Wing welcomes first of three aircraft in robust

  • Published
  • By Capt John Capra
  • 128 ARW
Maintenance crews from the 128th Air Refueling Wing usher in the first of three additional KC-135s. The unit is receiving the additional aircraft as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure 2005, eventually bringing the wing's total number of KC-135s to twelve.
Lt Col Winston Hainsworth, the Wing Comptroller, said "the financial impact to our wing and community is quite impressive. With the additional aircraft the wing will add 41 full-time and 41 part-time jobs, and also result in an additional $5.3 million above the current economic impact of $71.7 million made to our community," Hainsworth said.
On its way to the 128th, "Aircraft 58-0059 made a two month stop at Kelly Field in San Antonio , TX to receive KC-135R Block 40 aircraft upgrades," said KC-135 Instructor Pilot, Major Todd Walton. "The upgrades markedly improve the aircraft's avionics, specifically the navigation and satellite communication systems," said Walton.
Walton indicated the remaining two additional KC-135's are scheduled to arrive by February 2011.