BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — One of the new KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft was unveiled at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base on Sunday.
In November, 6 News reported that the U.S. Air Force selected McGhee Tyson as the seventh main operating base for the plane. The 134th Air Refueling Wing held a ceremony on Sunday morning, and the media got a look at the new aircraft.
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“Tennessee shone like the North Star compared to the other states across the country that could have been chosen for this,” said Governor Bill Lee. Other state officials attended the ceremony including Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, Representative Tim Burchett and others.
Major Jeff Hunt was excited about the new planes, saying it meant a lot for the longevity of the 134th Air Refueling Wing. He added that the transition to the new aircraft will happen in about two-and-a-half to three years. This will involve months of training, although he said he expects it to be a fairly easy transition.
“We just put so much into even being looked at to be considered for the KC-46,” Hunt said. “For them to look at our wing and say, ‘Yes, this is the future of air refueling. We need this airplane in Knoxville.’ It means a lot to us.”
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The Pegasus has advanced refueling capabilities and can fly for 24 hours without stopping, the Air Force said…