Photo By Master Sgt. Donald Allen | U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters from the 58th Fighter...... read more read more
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ELGIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Flying high above Eglin AFB and the crystal blue and green waters of Northwest Florida's emerald coast, a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 452nd Air Mobility Wing's 336th Aerial Refueling Squadron orbits and awaits it's next customer.
Watching from the boom operator's pod in the rear of the aircraft, a pair U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighters suddenly appear as specks in the distance, and within moments have caught up to the tanker and begin maneuvering into refueling position.
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joe Parker, inflight refueler and native of Daphne, Ala., communicates with the fighter pilots and skillfully guides the F-35s in for a precision contact and refueling. Parker has refueled almost every aircraft in the inventory, including that of other services over his nine year career in the Air Force.
According to Parker, "The most rewarding part of participating in a mission like this is knowing that I am an active participant in the Air Force's direct future, as well as knowing this mission is a great representation of the tankers important role as related to air superiority."
From May 12-18, 2013, Tech. Sgt. Parker along with pilot Lt. Col. Jeff Richenberger, 452nd Operations Group chief of tanker training, and co-pilot 1st Lt. Kevin Elardo flew mission "RATS 91" to provide aerial refueling support to the 33rd Fighter Wing and it's fighters.
The 33rd Fighter Wing is a joint graduate flying and maintenance training wing that trains Air Force, Marine, Navy and international partner operators and maintainers of the F-35 Lightning II.
The crew of RATS 91 provided 33rd Fighter Wing F-35 instructor pilots the opportunity to qualify in aerial refueling of the fighter, where previously they had only completed training in a simulator. Now fully qualified, the instructor pilots will begin incorporating refueling training into future student pilot classes, thus enhancing the overall mission.
Lt. Col. Richenberger says that this mission was not necessarily any different or more challenging than others he's flown but "It's not often you get to support initial test and evaluation of a new weapons system which will enhance the nations security and that is rewarding."
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.08.2013 10:13 |
| Story ID: | 108335 |
| Location: | EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA, US |
| Hometown: | DAPHNE, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 212 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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