Clean, mean, refueling machine: Maintainers keep Stratotankers spotless

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Micaiah Anthony
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  As the last slither of daylight disappears behind closing steel doors, six Airmen dart out in separate directions around a KC-135 Stratotanker. Over the course of several hours, Airmen zip to, from, up, down and around the large metal bird. The tanker's flaps, rudders and stabilizers dance as the aircraft gets blasted with water and scrubbed vigorously.

The team then prepares for the next step as the orange-scented mist settles around the glistening jet. Though the aircraft is clean, there is still much work to be done.

Airmen from both the 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 100th Maintenance Squadron must complete the wash, from preparation to inspection, within 72 hours, and are the reason why Team Mildenhall's KC-135s stay clean and ready to fly.

"We wash the aircraft for two reasons - to prevent corrosion by cleaning off dirt, which allows us to see if anything is corroding, and to clear all of the old lubrication," said Tech Sgt. Shannon Brooks, 100th AMXS sortie support flight chief. "Lubes catch dirt, grime and grease over time which can become hazardous to the aircraft so we clean it off."

According to Brooks, the frequency of aircraft washes is determined by location. 

"Corrosive environments help determine the timeframe in which we wash our aircraft," said Brooks. "Here, we are far enough away from the ocean so our aircraft are washed every 60 days."

Before the scrub brushes and sponges come out, the soiled KC-135 must be prepared by taping off and covering certain parts so that water or chemicals don't get inside the aircraft or other sensitive areas. Airmen also install safety locks on certain parts of the aircraft to prevent injury.

Once the tanker is prepped, the wash crew must don their proper protective equipment before getting started.

"The chemicals in the cleaning solutions are very dangerous and can cause severe rashes," said Senior Airman Ryan Whitney, 100th AMXS crew chief and wash supervisor. "I make sure everyone has their suits, gloves and eye protection."

The 136-foot-long jet with its 130-foot-wing span is divided up into four sections, enabling the team of six to work on the outward most portions and clean inward.

"It usually takes us about 10 hours to do a complete wash from start to finish," said Whitney. "Once we complete the wash we start the lubricant."

With the aircraft clean, the team has two hours to lubricate certain parts of the KC-135. 

"The lubrication is broken into two parts," said Brooks. "First is the four-hour lube, which has to be done within two hours of completing the wash. The last part has to be done within 72-hours."

The next phase in the 72-hour process is the inspection from the 100th Maintenance Group Quality Assurance and the production superintendent. The inspectors check for aircraft cleanliness and ensure all components are properly lubricated. Once the Stratotanker clears the inspection, the aircraft is towed from the hangar back to the flightline so it can return to normal operations.

"I love what I do every day," said Whitney. "Making our aircraft look good then watching it take off knowing that you washed it is definitely a great feeling."