Mmmm, Tasty, KC-135
Ohhh, this is a great shot, don’t ya know!
[U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Paul Clifford]
A KC-135 Stratotanker sits on the flightline at Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006. Ground crews will have to de-ice the tanker before it can take off on a refueling mission.
I can just sense the cold damp air, the smell of JP4, and the odd sense that this bird has got a big job to do tomorrow. Ever have those moments?
March 1st, 2006 at 6:01
Glad we are still there and hope the Chinese Communists don’t force us out. Diplomacy and much cooperation should help keep us in good graces with Kyrgyzstan.
March 1st, 2006 at 11:46
It’s interesting that you focused on another of our big fronts - Communist China. I believe that this GWOT we are in, in fact, should INCLUDE China, Korea, and Iran. Each “front” is vitally important …
With Condi having been there just a month or so ago, it seems we’re still maintaining close ties …
March 1st, 2006 at 15:55
Hehehe, all I wanted to say was that this is an AWESOME pic!!
March 2nd, 2006 at 10:23
Ever have those moments?
Sure did, still do. About two out of every three times I go out to the base (Cannon AFB) I’m lucky enough to see/hear/FEEL F-16s taking off or landing. And it still gives me goose-bumps, even though I know the guys here are, at the most, “just” going to the range.
It’s a great feeling.
March 2nd, 2006 at 10:52
I W A N N A G O W I T H Y O U ! ! ! waaa-haaa-haaa
I really do miss that, and I know it stays in your blood. It is a hard thing to get across to some folks. I think LL gets it ’cause she’s a major motorhead (loves her motor-siccle), and I am sure all that oil, gasoline, and leather in the garage makes her blood pressure take a vacation and relax …
Right, LL?
And, I suspect that Kath (In Training) knows it too, just like going to the firing range for practice … all the rags, gun powder, re-loader … ya know!
September 29th, 2006 at 15:06
awesome pic!! just thought you might wanna know that it will not have to be de-iced before take off theres not even any snow on the ground yet. Also the jet takes JP8 not JP4. I have been to Manas many times and love it, it’s one of the best places i have been too. beautiful scenery.
September 29th, 2006 at 15:41
Hey BigB!!!
While I have no idea why AF.mil said it needed to be de-iced (I posted their story just below the pic), if I remember when _I_ was active, and around these old Boeing 707s, they used JP-4/5 because the engines were water-inject/augmentation, Pratt & Whitney J-57-P-59W turbojets.
FAS.org and TheAviationZone.com have good info on the bird. Here’s those links:
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/kc-135.htm
http://www.theaviationzone.com/factsheets/kc135.asp
I was working on Tankers around ‘84 or so … sheesh, 22 years ago, but I was on the newer ones supporting other missions in test, as well as the KC-135Q (fueled the SR-71 specifically, in my case).
Now, I believe the KC-135s have new CFM-56 engines that are all turbofan like commercial aircraft use today … I also worked on the RC/EC-135s of old …
Hey, BigB, are you still active duty?! If so, thanks for being there for us!
October 3rd, 2006 at 18:17
Yup I am still active. I have been up here in Grand Forks for about 6 years now working on the KC-135R which has the F108-CF100’s which is the military version of the CFM56-2B. You hear about that 135 that had an accident in Kyrgyzstan recently? It happened about 2 weeks ago, look it up on stars and stripes.com
October 3rd, 2006 at 18:35
I did hear about that accident. Never good to hear about one of our birds in a mishap.
So, you`re in the 319th? COOL!!! Talk about tanker country!!!
Even though Minot is to the West of you guys, I did a photo story on some B-52s on roll-out over there in Minot. Reminded me of our tankers at Offutt - taxiing out throught the snow …
http://fix4rso.com/2006/03/10/minot-redline-to-verschneit-ramstein/
Well, and seeing the shot of the C-17 covered in snow brought back my old USAFE days at Rhein Main AFB …
Take care, and keep those tankers in the air!!!