Gallery: McConnell AFB AirShow Highlights Tankers, Other Aircraft

Molly McMillin September 26, 2022

The KC-46

The first KC-46 aerial refueler was delivered to McConnell Air Force Base on Jan. 25, 2019. Eventually, it will replace the KC-135 refueling tankers. This KC-46 was a popular aircraft with air show attendees, with lines to take a look inside. Credit: Molly McMillin

KC-46 & KC-135

The KC-46 aerial refueling tanker was a huge attraction for air show goers. The engine in the foreground belongs to the KC-135 refueling tanker. Credit: Moly McMillin

Inside the KC-46

The KC-46A, built by Boeing, is equipped with a refueling boom driven by a fly-by-wire control system. It is capable of ouffload rates required for large aircraft. The air refueling operator's station incudes panoramic displays giving the opreator wing-tip to wing-tip situational awareness.

The Misty Blues All-Woman Skydiving Team

The Misty Blues is an all-woman skydiving team. Of the 35,000 active skydivers in North American, only 15% are women. The Misty Blues opened the Frontiers in Flight show in Wichita.

A Bombardier Global 7500 Test Aircraft

Bombardier's facility in Wichita exhibited a Global 7500 test aircraft at the Frontiers in Flight air show. The site is home to Bombardier's flight test center, which flight tests all Bombardier products. The long-range Global 7500, originally called the Global 7000, entered service in December 2018. Credit: Molly McMillin

The Boeing Dreamlifter

The Boeing Deamlifter, a Boeing 747-400 widebody large cargo aircrft, transports Boeing 787 parts from suppliers to the Boeing assembly line. The Dreamlifter frequents Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, where the composite forward fuselage of the 787 is produced. Credit: Molly McMillin

The McConnell Air Force Base 2022 Frontiers In Flight Open House & Air Show, held in Wichita Sept. 24-25, was the first time in four years the Wichita facility has held the event. The show scheduled for 2020 was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

McConnell Air Force Base, opened in 1951, serves as the nation’s first KC-46A Pegasus operational base, the newest aerial refueling platform. It also operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelers. The aircraft also doubles as an airlift and aeromedical evacuation carrier. 

The 2022 airshow featured a variety of civilian and military aircraft on static display, including the KC-135 and KC-46A. It also featured vendors and a variety of exhibitions.

Molly McMillin

Molly McMillin, a 25-year aviation journalist, is managing editor of business aviation for the Aviation Week Network and editor-in-chief of The Weekly of Business Aviation, an Aviation Week market intelligence report.

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