Fairchild Air Force Base demonstrates rapid generation capabilities during Royal Flush

Capt. Timothy Tyson, and Capt. Madison Martin, KC-135 Stratotanker pilots assigned to the 97th Air Refueling Squadron, fly over Washington state during exercise Royal Flush, April 30, 2024. During the exercise, KC-135 aircrews validated their ability to rapidly respond and meet Royal Flush aerial refueling objectives. Royal Flush was a two-part Air Mobility Command readiness exercise that evaluated the ability to rapidly respond and execute mobility fundamentals and non-standard techniques to provide global mobility at a moment’s notice. In a 72-hour period, Fairchild Air Force Base launched 44 KC-135 sorties. This exercise represents a shift from day-to-day aerial refueling missions and planned deployments, to a time when forces could be required to launch all available assets and personnel within days’ notice. As the world’s largest tanker fleet, Team Fairchild would be among the first units to respond to any global contingency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Clare Werner)