WEBVTT

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- [Narrator] Removing the
tail fin from a KC-135

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is not done very often.

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In fact, Master Sergeant Jason Otto

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of the 185th Air Refueling Wing
Repair and Reclamation Shop

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says its has never been
done at his home unit

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in Sioux City, Iowa.

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- [Otto] In my career, in
being in the AR shop since 2003

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we've never done this, we
were told that actually

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when we were going through
schooling and everything

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for the tankers that if
you see this in your career

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it'd be a once in your career thing.

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- [Narrator] Because of
structural damage to the rudder,

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the determination was made
that it would be replaced.

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That required that the entire 25 foot tail

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would need to be removed.

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Airman 1st Class Mark
Van Voorst was tapped

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to help tip the tail.

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Van Voorst is non-prior
service and only recently

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joined the military
while in his late 30's.

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He said there are a lot
of things to consider

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before tackling a job this large.

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- [Van Voorst] Just the sheer size of it.

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- [Narrator] While new to the military,

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Van Voorst said his age
and civilian experience

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allowed him some competence
when confronting the giant

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for the first time.

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- [Van Voorst] You needed to
be, good situational awareness

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and be aware of your surroundings

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and make sure to be
patient, take your time

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and not rush it.

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- [Narrator] Van Voorst's supervisor,

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Master Sergeant Daryl Newman,
said he helped remove a tail

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from a KC-135 once before
during a deployment.

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Newman said that tipping the tail

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is an extremely unique opportunity

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for someone like Van Voorst.

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- [Newman] It's really good
training for all of us.

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I, myself, have been
doing this for 17 years

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and this is only the second
time that we've removed a rudder

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or done a fin fold.

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To get to do something like this

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at the beginning of
your career is amazing.

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- [Narrator] Not unlike an
episode of Monster Garage,

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these KC-135 mechanics in Sioux City

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experienced a few setbacks,

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but once they had the parts they needed

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they were ready to go.

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Within just a few hours, the repaired tail

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was tipped back up, and the Stratotanker

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was airworthy once again.

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In Sioux City, Iowa,

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I'm Senior Master Sergeant
Vince De Groot, Air Force News.