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Boomer

Staff Sgt. Shawna Sims, 92nd Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, makes connection with a C-17 Globemaster III from Joint-Base Lewis McChord, Wash., during a local training flight Feb. 4, 2016, over Washington State. The C-17 was flown by numerous pilots from McChord including Col. Leonard Kosinski, 62nd Airlift Wing commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Mackenzie Richardson)

Cockpit

Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, goes through a flying checklist with Capt. Timothy McBride, 93rd Air Refueling Squadron Block 45 training program manager, during a local training flight Feb. 4, 2016, over Washington State. It was McDaniel’s first time flying the KC-135 Stratotanker with its newest upgrade, the Block 45. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Mackenzie Richardson)

Connection

A KC-135 Stratotanker makes a connection with a C-17 Globemaster III from Joint-Base Lewis McChord, Wash., Feb. 4, 2016, over Washington State. The flight was a local training flight in which Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, and Maj. Joshua Brown, 92nd ARS chief of squadron tactics, trained on the KC-135 Block 45 upgrade for the first time. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Mackenzie Richardson)

Wing commander conquers Block 45

Published Feb. 8, 2016
By Airman 1st Class Mackenzie Richardson
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, tested the Block 45 upgrade for the first time Feb. 4, during an air-refueling mission over Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The mission was completed in alliance with Col. Leonard Kosinski, 62nd Airlift Wing commander, and three other pilots.

The Block 45 upgrade modernizes the KC-135 Stratotanker's flight deck with modifications such as the latest generation autopilot, flight director, radar altimeter and a liquid-crystal electronic engine instrument display. The LCD display replaces the older model's analog gauges and increases the aircraft's ability to relay information to the pilots.

"Overall, 32 components were removed or integrated into the new LCD electronic engine instrument display and new autopilot," said Capt. Tim McBride, 93rd Air Refueling Squadron Block 45 training program manager.

Another unique aspect of the flight was the local training conducted by both the 92nd ARW and the 62nd AW. Along with McDaniel, Maj. Joshua Brown, 92nd Air Refueling Squadron chief of squadron tactics, was trained on the Block 45 upgrade by McBride during the flight. McBride was trained on the Block 45 while stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Fla., before going through a permanent change of station and arriving at Fairchild in March 2015.

"The priority of my job is to ensure all training that occurs at Fairchild is standardized," said McBride. "I make sure any certified instructor can teach other pilots and ensure the same result. Everyone has to be on the same page with how an aircraft is employed, its capabilities and limitations."

The C-17 Globemaster III, which hailed from Joint-Base Lewis McChord, Wash., trained multiple pilots on the process of air-refueling throughout the local training flight. With two boom operators on board, the KC-135 made multiple connections with the C-17 ensuring successful training for the 62nd AW crew.

"Local training flights assure we have good working relationships with other bases so we can assist in keeping each other current in our respective training areas," said Senior Airman Greyson Sandoval, 92nd ARS boom operator.