McGuire Airmen Fly Their Last Sortie within the KC-10

On Could 11, a KC-10 tanker belonging to the 305th Air Mobility Wing took off from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., on a coaching sortie—for the final time. 

There’s nonetheless an airshow arising subsequent weekend that the KC-10 is anticipated to take part in. However when it comes to official coaching and operations, that’s it till June 22, when the bottom’s closing plane heads to Davis-Monthan Air Pressure Base in Arizona to hitch the “Boneyard,” the Air Pressure’s large facility that hosts retired plane.

The final crew included Pilots Capt. Alicia Canetta and Capt. Zach Robinette and increase operators Tech. Sgt. Javier Garcia and Tech. Sgt. Tiffany Irby, based on photos posted by the 305th. 

The ultimate coaching sortie and upcoming departure mark the top of a transitional chapter for the 305th and McGuire that has lasted greater than a 12 months and a half.  

In November 2021, the bottom acquired its first KC-46—callsign “Pudgy 01,” in honor of the second-highest-scoring American ace of World Struggle II, Thomas B. McGuire. 

Since then, the 305th has acquired 11 different KC-46s, with plans to get 12 extra by fiscal 12 months 2026. McGuire is the one Energetic-Obligation base on the East Coast with KC-46s.  

In getting the KC-46, the bottom has needed to say goodbye to its 21 KC-10s, which entered service within the Eighties and have flown from McGuire because the Nineteen Nineties. The primary Extender left for the Boneyard in 2020, and in April, the wing’s 305th Upkeep Squadron performed its closing inspection of the KC-10.  

With the approaching departure of the ultimate plane, there shall be just some KC-10s left throughout your complete Air Pressure. By October 2024, the entire tankers shall be gone because the service pivots to the KC-46, a deliberate “bridge tanker,” and the Subsequent-Technology Air refueling System, which might wind up being a stealthy plane. 

Nonetheless, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is planning a closing celebration of the KC-10 on June 21, the day earlier than the plane’s closing departure, a base spokesman stated. 

U.S. Air Pressure Airmen assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing, pose for a flight line picture on 11 Could, 2023 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The Aircrew is the final crew to fly an area KC-10 Extender sortie from the 305th AMW. Picture by Senior Airman Matt Porter

U.S. Air Pressure Tech. Sgt. Tiffany Irby, 305th Air Mobility Wing increase operator poses for a flight line picture on 11 Could, 2023 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Robinette is part of the final crew to fly an area KC-10 Extender sortie from the 305th AMW. Picture by Senior Airman Matt Porter

U.S. Air Pressure Capt. Alicia Canetta, 305th Air Mobility Wing pilot, poses for a flight line picture on 11 Could, 2023 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Robinette is part of the final crew to fly an area KC-10 Extender sortie from the 305th AMW. Picture by Senior Airman Matt Porter

U.S. Air Pressure Capt. Zach Robinette, 305th Air Mobility Wing pilot, poses for a flight line picture on 11 Could, 2023 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Robinette is part of the final crew to fly an area KC-10 Extender sortie from the 305th AMW. Picture by Senior Airman Matt Porter

U.S. Air Pressure Tech. Sgt. Javier Garcia, 305th Air Mobility Wing increase operator, poses for a flight line picture on 11 Could, 2023 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Garcia is part of the final crew to fly an area KC-10 Extender sortie from the 305th AMW. Picture by Senior Airman Matt Porter