KC-46A

An artist's rendering of a KC-46A refueling F-16 Fighting Falcons (photo courtesy the Boeing Company)

“676” Stratofortress static display stands proud

A B-52 Stratofortress static display, tail “676,” sits dominantly at the Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., Heritage Park May 8, 2012. On Dec. 18, 1972, during Linebacker II operations over North Vietnam, “676” became the first B-52 to shoot down an enemy MiG aircraft. The tail gunner, Staff Sgt. Samuel O. Turner, fired his 50-caliber machine guns at a MiG-21 as it moved in to attack the B-52. Turner reported a “gigantic explosion to the rear of the aircraft” and was credited with being the first tail gunner to log a confirmed kill during combat in a B-52. (U.S. Air Force photo by Scott King/Released)

Spokane community members visit base, experience mission first-hand

An F-15 Eagle from the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base, Ore., refuels during a training sortie over Washington and Oregon March 28, 2012. The Eagle was one of eight F-15s to be refueled in-flight by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton/Released)

Spokane community members visit base, experience mission first-hand

An F-15 Eagle from the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base, Ore., refuels during a training sortie over Washington and Oregon March 28, 2012. The Eagle was one of eight F-15s to be refueled in-flight by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton/Released)

McConnell jets takeoff from Fairchild

In-flight refueling is demonstrated as Senior Airman Liahna Childs, boom operator, 334th Air Refueling Squadron, pays close attention as she positions a boom into a C-17 Globemaster III for refueling. Childs, who is new at McConnell, says night refueling can be challenging because of difficulty to see the receiving aircraft, but equipment such as night-vision goggles makes it possible. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ryan Zeski)

McConnell jets takeoff from Fairchild

McConnell Air Force Base pilots, 1st Lt. Matthew Welch, 334th Air Refueling Squadron, and Maj. Shane Rogers, 22nd Operations Group, sit inside the cockpit of a KC-135 Stratotanker on the runway at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., March 15, 2012 as they perform a pre-flight checklist before takeoff. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Earlandez Young)