Staff Sgt. Spencer Balcom, 92nd Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, answers questions from John Francisco, West Plains Chamber of Commerce president, about air refueling operations during an orientation flight May 26, 2015, that took off from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. Francisco was one of 21 WPCC members who was afforded the chance to witness air refueling of a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and F-15 Eagles from the 173rd Fighter Wing stationed at Klamath Falls, Ore., while flying over eastern Oregon. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. David A. Liapis)

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Twenty one members of the West Plains Chamber of Commerce pose for a post-flight photo after an orientation flight May 26, 2015, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., that took them over Washington, Oregon and Idaho while viewing the refueling of a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and F-15 Eagles from the 173rd Fighter Wing stationed at Klamath Falls, Ore. Providing opportunities such as orientation flights to local civic and business leaders is one of the ways the Air Force builds public trust and support and strong relationships with the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. David A. Liapis)

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Staff Sgt. Spencer Balcom, 92nd Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, provides a pre-flight safety briefing for members of the West Plains Chamber of Commerce prior to an orientation flight May 26, 2015, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. Providing opportunities such as orientation flights to local civic and business leaders is one of the ways the Air Force builds public trust and support and strong relationships with the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. David A. Liapis)

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Members of the West Plains Chamber of Commerce board a KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling aircraft for an orientation flight May 26, 2015, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. Twenty one WPCC members were provided an opportunity to see the Air Force’s air refueling mission firsthand, viewing the refueling of a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and F-15 Eagles from the 173rd Fighter Wing stationed at Klamath Falls, Ore. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. David A. Liapis)

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Senior Master Sgt. Michael Rodriguez, 92nd Air Refueling Squadron superintendent and boom operator, shares facts about the KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling aircraft with members of the West Plains Chamber of Commerce prior to an orientation flight May 26, 2015, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. The 92nd Air Refueling Wing flew the WPCC members as part of the Air Force’s broader civic outreach program designed to provide local civic leaders and businesspeople with an increased understanding of and appreciation for the Air Force’s various missions and capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. David A. Liapis)

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Patrick Rushing, Mayor of Airway Heights, Wash. and West Plains Chamber of Commerce member, watches while Senior Master Sgt. Michael Rodriguez, 92nd Air Refueling Squadron superintendent and boom operator, controls the boom while refueling a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., May 26, 2015, on an orientation flight that took off from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. The 92nd Air Refueling Wing flew the WPCC members as part of the Air Force’s broader civic outreach program designed to provide local civic leaders and businesspeople with an increased understanding of and appreciation for the Air Force’s various missions and capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. David A. Liapis)

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A C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., separates from the boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., after an air refueling operation May 26, 2015. The refueling of the Air Force’s premiere cargo aircraft was a planned part of an orientation flight on the KC-135 for members of the West Plains Chamber of Commerce, enabling the 21 members to see Fairchild’s air refueling mission firsthand. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. David A. Liapis)

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Meg Miller, Northern Quest Casino representative for the West Plains Chamber of Commerce, and Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, watch as F-15 Eagles from the 173rd Fighter Wing stationed at Klamath Falls, Ore. fly in formation off the wingtip of a KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling aircraft from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., May 26, 2015. The F-15’s fly in formation alongside the tanker KC-135 while awaiting their turn to be refueled, an operation 21 members of the West Plains Chamber of Commerce were able to witness during an orientation flight. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. David A. Liapis)

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An F-15 Eagle fighter jet from the 173rd Fighter Wing stationed at Klamath Falls, Ore., awaits its turn for air refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., May 26, 2015. The refueling of the fighter jets was a planned part of an orientation flight on the KC-135 for members of the West Plains Chamber of Commerce, enabling the 21 members to see Fairchild’s primary mission in action. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. David A. Liapis)

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West Plains Chamber of Commerce members experience FAFB mission firsthand

Published May 28, 2015
By Capt. David A. Liapis
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Twenty one members of the West Plains Chamber of Commerce were given an opportunity to participate in a KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling aircraft orientation flight May 26, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.

The WPCC members were able to see the Fairchild's air refueling mission firsthand, viewing the refueling of a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and F-15 Eagles from the 173rd Fighter Wing stationed at Klamath Falls, Ore.

The 92nd Air Refueling Wing flew the WPCC members as part of the Air Force's broader civic outreach program designed to provide local civic leaders and businesspeople with an increased understanding of and appreciation for the Air Force's various missions and capabilities.

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