Exhausting work

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Master Sgt. Eric Sherman inspects the exhaust nozzle on a KC-10 Extender engine. The aircraft is assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command's 349th Air Mobility Wing. Sergeant Sherman is a flight engineer assigned to the 70th Air Refueling Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Lance Cheung)

Extending the mission

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Staff Sgt Ernest Crider performs an operations check on an emergency oxygen mask and goggles as part of his preflight checks on the flight deck of a KC-10A Extender. The aircraft, including fuel and crew, weighs 370,000 pounds at takeoff and will perform air refueling training over the western region of the United States. Sergeant Crider is a flight engineer with the 6th Air Refueling Squadron here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Lance Cheung)

Extending the mission

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Staff Sgt. Talbert Reese performs preflight checks on a KC-10A Extender. Sergeant Reese is a flight engineer with the 9th Air Refueling Squadron here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Lance Cheung)

Watchful eye

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- An Airman takes a look outside from the inside of a KC-135 Stratotanker cockpit while preparing for a mission at a forward-deployed location in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom Jan. 11. The Airman is assigned to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Bruce Hedrick)

The pump in the sky

OVER IRAQ -- A KC-10 Extender, piloted by Capt. Melissa Nadeau with 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, approaches another KC-10 to transfer fuel while flying missions here recently in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The KC-10 Extender can both give and receive fuel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson)

Airman achieves dream to fly 'into the wild blue yonder'

COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Capt. Stephen Miller (left) reviews aircraft maintenance records with Capt. Terry Tyree Jr. before a flight here. Captain Tyree earned his third aeronautical rating when he graduated from specialized undergraduate pilot training recently. He will learn to fly KC-10 Extenders at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. Captain Miller was Captain Tyree's flight commander during pilot training. Captain Miller is assigned to the 48th Flying Training Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexis Lloyd)