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GALLERY: Air Force Aerial Refueling Mission

| October 14, 2016 11:43 AM

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<p>The cockpit of the KC-135 Stratotanker has been updated periodically over the course of the jet plane's 65-year lifetime, but many of the originaly dials and guages remain in use.</p>

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<p>The cockpit of the KC-135 Stratotanker has been updated periodically over the course of the jet plane's 65-year lifetime, but many of the originaly dials and guages remain in use.</p>

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<p>Seen out the window of the KC-135 Stratotanker, an F-15C Eagle fighter jet flies in formation as another F-15C is refueled during an aerial refueling training mission on Tuesday.</p>

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<p>Crews prepare the Stratotanker for takeoff on a aerial refueling training mission on Oct. 11, 2016 at Fairchild Air Force Base.</p>

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<p>Air Force Staff Sergeant Shawna Sims awaits takeoff of the KC-135 Stratotanker for the start of a refueling training mission on Oct. 11, 2016.</p>

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<p>JAKE PARRISH/Press Air Force Col. Ryan Samuelson, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, talks with the media on Fairchild Air Force Base after an aerial refueling training mission on Tuesday. Samuelson took command of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing in July.</p>

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<p>Crews prepare the Stratotanker for takeoff on a aerial refueling training mission on Oct. 11, 2016 at Fairchild Air Force Base.</p>

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<p>JAKE PARRISH/Press Seen out the window of the KC-135 Stratotanker, an F-15C Eagle fighter jet flies in formation as another F-15C is refueled during an aerial refueling training mission on Tuesday.</p>

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<p>JAKE PARRISH/Press Air Force Senior Airman Tim Weber operates the refueling boom as it refuels a F-15C fighter jet at an altitude of about 24,000 feet during a training mission on Tuesday. Weber and the pilot of the aircraft being refueled communicate via lights, hand signals and vocal commands as they complete the refueling process while the two aircrafts match their speeds of about 500 miles-per-hour.</p>

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<p>JAKE PARRISH/Press The refueling boom from the KC-135 Stratotanker, operated by the 92nd Air Refueling Wing of Fairchild Air Force Base, is docked securely into a F-15C Eagle fighter jet during a training mission on Tuesday. The boom, located in the rear of the Stratotanker, can pump up to 6,500 pounds of fuel a minute to a docked aircraft.</p>

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<p>Air Force Senior Airman Tim Weber prepares to refuel a F-15C fighter jet at an altitude of about 24,000 feet during a training mission on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016.</p>

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<p>JAKE PARRISH/Press Air Force Pilots Lt. Adam Less, left, and Major Denique Asion fly the 92nd Air Refueling Wing's KC-135 Stratotanker above Central Oregon during an aerial refueling training mission on Tuesday.</p>