The story
The KC-135 keeps the US Air Force in the air — literally. It refuels fighters, bombers, and surveillance aircraft mid-flight. Without tankers, modern air power doesn't work.
The KC-135 and the Boeing 707 are siblings, not twins. Both grew out of Boeing's 367-80 prototype, but the tanker has a narrower, shorter fuselage and a structurally different airframe.
Quick answers
How do you identify a KC-135 Stratotanker?
Looks like a slimmer, shorter Boeing 707 with a refueling boom under the tail. Four engines in fat, round CFM56 pods on today's fleet. Often flying near military jets.
What does a KC-135 Stratotanker sound like?
Four CFM F108 (CFM56) turbofans on a 1950s airframe: a smooth, deep hum, far quieter than the J57 turbojets it was born with.
How fast is the KC-135 Stratotanker?
Top speed is 504 kts.
How far can the KC-135 Stratotanker fly?
Range is about 1,500 mi (with 150,000 lbs of transfer fuel).
How big is the KC-135 Stratotanker?
It is 136 ft 3 in long and 130 ft 10 in across the wings.
When did the KC-135 Stratotanker first fly?
Its first flight was in 1956.
How many KC-135 Stratotankers have been built?
803 built.
How rare is a KC-135 Stratotanker in Bogey?
RARE. A good day. Most spotters go weeks between sightings of something this rare. Your first KC-135 Stratotanker catch is worth 250 points.
