Travis refuels CV-22 Osprey

In a rare opportunity, the 79th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif., refueled two CV-22 Ospreys during a routine training mission near Fresno, January 15, 2018. Assigned under the Air Force Reserve’s 349th Air Mobility Wing, the squadron flies the KC-10 Extender. “With the help and coordination of all the crew on the KC-10, we were able to accomplish crucial training for CV-22 crews,” said Senior Master Sgt. David Palmer, 79th instructor boom operator. “It was exciting to refuel such a unique aircraft,” said Copilot, Capt. Victoria Hooper. “We rarely get to see Ospreys on a local sortie, so it was an excellent training opportunity both for our crews and theirs. For not having refueled behind a KC-10 in a long time, they flew very proficiently. We were impressed.” According to Bell Boeing, the CV-22 Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines the vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing qualities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photos/Senior Master Sgt David Palmer)

Reserve unit gets rare opportunity to refuel Ospreys

Published Jan. 29, 2018
By 349th Air Mobility Wing, Public Affairs
349th Air Mobility Wing

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --

In a rare opportunity, the 79th Air Refueling Squadron, here refueled two CV-22 Ospreys during a routine training mission near Fresno, Jan. 15, 2018. Assigned under the Air Force Reserve’s 349th Air Mobility Wing, the squadron flies the KC-10 Extender.

With the help and coordination of all the crew on the KC-10, we were able to accomplish crucial training for CV-22 crews,” said Senior Master Sgt. David Palmer, 79th instructor boom operator. “It was exciting to refuel such a unique aircraft,” said Capt. Victoria Hooper, co-pilot, . “We rarely get to see Ospreys on a local sortie, so it was an excellent training opportunity both for our crews and theirs. For not having refueled behind a KC-10 in a long time, they flew very proficiently. We were impressed.”

According to Bell Boeing, the CV-22 Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines the vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing qualities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photos/Senior Master Sgt David Palmer)