| Description: | Based on Boeing 707 airframe, the KC-135 was the first totally jet powered in-flight refueling aircraft. C-135’s served as Air Force One and have been modified into electronic warfare aircraft, weather reconaissance, airborne command post and special purpose aircraft. Fuel is carried in six wing and four fuselage tanks. All but 1,000 gallons can be pumped via the extendable boom at the rear of the aircraft into waiting receivers. Aircraft being refueled line up following rows of lights on the underside of the KC-135. The boom operator lies in a prone position and will fly the boom into the receiving aircraft’s fuel receptacle. Eighty troops or 25 tons of cargo can also be carried in the main fuselage. Seventeen KC- 135’s were equipped as “ Looking Glass” aircraft for the Strategic Air Command. These aircraft contained a miniaturized version of SAC headquarters at Offutt AFB and could direct bombers and missiles if ground stations were rendered inoperable. These aircraft could also act as tankers. Until 1985,at least one Looking Glass was airborne at all times.
Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard KC-135’s were retrofitted with Pratt and Whitney TF-33 turbofan engines in the early 1980’s and were designated “E” models. The active duty KC-135’s were retrofitted with CFM International CFM-56 turbofans beginning in the mid 80’s and were designated “R” models.
The museum’s KC-135A, serial number 55-3130, christened “Old Grandad”, was the thirteenth KC-135 manufactured and was delivered to the Air Force in August 1957. During her 35 year career she refueled thousands of combat aircraft in Vietnam and Desert Storm. Retired as the oldest KC-135 in the fleet when it arrived from Carswell AFB, TX, in December, 1992, her last flight was from Carswell AFB to March AFB. It had a total of 14,107.5 flight hours. This aircraft is on loan from the USAF.
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According to the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA/RSA), Maxwell AFB, AL, the museum’s KC-135A has the following history:
KC-135A, S/N 55-3130
KC-135A, s/n 55-3130, Manufactured by Boeing, Seattle, Washington and delivered to USAF on 1 August 1957
August 1957 - To 93rd Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Castle AFB, CA
March 1958 - To 93rd Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Castle AFB, CA
September 1959 - To 924th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Castle AFB, CA
July 1962 - To 93rd Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Castle AFB, CA
November 1965 - To 93rd Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command Overseas), Kadena Air Base, Okinawa
January 1966 - To 93rd Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Castle AFB, CA
September 1968 - To 380th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), Plattsburgh AFB, NY
February 1969 - To 380th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command Overseas), Kadena Air Base, Okinawa
April 1969 - To 380th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), Plattsburgh AFB, NY
April 1969 - To 380th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command Overseas), Torrejon Air Base, Spain
May 1969 - To 380th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), Plattsburgh AFB, NY
May 1970 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX
April 1972 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command Overseas), U-Tapao Air Field, Thailand
June 1972 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX
August 1972 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command Overseas), Torrejon Air Base, Spain
September 1972 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX
January 1973 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command Overseas), Kadena Air Base, Okinawa
April 1973 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX
August 1978 - To 43rd Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command Overseas), Andersen AFB, Guam
September 1978 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX
September 1978 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command Overseas), RAF Mildenhall, UK
November 1978 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX
April 1979 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command Overseas), RAF Mildenhall, UK
May 1979 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command Overseas), Zaragoza Air Base, Spain
May 1979 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command Overseas), RAF Mildenhall, UK
June 1979 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX
May 1980 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command Overseas), RAF Mildenhall, UK
June 1980 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX
March 1981 - To 11th Strategic Group (Strategic Air Command), RAF Fairford, UK
May 1981 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Hcavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX
May 1982 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), RAF Mildenhall, UK
May 1982 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), Zaragoza Air Base, Spain
May 1982 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), RAF Mildenhall, UK
May 1982 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), Zaragoza Air Base, Spain
November 1982 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), RAF Mildenhall, UK
January 1983 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX
April 1984 - To 11th Strategic Group (Strategic Air Command), RAF Fairford, UK
May 1984 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX
December 1984 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), RAF Mildenhall, UK
January 1985 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), Zaragoza Air Base, Spain
January 1985 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX
June 1985 - To 11th Strategic Group (Strategic Air Command), RAF Fairford, UK
July 1985 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX
January 1989 - To 6th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), Eielson AFB, AK
February 1989 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX
January 1990 - To 306th Strategic Wing (Strategic Air Command), RAF Mildenhall, UK
March 1990 - To 7th Bomb Wing, Heavy (Strategic Air Command), Carswell AFB, TX
1992 - Dropped from Air Force inventory: loss to other organization |
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