97th LRS practice “rapid defuel” capability

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Armando Guzman, 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance apprentice, talks to Col. David Vanderburg, 97th Mission Support Group commander at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Aug. 12, 2021. Vanderburg toured the fuels facility to learn about the equipment involved when receiving, testing and delivering fuel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kayla Christenson)

97th LRS practice “rapid defuel” capability

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jason Rayner, 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron non-commissioned officer in charge of distribution, talks on the radio at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Aug. 12, 2021. The rapid defueling process of a KC-135 Stratotanker is done in order to reduce the aircraft's weight and relieve stress on the aircraft's landing gear struts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kayla Christenson)

97th LRS practice “rapid defuel” capability

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jesus Bahena-Castro, 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuel distribution operator, takes a hydrostatic hose to a KC-135 Stratotanker to defuel the aircraft at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Aug. 12, 2021. One of the many reasons Airmen train for the rapid defueling process is to monitor how much fuel is being removed from the aircraft and how to do it safely. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kayla Christenson)

97th LRS practice “rapid defuel” capability

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jesus Bahena-Castro, 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuel distribution operator, laughs with Col. David Vanderburg, 97th Mission Support Group commander, after rapid defueling a KC-135 Stratotanker at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Aug. 12, 2021. The normal defueling process takes hours while rapid defueling takes less than an hour, depending on how much fuel is taken off the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kayla Christenson)

97th LRS practice “rapid defuel” capability

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jesus Bahena-Castro, 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuel distribution operator, records information from the KC-135 Stratotanker rapid defueling exercise from a at Altus Air Force Base (AAFB), Oklahoma, Aug. 12, 2021. This is the first time the rapid defueling process has been completed on AAFB since 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kayla Christenson)

97th LRS practice “rapid defuel” capability

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jason Rayner, 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron non-commissioned officer in charge of distribution, smiles after putting away wheel blocks on a fuels truck at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Aug. 12, 2021. Rayner led the defueling process on the flightline with the help of other Airmen and the KC-135 Stratotanker maintenance crew. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kayla Christenson)

97th LRS practice “rapid defuel” capability

U.S. Air Force Capt. Mackenzie Uecker, 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels flight commander, gives a fuels “POL” patch to Col. David Vanderburg, 97th Mission Support Group commander, at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Aug. 12, 2021. Vanderburg followed Airmen throughout the rapid defueling to show support and to learn about the process. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kayla Christenson)

97th LRS practice 'rapid defuel' capability

Published Aug. 17, 2021
By Airman 1st Class Kayla Christenson
97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --

The 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s fuels management flight performed a rapid defueling on a KC-135 Stratotanker at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Aug. 21, 2021. The 97th LRS recently invested in a hydrostatic hose which can rapidly defuel an aircraft in less than an hour. Col. David Vanderburg, 97th Mission Support Group commander, was present for the rapid defueling to show support and learn about the hydrostatic hose. Airmen not only rapidly defuel aircraft for safety reasons, but also to train for future deployments where it is regularly completed. This process trains mobility Airmen and allows AAFB to deliver rapid global airpower.