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Post by Erik Ingram - HJG on May 27, 2020 19:09:37 GMT
Another historically-significant -135 is the first production aircraft, 55-3118 circa 1956. This one isn't quite true-to-life as it originally had the short vertical stabilizer and only got the taller one when it was converted to an EC-135, but since liberties have been taken with some of the others, I figured it would be alright!
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on May 27, 2020 19:15:21 GMT
I know Gary modelled to short tail KC-135 (its tail features a slightly different shape than that the short tail B367-80 and initial B707-120/-138/-220/B-720), but, along with a couple of other rarities it was never delivered to us at the time. This has come up a few times previously and over time, so, I might make some enquiries for you Erik #55-3118 was eventually re-tailed (among other upgrades) as eventually converted to a KC-135K .... and by which time I supported an entirely different USAF livery. I think its preserved today as the gate guardian at a USAF establishment at Kansas and in honour of it being "the very first" of the KC-135 line back in 1956. Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by Erik Ingram - HJG on May 28, 2020 22:53:22 GMT
Should anything materialize from those queries, I'm happy to make adaptations as needed Quick break from the -135s to present a quartet of Omni Air DC-10s to complete the set; first up is DC-10-10 N360AX, circa 1999: Followed by DC-10-30 N720AX circa 2008: Next is DC-10-30ER N621AX circa 2009. It was one of several acquired from Northwest after they retired them, and was previously N240NW with them. Currently I believe it's used for parts to support the DC-10 air tanker fleet. Finally here's N189AX, a DC-10-30F from 2002. Omni had started out as a charter cargo carrier, and switched to all-passenger ops in 2003 when this and one other remaining DC-10 freighter were sold.
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Post by Erik Ingram - HJG on May 29, 2020 21:40:09 GMT
And now back to our regularly-scheduled KC-135s! Here's 61-0321 of the 410th Bombardment Wing/46th Air Refueling Squadron at K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan, circa 1990 in the short-lived "Shamu" paint scheme. This scheme was a variant of the "Euro I" pattern used on other transports and some combat aircraft, and was replaced in the early '90s with the current AMC gray scheme.
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Post by Erik Ingram - HJG on Jun 1, 2020 2:58:05 GMT
This one completes the foreign operators of the KC-135; beginning in 2010, the USAF sold three KC-135Es to the Chilean Air Force, which are operated by the 10th Aviation Squadron based at Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago. 983 was previously 58-0014 in USAF service.
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Post by CORLL ONE on Jun 1, 2020 10:14:24 GMT
As usual...nice work! I'm a big fan of all the -135 variants!
Thank you!
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Jun 3, 2020 6:43:32 GMT
Some more official portraits for those for whom love ladies in uniform .... these latest examples being in the form of the following KC-135A and KC-135R .... BOEING/USAF KC-136A "City OF Renton" 55-3118 (1956)USAF 100th Air Refueling Wing KC-135R 58-0100 "Hundred Proof" (2019)A quick note re the above KC-125A: We appreciate 55-3118 featured the original short tail during 1956 (and until the early 1960's) when it fist flew as the "City Of Renton" .... however .... we don't "at this time" have a short tail KC-135A UI model to offer, so, despite having to make do with our authentic KC-135A UI model (featuring the later/modified/extended tail fin) the livery we offer is otherwise "very accurate". We don't often take these sorts of liberties (in fact I can think of just 4 textures only .... including this one .... among the entire HJG inventory of hundreds of individual textures where we've done so), but, being "the first" KC-135A this particular aircraft subject is "just too historic" to ignore. In any case .... if one's "flying from the panel" .... as one should be/as we hope people are (given the extent we go to try to provide decent panels for the simulations e offer), rather than day-dreaming in external FS viewing mode , then, it's not going to matter .... simply because one's not going to see the minor discrepancy and the simulation is still going to fly very accurately regardless "THANKS" for these Erik Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by Erik Ingram - HJG on Jun 3, 2020 19:46:41 GMT
For those that are interested in VIP missions, here are two VC-135Bs of the 89th Military Airlift Wing from the late '70s and early '80s, with a couple more still to come. 62-4125 wore this Air Force One-inspired livery (as did most Special Air Mission aircraft) for the early part of its career; this is how it appeared around 1978. After Jimmy Carter became president in January 1977, most of the VIP aircraft were given this all-white variation of the livery, in keeping with Carter's personal emphasis on modesty and humility. This is 62-4127 seen in early 1980. Both are still active, 4125 as an RC-135W Rivet Joint, and 4127 as a TC-135W trainer.
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Jun 4, 2020 4:29:19 GMT
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Post by Tony Madge - HJG on Jun 4, 2020 5:04:54 GMT
some nice shine on those Erik
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Post by Erik Ingram - HJG on Jun 4, 2020 20:58:01 GMT
Thanks Tony Painting the 135s has been fun, both for the challenge of finding obscure variants, as well as representing the shiny and clean ones alongside the well-used ones! Speaking of obscure birds, few of them led more interesting lives than 55-3121. Originally the fourth one off the line, it was assigned to the 55th SRW in 1961 as one of the earliest C-135-based reconnaissance platforms, later taking the form of the KC-135R Rivet Stand (not to be confused with the current tanker) in 1963. In 1969, it was modified into a KC-135T "Cobra Jaw" for signal-gathering missions, where it also got its long nose. In 1971, it was further modified into the sole RC-135T "Rivet Dandy" which served as a general-pupose multi-mission aircraft, used to supplement the dedicated RC-135 fleet (as the C and M models were being upgraded to V/Ws, taking them out of service while they were needed in Vietnam). In 1973, it was "de-modified" as its mission equipment was removed, but it continued as a trainer aircraft (for its aerodynamic similarity to the rest of the fleet). Finally, in 1982 it was re-engined with TF33s, before ultimately crashing during a practice approach at Valdez, Alaska in February 1985. This is how it looked circa 1976 while it was with the 376th Strategic Wing at Kadena AB in Japan.
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Jun 6, 2020 2:40:50 GMT
Just caught up with Erik again .... with these Official portraits of his latest DC-10's .... each of which are different versions of these aircraft that were operated by OMNI AIR INTERNATIONAL between 1999-sh and 2009-ish .... as follows .... DC-10-10 OMNI AIR INTERNATIONAL N360AX (1999)DC-10-30 OMNI AIR INTERNATIONAL N720AX (2008)DC-10-30ER OMNI AIR INTERNATIONAL N621AX (2009)DC-10-30F OMNI AIR INTERNATIONAL N189AX (2002)Some "NICE" three-holers Erik .... and which I think now completes another one of our airline related inventories for the DC-10's Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by Erik Ingram - HJG on Jun 6, 2020 6:28:51 GMT
Always appreciated! Here's another Shamu bird, representing the KC-135Q 58-0084 of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB, California circa 1993. This represents the SAC-ACC transition that was going on at the time; 0084 still wore its final legacy SAC paint scheme, but with the updated ACC tail code and serial number presentation. The Q models had fuel system modifications to allow them to separate the JP-7 used by the SR-71 from the tanker's own fuel supply, and the 54 remaining aircraft (out of 56 so converted) including 0084 are still in service as KC-135Ts with F108 engines.
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Post by alex94 on Jun 6, 2020 14:17:49 GMT
Yay, Erik finally giving the KC’s a lick of paint. I really love that white VC-135B and the shamu kc-135a
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Post by Erik Ingram - HJG on Jun 7, 2020 20:13:03 GMT
Thank you! This next one is an exceptionally rare one; it's possibly the only J57-powered KC to get the AMC gray paint (aside from one or two preserved aircraft that have been painted in spurious markings). It belonged to the 917th ARS at Dyess AFB, Texas which assumed KC-135Q operations from the 9th SRW and its refueling squadrons in mid-1993.
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