US Air Force celebrates 100 years of aerial refueling with global flyovers on June 27.
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ – The United States Air Force commemorates 100 years of aerial refueling, marking a milestone in the country’s history of aviation. The 305th Air Mobility Wing of the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. announced that it will be holding aerial refueling demonstrations in honor of the occasion. Mission partners in the United States and overseas will partake in this grand celebration on Tuesday, June 27, 2023.
The U.S. Air Force welcomes the American public to witness flyovers of air refuelers across communities within and outside of the United States. The occasion is aimed at showcasing 100 years of unmatched excellence in aerial refueling.
The demonstration event will feature one KC-135, 8 KC-46s, and 6 C-17s departing from the 305th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. The flight path will be viewable from key landmarks in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The flight path will consist of two formations that will fly approximately 20 minutes apart. The approximate time schedules for the different locations are listed below.
Local Times:
New York:
1:30 p.m. Albany, NY
1:50 p.m. Syracuse, NY
2:05 p.m. Rochester, NY
2:25 p.m. Niagara and Buffalo area, NY
2:40 p.m. Jamestown, NY
3:05 p.m. Ithaca, NY
New Jersey:
1:03 p.m. Asbury Park, NJ
1:10 p.m. Barnegat Light, NJ
1:17 p.m. Atlantic City NJ
1:25 p.m. Cape May, NJ
1:42 p.m. Philadelphia Airport
Please note that schedules could change due to mission requirements.
The Air Force boasts of 100 years of air refueling, and its incredibly capable fleet of KC-46, KC-135, and KC-10 tankers that deliver unsurpassed rapid global reach for the United States and its Allies worldwide. In addition to enhancing combat aircraft’s speed, range, versatility, and lethality, aerial refueling serves as a force multiplier. These tankers can also transport cargo and passengers, facilitate aeromedical evacuations and participate in enabling strategic deterrence for the United States.
Gen. Mike Minihan, the Air Mobility Command commander, said, “Air refueling propels our Nation’s air power across the skies, unleashing its full potential. It connects our strategic vision with operational reality, ensuring we can reach any corner of the globe with unwavering speed and precision. Air refueling embodies our resolve to defend freedom and project power, leaving an indelible mark on aviation history.”
Aerospace visionaries throughout the country’s history, including Airmen, delivered a game-changing capability that was once impossible. These individuals possessed hallmark qualities such as innovation and tenacity that characterize the Airmen’s critical capability, which remains essential to the Department of Defense’s most vital missions.
On June 27, 1923, tenacious U.S. Army Air Service aviators achieved the impossible by transferring gasoline through a hose from one DH-4B airplane to another, leaving an indelible mark in the aviation world. These Airmen’s tenacity and innovative will continue to thrive in today’s Airmen’s spirits, 100 years later.
To remain relevant in the current and future security environments, the Air Force is continuing the acquisition of KC-46A, a new tanker fleet, and accelerating its pursuit of the next-generation air refueling system (NGAS), which was announced in March. This system propels forward the capability that Airmen developed in the last century, entrusting and preparing Airmen for the challenges ahead.
Minihan exclaimed, “As we embark on the next 100 years of air refueling, we will continue to strengthen our air mobility excellence. We must leverage the remarkable capabilities of air refueling to preserve peace, protect freedom, and bring hope to the world. As Mobility Airmen, we write the next chapter of air refueling.”
The Air Mobility Command salutes these visionaries who challenged the status quo of yesteryears while continuing to inspire the next generation of out-of-the-box thinkers and dreamers for the challenges ahead.
