Inspiring Images Of The KC-135 Stratotanker

A row of KC-135R Stratotanker’s assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard stand ready on a foggy winter morning at the 128th Air Refueling Wing, Milwaukee, January 20, 2017.

A row of Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker’s assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard stand ready on a foggy winter morning at the 128th Air Refueling Wing, Milwaukee. These KC-135 images were photographed by military veterans and service members. 

A KC-135R Stratotanker from the 92nd Air Refueling Squadron takes off in view of the air control tower at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., Oct. 30, 2016. The KC-135 Stratotanker is the mainstay of the U.S. strategic air refueling fleet with over 700 aircraft keeping the mission airborne.

A KC-135 Stratotanker from the 92nd Air Refueling Squadron takes off in view of the air control tower at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueler with the 141st Air Refueling Wing of the Washington Air National Guard from Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, is displayed during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2017 in Sirat, Malaysia, March 21, 2017. Events such as LIMA contribute to increased interoperability and security throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. LIMA presents an opportunity for participants to focus on strengthening military-to-military ties.

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueler with the 141st Air Refueling Wing of the Washington Air National Guard from Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, is displayed during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) in Sirat, Malaysia,.

Staff Sgt. Kyle Burks, 22nd Maintenance Squadron electrical environmental craftsman, looks out of a KC-135 Stratotanker Nov. 1, 2013, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. As an electrical environmental craftsman, he troubleshoots, inspects and repairs aircraft systems.

Staff Sgt. Kyle Burks, 22nd Maintenance Squadron electrical environmental craftsman, looks out of a KC-135 Stratotanker.

Airmen from the 151st Maintenance Group deice a KC-135 Stratotanker on Jan. 5, 2017, at Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City.

Airmen from the 151st Maintenance Group deice a KC-135 Stratotanker at Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City. These KC-135 images were photographed by military veterans and service members.

A KC-135 Stratotanker boom operator refuels an E-3 Sentry over Iraq Sept. 29, 2016. Airmen from the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron refueled a U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry over Iraq in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve. The U.S. and more than 60 coalition partners work together to eliminate Daesh and the threat they pose to Iraq and Syria.

A KC-135 Stratotanker boom operator refuels an E-3 Sentry over Iraq.

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from the New Jersey Air National Guard's 108th Wing taxis to the flight line after returning from a training mission at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Aug. 31, 2016.

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 108th Wing taxis to the flight line after returning from a training mission.

A KC-135 Stratotanker with the 314th Air Refueling Squadron, Beale Air Force Base, California, soars above the Sierra Nevada Mountains, December 22, 2016. KC-135s have played a vital role in the United States Air Forces aerial refueling capabilities since the 1950s.

A KC-135 Stratotanker with the 314th Air Refueling Squadron, Beale Air Force Base, California, soars above the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

459th Air Refueling Wing KC-135R Stratotankers conduct an elephant walk during an alert exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 5, 2017. The term “elephant walk” has been used since World War II when large numbers of aircraft would line up for rapid response take-off. Onlookers said the procession looked like elephants headed to a watering hole, and the name has been part of the U.S. Air Force lexicon ever since.

459th Air Refueling Wing KC-135R Stratotankers conduct an elephant walk during an alert exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

U.S. Air Force graphic illustration created using multiple layered photographs to create a high dynamic range image of a KC-135R Stratotanker on the Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, flight line Sept. 14, 2016.

U.S. Air Force graphic illustration created using multiple layered photographs to create a high dynamic range image of a KC-135R Stratotanker. These KC-135 images were photographed by military veterans and service members.

A 92nd Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker takes off Oct. 30, 2016 at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. The KC-135 refueled B-52 Stratofortresses over the United States.

A 92nd Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker takes off at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.

A KC-135 Stratotanker from Beale Air Force Base, California, refuels a KC-10 Extender, from Travis Air Force Base, California, December 22, 2016. The pilots and crew on board the KC-135 are with the 314th Aerial Refueling Squadron, Beale Air Force Base, California, and the pilots and crew aboard the KC-10 are with the 60th Formal Training Unit, Travis Air Force Base, California.

A KC-135 Stratotanker from Beale Air Force Base, California, refuels a KC-10 Extender, from Travis Air Force Base, California.

Airmen from the 92nd Maintenance Squadron hydraulics shop prepare a refueling boom to be attached to a KC-135 Stratotanker Dec. 16, 2016, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. This spring, Airmen from the 92nd Maintenance Squadron hydraulics shop were called to fix a KC-135 with an improperly installed boom ruddervator torque tube, which secures the ruddervators to the tanker’s refueling boom.

Airmen from the 92nd Maintenance Squadron hydraulics shop prepare a refueling boom to be attached to a KC-135 Stratotanker.

A New Jersey Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker from the 108th Wing sits on the flightline awaiting maintenance at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Feb. 26, 2017.

A New Jersey Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker from the 108th Wing sits on the flightline awaiting maintenance at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

U.S. Air Force Captains Marissa Strauss and Tyler Branyan, 909th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker pilots, conduct a preflight check prior to a sortie Feb. 27, 2017, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 909th ARS supported the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) with training and refueling operations during the carrier’s regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet-led initiative to extend the command and control functions of the U.S. 3rd Fleet in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Air Force Captains Marissa Strauss and Tyler Branyan, 909th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker pilots, conduct a preflight check prior to a sortie. These KC-135 images were photographed by military veterans and service members.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Jonathan Benson, 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron pilot, performs a pre-flight inspection on a KC-135 Stratotanker prior to a flight from Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Dec. 6, 2016. The 351st Air Refueling Squadron provide air refueling, aeromedical evacuation, airlift and rapid contingency response options for U.S. and NATO fighter, bomber, and support and reconnaissance aircraft in airspace overlying the Atlantic Ocean, Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Jonathan Benson, 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron pilot, performs a pre-flight inspection on a KC-135 Stratotanker prior to a flight from Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.

A KC-135 Stratotanker sits on the flightline during sunrise July 17, 2015 at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. MacDill is home to 16 KC-135s that are responsible for providing aerial refueling capabilities to the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.

A KC-135 Stratotanker sits on the flightline during sunrise at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

A KC-135 Stratotanker deployed from the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., takes off from the flightline during the first day of Red Flag 11-2, Jan. 24. Red Flag is a combined exercise that provides a realistic combat training environment to the U.S. and its allies.

A KC-135 Stratotanker deployed from the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., takes off from the flightline during the first day of Red Flag 11-2.

A 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker aircrew talks with a maintainer before takeoff in support of a Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve mission at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Dec. 9, 2016. The KC-135 provides aerial refueling capabilities for the CJTF as it supports the Iraqi Security Forces and the partnered forces in Syria as they work to liberate territory and people under the control of Da’esh.

A 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker aircrew talks with a maintainer before takeoff.

A KC-135 Stratotanker goes through a birdbath Aug. 22, 2016, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The official name for the birdbath is the aircraft rinse system. The birdbath has a rinse time of 90 seconds, ensuring the aircraft is properly washed.

A KC-135 Stratotanker goes through a birdbath at Kadena Air Base, Japan.

A KC-135R Stratotanker refueling aircraft from the 134th Air Refueling Wing does a low pass over the crowd at the Smoky Mountain Air Show.

A KC-135R Stratotanker refueling aircraft from the 134th Air Refueling Wing does a low pass over the crowd at the Smoky Mountain Air Show. These KC-135 images were photographed by military veterans and service members.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ryan Thayer looks over flight paperwork while flying on a KC-135 Stratotanker over Iraq, March 17, 2016, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Thayer is a boom operator deployed out of the 344th Air Refueling Squadron at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ryan Thayer looks over flight paperwork while flying on a KC-135 Stratotanker over Iraq.

A KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, 91st Air Refueling Squadron, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., flies a training mission over central Florida. The KC-135's principal mission is air refueling while four turbofans, mounted under 35-degree swept wings, power the KC-135 to takeoffs at gross weights up to 322,500 pounds.

A KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, 91st Air Refueling Squadron, flies a training mission over central Florida.

Airmen from the 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron hydraulics shop inspect the boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker, Aug. 13, 2015, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The Airmen were performing an hourly post-flight inspection on the aircraft, which is one of several dozen KC-135s assigned to McConnell, the Air Force’s premiere aerial refueling hub.

Airmen from the 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron hydraulics shop inspect the boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.

Watch this KC-135 in action!

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