MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. – The McConnell Air Force Base flightline is emptying out Friday and Saturday, with most of the base’s KC-135R Stratotanker and KC-46A Pegasus aircraft being launched and relocated away from the local area due to forecasted severe weather, according to a media release.
The aircraft, flown by aircrews from the 22nd and 931st Air Refueling Wings, began departing Friday and due to a forecasted of high winds, hail potential and the possibility of tornadoes for Saturday evening and Sunday morning. The remaining aircraft, undergoing various phases of maintenance, along with a range of flightline vehicles and equipment, are being stored in hangars.
The relocation protects the aircraft from potential damage, preserving mission capability for McConnell Air Force Base to provide worldwide air refueling, airlift and aeromedical evacuation support. While off-station, McConnell aircrews will coordinate training activities with other military units around the country, to perform that training while away from Kansas, and when enroute back to Kansas.
This is the second time this month the the base moved aircraft assigned to McConnell Air Force Base due to potential severe weather. The base relocated aircraft April 15.