The KC-135Q It’s impossible to overemphasise the essential role played by the KC-135Q tanker crews, without whom successful prosecution of… Read More
The SR-71 Blackbird Mach 3+ spy plane could be refueled by standard Stratotankers in the event KC-135Qs were not available.… Read More
The SR-71 Blackbird was the first aircraft to use its own fuel for hydraulic fluid. It was called the fuel… Read More
No story on the SR-71 would be complete without an understanding and appreciation of just how valuable the KC-135Q model… Read More
The SR-71, needed to be refueled approximately every hour. Refueling was tricky, but Blackbird pilots were always up to the… Read More
Because of the KC-135Q Stratotanker crews an SR-71 Blackbird never ran out of gas. It’s impossible to overemphasise the essential… Read More
‘We zipped through the target area with no problems and began the start descent checklist. As Jim pulled the throttle… Read More
The KC-135Q Stratotanker The KC-135Q was a variant of the iconic KC-135 Stratotanker modified to carry JP-7 fuel necessary for… Read More
When his SR-71 pitched up and slammed into a KC-135Q tanker at 26,000 feet, Blackbird RSO Maj. Mortimer J. Jarvis… Read More
No story on the SR-71 Blackbird would be complete without an understanding and appreciation of just how valuable the KC-135Q… Read More
The sight of the SR-71 caused considerable confusion in Ching Chuan Kang tower, particularly when one controller asked for the… Read More
“The fine art of pulling the throttle ever so slightly up and just into the minimum burner range was handed… Read More
The clip features a quick, practice contact in "tanker manual" configuration followed by a disconnect, in preparation for a normal… Read More
Lieutenant Colonel Ben Bowles was awarded the Air Medal and two Distinguished Flying Crosses one of which for saving SR-71… Read More
“The nose section was gone just forward of the cockpit and the canopy had caved in on me. I thought,… Read More
"We had no viable emergency airfields, and I did not want to be a no-notice, no–flight plan, single-engine emergency arrival… Read More
"We had to refuel right after takeoff for only one reason, and it wasn't because we leaked JP-7 fuel on… Read More
