Photo By Tech. Sgt. Andrew Schumann | U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Christian Bennett, an aircraft maintenance specialist...... read more read more
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SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. – The 127th Wing’s refueling mission depends on the readiness, dedication, and precision of its Airmen. Every successful KC-135 Stratotanker mission results from hours of inspections and maintenance.
“We conduct scheduled inspections to ensure everything is operating correctly, as if it were a brand-new aircraft,” said Senior Airman Christian Bennett, an aircraft maintenance specialist assigned to the 191st Air Refueling Maintenance Group.
For more than 60 years, the KC-135 Stratotanker has served as the U.S. Air Force’s primary aerial refueling aircraft, supporting Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied aircraft worldwide.
These specialists pay close attention to detail because even the smallest oversight can mean the difference between mission success and failure.
“We do this so nothing falls through the cracks,” Bennett said. “If we get the green light to go in an hour, the aircraft is ready to fly.”
During inspections, Airmen like Bennett strip the aircraft down to its core—removing panels, checking hydraulics, and ensuring every system functions at peak performance.
“We take the plane apart to its basic components,” Bennett said. “We grease what needs to be greased, check all the flight control systems, and inspect the nose and landing gear struts.”
Maintenance Airmen work in close collaboration with integrated avionics, aerospace ground equipment, and aircraft fuel systems specialists to keep the KC-135 mission-ready.
For Bennett, working on this aircraft is more than just a job—it’s a passion. He has spent three and a half years specializing in KC-135 maintenance.
“The best part of the job is working directly with the aircraft,” Bennett said. “It fine-tunes my skills and gives me the opportunity to work on aircraft in several other countries.”
For those interested in maintenance, aviation, or trade skills, the Air National Guard provides valuable opportunities.
“If someone doesn’t know where to start, I recommend starting here,” Bennett said. “This has been a great place for me, and learning these aircraft has been an incredible experience.”
| Date Taken: | 02.02.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.25.2025 14:28 |
| Story ID: | 490402 |
| Location: | SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, MICHIGAN, US |
| Web Views: | 48 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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