Fairchild Air Force Base demonstrates rapid generation capabilities during Royal Flush

A B-1B Lancer assigned to the 7th Bomb Wing diverges from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing after receiving fuel during exercise Royal Flush over Texas, May 1, 2024. During the exercise, KC-135 aircrews refueled B-1Bs to demonstrate aerial refueling capabilities and extend the mission range of combat-ready forces. Royal Flush was a two-part Air Mobility Command readiness exercise that evaluated the ability to rapidly respond and execute mobility fundamentals and non-standard techniques to provide global mobility at a moment’s notice. In a 72-hour period, Fairchild Air Force Base launched 44 KC-135 sorties. This exercise represents a shift from day-to-day aerial refueling missions and planned deployments, to a time when forces could be required to launch all available assets and personnel within days’ notice. As the world’s largest tanker fleet, Team Fairchild would be among the first units to respond to any global contingency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Haiden Morris)