Fairchild air crew refuels the Thunderbirds

A KC-135 air crew from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing based at Fairchild Air Refueling Wing refuels F-16s with the U.S. Air Force's aerial demonstration team -- the Thunderbirds -- on October 12, 2017 over northeastern Nevada.

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Thu., Oct. 12, 2017

Two of the Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team fly alongside a KC-135 tanker aircraft Thursday, Oct. 11, 2017, over the Nevada desert as each is refueled by the tanker. Refueling smaller aircraft as they move around the United States and the world is the key mission of the Fairchild Air Force Base tankers. The Thunderbirds were en route to an air show in Boise, Idaho this weekend.

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Capt. David Leibrand, left, and 1st Lt. Adam Less scan the surrounding airpspace from the cockpit of their KC-135 tanker aircraft Thursday, Oct. 11, 2017, over the Nevada desert.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Capt. David Leibrand, left, and 1st Lt. Adam Less pause for a photo in their KC-135 tanker aircraft Thursday, Oct. 11, 2017, over the Nevada desert.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Two of the Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team fly alongside a KC-135 tanker aircraft Thursday, Oct. 11, 2017, over the Nevada desert as each is refueled by the tanker. Refueling smaller aircraft as they move around the United States and the world is the key mission of the Fairchild Air Force Base tankers. The Thunderbirds were en route to an air show in Boise, Idaho this weekend.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
A member of the Air Force Thunderbirds Demonstration Squadron take on fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker while en route from Las Vegas to Boise, Idaho, for an air show Thursday, Oct. 11, 2017. A Fairchild Air Force Base tanker provided the gas.

Nicholas Deshais The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Seen from the refueling boom operator’s tiny window, the Air Force Thunderbirds form up and slow down to allow the refueling tanker to move away from them after a refueling operation over the Nevada desert Thursday, Oct. 11, 2017.

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