First KC-46 Refueling Aircraft Arrives To Tinker AFB For Maintenance 

Thursday is a day that will go down in history at Tinker Air Force Base. It’s the first day the KC-46 refueling aircraft touched ground for its first maintenance check. 

It was about 15 years ago when plans first started being made to replace the U.S. Air Force’s aging tanker fleet. 

The arrival is a huge shot in the arm for the longevity of this base. 

“It is an amazing day,” said Col. Greg Lowe, Commander for the 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group. “It’s a unique thing in the air force to have a new weapons system come online.” 

An official welcome is not complete without Tinker Fire providing the waterworks. This entire project will put around 1,300 Oklahomans to work.  

“Every two years, it’ll (KC-46) come here for about a month and we are going to go into a much greater detail of depth,” said Lowe. “More inspections, more replacement of parts, it’s to keep the aircraft structurally fit for a long time of service.” 

The former rail hub for General Motors on base continues to be transformed. With one hanger already open, there are 13 more to go which is set to fill the space of nearly 120 football fields.  

“We’re starting off with two aircraft over the life cycle, we will grow to where we do 90 aircraft a year,” said Greg Harris, the KC-46 Squadron Director. “That will accompany the 14 docks that we have here.” 

There’s an irreplaceable sense of pride among airmen. Similar to that of civilians, Oklahomans, eager to get to work.   

“It’s just an amazing growth for Tinker Air Force Base to ensure that this mission will be here for years to come,” said Lowe.  

Maintenance will still be done at Tinker to the KC-135. Officials said it has a lifespan of about 40 more years.