KC-135 Stratotanker
        Brief: A long-range tanker aircraft, meeting the air
 refueling needs of USAF bomber, fighter, cargo, and reconnais-
 sance forces. It also supports US Navy, Marine Corps, and Allied
 aircraft.
 Function:       Aerial refueling/airlift.
         Operator: AMC, ACC, AETC, PACAF, USAFE, AFRC, ANG.
         First Flight: August 1956.
 Delivered:      January 1957-68.
 IOC:    June 1957, Castle AFB, Calif.
 Production:     732.
         Inventory: 552.
         Ceiling: 50,000 ft.
         Unit Location: MacDill AFB, Fla., McConnell AFB, Kan., Fair-
 child AFB, Wash., Robins AFB, Ga., Grand Forks AFB, N.D., Offut AFB,
 Neb., Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, Altus AFB, OkIa., Kadena AB, Japan,
 RAF Mildenhall, UK; and seven AFRO and 19 ANG units.
         Contractor: Boeing.
         Power Plant: KC-135R/T: four CFM International F108-CF-100
 turbofans; each 22,224 lb thrust; KC-135E: four TF33-PW-102 turbo-
 fans; each 18,000 lb thrust.
         Accommodation: crew of four; up to 80 passengers.
         Dimensions: span 130 ft 10 in, length 136 ft 3 in,
 height 38 ft 4 in.
         Weight: empty 119,231 lb, gross 322,000 lb(KC-135E 301,6001b)
         Performance: max speed at 30,000 ft 610 mph, range with
 120,000 lb of transfer fuel 11,192 miles.
         COMMENTARY
         Backbone of the USAF tanker fleet, the long-serving KC-135 is
 similar in size and appearance to commercial 707 aircraft but was
 designed to military specifications, incorporating different struc-
 tural details and materials. The KC-135 fuel tankage is located in
 the "wet wings" and in fuel tanks below the floor in the fuselage.
         KC-135A. Original version with J57 turbojets. USAF built 732,
 since modified to other standards.
         KC-135E. The JT3D re-engining program upgraded 163 AFRC and
 ANG KC-l35As to KC-135E standard with JT3D turbofans removed from
 surplus commercial 707s; fuel carrying capacity is increased by 20
 percent.
         KC-135R/T. Designation of re-engined KC-135As with CFM56
 turbofans. They embody modifications to major systems and subsystems
 and not only carry more fuel farther but have reduced maintenance
 costs, are able to use shorter runways, and meet Stage Ill require-
 ments. The first KC-135R flight was in October 1982, and redeliveries
 began in July 1984. KC-135T aircraft are capable of refueling SR-71s.
 The program continues.
        Ongoing modernization programs are extending KC-135 capability
 and operational utility well into the next century. The lower wing
 skin was renewed, adding 27,000 flying hours to the aircraft. A
 further program permits operation by a two-person flight crew. Sev-
 eral avionics upgrades are under way that will significantly improve
 systems reliability and maintainability. Under the Pacer CRAG pro-
 gram, the entire fleet will be fitted with improved cockpit and
 navigation suites, including color weather radar and integrated
 INS/GPS. About 45 KC-135Rs are being fitted with wing-mounted hose-
 and-drogue refueling pods to enhance interoperabilify and support to
 the US Navy, US Marines, NATO, and other Allied receiver aircraft.
        During the Persian Gulf War, KC-135 aircraft flew around-the-
 clock missions to maintain the operability of coalition warplanes.
 More recent KC-135 deployments include support for operations in
 Somalia, Bosnia, Rwanda, Haiti, and the Middle East.
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