KC-135, crew participates in Berlin Air Show
Related Topics (5)
-
1
U.S. Air Forces in Europe
-
2
United Kingdom
-
3
Partnerships
-
4
J5/8 - Policy, Strategy, Partnering and Capabilities
-
5
Germany
More related topics
BERLIN, Germany - A KC-135 Stratotanker from the Royal Air Force Base Mildenhall arrived at Berlin-Schoenefeld Airport to take part in the ILA 2010 Berlin International Aerospace Exhibition and Conferences from June 8 to 13.
The Berlin Air Show is one of the premier events of its type in the world, with 1,153 exhibitors from 47 countries, including the United States.
“We are all glad to be here,” said Air Force Capt. Owen Walker, 351st Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 pilot from Royal Air Force Base Mildenhall, United Kingdom.
The KC-135 provides the core aerial refueling capability for the United States Air Force and has excelled in this role for more than 50 years. This unique asset enhances the Air Force's capability to accomplish its primary missions of Global Reach and Global Power.
During the show, the KC-135 crew showed all the parts of the aircraft including the boom operator station and the cockpit.
“One of their main questions include how old the aircraft is, and when they hear it’s 50 years old, they’re shocked,” Walker said. “They find it hard to believe that it is really that old and yet, it’s working perfectly.”
The visitors are also able to ask questions to the aircrew about the aircraft as well as the Air Force life.
“Everybody is friendly,” said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Charles Douglas, 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief. “Everyone is interested with the KC-135 since not a lot of people know about this particular aircraft.”
But putting out a show like this takes a lot of planning, hard work and dedication, Captain Walker said.
“Even though we only flew from England, the main challenge is that we usually don’t go to a lot of air shows so mainly, we are concerned about the basic planning,” he said. “We had to ensure the runway and the taxi way is wide enough for the aircraft. We also need clearances to fly. So there’s really a lot of logistical planning involved.”
According to him, these wouldn’t be made possible without the teamwork and cooperation between and among the members of the team.
“We all know each other pretty well,” Walker said. “We all get a long. We are a tight-knit group. We have fun doing our mission here.”
Find more articles tagged with:
- Berlin-Schoenefeld Airport
- Germany
- Airman
- Royal Air Force Mildenhall
- Royal Air Force
- NATO
- Air Force
- airplane
- Berlin
- Berlin Air Show
-
REEPing the rewards of energy conservation
More than $6 million was spent on Royal Air Forces Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell base housing utilities in 2011.Find more articles tagged with:
-
Civic leaders receive preview of Baumholder's future
Leaders of the U.S. Army Garrison Baumholder, the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and local civic leaders came together for a garrison hosted civic leaders working luncheon recently in the Rheinlander Community Club to discuss issues affecting the military and civilian communities.Find more articles tagged with:
-
This Week in EUCOM History: Sept. 30-Oct. 6, 1990
Less than one year after the destruction of the Berlin Wall, East and West Germany come together on what is known as "Unity Day."Find more articles tagged with:
-
USACE forward engineers train with Italians
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Forward Engineering Support Team-Advance (FEST-A) conducted training and remote engineering missions in partnership with Italian Army Reconnaissance Engineers here September 9-21, 2012.Find more articles tagged with:
-
EIAMDC officially opens
The Warrior Preparation Center opened the European Integrated Air and Missile Defense Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony here Sept. 26.Find more articles tagged with:
-
EUCOM senior enlisted seminar hits its mark
ISES, a weeklong U.S. European Command event held at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, concluded on Sept. 13.Find more articles tagged with:
-
Schweinfurt flexes combat capability muscle with NATO exercise
Despite its announced closure earlier this year, the U.S. Army garrison here still has something to prove: Pitted between closing and remaining operational, it can also host a large-scale NATO exercise in its own backyard.Find more articles tagged with:
-
Operation Rhino Serpent 2012: US, German, British medical troops learn from one another during exercise
Operation Rhino Serpent, a multi-national medical field training exercise comprised of more than 550 U.S. Army Europe, German Armed Forces and British Armed Forces active duty Reservists and volunteersFind more articles tagged with:
-
Jackal Stone 2012 participants take cultural tour of Croatia
Military personnel from 11 NATO-member nations took part in a tour of the Krka National Park located along the Krka River in Croatia on Sept. 15, 2012.Find more articles tagged with:
-
81st FS plays critical role in NATO exercise
The 81st Fighter Squadron is participating in a Ramstein ROVER 2012 Sept. 5-22.Find more articles tagged with:
Comments: 0