MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Flying at an airspeed of 230 knots and an altitude of 18,000 feet, a KC-130J pumps 10,000 pounds of fuel for two F/A-18 Hornets off the coast of San Diego, Jan. 25.
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 provided a platform for Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 to conduct night aerial refueling, allowing squadron personnel practice of engaging and disengaging the probe and drogue on the KC-130J.
VMFAT-101 performed initial night aerial refueling evolutions while VMGR-352 trained for proficiency.
"When they come up for gas, we want it to be like second nature,” said Cpl. Joel Denning, a loadmaster with VMGR-352 and a Simi Valley, Calif., native. “It has to go quick; it has to be as fast as possible, so they can get back down there close enough to support the guys on the ground."
Providing aerial refueling is essential. Aircraft cannot always land to receive fuel and can burn more fuel and time by landing, receiving fuel and taking off again.
"It adds flexibility, especially in the air,” said Cpl. Chris Perez, a loadmaster with VMGR-352 and a Chicago native. “Being an air refueling platform, we're not tied to any specific geographical area."
During the training mission, a KC-130J stretched out an 80-foot refueling tube on each side of the aircraft for the F/A-18 jets to receive fuel.
Load masters of a KC-130J look out the side windows to monitor the aircraft connecting and disconnecting and to communicate refueling progress with the pilot.
"We act as his eyes in the back, so he knows where the aircraft are surrounding his aircraft. Obviously he can’t see behind him,” said Perez. “We just kind of build up his situational awareness, so he can make decisions and move the aircraft based on what we see and know that everything is safe."
Even though the aerial refueling mission was just training this time, it allows VMGR-352 and VMFAT-101 to stay ready should a real aerial refueling mission occur.