Going to present Erik's latest textures (each of which are military milestone liveries) in the form of the the following feature/article .... jointly compiled between ourselves.
MILITARY MILESTONE KC-135A'sFully funded by BOEING, and to the tune of some $16 million (1952) dollars, the B367-80 (otherwise known as DASH 80) was independently developed by BOEING through early its recognition of USAF need for a jet-powered aerial refueling/tanker aircraft .... a development that would also later evolve into the civil B707 civil jetliner too .... and ultimately an ongoing and highly successful family of civil jetliners to the present day.
The similarly BOEING developed military KC-97 aerial refueling tanker (which had evolved from its WW2 B29 SUPERFORTESS aircraft), had entered USAF service during 1951, but, despite being an effective aerial refueling aircraft (for operational servicing of other prop-driven military aircraft types) the continued rapid advancement of aviation technology, which resulted in the equally prompt development of jet-powered military aircraft types by the mid 1950's, quickly rendered the piston-enginned KC-97 unsuitable for its purposed role .... considering its maximum speed was little above the stalling speed of pure jet-powered fighter/interceptor aircraft types then entering USAF service.
Developmental work on the B367-80 was commenced by BOEING during early 1952 and publicly announced during September 1952.
BOEING effectively gambled its B367-80 developmental expenditure would be reclaimed through Independent Research & Development funding to facilitate US defense requirements .... with prospective large and long-term long term military (and eventually civil) production and contracts then forthcoming.
B367-80 was completed some 2 weeks ahead of schedule and rolled-out at BOEING's Renton located aircraft production facility on March 14th 1954 .... christened "Jet Stratoliner". On July 15th 1954 the new aircraft performed its maiden flight .... and a military (and later civil) aviation legend was born.
Early B367-80 demonstration flights convinced the USAF in regard to suitability of what BOEING then offered as the KC-135A aerial refueller/tanker aircraft.
However the USAF envisaged the KC-135A being an interim solution only .... given its preferred tanker aircraft option was the LOCKHEED L-193.
For this reason the initial USAF KC-135A order, of 1954, was composed of some 29 airframes only.
The first production KC-135A was rolled-out at Boeing/Renton during July 1956, and first flew during August 1956. Deliveries of KC-135A aircraft to the USAF then commenced from June 28th 1957.
Upon its introduction to USAF service the KC-135A quickly exceeded all military expectations .... more than proving both its value and suitability to the role of aerial refueling operations .... and which resulted in substantial orders then being forthcoming from the USAF .... to such an extent this this ultimately pathed the way toward BOEING's later dominance as both a military and commercial aerospace developer/supplier to the world.
Between 1957 and 1965 BOEING's impressive production run of KC-135A's totaled some 820 aircraft composed of the following sub type designations ....
732X KC-135A tanker aircraft (3X of which converted to C-135A's prior delivery)
15X C-135A transport aircraft (excluding the above 3X aircraft)
30X C-135B transport aircraft
12X C-135F tanker aircraft (for fir the French ARMEE DE'AIR)
17X KC-135B airborne command posts aircraft (later re-designated EC-135C's)
4X RC-135A photo mapping aircraft
10X RC-135C electronic reconnaissance aircraft
The KC-135A's large production run also ensured a number of significant production milestones were achieved by BOEING .... in the form of aircraft line numbers and deliveries .... which were recognized through celebratory decals being applied to some of these aircraft .... particularly in the case of 100th, 200th, 300th, 400th, and 500th KC-135A airframes delivered to the USAF.
This presentation is focuses on these particular historic airframes.
KC-135A L/N # 1: USAF # 55-3118:This aircraft was the first KC-135A airframe produced by BOEING .... although it gained the accolade of being "the tanker aircraft which never (operationally) refueled another aircraft". Christened "City Of Renton", and registered # 55-3118, this particular aircraft was rolled off the BOEING assembly line at Renton, Washington, on July 18th 1956 and first flew on August 31st 1956. It was accepted by the USAF on January 24th 1957 and underwent flight testing from Edwards AFB, California, for almost a year. During early 1958 it was loaned back to BOEING for additional development intended to further improve the KC-135A type for USAF application. It was returned to USAF during July 1960 and transferred to Tinker AFB, located at Oklahoma, for the re-installation of military equipment following its BOEING flight testing, then transferred to the USAF Flight Testing Division at Wright-Patterson AFB, located at Ohio, and then transferred to the USAF TAC on January 21st 1962 and promptly modified to EC-135K specification .... ultimately becoming the first aircraft of this type. It was originally intended to serve TAC's commander in the same vein as SAC's airborne command posts, but, due to USAF operational structure dictating that TAC would be subordinate to theater commanders, the working up of VIP transport aircraft was prioritized. Exemplifying the intra-divisional rivalries within the USAF, TAC requested multiple KC-135's be used for this purpose; This was strongly opposed by SAC, but, which was willing to part with what it considered to be the less-desirable BOEING flight test/evaluation aircraft. This particular aircraft was then assigned to the 19th Air Force, located at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina (mission name "Head Dancer") .... and with whom it served as a personal transport for the TAC commander. Retaining its original short tail configuration # 55-3118 was never upgraded until the late 1960's. During 1971 this aircraft performed a unique diplomatic service .... when it flew then US Secretary Of State Henry KISSINGER to China on a secret mission to prepare for President Richard NIXON’s historic first visit (t was KISSINGER whom initiated this first diplomatic contact with China since commencement of the Cold War). By 1974 this particular aircraft was reassigned to the newly re-designated USAF 8th Tactical Deployment & Control Squadron, located at Nellis AFB, Nevada .... which has been involved in every US combat operation since the Vietnam War. During 1978 this squadron was relocated to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, and which by 1994 had been re-designated (at the behest of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen.Merrill McPeak) .... to become the 8th Airborne Command & Control Squadron. During 1982 # 55-3118 then became one of the first C-135 TYPE aircraft to be upgraded with P&W TF33 fanjet engines .... although it retained its USAF EC-135K type designation following conversion. When the USAF 8th Airborne Command & Control Squadron was inactivated during May 1996 # 55-3118 was retired .... just a few months shy of having achieved 40 years of service. It was flown to McConnell AFB, Kansas, where it was fitted with a rear fuselage/ventral refueling boom and J57 engine nacelles, and where it todays stands on display as a base gate guardian. Although # 55-3118 was never operationally based at McConnell, its selection for display there was obviously on account of this aircrafts "historic" status as "the first production KC-135 airframe", and also due to this particular base having, for many years, been one of the largest KC-135 wings within the entire USAF.
KC-135A L/N # 100: USAF # 57-1420:This particular aircraft has the most obscure service history of the 5 KC-135A's aircraft featured within this presentation. Being the 100th KC-135A airframe built # 57-1420 supported decals promoting this achievement by BOEING when it performed its maiden flight on June 4th 1958 .... and which remained on this aircraft upon its delivery to the USAF some 20 days later. There is not an abundance of reliable information relating to the USAF service record of this aircraft, but, it is known that it served with the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron, located at Fairchild Air Force Base, near Spokane, Washington, by the late 1980s. It was never upgraded with TF-33 fanjet or CFM-56 turbofan power though and was retired to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center, located Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona, on September 15th 1992 and scrapped during October 2018.
KC-135A L/N # 200: USAF # 57-2594By it's L/N # and delivery date this particular aircraft clearly demonstrates the rapid pace of KC-135A production. KC-135A # 57-2594 first flew on December 27th 1958 .... just several months following the maiden flight of the (above) 100th airframe. Similarly supporting decals promoting this aircraft being the 200th KC-135A airframe produced by BOEING, it was delivered to the USAF 4130th Strategic Wing/910th Air Refueling Squadron, located at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Austin, Texas. Upon delivery this particular aircraft was christened "Stephen F. Austin" .... being named after the city's December 27th 1839 founder/the father of Anglo-Texas. During the course of its USAF service # 57-2594 was assigned to various USAF squadrons. It was upgraded to KC-135E specifications during October 1983 .... powered by P&W TF-33 (JT3D) fanjet engines. Based upon photographic evidence it is apparent this particular aircraft served with the Illinois ANG, 126th ARW, located at Chicago-O'Hare International Airport (later Scott AFB) for some 16 years .... between 1991 and 2007. During 2012 it became one of 3 KC-135E aircraft to be sold to the FUERZA AEREA DE CHILE and with whom it was re-registered FACH 982.
KC-135A L/N # 300: USAF # 58-0085This particular aircraft became the 300th KC-135A produced by BOEING. It was the first of the type assigned to the USAF 95th Bombardment Wing/917th ARS, located at Biggs AFB, El Paso, Texas, when delivered to the USAF during August 1959. The USAF 95th named several of its aircraft (though mainly B-52's) after locations within the Texas border region (the names "City of El Paso" and "Ciudad Juarez" appeared on at least two aircraft each) .... and this KC-135A was no exception .... being named "Paso Del Norte". It remained at Biggs until at least 1965 when the USAF relocated its units in prior to this base being turned over over to the US Army. KC-135A # 58-0085 became one of just a small number of these aircraft which ultimately supported all 3 engine types .... P&W J57 turbojet engines, TF-33 fanjet engines, and CFM-56 turbofan engines. It was upgraded to KC-135E specification during March 1986. Then upgraded to KC-135R specification April 1997. This particular aircraft has served the USAF 452nd Air Mobility Wing/Air Force Reserves, located at March Air Reserve Base, Riverside, California since the early 1990s and whom it remains active today.
KC-135A L/N # 400: USAF # 59-1497This is another milestone aircraft .... being "the first" KC-135A delivered to the USAF 46th ARS/410th Bombardment Wing, located at K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan. It was also 400th KC-135A produced by BOEING .... and upon delivery to the USAF supported decals celebrating this accomplishment. Upon delivery to the USAF, and n honor of its operating base, this particular aircraft was christened "County of Marquette." As applies to each of the other aircraft described above (and which is often not uncommon with regard to military aircraft types), the service history of # 59-1497 is unclear following its relocation from Sawyer AFB, but, it was converted to a KC-135E during 1983. Sometime thereafter this aircraft was assigned to the New Jersey ANG 108th Air Refueling Wing .... nicknamed "New Jersey Thunder". After becoming one of the last KC-135E's to be retired from USAF service it was, during in 2009, placed on display at the McGuire Air Force Base component of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
KC-135A L/N 500: USAF # 61-0278As a result of its specialized role, KC-135A # 61-0278, the 500th of the type produced by BOEING, possibly has the best-documented service history of each the 5 early delivery and historic milestone featured KC-135A's presented within this article. Upon delivery to the USAF, during February 1962, it was assigned to the 34th ARS/4321st Strategic Wing, located at at Offutt AFB, Nebraska .... where it operated in support of the Looking Glass airborne alert mission which commenced during February 1961. At the time, it was named "Miss Ak-Sar-Ben" (actually Nebraska spelled backwards .... and which is also name of an Omaha located civic/philanthropic organization famous for the horse racing track it once operated). Shortly afterward this particular aircraft was converted to an airborne command post, and was some time later relocated to the USAF 22d Bombardment Wing/22d ARS, located at March AFB, California .... where the entire command post fleet was later re-designated EC-135A's. Over following years # 61-0297 was relocated to numerous USAF SAC bases. These included Lockbourne AFB (Ohio), Bunker Hill AFB (Indiana), Ellsworth AFB (South Dakota), and Minot AFB (North Dakota). It returned permanently to Ellsworth during December 1969, and during March 1970 was re-assigned to the newly-formed USAF 4th Airborne Command & Control Squadron, located at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It was retired to the USAF ARMC during September 1992 (just 3 days after 57-1420 was also retired). It remained in storage there for 24 years and was scrapped during June 2016.
It's unknown at the moment whether or not KC-135A L/N # 600, L/N # 700, and L/# 800 supported similar promotional or production milestone brandings as was the case with each of the above features L/N # 100, L/N # 200, L/N # 300, L/N # 400, and L/N # 500 aircraft. Our research continues in this regard.
On the subject of KC-135 TYPE L/N #'s: The oldest active KC-135 aircraft currently in service is L/N # 99, 57-1419; This aircraft first flew, as KC-135A, on May 29th 1958, and has since accumulated some 66 years of USAF service (and counting) so far. By the 1980's # 57-1419 was operating with the USAF 92nd ARW, located at Fairchild AFB, Washington. It was upgraded with CFM-56 turbofan engines during 1981 .... and re-designated KC-135R. By the early 2000's it was operating with the 190th ARW of the Kansas ANG, and by 2018 had been transferred to the 157th ANG located at New Hampshire. This particular aircraft currently serves with the 161st ARW of the Arizona ANG, located at Goldwater ANG Base, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Arizona. It is not only the oldest active KC-135 aircraft, but, is also believed to be the oldest active airframe currently in service within the entire USAF.
COMPILED BY: Erik INGRAM & Mark CRANSTON
"SUPERB" Textures Erik for our "NEW" and yet toi be release ST KC-135 models (plural). I particularly want rto acknowledge Erik for his research and initial drafting of the information that's made this feature possible