Features

52 MXG teams up with 435 CRS to get hot pit certified

Photos by Senior Airman Branden Rae
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
May 28, 2020
U.S. Air Force maintainers from the 435th Contingency Response Squadron, from Ramstein Air Base, work alongside 52nd Maintenance Group Airmen to get certified on hot pit refueling operations on the flightline at Spangdahlem Air Base, May 18. Hot pit refueling is a procedure performed in a combat environment to rapidly refuel aircraft while the aircraft engines are running, resulting in speedy refueling and faster aircraft regeneration.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Andrew Domingo, 435th Contingency Response Squadron contingency response crew chief, from Ramstein Air Base, practices attaching a fuel nozzle to an F-16 Fighting Falcon on the flightline at Spangdahlem Air Base, May 18. Hot pits are a more efficient refueling method because the aircraft is refueled with its engines on, making the refill approximately 30% faster.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tyler Sommerfield, left, and Senior Airman Cortavious Stepney, right, 435th Contingency Response Squadron contingency response crew chiefs, from Ramstein Air Base, signal each other while practicing hot pit refueling on the flightline at Spangdahlem Air Base, May 18.
U.S. Air Force maintainers from the 435th Contingency Response Squadron, from Ramstein Air Base, work alongside 52nd Maintenance Group Airmen to practice hot pit refueling operations on the flightline at Spangdahlem Air Base, May 18. The 435th CRS support the mobility aircraft by trade but over the past 18 months have started certification to servicing operations on fighter jets as part of their preparation for Agile Combat Employment.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Andrew Domingo, left, Senior Airman Tyler Sommerfield, middle, and Tech. Sgt Donovan Reid, right, 435th Contingency Response Squadron contingency response crew chiefs, from Ramstein Air Base, inspect a fuel nozzle during hot pit refueling practice on the flightline at Spangdahlem Air Base, May 18.
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