Events 2009
Czech International Air Fest Gives American Crew Chance to Showcase Aircraft to Czech Public
U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker aerial refueler – more commonly knownas a boomer. Photo Kevin Hynes
By Maj. Kevin Hynes
Nebraska National Guard
HRADEC KRALOVE, Czech Republic (Sept. 5, 2009) – On most days, Senior Airman Steven Felger’s view of the world is confined to a set of windows that face down onto the planet from around 20,000 feet in the air.
As a U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker aerial refueler – more commonly known as a boomer – Felger spends much of his workday refueling a wide variety of American and NATO aircraft while lying facedown in the tight confines of his refueling pod, located at the bottom of the U.S. military version of the Boeing 707 aircraft.
There the American Airman who is assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing out of RAF Mildenhall, England, is responsible for choreographing an aerial dance as he maneuvers a long refueling boom into other military aircraft to give them the fuel they need to complete operational, humanitarian aid and a wide array of other missions.
As such, Felger admits that his view – while offering a stunning vision of the world below him as he refuels another aircraft just a couple dozen feet below him – is somewhat limited.
“What I see out the side and refueling windows is (limited,)” said Felger, adding that he often wonders what it’s like from the “receiver’s” point of view to go through an aerial refueling operation.
That’s exactly the opportunity that Felger recently received when he, members of his KC-135R Stratotanker crew and a team maintenance crew chiefs traveled from RAF Mildenhall to Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, to participate in the 16th Annual Czech International Air Fest 2009, Sept. 5-6. Held on and above the historic Czech Republic airfield that dates back to the earliest days of Czech aviation, the airfest brought military and civilian aircraft and aviators from across Europe to demonstrate their aerial capabilities and skill.
The air fest included demonstrations of such aircraft as F-16 Fighting Falcon, the Mirage 2000, the JAS-39 Gripen and the MI-17 and MI-24 helicopters. Also performing were the Breitling Jet Team and the Royal Jordanian Falcons aerobatic teams.
The CIAF also included static displays of a wide array of Czech Republic, American, French, British and other NATO military aircraft. Among these, sitting on the tarmac next to a NATO E-3A Airborne Early Warning and Control Force Aircraft (AWACS) was the KC-135R Stratotanker from RAF Mildenhall.
According to Capt. Jonathan Uhler, KC-135R Stratotanker first pilot, the American air refueling crew was excited to be able to participate in the Czech International Air Fest and help the people of the Czech Republic learn more about his aircraft and his wing’s important international mission.
“Our mission here is to showcase the 100th Air Refueling Wing and it’s mission to the Czech Republic, and to show the benefits of air refueling, what we can provide to NATO and countries in Europe,” Uhler said. “It’s good so that people get to see really what we do and how our mission affects the picture overall and what we bring to the fight and to other missions (like) humanitarian aid and medical evacuation.”
Uhler said the crowds, which numbered in the thousands, seemed genuinely excited to see the aircraft and crew.
“They seem really interested… just asking a lot of questions, like the boom on the back of the plane and other aircraft-specific questions,” Uhler said.
Along with exchanging information with the local Czech public, the mission to Hradec Kralove offered the American crew an unexpected opportunity. According to Felger, he was excited to actually see the different NATO aircraft up close and also exchange information with the pilots of those aircraft, many of whom have participated in air refueling exercises with the 100th Air Refueling Wing.
“It’s really cool,” said Felger. “The Czechs have a lot of aircraft that we don’t have that we typically would not see unless it’s an occasionary event like this.”
“Another benefit I see is I get to talk to some of the fighter pilots – some of the receivers – and get their perspective on how our air refueling goes.”
“…It’s good to get their perspective and how they think our join-ups (go) and what they think that I do, and what they actually look for when I give them commands in the back,” Felger said. “So it’s good to talk to them and get their view of it all.”
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