Homepage The story of the USAF KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft that exploded after a failed pressure test

KC-135 Stratotanker

The story of the USAF KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft that exploded after a failed pressure test

Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation

The story of the USAF KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft that exploded after a failed pressure test

Dario Leone

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DARPA looks to leverage laser-equipped KC-46 and KC-135 tankers to recharge drones wirelessly

Drones / Military Aviation

DARPA looks to leverage laser-equipped KC-46 and KC-135 tankers to recharge drones wirelessly

Dario Leone

Blackbird Pilot explains why the SR-71 had to refuel right after takeoff (and it’s not because it leaked fuel)

Cold War Era / Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

Blackbird Pilot explains why the SR-71 had to refuel right after takeoff (and it’s not because it leaked fuel)

Linda Sheffield Miller

The epic story of the USAF KC-135 that refueled a US Navy KA-3 while the Skywarrior was refueling two US Navy F-8 Crusaders (one at a time) providing RESCAP over North Vietnam

Cold War Era / Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation

The epic story of the USAF KC-135 that refueled a US Navy KA-3 while the Skywarrior was refueling two US Navy F-8 Crusaders (one at a time) providing RESCAP over North Vietnam

Dario Leone

Sponsored by: Osprey Publishing

SR-71 pilot tells the story of when a KC-135Q crew flew through a thunderstorm with their tanker’s throttles frozen to refuel its Blackbird

Cold War Era / Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

SR-71 pilot tells the story of when a KC-135Q crew flew through a thunderstorm with their tanker’s throttles frozen to refuel its Blackbird

Linda Sheffield Miller

Fairchild sets record with 20 KC-135 Stratotanker minimum interval take-off (MITO) departure

Military Aviation

Fairchild sets record with 20 KC-135 Stratotanker minimum interval take-off (MITO) departure

Dario Leone

USAF F-102 pilot tells the story of when he was left alone in the cockpit of a KC-135 flying from the US to Okinawa

Cold War Era / Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation

USAF F-102 pilot tells the story of when he was left alone in the cockpit of a KC-135 flying from the US to Okinawa

Dario Leone

"NASA 831 do not light your afterburners!” The story of the SR-71B Blackbird that had an almost catastrophic fuel leak on a mission to perform a flyby at EAA Oshkosh

Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

“NASA 831 do not light your afterburners!” The story of the SR-71B Blackbird that had an almost catastrophic fuel leak on a mission to perform a flyby at EAA Oshkosh

Dario Leone

The epic story of the KC-135 crew that crossed Vietnam's DMZ and went into a dive to refuel a flamed out F-105

Cold War Era / Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation

The epic story of the KC-135 crew that crossed Vietnam’s DMZ and went into a dive to refuel a flamed out F-105

Dario Leone

KC-46A, KC-10 and KC-135

Military Aviation

USAF seeks companies able to provide commercial derivative tanker aircraft to supplement its tanker aircraft fleet at the end of KC-46A production

Dario Leone

USAF B-52 strategic bombers Fly Over All 30 NATO Nations for the Second Time

Military Aviation

USAF B-52 strategic bombers Fly Over All 30 NATO Nations for the Second Time

Dario Leone

USAF KC-135 loses air-refueling hose over Finland while refueling a Finnish F/A-18. And it’s not the first time.

Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation

USAF KC-135 loses air-refueling hose over Finland while refueling a Finnish F/A-18. And it’s not the first time.

Dario Leone

Photos of Blue Angels getting fuel on their way home to NAS Pensacola show that the team is still flying one F/A-18 tandem seat Legacy Hornet

Airshows / Military Aviation

Photos of Blue Angels getting fuel on their way home to NAS Pensacola show that the team is still flying one F/A-18 tandem seat Legacy Hornet

Dario Leone

This shot of a B-2 approaching the boom of a KC-135 is the coolest photo you will see from the Super Bowl LV

Military Aviation

This shot of a B-2 approaching the boom of a KC-135 is the coolest photo you will see from the Super Bowl LV

Dario Leone

Elephant Walk in the Arctic: Eielson AFB team exercises rapid combat readiness despite the darkness, despite the pandemic, despite the -40F ECT

Military Aviation

Elephant Walk in the Arctic: Eielson AFB team exercises rapid combat readiness despite the darkness, despite the pandemic, despite the -40F ECT

Dario Leone

“USAF should not retire KC-135s and KC-10s to avoid tanker shortage while KC-46 is delayed,” head of US Transportation Command says

Military Aviation

“USAF should not retire KC-135s and KC-10s to avoid tanker shortage while KC-46 is delayed,” head of US Transportation Command says

Dario Leone

USAF KC-135 Stratotankers elephant walk and mass launch at RAF Mildenhall under heavy rain

Military Aviation

USAF KC-135 Stratotankers elephant walk and mass launch at RAF Mildenhall under heavy rain

Dario Leone

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