All systems a go

Staff Sgt. Dwayne Elders, 911th Air Refueling Squadron avionics craftsman, and Senior Airman Christopher Fuller, 916th Air Refueling Wing avionics apprentice, perform an inertial navigation system test on a KC-135R Stratotanker on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., March 15, 2010. Elders is training Fuller how to properly perform the test so he can earn his 5-level qualification. Elders hails from Dearborn, Mich., and Fuller is a native of Holly Springs, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Gino Reyes)

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All systems a go

Staff Sgt. Dwayne Elders, 911th Air Refueling Squadron avionics craftsman, checks a KC-135R Stratotanker's inertial navigation system during a flight control system test on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., March 15, 2010. Flightline avionics Airmen perform this test to ensure an on-time takeoff. Elders hails from Dearborn, Mich. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Gino Reyes)

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All systems a go

Senior Airman Christopher Fuller, 916th Air Refueling Wing avionics apprentice, inspects a KC-135R Stratotanker autopilot switch during a flight control system test on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., March 15, 2010. Fuller is a reservist on training orders for a year to earn his 5-level qualification. Fuller hails from Holly Springs, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Gino Reyes)

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All systems a go

Staff Sgt. Dwayne Elders, 911th Air Refueling Squadron avionics craftsman, reads a technical order for initiating a KC-135R Stratotanker inertial navigation system before performing a flight control systems test on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., March 15, 2010. Elders performs flight control systems tests to ensure the autopilot is running properly. Elder hails from Dearborn, Mich. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Gino Reyes)

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All systems a go

Published March 17, 2010
By Airman 1st Class Gino Reyes
4 Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The peacetime mission of the 916th Air Refueling Wing includes the maintenance of 16 KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft for worldwide operational commitments. The 916th ARW, alongside the 911th Air Refueling Squadron avionics flight, performs constant system checks on flight displays, fuel quantity indicators, engine instruments, flight directories, navigation systems, flight data and the engine fail assist system. The 911th ARS avionics Airmen stand on alert before every KC-135R launch to perform on-the-spot checks of a malfunctioning system to identify and fix the problem. Their ability to quickly respond, identify and fix malfunctioning systems ensures aircraft takeoff on schedule. On a daily basis, these Airmen will perform many flight control system tests for the inertial navigation system, which ensures the aircraft autopilot is functioning properly.