USAF Pegasus and Extender tanker news
While the USAF experienced its 5.000th Pegasus sortie, an operational Extender squadron handed over its last aircraft.
Simultaneously on 30 June 2021, the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell AFB (KS) completed USAF's celebratory 5,000 Boeing KC-46A Pegasus sortie and the 2nd Air Refueling Squadron Second to None at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (NJ) flew its last flight with the venerable McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Extender.
To date, the Pegasus has off-loaded more than 21,8 million pounds of gas across more than 19,700 positive contacts since the delivery of the USAF’s first KC-46A to McConnell on 25 January 2019.
Also, 30 June marked the last time that a KC-10A assigned to the 2nd Air Refueling Squadron, part of the 305th Air Mobility Wing flew its last mission. As it prepares for the KC-46A’s arrival in November 2021, the 305th AMW already has sent five of its Extenders to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan AFB (AZ). The remaining Extenders from the 2nd ARS have now shifted to the 32nd Air Refueling Squadron Linking the Continents at McGuire.
Until the last KC-10As are retired in 2024, the base will receive 24 KC-46As. McGuire had 32 KC-10As before retirements began.
Photos by USAF / credit patch https://www.aviatorgear.com