Wichita Business Journal
Daniel McCoy

The party at McConnell Air Force Base on Friday was a long time coming.

And for the crowd of Airmen, state, local and federal officials gathered to mark the arrival of the KC-46A Pegasus tanker from the Boeing Co., the celebration didn’t disappoint.

“Welcome to a new dawn of mobility air power,” said Col. Joshua Olson, commander of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell.

McConnell received its first two tankers on Friday, with Olson and other base officials throughout the day stressing that its multiple capabilities make it much more than just a refueling aircraft — one that will secure the base’s mission and its impact on Wichita for decades.

“This is a day we have looked for and longed for,” said U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran. “Wichita is the Air Capital of the World, and today is a significant component of the Air Capital of the World’s future.”

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