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To: GOP_Party_Animal

The KC-135R is equipped with the newer CMF-56 engine vs. the old KC-135A with the J-57 engine, which also used water injection of 5,581 lbs 550 gallons of demineralized water on take-off. Normal take-off was to 1,000 ft remaining pull back on the stick and hope to God it flew. During the mid-1980’s we were losing one crew a year in the old steam jets. One of the reasons I volunteered to cross-train from my flight position as a Boom Operator over to the KC-10A, Extender. The average R model tanker was built as an A model 1957-1964. Considering some of these aircraft are as old as I was when I flew them (a couple even older), it is a testament to the maintenance crews and aircrew that these museum pieces still fly. I will be praying for the safety of the aircrew, but realize how bad it can be when a flying gas station impacts the ground.

No Body Kicks Ass Without Tanker Gas (NBKAWTG) KC-135A/Q/RT Instructor Boom Operator 1979-1985


16 posted on 05/03/2013 5:11:06 AM PDT by KC-10A BOOMER (Cry Havoc and Let Slip the Dogs of War!)
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To: KC-10A BOOMER

Are we still flying the old A model KC-135s or have they all been re-engined with the CFM-56s?

}:-)4


28 posted on 05/03/2013 5:51:53 AM PDT by Moose4 (SHALL. NOT. BE. INFRINGED.)
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To: KC-10A BOOMER

We had the old KC-135A Water Wagons in Saudi when we started Elf-One in the 1980s. As the Vice-Commander I was always having to respond to the locals in Riyadh about the dark black smoke they put out on take off as they climb over the city.


38 posted on 05/03/2013 6:19:06 AM PDT by Portcall24
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To: KC-10A BOOMER
Normal take-off was to 1,000 ft remaining pull back on the stick and hope to God it flew.

That's on a 2 mile long runway I presume. I used to watch them taking off while standing fairly safely by an ATC radar.

44 posted on 05/03/2013 6:39:59 AM PDT by MulberryDraw (That which cannot be paid, won't be paid.)
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To: KC-10A BOOMER

Saw a photo of this bird’s tail laying on the ground. She was a 63 model, specifically 63-8877. Based out of McConnell but possibly crewed by folks from Fairchild.


96 posted on 05/04/2013 10:35:31 AM PDT by Mr. Silverback (safeandlegal.com Make it viral.)
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