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REFUELING HEAVY METAL
with THE
USAF
BY: ISAAC LEBOWITZ
Extending Global Reach with the 305th Air Mobility Wing
One cannot overstate the importance of Aerial Refueling to the global readiness of the US Air Force. The Rapid Global Mobility mission capability provided by the 305th Air Mobility Wing (AMW) allows for deployment of aircraft, personnel, cargo and humanitarian assistance globally, anywhere at any time.
The 305th Operations Group is a unit within the 305th AMW. The mission of the 305th Operations Group is to deploy worldwide from America's Eastern Gateway, to perform aerial refueling and airlift, in support of tactical, strategic, reconnaissance, transport, and bombardment forces in high-threat and chemical warfare environments.
The 305th Operations Group is comprised of the following squadrons: 2nd Air Refueling Squadron, 6th Airlift Squadron, 32nd Air Refueling Squadron, and the 305th Operations Support Squadron
The 2nd and 32nd Airborne Refueling Squadrons with a combined fleet of 32 KC-10 tankers, are able to provide refueling support anywhere in the world. The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender is based on the civilian DC-10; this is a very large refueling tanker aircraft that also has the ability to load 170,000 pounds of cargo. The lower cargo deck contains tanks which can carry 356,000 pounds of fuel, almost twice as much as the KC-135 tanker. Fully loaded, the KC-10 weighs approx. 590,000 pounds. The crew on a KC-10 consists of 2 pilots, a flight engineer and a boom operator. For off-station missions, there would also be two flying crew chiefs. McGuire received their first KC-10s in 1979. Recent upgrades to the KC-10 have involved updated avionics, satellite communications capability and upgraded navigation capability.
While the KC-10's mission is primarily aerial refueling, it can accommodate loads ranging from 27 pallets to a mix of 17 pallets and 75 passengers. The KC-10 is also capable of transporting ambulatory patients using patient support pallets during medical evacuations.
During refueling operations, the KC-10's boom operator controls refueling operations through a digital, fly-by wire system. Fuel is transferred to the receiver at a maximum rate of 1,100 gallons per minute; hose and drogue refueling capability is also available on the KC-10 for refueling US Navy and Marine fighters. The automatic load alleviation and independent disconnect systems greatly enhance safety and facilitate air refueling. The KC-10 can be air-refueled by a KC-135 or another KC-10 to increase its delivery range. Continued on Page 36