Photo By Mackenzie Mendez | Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, goes through a flying...... read more read more
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Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, tested the Block 45 upgrade for the first time Feb. 4, during an air-refueling mission over Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The mission was completed in alliance with Col. Leonard Kosinski, 62nd Airlift Wing commander, and three other pilots.
The Block 45 upgrade modernizes the KC-135 Stratotanker’s flight deck with modifications such as the latest generation autopilot, flight director, radar altimeter and a liquid-crystal electronic engine instrument display. The LCD display replaces the older model’s analog gauges and increases the aircraft’s ability to relay information to the pilots.
“Overall, 32 components were removed or integrated into the new LCD electronic engine instrument display and new autopilot,” said Capt. Tim McBride, 93rd Air Refueling Squadron Block 45 training program manager.
Another unique aspect of the flight was the local training conducted by both the 92nd ARW and the 62nd AW. Along with McDaniel, Maj. Joshua Brown, 92nd Air Refueling Squadron chief of squadron tactics, was trained on the Block 45 upgrade by McBride. McBride is one of two instructor pilots in the 92nd Operations Group who is trained on the Block 45 upgrade, the other pilot is his wife. They were both trained on the Block 45 at McConnell Air Force Base, Fla., before going through a permanent change of station and arriving at Fairchild in March 2015.
“The importance of my job is to ensure all training, which occurs at Fairchild is standardized,” said McBride. “Making sure any certified instructor can teach other pilots and ensure the same result. Everyone has to be on the same page with how an aircraft is employed, its capabilities and limitations.”
The C-17 Globemaster III, which hailed from Joint-Base Lewis McChord, Wash., trained multiple pilots on the process of air-refueling throughout the local training flight. With two boom operators on board, the KC-135 made multiple connections with the C-17 ensuring successful training for the 62nd AW crew.
“Local training flights ensure we have good working relationships with other bases so we can assist in keeping each other current in our respective training areas,” said Senior Airman Greyson Sandoval, 92nd ARS boom operator.
| Date Taken: | 02.08.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.08.2016 17:25 |
| Story ID: | 188258 |
| Location: | FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 251 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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