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Omega Aerial Refueling Services, Inc. is driven by the mission to help aircraft stay in flight longer and extend their range, allowing them to achieve missions without being slowed by traditional refueling processes on the ground.

The idea for Omega was born in the 1980s by aviation entrepreneurs Ulick and Desmond McEvaddy, owners of Omega Air. Having read U.S. Department of Defense studies on the potential of commercial air-to-air refueling and acknowledging the Department of the Navy’s budget request for a strategic air-to-air refueling capability during President Reagan’s administration, the brothers were fascinated with the challenge to provide commercial air-to-air refueling to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps on a pay by the hour basis.

By 2000, the McEvaddys’ vision became a reality and began the first of Omega’s over 5,000 successful air-to-air refueling missions for militaries.

1999

Omega works with BAE Systems and TRACOR to convert a former Pan Am Airlines B-707-300 into an air refueling tanker. The modified aircraft flies for the first time in 1999 and becomes the world’s first commercial air refueling tanker.

2000 – 2001

The Omega B-707-300 begins U.S. Navy certification testing at NAS Patuxent River, MD, and is certified to refuel every type of tactical aircraft in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps inventory.

2001 – 2006

Omega tankers fly under a U.S. Navy contract as a subcontractor to Flight International/L-3 Communications, which has an existing contract with the U.S. Navy.

2004

Omega Air Refueling Services, Inc. (OARS) is formed and opens its corporate office in the Commonwealth of Virginia in Alexandria.

2006 – 2008

Omega converts a former Japan Airlines DC-10-40 aircraft to a KDC-10 configuration, including two wing-mounted refueling pods. The aircraft debuts at the Farnborough Airshow and completes U.S. Navy certification at NAS Patuxent River, MD.

2007

Omega becomes a U.S. Navy prime contractor. It expands operations to include the first allied air-to-air refueling flights by supporting the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) F/A-18 Hornets.

2008

Omega completes its first global round-trip deployment by transporting a squadron of RAAF F/A-18 Hornets from RAAF Tindal, Australia to Eielson AFB, Alaska for a U.S. Air Force Red Flag exercise.

The OARS KC-707 and KDC-10 refuel Britain’s Royal Air Force’s (RAF) GR-4A Tornadoes on a mission from Maine to Arizona.

2014

Omega provides air-to-air refueling services at a Navy Large Force Exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).

2015

Omega conducts the first-ever X-47B UCAS unmanned air-to-air refueling, marking the first time in history that an unmanned aircraft has successfully been refueled in mid-air.

Omega completes its first of several air​-to-air​ refueling missions in support of the Blue Angels.

2016

Omega receives an interim flight clearance for aerial refueling operations for V-22 aircraft and begins supporting V-22 missions.

2017

Omega receives an interim flight clearance for aerial refueling operations for the Joint Strike Fighters F-35B and F-35C Lightning II.

2018

Omega receives an interim flight clearance for aerial refueling operations for the E-2D Hawkeye.

2019

Omega supports VX-1 as they conduct the longest E-2 Hawkeye flight on record, with the E-2D remaining airborne for more than 8 hours.

2019

Omega receives an interim flight clearance (IFC) for its KC-707 aircraft for aerial refueling operations for the Joint Strike Fighters F-35B and F-35C Lightening II.

2019

Omega takes delivery of the first of two boom-equipped former Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) KDC-10 aircraft.

2020

Omega supports operational mission to drag MV-22 aircraft providing essential COVID-19 supplies to CONUS areas in need

2021

Omega Takes Delivery of the second of two boom-equipped former Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) KDC-10 aircraft

2023

Omega conducts first contracted boom air-to-air refueling

2023

Omega first to conduct contracted air-to-air refueling to Air National Guard Fighter aircraft

2023

Omega first to conduct contracted air-to-air refueling to a 5th Generation fighter aircraft

2023

Omega first to conduct contracted boom air-to-air refueling to U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft

2023

Omega is certified to provide air-to-air refueling support to boom-equipped U.S. Navy aircraft