Posted on 08/10/2016 6:43:05 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
When the first Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker took to the sky on August 31,1956, no one at the time could have expected it would still be flying 60 years later.
But for the past six decades, this modified Boeing 707 has established itself as one of the workhorses of the Air Force’s inventory, providing air-to-air refueling, personnel and cargo transport, and aeromedical evacuation capabilities throughout the world.
In the mid-fifties Strategic Air Command, under the direction of General Curtis Lemay, needed an air refueler that could keep up with the fighter and bomber aircraft of the day. At the time, B-52 crews often had to lower their landing gear to create enough drag to match the speed of the propeller driven KC-97 in flight, causing stress on the gear and burning many pounds of valuable fuel.
The introduction of the KC-135 eliminated this problem with its ability to reach speeds exceeding 450 mph while carrying more than double the off-loadable fuel of the KC-97.
Soon after the KC-135A arrived at the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron, Castle AFB, Calif., in 1957, the Air Force began to phase out the KC-97s, paving the way for a new area in rapid global mobility. In 1976, the Air Force Reserve received their first KC-135 and Citizen Airmen of the 63rd Air Refueling Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., continue to fly them today.
“It’s a privilege to be associated with such a historic aircraft and knowing what we do has a direct effect on the friendly forces on the ground and ensuring our aircrews make it home safely” said Lt. Col Adam McLean, 63rd ARS commander. “The KC-135 has served as the backbone of the Air Force’s air refueling capability for six decades and there are no signs of it slowing down.”
In fact, it is often said throughout the tanker community that the last mother of the last pilot of the KC-135 has not been born yet, which is a testament to the experience and professionalism of the maintenance personnel that work on the aircraft.
“No one drives a car every day for 60 years but we put the KC-135 through its paces daily and yet it continues to deliver because of the work of the maintenance community,” said Major Mary Lent, 927th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Commander. “Our maintainers are constantly reminded how important their job is because of the aircrews that entrust their lives to the work of our Airmen to keep this jet airworthy.”
The Stratotanker’s capabilities go beyond those of just aerial refueling. As an airlift platform, the KC-135 can carry up to 83,000 pounds of cargo and almost 40 passengers. It can also perform in an aeromedical evacuation role, capable of transporting litter and ambulatory patients using patient support pallets and a medial crew of flight nurses and medical technicians.
Even with the recent introduction of the next generation air refueling aircraft, the KC-46 Pegasus, Air Mobility Command has continued to invest in upgrades and life-extension projects for the KC-135. Reconfirming its status as a vital part of the nation’s air refueling capability according to Stephen Ove, Historian, 6th Air Mobility Wing, MacDill AFB, Fla.
“Wherever U.S. airpower has been since the late 1950’s, you can expect to find a KC-135 involved in ensuring that mission’s success,” Ove said. “From Operation Linebacker II, to El Dorado Canyon, to Inherent Resolve, nowhere will you find a vehicle with the breath of impact across so many of our nation’s conflicts than you will find with the KC-135 Stratotanker.”
MacDill AFB is home to 16 KC-135 Stratotankers, operated and maintained by both the 927th Air Refueling Wing and the 6 AMW.
One of my fondest memories was watching a 111 do a zippo after refueling when a boomer friend of mine allowed me to watch from the boom pod.
I still remember him always saying -- I have the best job in the world, I get to lay down and pass gas all day!
That is why those of us who regularly deployed on 135's would arrange with the crew to put our sleeping bags or pads on top of the pallets (preferably up near the air ducts). The only thing on the floor would be a cooler of drinks that could be kept nice and cold down there. ;-)
A snap crackle and pop when they got past you on while on water. It was particularly noticeable on a cold day.
I can remember days at Altus AFB when the 135's were louder than the B-52's on takeoff.
This is/was true only for selected components like the JT3-Ds (KC-135E) and the taller tail cap.
It is a common myth that the KC-135 is a modified B707. In fact, the reverse is more true. The KC-135 design was actually finalized before the B707's. The 707 profited significantly from the KC-135 design.
The KC-135 has a forward crew access hatch, smaller fuselage diameter and laminated wood decking in addition to accomodations for the fuel bladders. Anyone who has laced those in will appreciate the fuselage diameter difference. The wings, wingroots and flaps have significant geometric differences too between the 135 and 707.
Some commercial 707s have been modified as tankers for the some clients and some commercial operators.
Two of us in our F-105D’s lined up behind a KC135 water wagon
at Hickham Rwy 8, and had to wait about a minute for the black smoke to clear before we rolled to catch him.
Once airborne the refueling was a piece of cake as we were matched in cruising speed. The KC topped us off and dropped into Wake while we continued to Anderson at Guam.
A great improvement over KB-50 refueling.
Sometime in 1964.
While it was true the KC-135E upgrades used the engines and the vertical tail salvaged from scrapped 707 airliners, I believe some other 707 structural parts were used on the KC-135E's. But the KC-135R upgrade was much more serious, because it required wing upgrades to accommodate the four CFM56 engines.
How long were you in? My uncle flew an F-105 as well, out of Thailand.
Tarawa,
I was at Korat, Thailand, in the 12th TFS, TDY from Kadena, from fall ‘64 until a shoot down on this date, 10Aug65.
We used KC tankers out of Dom Muang, Bangkok every mission. After T/O we would top-off going North, and we were grateful they were available when needed on the way back to base. Sometimes they also went dangerously North to help out when we had a downed bird.
My first name is Matt, wife’s name Margo. Ask your uncle if he knows me.
I served with terrific officers and men, and we were badly served by Johnson, Macnamara and Rusk.
The heater on the KC-135 is the largest machine in the world that does absolutely nothing. I’d take a C-130 flight over a 135 anytime.
“A retired USAF Lt. Colonel told me it took three 135s to fill up a B-52 for a prolonged patrol. “
I had to look it up (you are correct)!
http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104465/b-52-stratofortress.aspx
http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104524/kc-135-stratotanker.aspx
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