The Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Wing has named and painted an airplane in honor of Fairbanks. The flagship of the 168th is a KC-135 jet that now has a polar bear painted on the tailflash.
The flagship aircraft is a dedicated jet with the names of the wing commander and the dedicated crew chiefs on it.
It is the jet that represents the Wing and the Air Guard says it is maintained to the highest standards because of that.
The dedicated crew chiefs for the flagship are Tech. Sgt. Robert Albaugh and Staff Sgt. Elliot St. Laurent.
Col. Richard Adams, commander of the 168th Wing, says "We have strong ties with our local communities and Fairbanks is where many of our Airmen live, work and raise their children," "We want to thank our community for their support of our hometown Airmen by proudly flying our KC-135 flagship."
"The KC-135 flagship is an important symbol to our Air Guard," said Adams. "I appreciate the support we receive from our community and want to pay tribute to Interior Alaska, showcasing our hometown Airmen and our neighbors as we fly and serve worldwide."
The polar bear on the aircraft's tail represents Alaska's arctic region and spirit. It has a geometric design, highlights the 168th's culture of innovation.