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AMC commander visits Tinker

  • Published
  • By Brandic Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  They liked what they saw. Gen. Arthur Lichte, commander of Air Mobility Command, and U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA) visited Tinker Aug. 20. During their two-hour stay, they toured KC-135 shops within Bldg. 3001 and learned how Team Tinker cares for the aging aircraft. 

"We were very happy to get the briefings and hear about the activities here," said General Lichte (pronounced Lite). "Our time here at Tinker was very productive, it helped put the finishing touches on the overall KC-135 picture. The visit was very helpful for me to see the maintenance challenges the center faces every day with this aging airframe." 

AMC, which is headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., was activated in 1992. It is responsible for airlift special missions, air refueling operations and aeromedical flights. Aircraft which call AMC home are the C-17 Globemaster III, C-5 Galaxy, C-130 Hercules, KC-135 Stratotanker, the KC-10 Extender, and a fleet of various executive transport aircraft including Air Force One. Of them, the KC-135 and KC-10 are maintained at Tinker. 

The KC-135 joined the Air Force fleet in June 1957. Manufactured by Boeing, more than 800 aircraft were produced between 1954 and 1965. Despite their age, the aircraft are likely to remain active until 2040 or beyond. As the aircraft ages, maintenance costs are rising. The Air Force is actively working to award a contract for the next generation tanker to replace the KC-135. 

General Litche said he was impressed with Team Tinker and their efforts.
"Tinker is supporting the AMC mission 100 percent," the general said. "The tankers really are doing the mission every day - they're fueling the fight, they're saving lives, and it's absolutely critical to national security that we have the tanker as part of our overall national security strategy. It's essential we keep them flying and that's what Tinker does for us." 

Ms. McMorris-Rodgers, who represents Washington's 5th congressional district, which includes Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., agreed. 

"We often refer to the tanker as the 'air bridge,' [because] they're the ones that allow everything else to happen," Ms. McMorris-Rodgers said. "What happens here at Tinker allows them to fly a little bit longer."