McConnell hosts local media

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Laura L. Valentine
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Wichita area media visited McConnell Tuesday to learn about Total Force Integration, the mission of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing and the KC-135 Stratotanker.

Representatives from five media outlets, to include print and broadcast journalism, attended.

Col. Ricky Rupp, 22nd ARW commander, Lt. Col. Michael Moeding of the Reserve 931st Air Refueling Group and Maj. Jesse Sojka, of the Kansas Air National Guard 184th Intelligence Wing briefed the media on their specific roles at McConnell.

"As the Reserve component here, the 931st ARG is a force multiplier that exudes maximum efficiencies from the aircraft and equipment at McConnell," said Moeding.

Following the brief, the media took flight to view the KC-135's mission firsthand.

Home to 63 tankers, McConnell has the largest fleet of KC-135s in the world.

McConnell also has the most unique fleet of tankers, housing the only fleet with the capability to give and receive fuel.

Media members were able to witness in-flight refueling from both ends of the plane. After both KC-135s offloaded and received fuel, they then re-fueled a B-52 Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base, N.D.

"Showing people who don't get to see it [re-fueling] everyday is invigorating," said Airman 1st Class Landon Iverson, 350th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator. "It's exciting to have someone else witness it because it becomes the norm for us."