On November 29, 2000, I received a phone call from the Vermont National Guard Public Affairs Office. It was an invitation to come to the 158th FW's base on December 2 to board a KC-135R from the 157th ARW/NH ANG based at Pease ANGB, NH, near Portsmouth. This was going to be an orientation flight for some VT ANG's members and their spouses. Due to operations in Kosovo and mission requirements for tankers in the USAF, no KC-135s had been available and my opportunity to photograph some F-16s from the Vermont ANG in the air had to wait until both units could match their training requirements during their Unit Training Assembly (UTA). I've been in a tanker from the 380th ARW from Plattsburgh AFB, NY, before so I knew what to expect and where the best seat was. I've had plenty of time to prepare for the flight and think of the shots I wanted to take. As you may know, things don't always go as you plan! So, I made alternative plans for shots. In case things don't go as planned. I've been waiting long enough for this to happen, I was going to get the best of it and try to get some good shots. I even brought an assistant to get some pictures in case, sort of a safety net if something went wrong! We have to be on base and in the 'OPS' building at 7:00 a.,m.. No problem! Even if it means a 4:00 a.m. wake up call, followed by an hour and half road trip. No need to say that we were the first ones to show up at the gate at 6:00 a.m.. After stopping in the maintenance hangar to say 'hello' to some friends at the 158th AGS, we walked to 'OPS' to get a coffee. I don't know yet how many receivers are we gonna have on the tanker! One thing I know for sure is that it's not going to be easy to get a 'window' at the right time. Oh well! I need to talk to the 158th's pilots so they know I am in the tanker and will position themselves behind the KC-135 and on the wings so I can take good pictures. Since I already know a lot of them, it should not be too difficult.

A 158th's Public Affairs reprensentative meet us in 'OPS' and I explain to her the goal of my visit to the 158th FW and the expected results from our flight in the tanker. I've never worked with her before and I tell her a few words in case she needs some reassuring. Minutes after, I met with some pilots from the 158th FW and after telling them what my plans are for photos, we elaborated a plan for the receivers to position behind the tanker so I can take some good shots. They're more than happy to help since they know me and are sure they will see the photos.While I was hoping for a flight of four F-16s behind the tanker, It was kind of a surprise to learn that 8 F-16s were going to be in the air during that mission. In fact, we were to rendezvous with another 157th's KC-135R on the refueling track AR609 north of Syracuse, NY. The Track is located south of 'Falcon Aks', a MOA which covers a wide airspace in Northern New York State.

At 8:00 a.m., following a short briefing in OPS, we proceed to the tanker awaiting us on the other side of the airport. Our KC-135R has a nose-art and a crest denoting its participation in Rodeo 99. It's a cloudy and chilly morning! I was hoping to get the jumpseat and a close look in the cockpit but we have a full crew today and even two 'Boomers'. A standard crew would include a pilot, co-pilot and a boomer, but since there are 26 pax in the aircraft, extra crew members are needed. Even though the aircraft has been modified with PACER CRAG and doesn't need a navigator anymore, we do have one aboard doing his work. It's 8:40 a.m. and we start our take off roll from Burlington IAP. Heading east over New York State, we reached 26,000 feet in 30 minutes. We rendez-vous with "Pack 11", the other tanker near the refueling track. Our call-sign is "Pack 99". We're behind "Pack 11" a few miles ahead of us. Already, a flight of four F-16s is in formation with the tanker. It does not take long for us to see the other F-16s behind us.

Spouses and other members of the group are invited to come in the back of the tanker near the boomer to see the F-16s hook up for refueling. 7 receivers are behind the tankers, one F-16 aborted its flight. I try to take a few shots from the side window on the tanker while I'm waiting for the boomer to call me. Just when I thought my chance ran out, the boomer gave me a sign to get in position beside him and put a headset on. Waiting for me are four F-16s lined abreast behind the tanker and Major D. Harris, leader of 'Demo' flight is asking me what I want to do. This is not a common thing to hear. I take a few shots of the four F-16s in different formation behind the KC-135. After a nice 'Thank you guys' on the radio, the F-16s quit the formation and return to their training flight.