November 30, 2009 - Vol. 6 Num. 19 WSU/NIAR staff accompanies Air Force on KC-135 refueling mission Researchers from the Aging Aircraft Lab at Wichita State University’s (WSU) National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) are accustomed to seeing KC-135 Stratotankers in pieces, but rarely see them intact, or actually fly on them. Recently they had the opportunity to do just that, thanks to McConnell Air Force Base’s 22nd Air Refueling Wing. They also had the chance to tour the base and talk with maintenance personnel. “The flight was a great experience, but I really enjoyed talking with the maintenance and inspection staff,” said Aging Aircraft Lab Manager Melinda Laubach. “We hope to collaborate with them in the future.” Before boarding the 160-ton aircraft, the NIAR/WSU staff received a mission briefing and background presentation from 22nd Air Refueling Wing Commander Col. James W. Crowhurst. During the flight, the staff was able to witness the landing, takeoff and refueling maneuver from the cockpit boom control pod. NIAR Executive Director Dr. John Tomblin, who was recently appointed as Honorary Commander of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, arranged the tour and flight with Sharon Hamric, 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs community relations chief. “I appreciate the willingness of Col. Crowhurst, Sharon and the crew to coordinate this mission,” he said. “It gave our technicians the opportunity to witness first-hand the reason why they are doing what they are doing.” In addition to Laubach and Tomblin, those on the flight included WSU Provost Dr. Gary Miller; Associate Provost Dr. David McDonald; NIAR executive staff Tracee Friess, Gabrielle Dodosh and Toni Buttner; and aging aircraft staff Patty Howard, Jonathan Mowrey, Thad Colling, Michael Knee, Carla Friend, Robert Friess, Richard Schwasinger, David Howard and Cody Patterson. Through a contract from Valdez International, the Aging Aircraft Lab is currently using traditional structural teardown examination methods including large scale section extraction, detailed disassembly, chemical coatings removal and non-destructive inspection (NDI) to assist in the assessment of the Air Force’s KC-135 fleet. Above photo: NIAR/WSU staff operate a KC-135 Stratotanker simulator (photo courtesy of McConnell AFB). Top left: NIAR/WSU get a close look at corroded panels from KC-135 stratotankers (photo courtesy of McConnel Air Force Base). Top Right: Research technician Richard Schwasinger watches as a boom operator work in the boom pod. Bottom left: View of the refueling manuever from the boom pod. Bottom left: The NIAR/WSU staff pose with the 22nd Air Refueling Wing crew after their mission (photo courtesy of McConnell AFB)    About the KC-135 Stratotanker (photo courtesy of McConnell AFB) The KC-135 Stratotanker provides the core aerial refueling capability for the United States Air Force, and has done so for 50 years. It also provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft. It is capable of transporting litter and ambulatory patients using patient support pallets during aeromedical evacuations.   McConnell Air Force Base is home to 63 KC-135 Stratotankers. It is the only wing with receiver-capable KC135 refueling tankers.   The National Institute for Aviation Research, an unincorporated division of Wichita State University, is a prestigious state-of-the-art aerospace research and development laboratory with global reach and expertise in research, design, testing, and certification. The Institute’s clientele includes many of the world’s aerospace manufacturers, NASA and the FAA. It is the largest aviation R&D academic institution in the United States.