Refueling the Thunderbirds

A KC-135 air refueling tanker from Fairchild Air Force base rendezvoused Thursday, July 22, 2010, with members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird demonstration team en route to Spokane for Skyfest 2010.

Section:Gallery

Thu., July 22, 2010

Three of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, piloted by, front to back, Maj. John Gallemore, Maj. Sean Gustafson and Maj. Rick Goodman, line up off the wing of a KC-135 air refueling tanker to wait their turn en route to Spokane on Thursday, July 22, 2010.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Staff Sgt. Jason Grant lies in the boom operator's cramped position and watches an F-16 Fighting Falcon of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds move into position Thursday, July 22, 2010. Boom operators lie in a coffin-sized pod in the tail of the KC-135 tanker and flies the boom into position to deliver fuel.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
One of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, piloted by Maj. Sean Gustafson, prepares to separate from a KC-135 air refueling tanker after refueling en route to Spokane on Thursday, July 22, 2010.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
A U.S. Air Force Thunderbird, piloted by Maj. Sean Gustafson, prepares to separate from the boom of a KC-135 air refueling tanker Thursday, July 22, 2010.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Boom operator Tech Sgt. Gabe Ourso waves to the pilot of one of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds after it refueled behind the KC-135 air tanker. The Thunderbirds demonstration team was en route to Spokane Thursday, July 22, 2010, for Saturday's SkyFest 2010.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Tech Sgt. Gabe Ourso walks the length of a KC-135 air refueling tanker as he waits to refuel the visiting U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds on Thursday, July 22, 2010. Ourso is a boom operator on the "flying gas station". The accommodations on the tanker are primitive, and the crew works with a deafening roar of the engines while flying.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Three of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, piloted by, back to front, Maj. John Gallemore, Maj. Sean Gustafson and Maj. Rick Goodman, wait for their turns off the wing of a KC-135 air refueling tanker en route to Spokane on Thursday, July 22, 2010.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Pilot Maj. Craig Gural, left, and co-pilot Lt. Ryan Snyder fly their KC-135 to meet the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds for in-flight refueling south of Spokane on Thursday, July 22, 2010. The Fairchild Air Force Base aircraft often leaves the Spokane area to top off planes moving through the area.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Tech Sgt. Gabe Ourso, left, and Staff Sgt. Jason Grant confer in the rear of their KC-135 air refueling tanker Thursday, July 22, 2010. Sitting around them are members of the media and observers who accompanied the mission.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt makes a low pass over the KC-135 flight line and the runway at Fairchild Air Force Base on Thursday, July 22, 2010, before landing ahead of Saturday's SkyFest 2010. More than 65 military and civilian aircraft will be on static display. Also arriving Thursday were an F-4 Phantom and a B-52 from Minot, N.D.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review