Keeping the giants in the sky

A KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron is readied for open fuel tank maintenance at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 8, 2023. Open fuel tank maintenance helps find and eliminate any possible failures and maintain the overall integrity of the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luis E. Rios Calderon)

Keeping the giants in the sky

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Harold Delaune, 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance technician, bucks rivets into the fuel cell plates of a KC-135 Stratotanker at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 8, 2023. Harrison ensures the rivets are properly installed to help maintain the integrity of the KC-135’s fuel tanks during flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luis E. Rios Calderon)

Keeping the giants in the sky

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Grace Jibben, 18th Component Maintenance Squadron aircraft fuel systems repair technician, wipes and drains leftover fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 8, 2023. Open fuel tank maintenance helps find and eliminate any possible failures and maintain the overall integrity of the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luis E. Rios Calderon)

Keeping the giants in the sky

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anthony Thompson, 18th Component Maintenance Squadron fuel section repair lead, inspects the inside of a KC-135 Stratotanker’s fuel tank during maintenance at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 8, 2023. The inspection process helps identify any faults within the fuel tank and maintain the overall integrity of the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luis E. Rios Calderon)

Keeping the giants in the sky

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anthony Thompson, 18th Component Maintenance Squadron fuel section repair lead, removes his safety equipment after conducting an inspection of a KC-135 at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 8, 2023. Open fuel tank maintenance helps find and eliminate any possible points of failure and maintain the overall integrity of the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luis E. Rios Calderon)

Keeping the giants in the sky

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anthony Thompson, left, 18th Component Maintenance Squadron fuel section repair lead, instructs U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Lozada Edson, 18th CMS fuel systems repair technician, on the use of photoionization detectors on a KC-135 Stratotanker at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 8, 2023. PIDs produce instantaneous readings, operate continuously and are commonly used as detectors for possible worker exposure to volatile organic compounds such as solvents, fuels and degreasers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luis E. Rios Calderon)

Keeping the giants in the sky

Published Sept. 18, 2023
By Airman 1st Class Luis E. Rios Calderon

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --

A KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron is readied for open fuel tank maintenance at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Open fuel tank maintenance helps find and eliminate any possible failures and maintain the overall integrity of the aircraft.