USAF marks 100 years of air-to-air refuelling in Op Centennial Contact

Feature

To honor the centenary of its air-to-air refueling (AAR) capability, the USAF conducted a series of tanker-focused flyovers across all 50 US states, as well as some of its deployed locations, as part of Operation Centennial Contact on June 27.

An F-15C Eagle from the Oregon ANG's 123rd Fighter Squadron 'Redhawks' - a part of the 142nd Wing at Portland ANGB - is refueled by a KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the USAF's 92nd Air Refueling Wing, which is home-based at Fairchild AFB, Washington, over Oregon during Operational Centennial Contact on June 27.
An F-15C Eagle from the Oregon ANG's 123rd Fighter Squadron 'Redhawks' - a part of the 142nd Wing at Portland ANGB - is refueled by a KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the USAF's 92nd Air Refueling Wing, which is home-based at Fairchild AFB, Washington, over Oregon during Operational Centennial Contact on June 27. USAF/Staff Sgt Lawrence Sena
A CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor assigned to the 8th SOS 'Blackbirds' receives fuel from an MC-130J Commando II tanker-transport belonging to the 15th SOS over the Emerald Coast in Florida during Operational Centennial Contact on June 27. Both the 8th and 15th SOS are components of the 1st SOW at Hurlburt Field, Florida.
A CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor assigned to the 8th SOS 'Blackbirds' receives fuel from an MC-130J Commando II tanker-transport belonging to the 15th SOS over the Emerald Coast in Florida during Operational Centennial Contact on June 27. Both the 8th and 15th SOS are components of the 1st SOW at Hurlburt Field, Florida. USAF/Senior Airman Natalie Fiorilli
This KC-135R Stratotanker (serial 58-0103) from the USAF's 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill AFB, Florida, received a special livery for Operation Centennial Contact. Rolled out at MacDill on June 22, this aircraft is seen here preparing to depart the Florida base to commemorate 100 years of aerial refueling excellence on June 27.
This KC-135R Stratotanker (serial 58-0103) from the USAF's 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill AFB, Florida, received a special livery for Operation Centennial Contact. Rolled out at MacDill on June 22, this aircraft is seen here preparing to depart the Florida base to commemorate 100 years of aerial refueling excellence on June 27. USAF/Senior Airman Joshua Hastings

The USAF also further proved its ability to project large-scale combat airpower with the mass mobilization of tankers, airlifters and fighters to participate in the celebrations, which involved 82 tankers and 70 receivers in total. The AAR presence was represented by three generations of aircraft: the veteran Boeing KC-135R/T Stratotanker, the outgoing McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Extender and the air arm’s latest and most advanced tanker to date, the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus.

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Originally published in Combat Aircraft Journal

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