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
Are we still flying the old A model KC-135s or have they all been re-engined with the CFM-56s?
}:-)4
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.
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.
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.