McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita will receive the first delivery of the new KC-46A refueling tankers on Friday.
A ceremony will be held at 3 p.m at the base after the first tanker lands. Kansas congressman Ron Estes will be on board the aircraft as it travels from Boeing headquarters in Everett, Washington. Estes said in a press release that the delivery of the tankers is a significant milestone in rebuilding the nation’s military and supporting the base in Wichita.
Wichita mayor Jeff Longwell will be among the local leaders who will welcome the tanker. He told reporters Thursday during his weekly news conference “We are thrilled that we’re the very first community in the country to receive the new tankers. We take a tremendous amount of pride in having McConnell Air Force Base in our community.” Longwell noted that the base has had around $200 million in remodeling and improvements to get ready for the new tanker, and that has provided a boost to the local economy.
The new KC-46 will upgrade aerial refueling capabilities to support military missions and personnel around the world. The tanker will replace the KC-135 aircraft that were first delivered in 1957 under the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
