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[Chucksklrst]

135 (A, E, R, Q, T) Stick & Rudder 1974-1997 . Three years after that as self loading cargo overseas. Castle CCTS 1984-87.

For us old Army guys all those letters sound a bit suspicious like some other alphabet groups. . Please educate us that don't know what they mean.

 

[mikesim]

Chuck, that's the secret lingo of the Airedales...... they are not allowed to divulge their code to us ground pounders....

Mike

 

[junglejim]

For us old Army guys all those letters sound a bit suspicious like some other alphabet groups. . Please educate us that don't know what they mean.

For us old Army guys all those letters sound a bit suspicious like some other alphabet groups. . Please educate us that don't know what they mean.

We called those guys “Zoomies, propeller-heads, and jet jockeys”. I don’t know what they called us. I do know they didn’t like me when I got in their airplane with muddy boots. So we all took extra care to get more mud on our boots before getting in a plane. You know - - - those airliners were you sit on the floor because that was the only thing in there.

But seriously their support was awesome. They provided support logistically, tactically, and for intelligence. I always envied those in the military who slept in a nice dry bed and ate food prepared minutes ago as opposed to years ago and stored in a can.

 

[Tuchango]

For us old Army guys all those letters sound a bit suspicious like some other alphabet groups. . Please educate us that don't know what they mean.

Very roughly:
KC-135A: first iteration, small motors, navigator part of the crew.
KC-135E: engine upgrade and avionics upgrades
KC-135R/T: most recent engine upgrade (nearly same as 737 engines, the CFM-56), better avionics, so no nav. Way overpowered…it’s better. T has slightly different fuel system than R.
Q model had divided fuel system: some for the tanker, and some for the SR-71. They didn’t mix internally to the tanker. Today (R and T), tanker can use it all or transfer it all.

 

[mikesim]

We called those guys “Zoomies, propeller-heads, and jet jockeys”. I don’t know what they called us. I do know they didn’t like me when I got in their airplane with muddy boots. So we all took extra care to get more mud on our boots before getting in a plane. You know - - - those airliners were you sit on the floor because that was the only thing in there.

But seriously their support was awesome. They provided support logistically, tactically, and for intelligence. I always envied those in the military who slept in a nice dry bed and ate food prepared minutes ago as opposed to years ago and stored in a can.

I once picked up a prisoner at Wright-Patterson AFB and had an occasion to eat in one of their chow halls. I thought I died and went to heaven. It even put the Navy chow halls to shame and they were quite good.

Mike

 

[junglejim]

I once picked up a prisoner at Wright-Patterson AFB and had an occasion to eat in one of their chow halls. I thought I died and went to heaven. It even put the Navy chow halls to shame and they were quite good.

Mike

When I went on R&R during my Vietnam tour I was excited to see a silver plane with a PanAm logo on it. The first plane that wasn't camo and military in a long time. When I stepped in there was nothing inside but floor. No seats or carpeting, just aluminum floor. For an in-flight meal they passed out C-rations. There was a whole plane full of very disappointed (read angry) GIs. It must have been a plane that the Department of Defense contracted during the height of the fighting. But everyone was so happy to get out of Vietnam for a while no one walked off the plane.

 

[Frosty]

Very roughly:
KC-135A: first iteration, small motors, navigator part of the crew.
KC-135E: engine upgrade and avionics upgrades
KC-135R/T: most recent engine upgrade (nearly same as 737 engines, the CFM-56), better avionics, so no nav. Way overpowered…it’s better. T has slightly different fuel system than R.
Q model had divided fuel system: some for the tanker, and some for the SR-71. They didn’t mix internally to the tanker. Today (R and T), tanker can use it all or transfer it all.

Basically motors and plumbing. I don't remember flying missions without a navigator. Avionics upgrades were after. I last flew ANG E models as their AD advisor.
The KC-135A was the "Steam Jet". For takeoff it could inject 670 gallons of demineralized water onto the 4 engines in 125 seconds. The water turned into steam and the rapid expansion was like afterburner. Two large hydraulic pumps were used in the water system. If you see old B-52's or KC-135's spewing thick, dark exhaust at takeoff,it was probably the steam. The J-57 jet engines were used in many early jets. KC-135A, B-52, F-100, F-101, F-102, U-2 ... The fan motors came later. Fans are more effective at lower altitudes. The pure turbo jet motors were good high. The R models are overpowered (but fun). The E models had an early turbo fan TF-33 and in my opinion was a nice balance and equipped with thrust reverses.
Thanks for a trip down memory lane.
"Crew. Starting Water!"

 

[Frosty]

We called those guys “Zoomies, propeller-heads, and jet jockeys”. I don’t know what they called us. I do know they didn’t like me when I got in their airplane with muddy boots. So we all took extra care to get more mud on our boots before getting in a plane. You know - - - those airliners were you sit on the floor because that was the only thing in there.

But seriously their support was awesome. They provided support logistically, tactically, and for intelligence. I always envied those in the military who slept in a nice dry bed and ate food prepared minutes ago as opposed to years ago and stored in a can.

Any time you had to walk home from work was a really bad day.

 

[Coyote Chris]

Very roughly:
KC-135A: first iteration, small motors, navigator part of the crew.
KC-135E: engine upgrade and avionics upgrades
KC-135R/T: most recent engine upgrade (nearly same as 737 engines, the CFM-56), better avionics, so no nav. Way overpowered…it’s better. T has slightly different fuel system than R.
Q model had divided fuel system: some for the tanker, and some for the SR-71. They didn’t mix internally to the tanker. Today (R and T), tanker can use it all or transfer it all.

Living 6 miles north of FAFB, I get to see tankers all day. There is a great Washington State vets cemetery just West of Fairchild. I like ride my bike over there and to walk the rows and read about the people.....some of the Navy ranks are hard to figure out without googling. Same when my cruise ship docs at Sitka...I walk to the National cemetery there and pay respects.

 

[Tuchango]

Living 6 miles north of FAFB, I get to see tankers all day. There is a great Washington State vets cemetery just West of Fairchild. I like ride my bike over there and to walk the rows and read about the people.....some of the Navy ranks are hard to figure out without googling. Same when my cruise ship docs at Sitka...I walk to the National cemetery there and pay respects.
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View attachment 22682

Wow, that’s an amazing view