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The team has been busy touring six prospective sites for basing the MC-12W aircraft. Those bases being considered, including our own Altus AFB, are: Warner-Robins AFB, near Macon, Ga.; Beale AFB, near Marysville, Calif.; Key Field Air Guard Station, near Meridian, Miss.; Langley AFB, near Hampton, Va.; and Whiteman AFB, near Knob Noster, Mo.
Each of these communities are demonstrating their positive aspects as part of the site selection process. The payload to the winning community and facility will be 37 aircraft, two additional squadrons, and more than 500 airmen. The stakes are fairly high these days when the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process keeps cycling around every few years.
What is the MC-12W?
The MC-12W Liberty is a King Air 350ER (extended range) two-engine turboprop aircraft which was modified from the Hawker Beechcraft B300 series. It's a biz jet gone hi-tech military. They're designed to give ground support and reconnaissance for unmanned drone aircraft. The King Air family of aircraft began production in 1974. According to Beechcraft, "it's the world's best selling turboprop line of all time." The 350ER, which is a B300 King Air with enlarged engine nacelles and a belly pod, was first displayed by Hawker Beechcraft at the Paris Air Show in 2007.
The U.S. Marine Corps has been using King Airs for over 20 years. The USMC version of the 350 is designated the UC-12W Huron. Six of these aircraft were rolled out of the Hawker Beechcraft Wichita, Kan. facility in May of this year.
The U.S. Air Force contract with Hawker Beechcraft for 23 of the King Air 350ER aircraft was approved in Nov. of 2008. The total on contract now is 37. Designated the MC-12W Liberty Project Aircraft (LPA), the first aircraft was delivered to the USAF in April 2009.
The Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) owns five 350ER's delivered in spring of 2009.
The MC-12W, according to Hawker Beechcraft, "can fly out 100 nautical miles, perform a low altitude mission for seven hours, 20 minutes, fly back 100 nautical miles and still land with more than 45 minutes of fuel on board. No other aircraft in its class can come close to this performance."
This LPA aircraft is a "complete collection, processing, analysis and dissemination system" according to a USAF fact sheet on the MC-12W. The primary mission is to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) to ground forces.
In addition to its fuel-thrifty habits, the MC-12W LPA, which has a crew of four, two pilots and two sensor operators, is equipped with Electro Optical Infrared (EO/IR) sensors. Each unit costs $17 million, with 37 slated to be built for the USAF by the current contract. For more information on the 350ER, see www.hawkerbeechcraft.com.
Why Altus?
So the MC-12W is a great addition to the USAF, but what are some of the reasons the project would be best located in Altus?
Dr. Joe Leverett, of the Altus Military Affairs Committee said, "Altus would be a great home to the MC-12. AAFB has the ramp space, air space and a community that loves the Air Force."
Both Leverett and Oklahoma State Senator Mike Schulz sited our proximity to Ft. Sill as making us a perfect location. Ft. Sill, originally "Camp Wichita", is still going strong since 1869. It is one of five sites in the nation for Army Basic Combat Training. Ft. Sill is home to Army and Marine Corps Artillery schools includiing the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 75th Fires Brigade and the 214th Fires Brigade.
Leverett also pointed out that "Altus is within 240 nautical miles from Camp Gruber, which is a great range for the MC-12's training." Camp Gruber is located 14 miles southeast of Muskogee, where the Oklahoma Army National Guard holds their summer field training exercises and monthly drills.
"With the loss of C-5s from Altus, we have simulator space, hangers and capacity to handle this new mission of the MC-12. Altus would be the best location to do training," Leverett pointed out. "AAFB understands training missions." AAFB is home to the Air Education and Training Command (AETC), and known as the "school house" to the whole USAF.
Other factors, according to Leverett, that stand in our favor include the facts that Altus will have no problems with encroachment or air quality. "We are a National Treasure because of our air space, low level training routes and drop zone," Leverett stated.
Senator Schulz said, "I feel this is a great opportunity for Altus Air Force Base and Southwest Oklahoma. I believe proximity to Ft. Sill, ample ramp space, and plenty of open flying days make Altus the perfect location for this new mission."
Speaking to the MC-12W's special mission, Schulz said, "As our enemies change, so must the weapons that our brave men and women use to defend our freedom and our country. The use of this aircraft to gather information to help support unmanned drone aircraft, is a great example of how the Air Force continues to change and adapt to meet the ever changing threats to our freedom."
Altus City Mayor T.L. Gramling said, "I am very excited that Altus is among the six contenders for this project. From my numerous tours of AAFB, I know there's ample hangar space and parking for these new aircraft and personnel." Gramling also said, "I welcome the opportunity to show off Altus to the site survey team. We'll put our best foot forward."
If Altus should be chosen for the project, Gramling is sure that the City of Altus will welcome the MC-12W personnel as part of our community, just as we do other AAFB personnel.
Holley Urbanski, President of the Altus Chamber of Commerce said, "We are currently in the process of putting some packages together to show them when they come. To give support and show an effort by the community to help get the MC-12W here at Altus Air Force Base."
Altus City Council member for Ward III, Peggy Risinger said, "I cannot think of a better place for the MC-12W. None of the cities competing has more 'blue sky' than Altus. This includes the current leadership at Altus AFB, flying time, city and community support. Southwest Technology Center has their 'Grown Your Own' mechanic program, training people for base employment. Resources are available to make this possible."
Altus City Council member for Ward II, Sid Willis said, "It would be very beneficial for the City of Altus and Altus Air Force Base to be selected as the location for the MC-12W program...Anytime AAFB can be assigned a new mission means an increase in personnel here, and that stimulates our economy."
Willis said that readers may find more information on this aircraft and its mission at: www.airforce-technology.com/projects/mc-liberty/."
The Altus City Administrator, Mike Nettles, said that the City of Altus has purchased a lot of land around AAFB to help prevent encroachment. "We have the infrastructure to handle additional demands for water and sewer, not only to expand base housing, but also support additional residential and industrial development. Altus loves the Air Force. Altus has the SWTC program to train a labor force for the base and there are still some former employees of Quartz Mountain Aerospace who may be available," Nettles said. "The City will do anything within its legal power to accomplish the project and help support the transition for this. As always, AAFB personnel are welcome in Altus."
With all these positive reasons Altus would make a good home for the new MC-12W, it would be hard to see it going anywhere else. But each community vying for the project may feel the same way. Finalists will be announced late this summer. The official selection will be made in the spring of 2011.
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