Mighty 97th conducts large formation exercise

U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers, C-17 Globemaster IIIs and KC-46 Pegasus aircraft line up for an elephant walk at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, during a large formation exercise, May 21, 2020. During the exercise, 24 aircraft were spun up by the 97th Maintenance Group and were all launched at the same time. (U.S Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kenneth W. Norman)

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Mighty 97th conducts large formation exercise

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 58th Airlift Squadron, taxies on the runway during a large formation exercise, May 21, 2020 at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. An event of this scale required a multitude of individuals and coordination of units from across the base to successfully complete the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm)

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Mighty 97th conducts large formation exercise

U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs line up for departure at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, during a large formation exercise, May 21, 2020. The execution of this exercise took coordination from many units around the base and required a full team effort. (U.S Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kenneth W. Norman)

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Mighty 97th conducts large formation exercise

U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs assigned to the 58th Airlift Squadron taxi on the flightline during a large formation exercise, May 21, 2020 at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. During this formation, 24 aircrews from Altus AFB practiced executing a large-scale evacuation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm)

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Mighty 97th conducts large formation exercise

U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers line up for an elephant walk at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, during a large formation exercise, May 21, 2020. The exercise was conducted to simulate a mass evacuation of aircraft in the case of an emergency such as severe weather. (U.S Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kenneth W. Norman)

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Mighty 97th conducts large formation exercise

U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs assigned to the 58th Airlift Squadron taxi to the runway during a large formation exercise, May 21, 2020 at Altus Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma. The exercise simulated a mass evacuation of 24 aircraft on Altus AFB in case of severe weather incidents or natural disasters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm)

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Mighty 97th conducts large formation exercise

U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers, C-17 Globemaster IIIs and KC-46 Pegasus aircraft taxi to the runway at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, during a large formation exercise, May 21, 2020. During the exercise, a total of ten KC-135s, ten C-17s and four KC-46s took off from the base. (U.S Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kenneth W. Norman)

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Mighty 97th conducts large formation exercise

A U.S. Air Force KC-46 Pegasus assigned to the 56th Air Refueling Squadron prepares to refuel a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 58th Airlift Squadron during a large formation exercise, May 21, 2020. After take off, each aircraft flew various training routes in support of the base’s training mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm)

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Mighty 97th conducts large formation exercise

U.S. Air Force KC-46 Pegasus aircraft fly in formation above Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, during a large formation exercise, May 21, 2020. The four-ship formation of KC-46s flew a large formation air refueling mission and then returned to the base. (U.S Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kenneth W. Norman)

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Mighty 97th conducts large formation exercise

U.S. Air Force KC-46 Pegasus aircraft line up for departure at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, during a large formation exercise, May 21, 2020. After taking off from the base, the KC-46s participated in a large formation air refueling mission, which was the largest KC-46 formation flown to date. (U.S Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kenneth W. Norman)

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Mighty 97th conducts large formation exercise

A formation of U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs approach the runway at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, during a large formation exercise, May 21, 2020. The exercise was conducted to simulate a mass evacuation of aircraft in the case of an emergency such as severe weather. (U.S Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kenneth W. Norman)

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Mighty 97th conducts large formation exercise

A four-ship formation of U.S. Air Force KC-46 Pegasus assigned to the 56th Air Refueling Squadron at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, fly together, May 21, 2020. This was the largest assembled flying formation of KC-46 in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm)

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Mighty 97th conducts large formation exercise

U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs assigned to the 58th Airlift Squadron taxi into position for an elephant walk during a large formation exercise, May 21, 2020 at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Airmen of the 97th Air Mobility Wing participated in this exercise to practice emergency response procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm)

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Mighty 97th conducts large formation exercise

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 58th Airlift Squadron taxies on the flightline during a large formation exercise, May 21, 2020 at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. In preparation for the severe weather exercise, a total of 10 KC-135 Stratotankers,10 C-17 Globemaster IIIs, and four KC-46 Pegasus’ took off from the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm)

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Mighty 97th conducts large formation exercise

U.S. Air Force KC-46 Pegasus aircraft land on the runway at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, during a large formation exercise, May 21, 2020. Altus AFB is located in Southwest Oklahoma and is prone to frequent severe weather events, which is why large formation exercises are important, so in the event of a real-world severe weather event, an evacuation can take place with less delays. (U.S Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kenneth W. Norman)

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Mighty 97th conducts large formation exercise

Published June 4, 2020
By Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm & Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Norman
97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --

Members of the 97th Air Mobility Wing conducted a large formation exercise, May 21, 2020 at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The exercise was conducted to simulate a mass evacuation of aircraft in the case of an emergency such as severe weather. During the exercise, a total of ten KC-135 Stratotankers, ten C-17 Globemaster IIIs and four KC-46 Pegasus aircraft took off from the base. The execution of this exercise took coordination from many units around the base and required a full team effort.