Speeding it up: 35 LRS Refueling

U.S. Department of Defense contractor Mark Ringquist, ground handler, directs the driver of an R-12 fuel servicing vehicle to the correct fueling position at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 24, 2015. The R-12 fuel servicing vehicle is used to transfer fuel directly from a newly installed underground fuel system to aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jordyn Rucker/Released)

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Speeding it up: 35 LRS Refueling

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michael Thomas, 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution operator, backs an R-12 fuel servicing vehicle into the correct position to fuel the Patriot Express aircraft at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 24, 2015. The newly installed Type III constant pressure system requires only one Airman to perform a refuel, whereas the previous system needed up to four, saving time and manpower. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jordyn Rucker/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michael Thomas, 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution operator, checks a manual before refueling a Patriot Express aircraft at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 24, 2015. Thomas had training from a previous base which qualified him to use Misawa's new Type III constant pressure system and was able to conduct the first refueling using this system. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jordyn Rucker/Released)

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Speeding it up: 35 LRS Refueling

U.S. Department of Defense contractor Mark Ringquist, ground handler, attaches a fuel hose from an R-12 fuel servicing vehicle to a Patriot Express aircraft at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 24, 2015. The Patriot Express makes weekly flights to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Misawa and Yokota, Japan, as well as Osan, Korea. This flight is generally used for people who are relocating duty stations, going on a temporary duty assignment or deploying. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jordyn Rucker/Released)

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Speeding it up: 35 LRS Refueling

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michael Thomas, 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution operator, distributes fuel into aircraft at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 24, 2015. The newly installed Type III constant pressure system was unveiled at Misawa and saves both manpower and time needed to complete the refueling process. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jordyn Rucker/Released)

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Speeding it up: 35 LRS Refueling

Published Feb. 26, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Jordyn Rucker
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- After about a two-year construction process, the installation of a Type III constant pressure system was completed and R-12 fuel servicing vehicles were used to refuel an aircraft at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 24, 2015. The underground constant pressure fuel system allows R-12 fuel servicing vehicles to transfer fuel directly from the underground system to the aircraft. This process reduces the amount of time and manpower needed to complete the aircraft refueling process. The previous system consisted of driving R-11 fuel servicing vehicles, which hold up to 6,000 gallons of fuel, back and forth from fuel tanks to the aircraft.