an aerial boom, hose and drogue centerline refueling system
capable of resupplying U.S. armed forces and allied aircraft. It can carry
356,000 pounds of fuel. Without maintainers providing round the clock support
to the Extender, aircraft wouldn’t be able to refuel or make it to the fight.
“One of the most important parts of this aircraft is
the boom, which can pass 1,100 gallons of fuel per minute to other aircraft,”
said Staff Sgt. Michael. “We have to make sure that all the hardware and parts
are still intact and that nothing is corroded or broken. That boom is the
reason others can get to the engagement.”
The ability to maintain
and keep tankers in the air like the Extender has enabled coalition forces to
drop over 4,000 weapons on ISIL targets.
Maintaining such a critical aircraft may be a large
task to accomplish, but the hard work put in by the men and women has maintained
their pride and esprit de corps.
“Everybody’s job
is important; we need everyone to get the aircraft off the ground,”
said Tech. Sgt. Samantha.
“It’s one of the most challenging
airframes I’ve worked on since I’ve been in. It keeps me on my toes. We can do
so much more than any other platform in the Air Force. I have a lot of pride in
my aircraft. I love it.”
(Editor’s
note: Due to safety and security reasons, last names and unit designators were
removed.)