11th KC-10
The first KC-10 aircraft was brought to Tinker last year after Federal Aviation Administration officials made Tinker an FAA-approved repair station. Eleven aircraft later, mechanics and paint crews of the 566th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron keep leaning their processes, cutting flow days by half for paint personnel, according to Shelvie Tabb, paint deputy section chief. Tinker officials put a critical eye to a finished KC-10 during an executive-level inspection before approving the aircraft to return home this week . While aircraft cleaners depainted and painted the exterior and massive internal cargo area, mechanics thoroughly inspected the exterior and interior, fixing or replacing as needed to get the aircraft back in rotation. (Air Force photos by Margo Wright)