Sioux City Air Guard Moves Refueling Planes To Other Bases

Sioux City, Iowa — (RI) — Runway construction and repairs at Sioux Gateway Airport is already affecting Sioux City’s 185th Air National Guard refueling wing.

Colonel Mark Muckey, the base commander, says they have had to move their giant refueling planes to another base.

Until the longest runway is available for the unit’s refueling planes, The 185th also has been using Omaha’s Offutt Air Force Base for some operations. Muckey says maintenance crews have moved parts to the other locations, plus the air crews have relocated.

Even though the massive planes have been moved, personnel at the 185th are preparing for an upcoming mission overseas, to Guam.

Colonel Muckey took over as the 185th’s commander a few weeks ago and he says shifting planes and getting airmen ready for deployment are just part of the job.

The Sioux Gateway Airport will close temporarily during three time periods in August and September. The first planned closure will begin Thursday, August 15th at 8:00am and run through Sunday, August 18th, at 8:00pm. Sioux Gateway Airport will also close the following weekend from Friday, August 23rd through Sunday, August 25th. The final closure will run from Saturday and Sunday, September 14th and 15th. The FAA is financing 90 percent of the runway improvements.

Photo above: Technical Sgt. Chad Huntly, performing maintenance at the 185th Air Refueling Wing – Courtesy Radio Iowa

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