The KC-135 Stratotanker is a 4-engine, high-endurance, aerial refueling and transport jet aircraft designed and manufactured by American aerospace firm Boeing. It is primarily operated by the U.S. Air Force, which employs the aircraft throughout the globe to support military aviation operations of the United States and those of ally nations. The Stratotanker is also operated by the air components of the militaries of France, Turkey, and Singapore. While its primary function is aerial refueling, the KC-135 can also carry personnel and freight. When outfitted to carry passengers and / or cargo, it has a capacity of 80 personnel or 83,000 pounds of freight.
The Stratotanker was developed simultaneously with the Boeing 707 commercial jetliner. Both were derivatives of the Boeing 367-80, commonly referenced as the “Dash 80,” Boeing’s 4-engine jet aircraft demonstrator platform. Designed specifically for aerial refueling purposes, the KC-135 replaced the propeller-driven KC-97 Stratofreighter, also produced by Boeing.
The Stratotanker took its maiden flight on August 31, 1956 and it was introduced into service with the United States Air Force in June of 1957. Boeing manufactured a total of 820 KC-135 airframes, 732 of which were built as Stratotanker refueling / cargo aircraft. 88 were made for other purposes, including VIP transport, dedicated cargo, and reconnaissance. The jet remains in service today, and is an integral component of United States military operations of all scales that involve aviation, globally. The Stratotanker can refuel jet aircraft including the F-35, the F-22, the F-15, the F-16, the F-18, the A-10, and others.
The KC-135 Stratotanker measures 136 feet, 3 inches in length, stands 41 feet, 8 inches tall, and has a wingspan of 130 feet, 10 inches. It is powered by four wing-mounted CFM International F108-CF-100 high-bypass turbofan engines that each produce up to 21,600 pounds of thrust. It has an operational range of 1,500 miles (while carrying 150,000 pounds of fuel to transfer to other aircraft), a service ceiling of 50,000 feet above sea level, and it climbs at 4,900 feet per minute. The Stratotanker cruises at 530 miles per hour and has a top speed of 580 mph.
