An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Article Display

JB MDL selected to test drive new fuel truck

  • Published
  • By Pascual Flores
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  What do commercial airports have in common with Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst when it comes to refueling an aircraft?

Both require a fuel distribution operator to pump fuel. For the Airmen of the 87th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Fuel Management Flight, their hard work and efforts may just get easier and faster with the arrival of a new refueling vehicle.

The vehicle is called the Rampmaster 17.5K large capacity refueling vehicle. It arrived April 14, augmenting the current fleet of nine R-11 tank-refueling trucks and nine R-12 hydrant-servicing vehicles already used by the fuels management flight.

JB MDL was chosen by the Air Force Petroleum Office and Air Mobility Command to be the first and only installation to test the LCRV.

Unlike self-service gas station, where cars and trucks must pull up to the pump, the responsibility of refueling airplanes falls on the shoulders of the FMF personnel, who must pull up to the parked aircraft in vehicles carrying the fuel.

"We were fourth in the Air Force and first in the AMC in regards to pumping fuel," said 2nd Lt. Delwyn Campo, 87th Fuel Management Flight commander.

Servicemembers of the FMF pumped close to 80 million gallons of fuel last year.

With the LCRV's increased fuel capacity, the transporting and transfer of fuel to an aircraft on the runway decreases refueling time and reduces wear and tear on other refueling vehicles.

"This truck can pump fuel at a rate of 1,000 gallons a minute, unlike the R-11 that pumps 600 gallons a minute and the R-12 that pumps roughly 750 gallons a minute," said Chief Master Sgt. Bryan Creager, fuel management flight chief.

"This vehicle gives us a lot more versatility, because it can be used as a hydrant-servicing vehicle or as a tank truck. It also saves time in the refueling process," Creager added.

In the past, topping off the tank of a C-5A Galaxy required the use of a hydrant pit, an underground system connected to external fuel tanks, or eight R-11s, a task easily accomplished by three LCRVs'.

The LCRV can be broken down into three major components: power module, pump module and tank module. The parts are interchangeable with similar vehicles, allowing for faster turn-around should one component break-down.

Along with its increased tank capacity, the LCRV is equipped with a pump module capable of transferring fuel at a rate of 1,000 gallons a minute, a lift platform that can be extended from 66 inches to 134 inches. It also carries hoses, reels and nozzles similar to those found on the R-12 and has a twin steering axle which assists in maneuvering the 56 foot-long mobile refueling station.

May 1 marked the official start of the six-month test period for the LCRV at McGuire. At the end of the testing period, the truck's performance will be evaluated.

"The purpose of this six-month test is to see whether or not this vehicle could be a viable substitute to augment, not replace, the current refueling fleet," said Campo. "The results of the testing can potentially change Air Force refueling policy and be implemented throughout the whole Air Force."