First and final KC-10 flight Published Sept. 17, 2009 By Master Sgt. Linda Welz Fourth Air Force Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Twelve deserving Team Travis members were treated to a KC-10 Extender incentive flight here Sept. 10, in conjunction with Air Force Week Sacramento. For six of them, it was their first flight on the newest of the Air Force fleet of refuelers. As Capt. Jasen Hunter, 6th Refueling Squadron pilot, flew the KC-10 flight toward its destination, a rendezvous with the elite U.S. Air Force Thunderbird aerial demonstration team, the two boom operators, Staff Sgt. James Cain, 6th ARS and Airman Fritz Thompson, 9th ARS, prepared to receive their guests in the back of the aircraft. Two by two, the Airmen climbed down the stirs into the boom area for an up close and personal view of a Thunderbird refueling. The demonstration team quickly and expertly slid their F-16C Fighting Falcon's in and out of position so each of the deserving Airmen had the opportunity to take photos and video to remember their flight. They even exchanged waves with the Thunderbirds pilots. "I was surprised at how quickly they refueled those Thunderbirds, and then they were gone," said Tech. Sgt. Andrea Johnson, 349th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. Senior Airman Christen Duncan, 60th Maintenance Squadron, also his first flight on a KC-10, simply said, Cool!" when asked what he thought of the experience. Although it was the first flight for some, it was the final KC-10 flight for the pilot. After four years and 2,000 hours flying the Extender, Capt. Hunter was moving on to be an instructor pilot in the T-6A Texan II, a single-engine, tow seat trainer designed to teach students basic flying skills common to U.S Air Force and Navy pilots. Upon landing, the Airmen were treated to another first. They watched while the pilot was doused with cold water as he climbed down the stairs and off the aircraft for the last time, a military tradition.