McConnell resumes operations after spectacular storm

McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas is back in full operation after a bizarre “microburst” weather event on Aug. 24 injured several people but caused relatively minor damage to aircraft on display for a planned air show, base officials said.

According to local media reports, around 10 people – base staff and vendors – suffered minor injuries. The micro-explosion occurred before the air show opened on August 25 and the event was cancelled.

“When it started to rain and lightning, we asked early arrivals to stay in their vehicles in the parking lot outside the base,” a base spokesman said. U.S. Air Force personnel were also told to stay in their homes because there was lightning within a five-mile radius.

“But the storm remained. We had a period of about 2.5 hours of rain and lightning, coupled with wind gusts of up to 54 miles per hour,” the spokesman added.

The wind blew everything unsecured across the flight line, swept away tents, tables, chairs and portable toilets, and hurled debris at the nearly 80 aircraft on display, which represented most of the Air Force's inventory as well as a number of retired warbirds.

“Operators and maintenance technicians of all military aircraft were able to fully inspect their aircraft. No military aircraft were damaged by Sunday's microburst and all were able to leave McConnell,” the spokesman reported. No further damage assessment will be conducted, he added.

“Most of the cleanup was done on Sunday, including the runways and taxiways. This allowed for the early departure of several aircraft that were present at the air show,” he said. The 22nd Air Refueling Squadron conducted a “FOD walk” – to inspect for foreign object damage – on Aug. 26 and “began retrieving some of their aircraft that day.”

On August 27, another FOD walk was conducted, “and subsequently the base returned to normal flight operations.”

Of the planes hit by flying projectiles or tossed around by the wind, “most require only minor repairs,” the spokesman said.

“The two most damaged aircraft are the Commemorative Air Force Cessna UC-78 Bobcat and the Cessna 150,” he reported. Photos of the latter aircraft, which was flipped on its back, circulated on social media after the storm.

The aircraft is “actually a privately owned aircraft that is painted with exceptional detail to resemble a Civil Air Patrol aircraft from an earlier era,” the spokesman said.

The Cessna was righted on August 25 by the crash damage and recovery team of the 22nd Maintenance Group.

“The owner and several volunteers removed the aircraft's wing today and loaded it onto a flatbed truck to return the Cessna 150 to its home airport. It has now left McConnell,” the spokesman said.

The Bobcat “sustained damage to the tail when the wind pushed it against a parked vehicle. We are working with the owners to determine next steps for repair and transportation,” the spokesman said. Two Stearman Model 75 biplanes, a CAP Cessna 182 from the Kansas squadron, the Bobcat and a Kansas Highway Patriol Cessna 206 remain “on site” for further investigation.

“Our pilots truly demonstrated exceptional teamwork and dedication to repair the damage to the air show site, secure the site, clean the entire flight path and work with suppliers and guest crew,” the spokesperson said. “This allowed for an early departure of some guest aircraft on Sunday and Monday, as well as the return of the McConnell KC-135 and KC-46 to their home station. The magic of Team McConnell was on full display this week.”

It was fortunate that no damage occurred, as the static display also included F-22 Raptors and F-35 Lightning IIs, whose stealth surfaces are extremely intolerant of foreign object damage.

Types displayed statically included:

• Two Stearman Model 75 biplanes
• A B-29 Superfortress “Doc”
• Two KC-46 Pegasus tanker aircraft, including one that recently completed a round-the-world flight
• A C-130J Super Hercules
• An A-10 Thunderbolt II
• Two F-15E Strike Eagles
• Two F-16 Fighting Falcons
• Two F-22 Raptors
• Two F-35 Lightning II
• A B-1B Lancer
• A B-52 Stratofortress
• An RC-135 rivet joint
• A T-38 Talon trainer
• A T-6A Texan II trainer
• A T-1A Jayhawk trainer
• A T-53 Kadet II
• A UH-60 Blackhawk
• A HH-60 Blackhawk
• A CH-47 Chinook
• An oversized Boeing 747 “Dreamlifter”
• Cessna 421, 414, 310, 185, 182, 172, 150
• A Beechcraft Baron
• A Fairchild PT-19
• An A-26 Invader “Lady Liberty”
• A UC-78 Bobcat
• A Ryan PT-22 recruit