RC-26

An Air National Guard-operated RC-26 jet made a brief stop Oct. 15 at Tinker, giving Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center leadership and some Contract Logistics Support personnel an opportunity to view the unique aircraft. The RC-26 aids in domestic emergency relief with its ability to stay over an affected area for long periods and has been valuable during wildfire fighting and the recent oil spill cleanup in the Gulf of Mexico. (Air Force photo by Margo Wright)

ANG’s RC-26 visits Tinker

Published Oct. 26, 2010
By Brandice J. Armstrong
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- A lesser known Tinker-supported aircraft arrived on base Oct. 15.

The Air National Guard's RC-26 Metroliner visit allowed Tinker personnel who support the twin-turboprop aircraft to view it up-close and experience a full-mission intelligence surveillance reconnaissance flight demonstration.

"The RC-26 team is really unique here at Tinker Air Force Base and the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center," said Col. Mike Schmidt, OC-ALC CLS Sustainment Division chief. "This visit brought the teams that support the RC-26 together and familiarized the leadership with the aircraft they've been supporting the past two-and-a-half years."

There are 11 aircraft in the fleet. They are used for aerial surveillance and reconnaissance for government, law enforcement and U.S. Southern Command. State and federal law enforcement agencies specifically use the aircraft for counter drug and terrorism efforts, presidential inaugurations and natural disaster support. Aircraft are also used for deployment missions. The aircraft are stationed at 11 stateside locations, plus a training field in Hurlburt, Fla.

"The RC-26 program that few people know about so it is exciting for us to be able to show senior leaders what we can do," said Sharon Davis, RC-26 Contractor Logistics Support Team program manager. "These aircraft have proven valuable in missions such as fighting wildfires in the western United States as well as directing the oil spill cleanup in the Gulf of Mexico. It was a perfect day for the demo flight and it was great to see the systems we support in action."

The Tinker support team is comprised of engineers, logisticians, equipment specialists and contracting specialists from the CLS Sustainment Division.