Travis’ first mass launch a success: "The 60th and 349th Air Mobility Wings at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., conducted the base's first mass launch of nine aircraft Dec. 21.
Base officials said the Total Force launch effort was an opportunity for operations, maintenance and support personnel to train together on a larger scale than normal.
Travis routinely launches three-ship KC-10A Extender formations, but this was the first time the base launched three Major Weapon Systems in rapid succession.
Although not part of the nine-ship package, base officials said to make the event even more symbolic of the airpower that Travis generates on a daily basis, a Navy E-6B TACAMO aircraft - also stationed at Travis - led the charge. This was followed by nine 60th and 349th AMW aircraft, including six KC-10As, two C-17A GlobeMaster IIIs, a C-5B Galaxy, and a transient Air Force Reserve Command KC-135R Stratotanker from Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind., completed the push.
In less than 15 minutes, Team Travis launched 11 aircraft with a gross weight exceeding 4.6 million pounds."
