The US Air National Guard's 171st Air Refueling Wing has received a new KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft simulator, with the system officially opened on 5 May.

The simulator joins a previously installed boom simulator at the base, where it will provide a host of benefits to the wing. Previously pilots had to travel to Milwaukee for three days of training twice a year; now they will be able to train on site.

The full motion simulator can simulate all KC-135 missions, including emergency procedures and scenarios that cannot be practiced during live training, such as having all four engines fail at the same time.

The simulator was relocated to Pittsburgh from Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire. Aircrew from other bases will also undertake training on the simulator.