KC-135 Stratotanker
The KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling and transport aircraft manufactured by Boeing. Aside from refueling aircraft during flight, the KC-135 Stratotanker is also operates as flying command posts, pure transport, electronic reconnaissance, and photo mapping craft.
Developed in the late 1950s, the basic airframe of the KC-35 Stratotanker is characterized by swept wings and tail, four underwing mounted engine pods, a horizontal stabilizer mounted on the fuselage near the bottom of the vertical stabilizer with positive dihedral on the two horizontal planes and a hi-frequency radio antenna which protrudes forward from the top of the vertical fin or stabilizer. These basic features make it strongly resemble the commercial Boeing 707 and 720 aircraft, although it is actually a different aircraft. Eventually, the Stratotanker first flew on August 31 1956. The KC-35 is primarily used by the United States Air Force for more than 50 years as an excellent core aerial refueling provider. Aside from the USAF, it also provides service with the U.S Navy, Marine Corps and other nation air force such as the French Air Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force and Turkish Air Force.
KC-135 features four turbofans, mounted under 35-degree swept wings, and could have takeoffs at gross weights up to 322,500 pounds. Nearly all internal fuel can be pumped through the 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. Some aircraft have been configured with the Multipoint Refueling System or MPRS. MPRS configured aircraft are capable of refueling two receiver aircraft simultaneously from special “pods” mounted on the wingtips. One crewmember, known as the boom operator, is stationed in the rear of the plane and controls the boom during in-flight air refueling. 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 of cargo. A total of 803 KC-135 Stratotanker built.
Specifications (KC-135 Stratotanker)
Type: Aerial refueling and transport aircraft
Manufacturer: Boeing Company
Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator and boom operator)
Length: 136 ft 3” (41.53 m)
Wingspan: 130 ft 10” (39.88 m)
Height: 41 ft 8” (12.7 m)
Empty Weight: 119,231 lbs (53,654 kg)
Max. Takeoff Weight: 322,500 pounds (146,285 kilograms)
Speed: 530 mph (9,144 meters) — at 30,000 feet
Ceiling: 50,000 feet (15,240 meters)
Range: 11,192 miles (9,732 nautical miles) with 120,000 pounds (54,000 kilograms) of transfer fuel
Powerplant: Four CFM-International F108-CF-100 turbofans rated at 22,224 pounds (10,000.8 kilograms) thrust each
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