Kirtland AFB offers sneak peek of aircraft that will be on display during Air Fiesta event
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) –They're some of the most powerful technologically advanced planes and helicopters in the world flying over the skies of Albuquerque and now Kirtland Air Force base is giving a front row seat showing how airmen refuel aircraft in the middle of the sky.
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A routine for some in the air force going up thousands of feet and holding on for a bumpy ride to complete another mission. 'The best way I could describe it was if you've ever sat on a washing machine with an uneven load for about 30 minutes, that gives you an estimate of what we go through every day,' said Major Matthew Olivero, with Kirtland Air Force Base.
Wednesday airmen at Kirtland Air Force Base let KRQE News 113 tag along on a special operations command aircraft known as the MC-130J where crews practiced the mid-air refueling of a CV-22 Osprey. 'So, it can take anywhere from five minutes to an hour, depending on how much fuel that they need, how bumpy the track is, or if it's just training, we might go up and down the track to get them practice,' said Maj. Olivero.
A combat systems officer on the MC-130, Maj. Olivero has been flying this aircraft for nearly a decade. 'I absolutely love it. To me it's the best job in the world when you get to look out of the aircraft window and see the terrain that's right there and all the different mission sets that we do,' said Maj. Olivero.
The MC-130J costs around $114 million. It's designed for transporting troops and supplies or refueling missions for special operations.
In Albuquerque the aircraft is often used for special night training. 'Every day. We have sorties flying every day, Monday through Friday, day and night. But primarily, all of our operations do happen at night,' said Nicholas Holguin, pilot on the MC-130.
The HH60 will be one of six different aircrafts that people will be able to get up close and person on May 31. That soon to happen up close look will come with Kirtland's Air Fiesta, something that hasn't happened in six years. 'The only thing I would say is come out to the air show and enjoy. It'll be a great time,' said Maj. Olivero.
The two-day air show will start May 31-June 1. The base is expecting roughly 20,000 visitors to show up.
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