MacDill set to receive more tankers under budget plan
http://tbo.com/list/military-news/macdill-set-to-receive-more-tankers-under-budget-plan-20140312/
MacDill set to receive more tankers under budget plan
By Howard Altman | Tribune Staff Howard Altman, Jerome R. Stockfisch | Tribune Staff Jerome R. Stockfisch
Published: March 12, 2014 | Updated: March 13, 2014 at 12:08 AM
TAMPA The U.S. Air Force has announced it will cut nearly 500 aircraft from its worldwide fleet over the next five years, but the ensuing shuffle could provide a windfall for MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.
The local air base will add eight additional KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling jets to its existing fleet of 16 in 2018, according to the Defense Departments fiscal 2015 budget request that now goes to Congress.
The tankers would come with 220 additional active duty personnel and 75 reservists, an Air Force spokeswoman said.
The news elated civic and economic development officials.