Fairchild Air Force Base demonstrates rapid generation capabilities during Royal Flush

Capt. Timothy Tyson, a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot assigned to the 97th Air Refueling Squadron, taxis a KC-135 prior to takeoff during exercise Royal Flush at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, April 30, 2024. During the exercise, Fairchild AFB executed multiple aerial refueling missions to validate their ability to generate aircraft as quickly as possible. 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 AFB 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)