McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Knoxville, Tennessee, is uniquely qualified to receive and employ the Air Force’s next-generation air refueling aircraft ... The KC-46 Pegasus! The combination of strategic location, robust infrastructure, and highly proficient Volunteer Airmen make McGhee Tyson the Right Choice for KC-46 basing.

McGhee Tyson home of the 134th Air Refueling Wing enjoys a unique geographic centricity. Whether responding to time critical homeland defense missions, providing routine training, or delivering Rapid Global Mobility to the Joint Force and our allies, McGhee Tyson is perfectly situated to provide proximity to air refueling demands while remaining clear of the nation’s busiest airspace. Right Place.

This KC-46 conversion study capitalizes on the infrastructure, mission support capabilities and synergistic partnerships already in place at McGhee Tyson. Recent improvements include a $134M newly constructed 10,000ft runway and completion of a $32.4M aircraft maintenance hangar that will house a KC-46. Additionally, this plan highlights existing base communication capabilities and mission support facilities that represent a significant tax payer cost savings for KC-46 beddown. Right Cost.

McGhee Tyson boasts 66 years of Volunteer excellence and service to the United States Air Force. The unit has received a remarkable 16 Air Force Outstanding Unit awards and most recently the Air Force Meritorious Unit award for direct support of combat operations. Additionally, the 134th has been awarded the Airlift/ Tanker Association’s Major General Stanley F.H. Newman award in 2016 and 2020 for the most outstanding Air National Guard wing contributing to the overall success of the Mobility Air Force mission. Right People.
 

You will find this study illustrates that McGhee Tyson and the surrounding East Tennessee community possess an unequalled combination of people, location and infrastructure that cannot be duplicated at any other Air National Guard installation. I endorse this initiative and welcome the opportunity to discuss any aspect of its implementation.

We are Volunteer Ready for the KC-46 Pegasus! McGhee Tyson: Right Place, Right Cost, Right People .... Right Choice! 

                                                      — Colonel M. Lee Hartley, Jr.
                                                           134th Air Refueling Wing