SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Airmen from the 117th Air Refueling Wing provided in-air refueling support during Sentry Savannah 16-3.
The exercise ran from July 26 to Aug. 5, and the Alabama Guardsmen used their KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft to refuel F-22 Raptors, T-38 Talons, F-18 Hornets and F-16 Fighting Falcons.
Sentry Savannah is a massive large-force exercise off the coast of Georgia. Units from different components of the Air Force participated, as well as members of sister services.
“We can support the mission as long as we have the fuel for the other aircraft,” said Maj. Shaun Southall, 106th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135R instructor pilot. “We are here to enable their fight. How long we are there is dependent on how long they want to fly. While we are in the air, pilots will come to us for fuel and return to the fight.”
The KC-135 has been serving the Air Force for more than 50 years and can carry up to 200,000 pounds of fuel.
In the rear of the aircraft, Senior Master Sgt. Todd Murray, 117th ARW KC-135 boom operator, lines up the boom visually to make contact with an F-16 during a refueling mission.
“When needing fuel, fighters call us when they are about three miles out,” Murray said. “At that point they inform us that their nose is cold and switch is safe, which means their guns are off. We then clear them to join up and they come to the stern. Once they are 50 feet away, we will clear them in, turn the pilot director lights on and make contact.”
While in the process of refueling, the KC-135 and the other aircraft must travel at the same speed to ensure a proper connection.
“When making initial contact we try our best to not touch outside the refueling receptacle,” Murray said.
A process called a break away will occur in the event a problem arises while the two aircraft are connected.
“If pilots come in too close or they come in making too much forward progress on the airplane, we will have to perform a break away,” Murray said. “What that does is separates the aircraft as quickly as possible. The KC-135 will push the power up and the jet will pull the throttle back and they will drop down to get separation.”
The Airmen from the 117th headed back to their home station at the conclusion of the exercise, but they will continue to ensure aircraft will be fueled to complete whatever mission is ahead of them.