KC 135 fly over!

[powder smoke]

These guys out of Bangor area are fondly know as the Mainiacs. They are today doing fly
overs thru out the state.101st Refueling Wing flying KC135s. these flights are to honor
front line works of the covid19 pandemic. As luck would have I got a real decent viewing. It was flying a lot lower than I would have expected and like it was going slow.
Very nice sight about half an hour ago, pretty sweet. ps

 

[Jeepnik]

Good heavens. KC135's are still flying! They're like what 50 years old?

 

[nrobe50]

Good heavens. KC135's are still flying! They're like what 50 years old?

they are not as old as the B52 and they are still flying. Still a few DC3's in the air and they came out in the 30's

 

[RSIno1]

My parents lived by March AFB - It was nicknamed Tankertown USA. They did a lot of training there. I figure they adopted the name to keep up with FIghtertown USA at Miramar a little further south on the freeway. We used to sit on the patio and watch flights of 5-10 going out. Now it's a reserve base but they decorated the overpass with different aircraft that used the base. https://www.google.com/maps/@33.888144,-117.2699633,3a,49.5y,192.55h,90.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sakVxKZJh0uJaecwuxLzwXQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

 

[toysoldier]

McConnel AFB in Wichita is home to a refueling unit, flying KC135's. They are eagerly awaiting the new aircraft.

 

[BlkHawk73]

We tried at work to go out and see but it was too far out over Portland Harbor. Our S. Portland branch got a great view.

 

[tinman]

Good heavens. KC135's are still flying! They're like what 50 years old?

They were built between 1956 and 1965.
The oldest one still in service is from 1956.
The one my daughter flew on (she just retired after 20 years) was vintage 1964.

They will be replaced by the KC 46A Pegasus

 

[Mobuck]

The only "flyovers" here in north MO are buzzards.

 

[Dave P.]

The only "flyovers" here in north MO are buzzards.

I seem to remember you posting a few days ago about not taking
a shower for three days.
Dave

 

[LDM]

Wednesday we had a flyover by a KC-135 and three A-10s based at Selfridge ANG base. Truly an impressive sight.

 

[Bull Barrel]

The oldest B52s still in service were built in 62 Iirc.
They are also the newest.

 

[Montelores]

These guys out of Bangor area are fondly know as the Mainiacs. They are today doing fly
overs thru out the state.101st Refueling Wing flying KC135s. these flights are to honor
front line works of the covid19 pandemic. As luck would have I got a real decent viewing. It was flying a lot lower than I would have expected and like it was going slow.
Very nice sight about half an hour ago, pretty sweet. ps

Maybe they were looking for their airport?

:wink:

Monty

 

[Bull Barrel]

Good heavens. KC135's are still flying! They're like what 50 years old?

They were built between 1956 and 1965.
The oldest one still in service is from 1956.
The one my daughter flew on (she just retired after 20 years) was vintage 1964.

They will be replaced by the KC 46A Pegasus

Not quite right.
The oldest is KC-135 tail # 57-1419 and was delivered to the AF in June of 58.

 

[Robb Barnes]

My son flew the KC-125 for several years including nearly a dozen deployments "over there". He recently switched to the MC-130-J so he and his wife are both in the Spec-Ops where she flies the Osprey and he said the MC is a whale of a lot more fun to fly! That said, all the KC-135s he flew had the upgraded engine retrofits and they did okay as far as power goes he said.

 

[tinman]

Good heavens. KC135's are still flying! They're like what 50 years old?

They were built between 1956 and 1965.
The oldest one still in service is from 1956.
The one my daughter flew on (she just retired after 20 years) was vintage 1964.

They will be replaced by the KC 46A Pegasus

Not quite right.
The oldest is KC-135 tail # 57-1419 and was delivered to the AF in June of 58.

When I saw this thread, I called her to ask about her plane......she volunteered the 1956 date, but did not say if it was in the USAF inventory or some other country. I'll ask her about that next time we speak......thanks for the tail number info. 8)

 

[Jeepnik]

We used to get KC135’s at Torejon regularly. Quite a few were refueling F-14’s enroute to Iran.

Sitting outside the firehouse one pleasant evening we saw a huge fire ball. When we got there it was dark and most of the fire had burned out. We looked as best we could but didn’t find anyone.

When the sun came up we understood why. There weren’t any bodies just parts
I pray to God I never see anything like that again.

I know news shows broadcast video of crash sites. But, they are so sterile. And the smell. I can smell it even now over 40 years later.

I need a drink.

Good night all.

 

[Robb Barnes]

The first time our son took us onto a KC-135 I asked about parachutes and emergency procedures and he said there were none on the 135. The emergency back up plan is to not have one due to the airframe and mission.

 

[Jeepnik]

Want to apologize to the group. I got wound up last night. I'm sure we have all seen bad things.