Air Force maintenance crew members prepare to stabilize the tail of a KC-135 Stratotanker in this 2014 file photo. This week, the Air Force ordered immediate inspections of vertical stabilizer tail pins (see arrows) on its fleet of 385 KC-135 refueling tankers and RC-135 and WC-135 reconnaissance jets after discovering faulty pins that could cause the tail to separate in flight. The order covers all 25 RC-135 and WC-135 aircraft assigned to the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, and the entire KC-135 fleet of the Nebraska Air National Guard’s 155th Air Refueling Wing, based in Lincoln.
U.S. AIR FORCE, VIA GEORGE SARRIS
A patch dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Nebraska Air National Guard's 170th Group, located at Offutt Air Force Base.
Photos: Offutt runway opens after 18-month reconstruction
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A TC-135 lands at Offutt Air Force Base Friday following an 18-month runway reconstruction project.
CHRIS MACHIAN, WORLD-HERALD
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A crowd watches one of the 55th Wing’s RC-135s land at Offutt Air Force Base on Friday following an 18-month runway reconstruction. In all, eight RC-135s landed to mark the runway’s reopening.
CHRIS MACHIAN, OMAHA WORLD-HERALD
Offutt runway reopens after 18-month runway reconstruction.
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Col. Kristen Thompson speaks at a ceremony celebrating the completion of the runway reconstruction at Offutt. Thompson took over command of the Offutt-based 55th Wing in June 2021 when the project was in progress. Behind her is the air traffic tower.
CHRIS MACHIAN, WORLD-HERALD
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A RC-135 lands at Offutt Air Force Base Friday following an 18-month runway reconstruction project.
CHRIS MACHIAN, WORLD-HERALD
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Lt. Col. Ryan Davis brings his new son, Beckett, to see the new runway at Offutt Air Force Base on Friday.
CHRIS MACHIAN, WORLD-HERALD
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A TC-135 is the first plane to land at Offutt Air Force Base Friday following a complete rebuild of the base's runway. The project took 18 months.
CHRIS MACHIAN, WORLD-HERALD
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Attendees hold their phones up to get photos of the first plane to land at Offutt Air Force Base, a TC-135, Friday following an 18-month runway reconstruction project.
CHRIS MACHIAN, WORLD-HERALD
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Rep. Don Bacon (left) and U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer were guests of honor at Friday’s ceremony. Bacon is a former 55th Wing commander.
CHRIS MACHIAN, WORLD-HERALD
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Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, speaks Friday about the new Offutt runway. The project cost more than $200 million.
CHRIS MACHIAN, WORLD-HERALD
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Col. Kristen Thompson, commander of the 55th Wing, speaks at a ceremony celebrating the completion of the runway reconstruction at Offutt. She landed the first jet that touched down Friday.
Air Force maintenance crew members prepare to stabilize the tail of a KC-135 Stratotanker in this 2014 file photo. This week, the Air Force ordered immediate inspections of vertical stabilizer tail pins (see arrows) on its fleet of 385 KC-135 refueling tankers and RC-135 and WC-135 reconnaissance jets after discovering faulty pins that could cause the tail to separate in flight. The order covers all 25 RC-135 and WC-135 aircraft assigned to the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, and the entire KC-135 fleet of the Nebraska Air National Guard’s 155th Air Refueling Wing, based in Lincoln.
