Can a KC-135 be refueled in the air?
The USAF has been flying KC-135 in-flight refuelling tankers since 1957, but it says the type has never been hot refuelled. Hot refuelling is a procedure to refill an aircraft with aviation gas while at least one engine is still running.
How many KC 135s are there in the Air Force?
The KC-135 remains the backbone of the USAF’s tanker force, with nearly 400 still flying with the force. It will soldier on for decades to come, helped in part by the fact that moves to replace the type that continue to be mired in delays.
What is the range of a KC-135?
1,503 mi
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker/Range
What does KC stand for in KC-135?
K = Tanker. V = VIP. C = Cargo. The C-135 is a military Boeing 707, so the KC-135 is the tanker version.
What aircraft does the Air Force fly?
Current inventory
| Aircraft | Origin | Variant |
|---|---|---|
| Combat Aircraft | ||
| F-35 Lightning II | United States | F-35A |
| F-16 Fighting Falcon | United States | F-16C |
| A-10 Thunderbolt II | United States | A-10C |
How many air refuelers are there?
The United States Air Force operates 650 tanker aircraft—the largest aerial refueler fleet on Earth. The rest of the world has perhaps as many as 250 tankers, and, of these, 80 belong to the US Marine Corps.
How Slow Can a KC-135 fly?
580 mph
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker/Top speed
How much is a KC-135 worth?
For comparison’s sake, a KC-135 would cost approximately $62.2 million and a KC-10—another aerial refueling tanker—would cost approximately $139 million in 2020 dollars.
How many fighters can a KC-135 refuel?
two
These KC-135s are capable of refueling two receiver aircraft at the same time.
How much fuel can a KC-135 carry?
The KC-135 can haul either 83,000 pounds of cargo, airlift up to 80 passengers or carry 202,800 pounds of JP-4 jet fuel, most of which is transferable for global refueling missions.
Do Air Force pilots carry guns?
Currently, most pilots carry no weapons beyond a survival knife and occasionally a standard issue sidearm in their kits when flying combat operations, and with Air Force operations ongoing in multiple theaters around the world, a mishap that results in a crash or an aircraft downed by enemy fire could result in a lone …
What is the salary of the pilot of Air Force One?
Presidential pilots earn the same base salary as any other pilot with their rank and experience. According to the 2020 military pay charts, a pilot flying Air Force One would make somewhere in the region of $134,124 USD per year.
What does the KC 135 do for the Air Force?
It also provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft. The KC-135 is also capable of transporting litter and ambulatory patients using patient support pallets during aeromedical evacuations.
How much cargo can a KC-135 carry?
Depending on fuel storage configuration, the KC-135 can carry up to 83,000 pounds of cargo. Nearly all internal fuel can be pumped through the flying boom, the KC-135’s primary fuel transfer method. One crewmember, known as the boom operator, is stationed in the rear of the plane and controls the boom during in-flight air refueling.
Where is the KC-135 Stratotanker in the air?
PHOTO DETAILS / DOWNLOAD HI-RES2 of 5 A KC-135 Stratotanker sits on the flightline at Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan. Ground crews will have to de-ice the tanker before it can take off on a refueling mission.
Which is more fuel efficient KC 135 or KC 135t?
The re-engined tanker, designated either the KC-135R or KC-135T, can offload 50 percent more fuel, is 25 percent more fuel efficient, costs 25 percent less to operate and is 96 percent quieter than the KC-135A. Under another modification program, a re-engined tanker with the TF-33-PW-102 engine was designated the KC-135E.