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Not exactly fog of war

  • Published
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  While not quite the fog of war, a fog did envelop Grissom's war machines  in the early morning hours of the August unit training assembly and covered the area for several hours, impacting several planned squadron photos.

This specific KC-135 was originally built in 1963 and has been serving in the Air Force fleet since that time. There were 732 KC-135s built for the U.S. Air Force between 1957 and 1965.

The aircraft provide the core aerial refueling capability for the U.S. Air Force, refueling U.S., NATO and allied aircraft throughout the world. There are 16 of the aircraft assigned to the 434th ARW, making it the largest KC-135 unit in the Air Force Reserve Command.

Four turbofans, mounted under 35-degree swept wings, power the KC-135 to takeoffs at gross weights up to 322,500 pounds and can propel the jet up to 600 mph with a range of 1,500 miles with 150,000 pounds of transfer fuel or over 11,000 miles on a ferry mission.

Nearly all internal fuel can be pumped through the flying boom, the KC-135's primary fuel transfer method. During flight, the boom lowers and extends to connect with other aircraft and can refuel them at a rate of approximately 1,000 gallons per minute.

For more information on the KC-135 click here.

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