McConnell Air Force Base

Branch: U.S. Air Force
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Installation Type: Air Force Base
Status: Active

Overview

McConnell Air Force Base is located on the southeast outskirts of Wichita, Kansas, and serves as the Air Force’s primary tanker training base, home to the 22nd Air Refueling Wing operating the KC-46A Pegasus. McConnell was one of the first bases to receive the KC-46, replacing the KC-135 fleet. The installation is named for brothers Fred and Thomas McConnell, both killed in aviation accidents in 1943 and 1945 respectively. McConnell is located in the heart of “Air Capital of the World” – Wichita, which has a long history as a center of aircraft manufacturing and aviation innovation.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Conduct air refueling operations and train KC-46A Pegasus crews for the Air Mobility Command mission; provide strategic airlift support to combatant commands worldwide.
Major Units: 22nd Air Refueling Wing (host wing, KC-46A Pegasus); 22nd Operations Group; 344th Air Refueling Squadron; 931st Air Refueling Wing (Air Force Reserve, associate KC-46A)
Tenant Units: Air Force Special Operations Command elements; headquarters Air National Guard; various AMC support units

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: Wichita, KS (population approximately 400,000) – installation is on the southeast edge of Wichita
Nearest Commercial Airport: Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) – approximately 8 miles northwest
Gate Access: Main gate; CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 4,500
Family Members: Approximately 6,500
Civilian Employees: Approximately 2,000
Total Installation Population: Approximately 13,000

Key Facilities

Medical: 22nd Medical Group Clinic; primary care, dental, behavioral health; specialist referrals to Via Christi Health System or Wesley Medical Center in Wichita; both are excellent regional hospitals
Commissary: Yes – commissary on base
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes – AAFES exchange and facilities
Fitness & Recreation: Fitness centers; outdoor pool; golf course (Windrush Golf Course); bowling; auto skills; Wichita metro offers good recreational options; professional hockey (ECHL), minor league baseball
Schools: Wichita USD 259 and Derby USD 260 serve most military families; Derby schools are well-regarded suburban schools popular with McConnell families; no DoDEA schools
Childcare: Child Development Center on base; waitlists possible; register early
Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility on base; wellness and preventive care
Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office; appointment-based

Housing

On-Post Housing: Privatized housing on base; mix of family housing units; condition generally good
Average Wait Time: 30-60 days typical; Wichita area off-post options plentiful
Off-Post Housing: Derby, Wichita (east and south), and Haysville are popular communities; average rent approximately $1,200-$1,800/month for 3-bedroom home; Wichita is affordable; Kansas has low property taxes
BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil)

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining unit; 22nd ARW sponsorship program
In-Processing: 22nd Wing in-processing; typically 2-3 days; KC-46 transition training scheduling begins immediately
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Airman and Family Readiness Center; enrollment required; Wichita has good specialist coverage

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Humid continental to semi-arid; hot summers (average high 93F/34C in July); cold winters (average low 19F/-7C in January); severe thunderstorm and tornado risk in spring (Kansas is in tornado alley); wind is nearly constant
Cost of Living: Low; Wichita and Kansas are very affordable; no state income tax on military pay in Kansas; excellent housing value
Nearby Attractions: Wichita city attractions (National Air and Space Museum at Cessna plant, Botanica Garden, Old Town); aviation industry museums and tours (Spirit AeroSystems, Cessna, Beechcraft heritage); Sedgwick County Zoo; Kansas State Fair (Hutchinson, 45 miles); Flint Hills tallgrass prairie; Oklahoma border (50 miles)
Spouse Employment: Wichita has significant aerospace/aviation manufacturing employment (Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, Textron Aviation/Cessna, Beechcraft); healthcare (Via Christi, Wesley); education; government; defense contracting; one of the better small metro employment markets in the Midwest for military spouses; A&FRC assists

Contact & Resources

Official Website: https://www.mcconnell.af.mil
Main Installation Phone: (316) 759-6100
MWR Website: https://refuelmcconnell.com
ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Airman and Family Readiness Center (A&FRC), McConnell AFB; (316) 759-6388; relocation, financial readiness, employment, family support

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.mcconnell.af.mil; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/mcconnell-air-force-base; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McConnellAirForce_Base, Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law