Lajes fuels Osprey from Cannon

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chyrece Campbell
  • 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LAJES FIELD, Azores --  Four CV-22 Osprey from Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., stopped at Lajes Field en route during a mission and received more than 9,000 gallons of fuel.

Within eight minutes of the command post calling for fuel dispatch, two fuel trucks were on the flight line and connecting hoses to the CV-22 Osprey aircraft.

"This was my second time refueling this kind of aircraft and it was still very exciting, because we don't see this kind of aircraft every day," said João Pereira, 65th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

Mr. Pereira and Moises Lima, 65th LRS fuel operators, fueled all four of the Osprey in less than 30 minutes.

Team Lajes Airmen provided direct support for the aircraft and its crew during their stay at Lajes Field.

"Our 27th Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintainers are a great group of very focused Airmen that keep the aircraft in the air," said Senior Master Sgt. Lynette Harshman, 27th SOAMXS first sergeant.

The CV 22 Osprey, which has the capability to take off and land vertically, is a multi-mission aircraft. The aircraft is designed with the functionality of a helicopter, but has the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft.

The CV 22 Osprey became part of the Air Force Special Operations Command aircraft on Oct. 1, 2010. The Osprey is just one of the planes used by the 27th SOAMXS at Cannon Air Force base to complete its mission.