Pompeo says tankers could boost Kansas economy
A good facility and a great community helped make McConnell Air Force Base one of the finalists to be the home of the KC-46A refueling tankers, says Rep. Mike Pompeo.
McConnell is one of four bases still in the running. Forbes Field in Topeka is also a possibility, as are bases in North Dakota and Washington.
Pompeo said the tankers could mean more jobs, as well as securing the future of the base for decades to come.
"Getting the KC-46A tanker in south central Kansas will be an enormous boost to economic activity," Pompeo said. "We think it's probably several dozen airplanes that would be stationed here as a result of that. It comes with a lot of crew and a lot of infrastructure needs, as well."
The Air Force is moving from the KC-135 tanker to the KC-46As. McConnell is also a finalist for the formal training unit.
"This decision today is an enormous vote of confidence for the airmen out at McConnell Air Force Base," Pompeo said. "It says they're performing their mission well. It says that there is every expectation that they can transition to do the hard work of transitioning to a new airplane well, and that they have maintained the facility."
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