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Putting the KC-46 Pegasus through its paces
by Bo Joyner
Edwards AFB, Calif.
As the Air Force gets ready for the arrival of
its newest aerial refueling and strategic military
transport aircraft, a diverse group of airmen is
working hard to make sure the KC-46A Pegasus
is ready to meet the service’s needs. Lt. Col.
John Mikal is one of them.
Mikal, a reservist KC-135 Stratotanker in-
structor pilot assigned to the 370th Flight Test
Squadron, is also a KC-46 test pilot and member
of the team that’s putting the Pegasus through a
series of critical pre-production tests.
Boeing developed the KC-46 from its 767 jet
airliner and is scheduled to deliver 179 of the
aircraft to the Air Force by 2028. The first 18
combat-ready tankers are scheduled to be deliv-
ered by August 2017.
To meet that timeline, Boeing is working
closely with the Air Force to put the KC-46
through its paces. The company’s first test air-
craft, a Boeing 767-2C, touched down at Ed-
wards Air Force Base. Calif., for the first time
Oct. 15 for several days of fuel onload fatigue
testing. During these tests, the KC-46 flew in
close formations with a KC-135 and KC-10 Ex-
tender to see how the aircraft performed in dif-
ferent aerial refueling positions. While no fuel
was passed, Boeing engineers were able to test
the stress and strain on the Pegasus.
Mikal flew as the aircraft commander of the
KC-135 during the first aerial refueling maneu-
vers of a KC-46 behind a KC-135 and in close
formation with both the KC-10 and KC-46 on
Oct. 19. Two days later, he flew as a pilot aboard
the KC-46 during an aerial refueling receiver
onload fatigue test behind a KC-10. He was the
first Air Force reservist to fly the 767-2C, the
commercial test variant of the KC-46.
“It was a tremendous honor to participate in
and conduct KC-46 testing with the test team,”
Mikal said. “The KC-46 will be an amazing
operational aircraft, and I’m humbled to have
the opportunity to be a part of this amazingly
talented test team.”
Mikal isn’t the only Air Force reservist from
the 370th FLTS qualified to take part in the KC-
46 testing. The 370th has two KC-46 initial cad-
re boom operators — Master Sgts. Aaron Ray
and Scott Scurlock — who will be taking part in
Pegasus refueling testing in the coming months.
The 370th FLTS is an embedded Air Force
Reserve unit with a mission of providing KC-
135 aerial refueling test support to both opera-
tional and test-configured receiver aircraft at
Edwards AFB’s 412th Test Wing. The Reserve
unit also leads management and execution of
the business effort mission at Edwards AFB,
which utilizes operational Air Mobility Com-
mand KC-135 and KC-10 tankers to support
routine refueling of non-test configured 412th
WANTED:TW receiver aircraft.
Since some 370th FLTS pilots are test pilots
and some of its boom operators are flight test
boom operators, they augment the KC-135, KC-
April 1, 2016 • Volume 30, Issue 4
www.aerote6chn.e5ws”.coma« FDaceboSok: PAeraotecCh Neews andwww.aerotechnews.com
Lt. Col. John Mikal, a KC-46A Pegasus test pilot, is part of the team that’s putting the tanker through a series of critical pre-production tests at
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
10 and KC-46 flight test and aerial refueling
flight test for Air Force Test Center programs.
On Jan. 24, the KC-46 successfully completed
its first in-flight refueling demonstration as it plans on paper and data from simulation labs,
passed 1,600 pounds of fuel to an F-16C Fight-
ing Falcon.
“These are exciting times for the KC-46A
A KC-46 refuels AV-8B Harrier II March 1, 2016.
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program,” Col. Chris Coombs, the KC-46 sys-
tem program manager at the Air Force Life
Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson
AFB, Ohio, said after that flight. “We have had
but this in-flight demonstration shows we are
truly making progress on bringing this capa-
Boeing photograph by John D. Parker
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Chapel 15April 29, 2016
Facebook.com/NellisBullseye
Volume 12, Number 4 ‘Welcome home!’Published in the interest of the National Training Center and Fort Irwin community • www.irwin.army.mil April 1, 2016 Train the world’s greatest F-35 and F-16 ghter pilots April 8, 2016
Vol. 16, No. 14
Vol. 66 No. 13 INSIDE
April 1, 2016 Vol. 9, No. 4 Serving Southern Arizona’s military community, including Davis-Monthan Air Force Base April 1, 2016
STORIES
HHL16 provides new capabilities to JTACs AN AEROTECH NEWS AND REVIEW PUBLICATION • WWW.AEROTECHNEWS.COM  Cadets soar in AZ, 3
 From dice to advice, 4
Thunder and Lightning Over Arizona draws thousands  Tuskegee Airmen, 6
 Warn kids about drugs, 7
 5k color run, 13
Courtesy photograph By Airman 1st Class Nathan Byrnes of development,” said Waters. “We are INDEX
99th Air Base Wing Public A airs testing an extremely capable device that
has been manufactured in a very short Action line ............................. 2
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — time frame. What we have seen so far Briefs..................................... 3
Special Operations Command, De- with the testing has been extremely Spotlight ................................ 4
partment of Defense components and valuable and useful for both JTACs and Diversions ........................... 16
members from the U.S. Navy, Army, Sports.................................. 19
Marines and Air Force took part in the ghter aircra .’
bility of the next-generation of tankers to the operational assessment of the Hand “ e ability to have a portable radio U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nathan Byrnes QUOTE OF THE WEEK Airman 1st Class Shan Ridge
warfighter supporting our global missions for Held Link 16 radio produced by ViaSat, A civilian contractor and a joint terminal attack controller use the Hand Held Link 16, which The Red Bull Demonstration Team performs during the Luke Air Force Base 75 Years of Airpower air show.
years to come.” March 21-25, 2016, on the Nevada Test that can transmit messages onto the enables digitally aided close air support integration during the operational assessment of “Be dependable, competent, ef-
and Training Range. Link 16 network is crucial for the future the HHL16 radio March 24, on the Nevada Test and Training Range. Link 16 was originally ficient and aggressive. Understand Luke Celebrates 75 Years of Airpower
After the refueling test with the F-16, the KC- of conducting close air support in the designed for air-to-air missions, but the technology has made the transition to ground forces how and where you fit into the
46A had a robust in-flight refueling demonstra- e HHL16 provides a tactical data 21st century. We have always wanted a providing JTACs advantages on the battle eld that they didn’t previously have. wing’s mission and why your job is
tion schedule for the next few weeks. The test link to joint terminal attack controllers standardized, secure method to imple- important. Finally, be the Airman
with the fighter jet fulfilled the requirement to and pilots, and enables digitally aided ment digitally aided CAS and this tool who finds a way to ‘yes.’”
connect to a light/fast receiver aircraft. The re- close air support integration. will give us that capability.”
maining tests with the boom were scheduled to Col. Robert Novotny
use an A-10 Thunderbolt II as the light/slow re- “ e HHL16 radio will give JTACs the The operational assessment of the 48th Fighter Wing commander
ability to transmit friendly positions and HHL16 and the data collected during the
send messages directly to ghter aircra assessment will help with the development
via an extremely secure and encrypted and timely integration of the device.
pathway,” said Capt. Richard Waters,
605th Test and Evaluation Squadron, “It is crucial that we integrate as early
Hurlburt Field, Florida, tactical air con- as possible with the organizations and
trol party air liaison o cer, JTAC. “ is companies that manufacture the battle-
capability signi cantly reduces fratricide
and provides all players in the close air eld systems we utilize in the military,”
support arena the ability to positively said Waters. “Early involvement provides
identify friendly from foe.” the developers the insight they need to
make the systems more practical for the
is operational assessment is the rst war ghter.”
of many that the new HHL16 radio will
undergo during its improvement periods. Sta Sgt. Edward Wambolt, 422nd
Test and Evaluation Squadron lead joint
“ e HHL16 radio is in the early stages terminal attack controller instructor stat-
__________ See HHL16, on page 3
Story by
56th Fighter Wing
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE,
ceiver and a C-17 Globemaster III as the heavy Arizona -- Luke opened its aerial demonstration team and F-16 pilots in the Air Force. munities and allowed Airmen
doors to a record 425,000 people the rst-ever performance and “This was my rst air show,” the opportunity to interact with
receiver. AF Hangar acceptance testing checklist paves way for new standards during its “75 Years of Air- appearance by the F-35 Heri- and thank those community
Mikal said the KC-46 test aircraft will be power” air show April 2 and 3. tage Team, which featured the said Jowellyn Thomas, Good- members for their unwavering
The show provided a glimpse F-35 Lightning II ying along- year resident who attended the support.
spending a lot of time at Edwards AFB in the into the history of the Air Force side the original Lightning, the air show. “It was breathtaking
with jets such as the World War P-38. and I’m really looking forward “The partnerships we have
coming months as it goes through aerial refuel- By Susan Lawson The addition to the 99th Air Base Force Civil Engineer Center at Tyndall depending on the fire protection engi- II A-26 Invader and a glimpse to the next one!” and the friendships we share
ing certification testing with a host of Air Force AFCEC Public A airs Wing fuel cell maintenance hangar was AFB, Florida, has been developing neer overseeing the test. There was no into the Air Force’s future with When they weren’t ying, the are absolutely vital to what we
and coalition aircraft. the first Air Force hangar fire suppres- standardized checklist to be followed uniformity even within agencies. Luke’s own F-35 Lightning II. F-35 Heritage Team members Putting together an air show do at Luke AFB” said Brig. Gen.
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — sion system to be tested with new Uni- for all future acceptance tests around “Simply stated, the air show were busy handing out and with more than 40 static dis- Scott Pleus 56th Fighter Wing
“There are about 18 different aircraft that Fire protection engineers convened fied Facilities Criteria, which requires the world. “In order to provide a more reliable was a tremendous success,” said signing photos for thousands of plays and 11 aerial acts takes commander. “All year long we
need to be tested as they take on fuel from the recently for the final acceptance test of fire suppression system activation by re suppression system and reduce or Lt. Col. Christopher Bacon, air visitors to the base. a team effort. get unending support from our
KC-46,” he said. “A lot of that testing will take an aircraft hangar foam fire suppres- triple infrared detection technology. The standardized project acceptance eliminate false activations, we need both show director. elected leaders, businesses and
place here at Edwards, and I am ready to help sion system at Nellis Air Force Base, checklist effort began after it was dis- oversight and consistency,” Biddle said. The show was headlined by Another highlight of the “From successfully screening those who live throughout the
out with that testing however I can.” Nevada. Judy Biddle, hangar fire suppression covered that the hangar fire suppres- ______ See CHECKLIST, on page 3 the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds show was the close air sup- our guests to supporting the Valley — and once every two
subject matter specialist at the Air sion acceptance testing process differed port demonstration, during best air acts from around the years we get the opportunity to
Edwards AFB continues to be the premier which the F-16 Fighting Falcons world, my hat goes off to each give something back in the form
base for flight testing the Air Force’s newest showed off their combat capabil- and every member of my air of an air show. It is our way of
capabilities, and the Air Force Reserve’s 370th ities. This “live” demonstration show team and the countless saying ‘thanks’ for allowing us
FTS continues to support when needed. featured pyrotechnic explosions volunteers who made it hap- to be a part of this great com-
to simulate bombs was a crowd pen,” Bacon said. munity.”
The KC-46A Pegasus is intended to replace favorite and highlighted the fact
the Air Force’s aging tanker fleet, which has Luke AFB trains 97 percent of The turnout highlighted the
been refueling aircraft for more than 50 years. tremendous support for Luke
With more refueling capacity and enhanced ca- AFB from the surrounding com-
pabilities, improved efficiency, and increased
See TANKER, Page 2 Cpl. Eli Marvin – a Soldier with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment – shakes hands with James Pinnix, a Vietnam War Veteran, here,
March 19. Pinnix, of Orange, Calif., was a Navy Hospital Corpsman who served with the United States Marines in Vietnam, 1966-67.
Story and photos by Gustavo Bahena of the NTC headquarters, where Martin, NTC Command Sgt. meet our national security needs,” Martin said. Scan with Find us online at Motivated volunteer to lead the Nellis Retiree A airs
Maj. Edison Rebuck, and their families waved and greeted the e guest speaker, Joseph Galloway, was introduced by Col. your O ce. Would you be interested in a dynamic position that helps Las
Public A airs O ce Veterans riding atop military trucks, motorcycles and classic smartphone Nellis AFB & Vegas area Retirees? Do you enjoy teamwork and making a di er-
e National Training Center and Fort Irwin honored Vet- cars. e route was also lined with hundreds of Soldiers and Scott Taylor, commander of Fort Irwin United States Army tTooocuornwneecbtsite Nellis Bullseye ence? Please contact the 99th ABW Commander Action Group at
erans of the Vietnam War era during an event here, March 19. family members, who cheered the procession. Garrison. Galloway is a retired journalist and co-author of “We 702-652-9900 or email 99ABW.CAG@us.af.mil by April 15.
On a clear, warm day, just before the start of spring, the com- Were Soldiers Once … and Young.”
manding general of this Army combat training center – Maj. e Veterans continued to receive applause and recognition
Gen. Joseph Martin – proclaimed, “Welcome Home!” to the as they entered the tent for a ceremony and lunch. Taylor explained Galloway served four tours as a war corre-
Veterans during a ceremony celebrating their military service. spondent in Vietnam. He was recognized in 1998 with a Bronze
Approximately 500 Veterans and their guests sat inside a Martin expressed that Soldiers and the community was hon- Medal with “V” device for rescuing wounded Soldiers under
cavernous tent with Soldiers and leadership during the late ored and humbled to host the Veterans “from three generations
morning ceremony. ey had received a hero’s welcome from ago for their service to our nation.” re in Ia Drang Valley with the 7th Cavalry in November 1965.
the start of the day, which began with a motorcycle escort to “He is the only civilian to be awarded a medal for valor by
“Painted Rocks,” just outside the installation gate. ey took “Some of you made a long journey to come here … but all
a group photo there and then participated in a parade in front of you have come here from a long life’s journey in a time and the U.S. Army for actions in combat,” Taylor said.
circumstance of faith that brought you in the prime of your life Galloway thanked the former servicemembers in the audi-
to spend a tour of duty, or more, in Vietnam, to serve the United
States in Germany, Korea or elsewhere around the world – to ence and stated, “Welcome home brothers and sister Veterans.”
See WELCOME HOME, page 12
(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chris Massey) Go to luke.af.mil for Luke Facebook link Use your smartphone to
connect to our website!
Two A-10C Thunderbolt IIs y in tandem during a demonstration at the Thunder and Lightning over Arizona Open House at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 12, 2016. The Desert Lightning
Team demonstration included A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, HH-60G Pave Hawks and an HC-130J Combat King.
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