To: Jammz; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; TEXOKIE; Alamo-Girl; windchime; Grampa Dave; anniegetyourgun; ...
KC-135 Stratotanker delivered 84,000 pounds of fuel to three different aircraft over Iraq on April 21 surpassing 1 billion pounds of fuel delivered in the theater since Jan. 30, 2003.
Everybody is working their (tails) off out there, said Maj. Darin Driggers, an instructor pilot on the milestone flight. Whether its the Army, Marines, Navy
everybody has a part to play; this is ours.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q
KC-135 STRATOTANKER
Mission
The KC-135 Stratotanker's principal mission is air refueling. This unique asset greatly enhances the USAF's capability to accomplish its primary missions of Global Reach and Global Power. It also provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps aircraft as well as aircraft of allied nations.
Features
Four turbofans, mounted under 35-degree swept wings, power the KC-135 to takeoffs at gross weights up to 322,500 pounds (146,285 kilograms). Nearly all internal fuel can be pumped through the tanker's flying boom, the KC-135 's primary fuel transfer method. A special shuttlecock-shaped drogue, attached to and trailing behind the flying boom, may be used to refuel aircraft fitted with probes. An operator stationed in the rear of the plane controls the boom. A cargo deck above the refueling system can hold a mixed load of passengers and cargo. Depending on fuel storage configuration, the KC-135 can carry up to 83,000 pounds (37,648 kilograms) of cargo.
In Southeast Asia, KC-135 Stratotankers made the air war different from all previous aerial conflicts. Midair refueling brought far-flung bombing targets within reach. Combat aircraft, no longer limited by fuel supplies, were able to spend more time in target areas.
KC-10 EXTENDER
Mission
The KC-10 Extender is an Air Mobility Command advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for U.S. armed forces. Although the KC-l0's primary mission is aerial refueling, it can combine the tasks of a tanker and cargo aircraft by refueling fighters and simultaneously carry the fighter support personnel and equipment on overseas deployments.
Features
The KC-10 can transport up to 75 people and nearly 170,000 pounds (76,560 kilograms) of cargo a distance of about 4,400 miles (7,040 kilometers) unrefueled.
In addition to the three main DC-10 wing fuel tanks, the KC-10 has three large fuel tanks under the cargo floor, one under the forward lower cargo compartment, one in the center wing area and one under the rear compartment. Combined, the capacity of the six tanks carry more than 356,000 pounds (160,200 kilograms) of fuel - almost twice as much as the KC-135 Stratotanker.
Using either an advanced aerial refueling boom, or a hose and drogue centerline refueling system, the KC-10 can refuel a wide variety of U.S. and allied military aircraft within the same mission. The aircraft is equipped with lighting for night operations.
2 posted on
04/24/2004 9:52:42 AM PDT by
Ragtime Cowgirl
("Evil is out there, and evil wishes to attack us." - Lt. Gen. J Vines, commander, 18th Airborne Corp)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Americans still haven't figured out that this is why the price of fuel is going up - the military is using a whole bunch of it.
4 posted on
04/24/2004 10:37:14 AM PDT by
snopercod
(When it's watermelon time in Germany, I'll meet you on the Rhine.)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
By my calculations, it takes approximately 30 minutes for 1 billion gallons to flow over the Horseshoe Falls at Niagara Falls.
(Horseshoe Falls is the primary falls there.)
Three cheers for our amazing tanker crews!
6 posted on
04/24/2004 11:14:27 AM PDT by
jigsaw
(God Bless FreeRepublic.)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Just how big is a billion?
How big is a billion?
Accessing....
If you laid a billion Courtney Loves end to end, no one would be surprised.
11 posted on
04/24/2004 4:10:05 PM PDT by
gcruse
(http://gcruse.typepad.com/)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
We sure have to burn a lot of fossil fuel due to that greasy death-cult called Islam. I think Greenpeace and the Sierra Club ought to be notified.
12 posted on
04/24/2004 4:12:18 PM PDT by
Hank Rearden
(Is Fallujah gone yet?)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Those old KC-135's were flying before I got there in 1970 and they are still getting the job done. Thanks for this post Ragtime Cowgirl.
16 posted on
04/25/2004 5:23:38 AM PDT by
JOE43270
(JOE43270)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Years ago the hose system was a thrill a minute.
18 posted on
04/25/2004 6:55:00 AM PDT by
cynicom
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