- they have been tted with more efficient
engines, and had communications upgrades,
all the things you’d see in the airline industry.
“I previously worked on C-17s, and that is
a very digital aircraft from a maintainer’s point
of view. I came onto the 135 back in 2011
and teaching the younger generation how to
x analogue-era aircraft with their digital mind
focus is a big challenge. It’s a mechanical
aircraft, and how to work on such a machine
is not that widely taught now – the focus is
on computers and interfaces. I always say
the 135 is really a lot of nuts and bolts –
everything is relatively easy to do, it just takes
a lot of time.”
Aircraft are assigned for a mission or task
with maintenance hours and type of sortie in
mind. Senior MSgt Lee Adkins of the 100th
Operations Group elaborates: “It’s a basic
process. We are advised on what inspections
or engineering work each aircraft has coming
up, so we look at how long the mission is
likely to last, if it’s going out and coming back
the same day, or something more involved
and allocate an aircraft accordingly.
“We want to share the ights across the
eet. Airplanes love to y, and rarely break
when they are ying – they do that when we
leave them on the ground. The more we can
get them in the air, the happier they are.”
TEAM MILDENHALL
Many elements make up the 100th ARW,
from the ying duties described in this
feature, to many ground-based services.
All play a vital role in the unit completing a
successful mission.Chief MSgt Sean Brice 100th Mission
Support Group, commented: “I’ve been here
since February 2017 and our ve squadrons
[engineer, force support, logistics, security
and communications] have all won awards
for outstanding work, which we are very
proud of.”Senior MSgt Adkins also praised the
teamwork within the 100th: “We can’t do
our job without each other and out of all of
the wings I’ve been to so far, the 100th has
best teamwork I’ve ever seen. It’s such a
dynamic mission here, when things can
change at a moment’s notice. It takes us all
pulling together, all the resources, people
and equipment, to make the mission happen
and, at the end of the day, it’s great being
part of such a wonderful team.”
Senior MSgt Neldner gave his thoughts
on serving in the UK: “We’re appreciative of
the welcome we receive in the UK. You worry
what it’s going to be like when assigned to
serve in another country, but it’s such a very
welcoming community over here in England.
I’ve been here since February 2011 as I’ve
been able to do two tours back to-back.”
With RAF Mildenhall marked for closure,
the 100th Wing is likely to move to Ramstein,
Germany, possibly in 2024. World events- especially the emergence of threats from
both new and old foes – mean this plan
could change. Chief MSgt Sean Brice of the
100th Mission Support Group summed up
the can-do attitude of Team Mildenhall: “The
unit will continue to complete its mission
from the UK for as long as it’s needed, and
we are happy to do so.”
http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 47A 100th ARW KC-135R supporting
a pair of F-35As that were part of a
deployment to Lakenheath in 2017.
Jamie Hunter“My aim is to make
sure we’re as ready
as we can be. Every
airmen needs to be
ready in this theatre
at any hour, every
single day.”
42-47_usaf_arwDC.mfDC.indd 47 07/06/2018 13:00