Flight Showcases Capabilities by Extending Endurance Record

A Boeing KC-46A with the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas, completed a 45-hour circumnavigation to establish a new record for Maximum Endurance Operations (MEO) in the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command (AMC). 

MEOs serve to stretch aircraft missions in time and aircrew to facilitate greater capabilities over longer distances. The mission, called Project Magellan, required extensive planning and coordination to pre-position refueling for itself and while refueling and a variety of receiver aircraft such as B-2 Spirits, F-15E Strike Eagles, C-17 Globemaster IIIs, and another C-46. The refueling itself required two additional K-46s at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, and two KC-135 Stratotankers at Mildenhall, United Kingdom and a U.S. Central Command location, as well as two backup KC-135s from the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall and the Utah Air National Guard.

Long duty days in high-paced operations during maximum endurance missions push crews to the limit of human endurance and require safety measures be utilized, so flight surgeon Capt. Jacob Heyrend was aboard to ensure just that. In addition, an experienced third-party contractor enrolled the crew in a fatigue study to gather data used to inform the MAC of any adjustments that may be needed.

Capt. Cody Donahue, instructor pilot aboard the global KC-46 flight said, “Not only is the duration of this sortie notable, but we are completing it with just two basic crews. Previously, three pilots were able to fly as an ‘augmented’ crew for up to 24 hours. Going forward, AMC is looking to have a crew of four pilots operating for up to 48 hours.”

Col. Cory Damon, commander of the 22nd ARW stated, “The 22nd ARW’s recent MEO around the world showcased not only the unmatched endurance of the KC-46 aircraft but also the incredible resilience and professionalism of our aircrew.”

FMI:  www.af.mil/News/ , www.boeing.com/defense/kc-46a-pegasus-tanker#stories