The KC-135 Story

The KC-135 and I go back a long way.  Or at least the engines of the KC-135.  And lets then say a much older generation of engines.

I think there are 3 aircraft in the US military inventory that are older than me.  The C-130, the B-52 and the KC-135.

I started my Air Force career in 1980 with my first duty station being the SAC detachment at Okinawa.  The SAC detachment was the KC-135s.  I was assigned to the in-shop engine unit.  We would get engines that had to be dis-assembled and re-assembled for any number of reasons.  Usually there were engine time overhauls that were scheduled.  And on occasion, the unscheduled bird strike damage compressor re-build.

The engines at the time were the J-57W manufactured by Pratt and Whitney.  The J-57 was a workhorse of the USAF at the time.  The engine was also used in the B-52 and the F-100 Super Sabre.  (The F-100 was also performing at Selfridge.)

I did get to ride in a KC-135 for a flight from Okinawa to the Philippines.  A few shots are posted here.  

So going to the Selfridge Open House was another trip to memory lane for me.  Yea, it didn't have the rumble of a water assisted take off, but the lines of the aircraft were still in tact.

I was very happy to see one fly again, not that it will be the last time as the aircraft is still in active service.

KC-135

NIKON D500 Ver.1.31/80.0-400.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

277 mm, 1/200 sec, f/5.3, ISO 100

EV 0, Shutter Priority, Size DX

The primary role of the KC-135 is aerial re-fueling.  Back in the 1980s, during my time as a flight engineer on a C-5 A/B I was aerial refueling qualified.  We did a number of missions where this was necessary.  Always a wild ride.  Two big aircraft 30 feet apart.  Another memory lane.  So this is re-fueling with the A-10s.  Formation flying.

KC-135 with A-10s

NIKON D500 Ver.1.31/80.0-400.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

180 mm, 1/200 sec, f/6.3, ISO 100

EV 0, Shutter Priority, Size DX

It was fun to see the aircraft flying.  Old is gold.