The first KC-135R tankers arrive at the boneyard after 20-23 thousand flight hours. Sad day in the t

This is a sad picture! The picture attached is of the first three "R" models sent to the Bone Yard. As of this month, there are already 12. 57-2593, 58-0008, 58-0114, 58-0130, 60-0319, 60-0321, 61-0302, 61-0306, 61-0312, 62-3546, 62-3548, and 63-8037.

Sources tell me that Fairchild is sending another one next week down there. Slowly but surely they are being retired and eventually replaced with the KC-46. On the way to the boneyard, they refueled a KC-10 in a symbolic gesture!

Enjoy!

reply to post by boomer135


Give it to me.. Need a new house..

The KC-135 always made me think of a giant Gatorade bottle in the sky. They`ve been around almost as long as the B-52 if not longer. Will go look that up right quick in a hurry. KC135 enter service 1957, B-52 1952. according to book titled Strategic Air Command.

And then they're going to whine about not having enough tankers for the mission, as usual. Just like they did after they started selling them.

It's an example of the Military Industrial Complex. If the B-52 is still worth flying, why not keep the KC-135s flying? Because there's money to be made replacing them. I think it's very wasteful.

reply to post by Mikeultra


The -135 is reaching the point where it's expensive and maintenance intensive to operate. The B-52 is a purpose built military aircraft. The -135 is a converted airliner. You have to look at cycles, and fatigue life as well as hours.

StratosFear
The KC-135 always made me think of a giant Gatorade bottle in the sky. They`ve been around almost as long as the B-52 if not longer. Will go look that up right quick in a hurry. KC135 enter service 1957, B-52 1952. according to book titled Strategic Air Command.

edit on 17-11-2013 by StratosFear because: (no reason given)

Robin Williams came to Kyrgyzstan in the early 2000's to give us a show and when he came on the static display tanker he told me it was the "big tit in the sky". Couldn't agree more.

reply to post by boomer135


You should have seen my father's reaction when the first Singapore KC-135 came through. I thought he was going to blow a gasket he was so pissed off. He came up through B-52s and -135s, and thought that the worst thing the Air Force did was put the fighter pilots in charge.

almost posted my face....lol

As a kid, I remember the KC-135's at Lorring AFB.. was always one of my favorites.. sad indeed. Thanks for the post and pictures.

Nice touch refueling the KC-10.

reply to post by boomer135


Great pic Boomer!

Nice smile you got there too...