Eielson squadrons to participate in Air Show

  • Published
  • By Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Arctic Thunder Open House 2012 is coming July 28 and 29 at JBER, and numerous units will have aircraft participating.

Among these will be the 168th Air Refueling Wing's KC-135 Stratotanker - belonging to the Alaska Air National Guard - and the active-duty 18th Aggressor Squadron's F-16 Fighting Falcon, both from Eielson Air Force Base.

The 168th ARW originally stood up as the 168th Air Refueling Group on Oct. 23, 1990. Their mission is to train and equip KC-135R combat crews to provide air refueling in support of Pacific Air Forces operations, plans and worldwide refueling taskings.

A member of this successful team is boom operator Chief Master Sgt. Paul Nunemann, 168th Air Refueling Squadron chief, who has been serving for the past 26 years, 23 of them at Eielson.

Nunemann said he has put in between 3,500 and 4,000 hours toward refueling missions.

The aircraft used for those thousands of hours of refueling is the KC-135R Stratotanker, which has "the latest and greatest aeronautics upgrades," Nunemann
said.

"(This is the) best job in the Air Force, as far as I'm concerned," he said.

The KC-135 Stratotaker is built on a Boeing 707 platform and contains four turbofans - mounted under 35-degree swept wings - that power the aircraft to takeoffs at weights of up to 322,500 pounds. A cargo deck above the refueling system can hold a mixed load of passengers and cargo. Depending on fuel storage configuration, the KC-135 can carry up to 83,000 pounds of cargo.

Nearly all internal fuel can be pumped through the flying boom, the KC-135's primary fuel transfer method. One crew member, known as the boom operator, is stationed in the aft section of the plane and controls the boom during in-flight air refueling.

A special shuttlecock-shaped drogue attached to and trailing behind the flying boom may be used to refuel aircraft fitted with probes. Some aircraft have been configured with the multipoint refueling system, which consists of special pods mounted on the wingtips. These KC-135s are capable of refueling two receiver aircraft at the same time.

"That's why it's so important to have an efficient refueling method, so we can accomplish a successful operational readiness," Nunemann said.

The unit enjoys showcasing their aircraft in the open house, he said.

"We're looking forward to fellow Alaskans sharing in the adventure," said Tech. Sgt. Richard Smith, noncommissioned officer in charge of scheduling.

The 354th Fighter Wing's 18th Aggressor Squadron will also be represented at the Open House, showcasing their F-16s.

"The 354th Fighter Wing mission is to prepare the war fighter for combat, deploy forces in support of contingency operations, and enable other units in their efforts to deploy, fly, fight, and win," said Air Force Maj. Eric Flattem, 18th Aggressor Squadron assistant director of operations and native of Monett, Mo.

The 18th Aggressor Squadron is given numerous ways to support the missions, he said. "Primarily we are the Pacific Air Force's premier adversaries," he said. "We train PACAF's war fighters by knowing the threat as subject matter experts, teaching the combat air forces about adversary capabilities, and replicating the threat."

"The 18th Aggressor Squadron regularly supports the 3rd Wing," he said.

The 18th AGRS performs daily training, large-force exercises, and major flying exercises such as Red Flag-Alaska and Arctic Integration with the 3rd Wing, he said.

"We are providing two aircraft for static display during the open house," he said. "The F-16s being featured by the 354th Fighter Wing are Block 30 F-16s. They have a service ceiling of 50,000 feet, max airspeed of Mach 2.05 and a maximum g-force rating of 9 Gs. They are painted in three camouflage schemes: Lizard, Arctic, and Flanker."