History of destroyed aircraft air refueling archive. Ricke said the same thing about flying crew chiefs being one of the more rewarding parts of the hard crew chief life and said whether the mission is a four to five day trip just dropping supplies or working on an military training exercise with the army for two weeks, becoming a flying crew chief is a goal any new crew chief should strive for. She started by taking a year off from iowa state university where she studies industrial engineering to attend basic training, then technical school at shepherd air force. Each aircraft is assigned a crew chief who is the senior enlisted member nonofficer on the aircraft and is responsible for overseeing the routine maintenance of the aircraft and the administrative functions relating to the lower ranking enlisted crew. Anyone who they were dealing with were likely crew chiefs or maybe an expediter. Ground crews will have to deice the tanker before it can take off on a refueling mission. He lightheartedly told the story of how he was once working on the flight line and one of his former young airmen, original kc5 crew chief returns to mcghee tyson by master sgt.
Amanda walls, a former kc5 crew chief with tennessee air national guards 151st air refueling squadron. This unique asset enhances the air forces capability to accomplish its primary mission of global reach. The boeing kc 5 stratotanker is a military aerial refueling aircraft. The detail on the aircraft is incredible, with us air force clearly legible, with 3d contouring on the jet and pterodactyl. Altus air force base is where the path begins for all kc5 boom operators, including staff sgt. Crew chiefs assigned to the 100th aircraft maintenance squadron perform aircraft maintenance 247 and conduct inspections and servicing to ensure the kc5 accomplishes its primary mission of global reach. Kc5 crew chief named iowa airman of the year reserve. Air force kc5 flying members of soviet leader nikita khrushchevs entourage during his 1959 visit to the united states. I was a kc5 crew chief for many years of my af career. Just got the book based on info from a 5 crew chief.
For crew chiefs at the transit center at manas, its a hard job tha. I will definitely get others for my favorite aircraft. Find great designs on baseball hats and trucker hats. Add the following css to the header block of your html document. Uses technical data to diagnose and solve maintenance problems on aircraft systems. To all future boom students walls gives this advice, stay in the books. After spending six years as a kc5 crew chief, walls said she decided she was ready for a career change. Fairchild air force base is home to nearly 35 kc5 stratotankers, most of which are approaching their 60th birthdays. The boeing kc5 stratotanker is a military aerial refueling aircraft.
The kc5 stratotanker provides the core aerial refueling capability for the united states air force and has excelled in this role for more than 60 years. Kc5 flying crew chief september 2003 to april 2010 usaf grand forks air force base, nd advises on problems maintaining, servicing, and inspecting aircraft and aerospace support equipment. The kc 5 was the us air forces first jetpowered refueling tanker and replaced the kc 97 stratofreighter. After spending six years as a kc5 crew chief, walls said she. Our radio suddenly crackled and a kc5 pilot broadcast, hey, were sitting up here. I am attending embryriddle aeronautical university at my bases extended campus location, majoring in professional aeronautics and aviation maintenance technology. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The kc5 was the us air forces first jetpowered refueling tanker and replaced the kc97 stratofreighter.
Boom operators on an air force kc5 stratotanker have the ability to pump. Duties of this position include but are not limited to. Book has great pictures missing one of offutt flight line with all rcs and ecs lined uphung at ops and in hanger maint during the late 60s i was disappointed in the. I was a crew chief on the kc i35 aircraft pick up new from boeing at k. It is the predominant variant of the c 5 stratolifter family of transport aircraft. Interprets and advises on maintenance procedures and policies to repair aircraft and support equipment. Bobby mccasland, a former crew chief, was part of the crew that picked up the first aircraft, tail number 553127, from larson air force base, washington, and delivered it to the 93rd air refueling squadron at castle afb, california. For crew chiefs at the transit center at manas, its a hard job thats worth doing to keep these planes. Kc5a crew chief replied to kc5a crew chiefs topic in lsp discussion tnarg thanks for the tips and hints. The kc5 was the us air forces first jetpowered refueling tanker and replaced the kc97 stratotanker. Ive been a crew chief for nearly eight years and its hit or miss. Great addition to my large military aviation and kc5 library.
Primarily based on the authors extensive access to operational kc5 aircraft on the ground and in flight, this book contains the most detailed photographic documentation of the kc5 inside and out that has ever been published, as well as color profiles of the kc5r in the markings of every major usaf command that has operated that variant. Then add the markup below to the body block of the same document. A you read the book you will notice statements specifying. Air force kc5 stratotanker crew chiefs perform preflight checks sept. Video profile of a kc5 crew chief with the michigan air national guard at selfridge air national guard base, mich. See all crew chief salaries to learn how this stacks up in the market. Fast paced action that never stops in this spellbinding but honest look a. I just bumped into a retired pilot that had my serial number in his log book. What is your life like if you are an air force kc5 crew. I want to do a nice job for my friend, but am not worried about doing a nationals winner or anything. Senior airman dane haugbom, 940th aircraft maintenance squadron crew chief, crosses a pair of marshaling wands while a kc5 stratotanker taxis jan.
In fact as a crew chief, they took me for several rides to places on every continent. If anybody has information on these crashes, please use the comments below as a forum to add your inputs. The victims of the 1962 crash deserve to be remembered, said harold markiewicz, of post falls, a retired kc5 crew chief who had a close friend, erwin paszek, on that flight. It is all of the pictures you wish you would have taken when you had the chance. Total force program aims to streamline kc5 upkeep u. Kc5 crew chief apprentice students work on a kc5 stratolifter at. Op youre good man, there are bad crews and good crews, its an everyday thing on the flightline. It takes a lot of effort and long hours to keep a kc5 ready for the refueling mission. As a crew chief, youre mostly dealing with gto gastiresoil and pi.
He recently came to the 459th air refueling wing to visit his, news, features and commentaries about air force reserve people, equipment and missions. They took me in and out of sea over a period from 1965 1972. This document presents design criteria for the kc5 crew systems to he. This patch was designed for kc5 crew chiefs and maintainers everywhere. Book has great overall info on the 60 year history. Crew chief by jesse mcleod meet your next favorite book.
A crew chief came to me with an idea and this is the result. Day to day maintenance post flight, thruflight, preflight, special and phase inspections. Free returns 100% satisfaction guarantee fast shipping. With little rest for the lynch pin of global reach air refueling in sight, these kc5s rely on a highlytrained, responsible group of maintainers to keep them in the air. In addition to multiple publications and appearances in aviation programs on the history channel, the smithsonian channel, and the bbc, hopkins is the author of boeing kc 5 stratotanker. Retired crew chief reminisces about 60 years of kc5. Crew chief kc 5 resume example united states air force.
The 940th amxs crew chiefs are responsible for inspecting. How the air force trains crew chiefs to keep biggest planes in the air. Bobby mccasland, former kc5 crew chief, was impressed by how easy the stratotanker was to maintain compared to the b52 stratofortress. They were assigned to one of six kc5 tankers to accompany 24 f4 phantom fighter jets from. I am a crew chief essetially, a maintainer in the air force on the kc5 stratotanker, and i currently hold a private pilots license. It and the boeing 707 airliner were developed from the boeing 36780 prototype. Heres how the air force trains its crew chiefs to keep its biggest. We could have used a ground cart to start the engine, but the crew chief.
S may 2016 to current crew chief kc5 march air reserve base, ca. Heavy aircraft crew chiefs reflect on duties before air. This page is for anyone who was or is a crew chief on the kc5. To this day i can almost visualize every inch of those birds. The guy who makes sure the car gets to the track, people are doing their jobs, and to take all the heat when somebodys.
Joseph thomas, the 22nd amxs superintendent, reveal the dedicated crew chief box on a kc5 stratotanker may 2. The 5 is a very forgiving aircraft, very easy to work on and really, a great bird to be assigned to. Even a brief look at this listing shows that flying the kc5 and similar aircraft was anything but. Below is a table that shows all destroyed 5 aircraft. A must have for former kc5 crew dogs, maintainers and enthusiasts. Both the kc 5 and the boeing 707 airliner were developed from the boeing 36780 prototype. Our kc5 patches are 100% embroidered with velcro backing. Christensen is a kc5 crew chief assigned to the 185th air refueling wing in sioux city, iowa. Former loring airman turns tale of daring midair rescue into book. Bobby mccasland, former kc5 crew chief, was impressed by how easy the stratotanker was to maintain compared to the b52 stratofortress on jun. This estimate is based upon 1 air national guard crew chief salary reports provided by employees or estimated based upon statistical methods.
Vietnam era crew chief reunites with his aircraft 40 years. Both the kc5 and the boeing 707 airliner were developed from the boeing 36780 prototype. Cleanest latrines in the air page 10 macdill thunderbolt. This employee is primarily responsible for planning and supervising the work of a maintenance crew. The stratotanker was initially tasked to refuel strategic bombers, but was used extensively in the vietnam war and later conflicts such as.
Kc5 patches aircraft custom patches custom patches for boeing kc5 stratotanker at u. I was a crew chief from 1981 to 1987 with the 452nd air refueling wing. Performing work tasks including those being carried out by those under hisher supervision. Crew chiefs from the 6th aircraft maintenance squadron prepare to board a kc 5 stratotanker to perform services to the latrine july 11, at. Fuselier is a retired master sergeant, a vietnam war veteran, a bronze star recipient, and a former crew chief for the kc5 stratotanker, tail number 3543 more than 40 years ago. For crews on air force kc5 tankers, parachutes are not. A kc5 stratotanker sits on the flightline at manas air base, kyrgyzstan. Start studying kc5 block 5 flight controls crew chief.
The work can suck sometimes but sometimes you can luck out. Behind every driver, theres a crew chief the brains of the operation. Despite having served only around two years, shes checked a lot of boxes. On june 28, 1957, the air force received its first kc5 stratotankers. Theres some bullshit, but youll find that in every job. The former head crew chief was more than eager to share old stories with the airmen while touring the aircraft. Only two aircraft crew chiefs on board were from k i sawyer afb, mi. Kc 5 flying crew chief resume example usaf rapid city. The boeing companys model 36780 was the basic design for the commercial 707 passenger plane as well as the kc5a stratotanker. He earned a phd in us and soviet history from the university of virginia.
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