Tanker Training at Selfridge

Master Sgt. George Hall operates the boom controls as an A-10 Thunderbolt II maneuvers in to receive fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker during an aerial refueling mission, July 21, 2011. Both aircraft are assigned to the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard and are based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. (U.S. Air Force photo by John S. Swanson) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 81-0994 from the 107th Fighter Squadron.

127th Wing Public Affairs

7/22/2011 - SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. -- Air crews from the 171st Air Refueling Squadron fly the KC-135 Stratotanker, an aerial refueler which is in high demand for a wide variety of missions.

The crew - generally two pilots and a boom operator - are able to carry more than 30,000 gallons of fuel onboard their aircraft. The aircraft can also be configured to carry personnel and cargo and for use as an aeromedical evacuation platform.

Aircrews from the 171st are part of the Michigan Air National Guard and their giant, gray-colored aircraft are based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

On a recent training mission, an aircrew from the 171st was tasked with providing in-flight refueling to a group of A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, which are also flown by the Michigan Air National Guard at Selfridge.



An A-10 Thunderbolt II receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker during an aerial refueling mission, July 21, 2011. Both aircraft are assigned to the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard and are based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. (U.S. Air Force photo by John S. Swanson) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 81-0994 from the 107th Fighter Squadron.



An A-10 Thunderbolt II flies alongside a KC-135 Stratotanker while the A-10’s wingman receives fuel from the tanker, July 21, 2011. All of the aircraft are assigned to the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard and are based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. (U.S. Air Force photo by John S. Swanson) Hi-res

Note: Pictured is A-10C 80-0255 from the 107th Fighter Squadron.

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