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Simulating a test “contact” with a B-2 Bomber prior to our flight.
irrespective of the additional steps needed to transfer fuel and actually complete the mission. The simulation was just a small preview of what was to come and was not entirely like my experience shadowing Master Sgt. Nathan “Dogg” Neidhardt, who I watched do the real thing in the air.
Back to the Mission
“Dogg,” on the other hand, knows what he is doing after 18 years of Air National Guard refueling experi- ence. Hardly breaking a sweat during the process of connecting aircraft to aircraft in a tiring three-quarters of an hour ordeal, he expertly spoke to the B-2 crew and effortlessly guided them up and down to his fuel line. Intently focused on every shift in movement (whether it be from the KC-135R, B-2 or boom), he called out directions for any adjustments. This was his show and everyone else was to work based off his guidance.
Up front, pilots Maj. Rudy Belew (Aircraft Commander) and Maj. Thayne Heusi (co-pilot) of the Strato- tanker maintained straight and level f light and coordinated with air traffic control. It was decided to amend the original plans of dropping the trailing aircraft near St. Louis and instead drop the aircraft closer to their home base in Central Missouri. This allowed the pilot to get additional “contacts” with our boom to further become acquainted with receiving fuel at a point above and past the cockpit. It typically takes new B-2 pilots several familiarization
flights with the KC-135R to get up to speed with the refueling process.
Perhaps most interesting about the 190th, other than the obvious unique mission profile, is that there are only a few full-time pilots. While both pilots on my particular f light were full-time, many serve part-time. Part- timers come from their daily jobs with employers that include “every f lag- ship airline and cargo carrier.” With the increasing competition for quali- fied pilots, the Air National Guard is heavily focused upon recruiting pilots to fill seats in just about all of their planes and draws a set of part-time pilots with diverse backgrounds.
One commonality among all pilots, however, is the ability to be agile and f lexible. The 190th ARW pilots’ unofficial motto of “Semper Gumby,” or “always f lexible,” describes the group perfectly.
Author’s Note: I would like to give a special thanks to the following individu- als in addition to those previously noted: Maj. Marling and MSgt. Pickert for coor- dinating my flight; Col. Skoda, Lt. Col. Budden, and Brig. Gen. Weishaar for information provided during the f light brief and other times; and the over 1,000 airmen, including 60 pilots, 25 boom operators and 250-plus maintenance personnel who made this f light possible.
190th ARW Pilots Maj. Rudy Belew and Maj. Thayne Heusi.
Grant Boyd is a recent MBA gradu- ate of Wichita State University. A private pilot, Boyd is currently work- ing toward his instrument rating, with the ultimate goal of combining his love of business and aviation with a career at a general aviation manufacturer. You can contact Grant at grantboyd2015@gmail.com
February 2020 / TWIN & TURBINE • 19