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==Air National Guard Base==
==Air National Guard Base==
Part of the McGhee Tyson Airport is dedicated to the '''McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base''', an [[airbase]] for the 134th Air Refueling Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard. Originally established as '''McGhee Tyson Air Force Base''' in 1952, the installation was transferred to [[Air National Guard]] control in 1957.
Part of the McGhee Tyson Airport is dedicated to the '''McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base''', an [[airbase]] for the 134th Air Refueling Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard. Originally built and established as '''McGhee Tyson Air Force Base''' in 1951, the installation was transferred to [[Air National Guard]] control in 1960.


The first records of Air Force use of McGhee Tyson is on 1 March 1951, when the federalized [[Tennessee]] [[Air National Guard]] Detachment 1, 105th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was assigned to the base while on active duty during the [[Korean War]]. Assigned to [[Air Defense Command]] (ADC) and flying [[P-47|F-47D Thunderbolts]], the squadron provided air defense for the the [[Atomic Energy Commission]] facilities at nearby [[Oak Ridge National Laboratory]]. The 105th FIS was headquartered at [[Nashville International Airport|Berry Field]] in [[Nashville]]. The 105th FIS remained at the base until 1 January 1952 when it was returned to state control.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/118aw.htm 118th Airift Wing globalsecurity.org]</ref>
The 134 ARW, which is operationally gained by the [[Air Mobility Command]] (AMC), operates [[KC-135 Stratotankers]] for both air mobility and [[aerial refueling]] of military aircraft. Collocated on McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base (ANGB) as a tenant command is the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment and its associated [[Army Aviation Support Facility]] of the Tennessee Army National Guard, operating several [[OH-58 Kiowa]] Warrior [[helicopter]]s. McGhee Tyson ANGB is also home to the I.G. Brown Air National Guard Training and Education Center and its associated Academy of Military Science (AMS). Similar to [[U.S. Air Force]] (USAF) [[Officer Training School]] (OTS), AMS is an alternate commissioning source for USAF officers who are directly inputted into various units of the Air National Guard throughout the United States. <ref>http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/mcghee-tyson.htm</ref><ref>http://www.tnknox.ang.af.mil/</ref>


The ADC [[Central Air Defense Force]] replaced the Air National Guard unit with the 469th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 January 1952. The 469th FIS initially inherited the F-47s of the Air National Guard, replacing them with [[F-86|F-86D Sabres]]. In 1953, the 460th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron became a second F-86D squadron at the base.<ref name="mul1">USAF Aerospace Defense Command publication, The Interceptor, January 1979 (Volume 21, Number 1).</ref> The 460th was reassigned to [[Portland International Airport|Portland Airport]], [[Oregon]] in 1955, while the 469th remained at TYS until 1957 when it was inactivated.<ref name="mul1">USAF Aerospace Defense Command publication, The Interceptor, January 1979 (Volume 21, Number 1).</ref> <ref>[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/464/743.xml AFHRA Document 00464743]</ref>.
==See also==

* [[Central Air Defense Force]] (Air Defense Command)
The [[355th Fighter Wing|355th Fighter Group (Air Defense)]] was assigned to TYS to be the command and control authority of the Air Defense Command squadrons at the base on 18 August 1955. The 354th FIS was activated with F-86Ds to become the second FIS. The 355th remained until 1 July 1960 when it was inactivated along with the F-86 interceptor squadrons, and the base turned over to the Tennessee Air National Guard.<ref>[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/464/743.xml AFHRA Document 00464743]</ref><ref>[http://www.afhra.af.mil/organizationalrecords AFHRA Organizational Records Branch]</ref>

The 134 ARW, which is operationally gained by the [[Air Mobility Command]] (AMC), operates [[KC-135 Stratotankers]] for both air mobility and [[aerial refueling]] of military aircraft. Collocated on McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base (ANGB) as a tenant command is the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment and its associated [[Army Aviation Support Facility]] of the Tennessee Army National Guard, operating several [[OH-58 Kiowa]] Warrior [[helicopter]]s. McGhee Tyson ANGB is also home to the I.G. Brown Air National Guard Training and Education Center and its associated Academy of Military Science (AMS). Similar to [[U.S. Air Force]] (USAF) [[Officer Training School]] (OTS), AMS is an alternate commissioning source for USAF officers who are directly inputted into various units of the Air National Guard throughout the United States. <ref>http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/mcghee-tyson.htm</ref><ref>http://www.tnknox.ang.af.mil/</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{User:NDCompuGeek/templates/Template:AFHRA}}
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{portal|United States Air Force|Seal of the US Air Force.svg}}
{{portalpar|Military of the United States|Flag of the United States.svg|65}}
*[http://www.tys.org/ McGhee Tyson Airport], official site
*[http://www.tys.org/ McGhee Tyson Airport], official site
*[http://www.tnknox.ang.af.mil/ McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base], official website
*[http://www.tnknox.ang.af.mil/ McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base], official website

Revision as of 21:34, 16 October 2008

McGhee Tyson Airport

McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base
File:Tys-airport-knoxville.jpg
McGhee Tyson Airport, 2008
Summary
Airport typePublic / Military
OwnerMetropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority
ServesKnoxville, Tennessee
LocationAlcoa, Tennessee
Elevation AMSL981 ft / 299 m
Coordinates35°48′40″N 083°59′38″W / 35.81111°N 83.99389°W / 35.81111; -83.99389
Websitewww.TYS.org
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
5L/23R 9,005 2,745 Concrete
5R/23L 9,000 2,743 Asphalt
Statistics (2007)
Aircraft operations138,682
Based aircraft173
Northwest Airlines ticket counter.

McGhee Tyson Airport (IATA: TYS, ICAO: KTYS, FAA LID: TYS) is a joint civil-military public airport serving the Knoxville metropolitan area and located approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of the central business district of Knoxville, in Alcoa, Blount County, Tennessee, United States. It is owned by the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority.[1] Commercial service is provided by several major airlines and connection carriers.

The airport is named for United States Navy pilot Charles McGhee Tyson, lost on patrol in World War I.[2]

The airport also serves as the home of McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, an airbase for the 134th Air Refueling Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard.

Facilities and aircraft

McGhee Tyson Airport covers an area of 2,250 acres (911 ha) which contains two parallel runways: 5L/23R measuring 9,005 x 150 ft (2,745 x 46 m) and 5R/23L measuring 9,000 x 150 ft (2,743 x 46 m).[1]

The FBO (fixed based operator) general aviation facility is operated by TAC Air (formerly Knoxair and Cherokee Aviation).

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2007, the airport had 138,682 aircraft operations, an average of 379 per day: 41% general aviation, 40% air taxi, 13% military and 6% scheduled commercial. At that time there were 173 aircraft based at this airport: 39% single-engine, 26% multi-engine, 13% jet, 1% helicopter and 20% military.[1]

Airport terminal layout

McGhee Tyson Airport has two levels. The top level is accessed via the curbside drop off and the parking garage. The top level is used for ticketing counters, security, gates, and restaurant/shops. It contains a Smoky Mountain theme, complete with faux waterfalls and wood carvings of bears. The bottom level is used for car rental counters, two baggage claims, and airline offices.

Sign welcoming travelers to Knoxville. Viewed immediately after exiting secured area.

Airlines and destinations

Northwest Airlines (operated by Pinnacle Airlines) plane waiting at Gate 12 to take off to Detroit

Cargo

Air National Guard Base

Part of the McGhee Tyson Airport is dedicated to the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, an airbase for the 134th Air Refueling Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard. Originally built and established as McGhee Tyson Air Force Base in 1951, the installation was transferred to Air National Guard control in 1960.

The first records of Air Force use of McGhee Tyson is on 1 March 1951, when the federalized Tennessee Air National Guard Detachment 1, 105th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was assigned to the base while on active duty during the Korean War. Assigned to Air Defense Command (ADC) and flying F-47D Thunderbolts, the squadron provided air defense for the the Atomic Energy Commission facilities at nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The 105th FIS was headquartered at Berry Field in Nashville. The 105th FIS remained at the base until 1 January 1952 when it was returned to state control.[3]

The ADC Central Air Defense Force replaced the Air National Guard unit with the 469th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 January 1952. The 469th FIS initially inherited the F-47s of the Air National Guard, replacing them with F-86D Sabres. In 1953, the 460th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron became a second F-86D squadron at the base.[4] The 460th was reassigned to Portland Airport, Oregon in 1955, while the 469th remained at TYS until 1957 when it was inactivated.[4] [5].

The 355th Fighter Group (Air Defense) was assigned to TYS to be the command and control authority of the Air Defense Command squadrons at the base on 18 August 1955. The 354th FIS was activated with F-86Ds to become the second FIS. The 355th remained until 1 July 1960 when it was inactivated along with the F-86 interceptor squadrons, and the base turned over to the Tennessee Air National Guard.[6][7]

The 134 ARW, which is operationally gained by the Air Mobility Command (AMC), operates KC-135 Stratotankers for both air mobility and aerial refueling of military aircraft. Collocated on McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base (ANGB) as a tenant command is the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment and its associated Army Aviation Support Facility of the Tennessee Army National Guard, operating several OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopters. McGhee Tyson ANGB is also home to the I.G. Brown Air National Guard Training and Education Center and its associated Academy of Military Science (AMS). Similar to U.S. Air Force (USAF) Officer Training School (OTS), AMS is an alternate commissioning source for USAF officers who are directly inputted into various units of the Air National Guard throughout the United States. [8][9]

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency