KC-135 Cockpit Tour!

Welcome to my channel!
My name is Rod Jones. I'm a 5th generation farmer and KC-135 pilot in the Ohio Air National Guard.
I was Active Duty Air Force for 16 years and have been with the Ohio Air National Guard for 4 years.
If you, or anyone you know, may be be interested in military service, please send me an email and I will be happy to offer my thoughts/experiences from the past 20 years.
[e-mail]
Thanks!

[@billcowart589]

Those B-2 bombers and the B-52’s are my favorite thank y’all for your service and making sure our freedom can be defended in an instant

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

You're welcome Bill!

[@barbaraschley2981]

I don't know what I like seeing better. The flight videos or the ones from the farm. They're both equally as interesting! Thank you for your service!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Barbara

[@jameskeane6269]

Why is it, you never mentioned the real team that keeps the tanker force in the green… maintenance crew chiefs and maintenance teams. It wasn’t for them you all be short legged want-a- be’s.. Former KC-135 crew chief. A blast from the past 1962… SAC forever!!!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks for your service James. You'll have to watch some of my other videos. I usually try to give the mx team some love!

[@nikphoenix]

Does any of your 135's have the ability to stream a drogue to refuel a Navy aircraft?

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Yes, all of our jets can do that. We just have to attach the drogue prior to refueling them.

[@nikphoenix]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 Cool, hopefully we get to see you refuel some of them one day.

[@geesss8675]

@@nikphoenix do that occur in flight or on the ground prior to takeoff? Do ALL military aircraft have inflight refueling capabilities or just bombers/fighters etc

[@IWANASLAPTHAT]

OK so I just watched Brians farming videos (hillbilly fishing) AKA Truck in pond,and got your YT channel, If you are mates with our Brian then I'm subscibed as you must be a OK guy.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Yep, our families have been good friends for a long time! Thanks for giving me a try!

[@kayjones4369]

Another good one son😉😉!!

[@No_ReGretzkys99]

Im right by memphis Tennessee air national guard these planes are badass my fav hea y aircraft is b52s imma a fighter jet type guy fav is f16 aggressor squadron I watch my dad died cancer at 18 I'm 39 now so I went to active addiction but I got multiple years sober and I lost my dream to be a fighter pilot😢😢😢 thank you for your service and all that you guys do❤❤❤❤❤

[@GregSr]

Back in '76 to '80, I was a maintenance tech on a KC-135 flight simulator. I spent almost 4 years doing pre-flights in the simulator. Your tour of the cockpit was fascinating. Things have changed since 1980. I didn't see the auto-pilot controls in the overhead panel. There used to be 3 switches ganged together for autopilot. The reason I know is because the simulator had some major issues with the control column (pitch). If you engaged autopilot, the column would slam all the way rearward and damn near nail the crew in the crotch. Eventually, I found a broken 150 volt feedback wire under the cockpit. I repaired it and BINGO...no more slamming control column.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Hi Greg! With the Block 45 avionics upgrade, it is a completely different autopilot system and the controls have been moved down to the center console right behind the throttle quadrant. The control column and trim wheel can't still get ya when the sim operator repositions the sim!

[@GregSr]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 Excellent! Thanks for clearing that up!

[@danriddle1441]

The new logo looks AWESOME, Rod! Tell Lew he'll have to get to work on new shirts

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I'm not sure I can handle 'merch' yet!

[@oisiaa]

Your color grading is kind of funny. Contrast seems really low across all scenes.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks for the comment! Yeah, I know I have plenty to learn when it comes to putting together a high-quality video. I think I learn a little bit more with each video I post.

[@ReaperRestorations]

N1(low pressure compressor) i.e. the big fan at the front of the engine. N2 is the compressor or "core" speed where all the small fan and stator blades are.

[@oldnavcat]

This is only the second of your videos that I have seen. I would like to see one that covers the rendezvous including orbit holding, offset maintenance, and the final turn.

[@GregReed1962]

Thank you for your videos sir. I was stationed at McConnell from 1995-2001, where I retired at. I worked in medical supply, and have seen a lot of KC 135s take off, and land. I only got to fly on one once to a base exercise to Volk Field in Wisconsin. I appreciate everything you folks continue to do, and also the cockpit tour was very interesting and informative. God bless from Kentucky.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks for watching and thank you for your service!

[@bobcrisp977]

You have a lot to keep up with in the cockpit. Enjoy watching the bigboys get fuel.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Bob! Hope to show some A10s next week!

[@lewv0]

New logo? WTH! I just made fifty shirts with old logo!!! Lol

[@randybaumery5090]

This video is great.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Randy!

[@billsjapanlife8387]

Thanks for the ride. Retired AF C-130A/E/H/J Crew Chief of 22 years and another 13+ as a Lockheed Martin field rep (retired). Yes, I did list the "A" model. 😆 I crewed 55-0022 at Wright-Patterson, 4950th TW and then moved to the 3246th TW at Eglin later with same aircraft. I miss it! BTW: Your area of Ohio is a beautiful place! I used to bow hunt near Chillicothe back in the early 80's.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks for the comment and for your service Bill!

[@kevincollins8014]

The cockpit your was really cool! Holy 💩 that's got to be one of the most complex fuel systems ever. The refueling footage is absolutely incredible. Hope everything is going good on the farm and I'll see you in the next video. I live in Fairborn although I haven't been in a bar in years it's really cool to see that young lady pursuing aviation.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I'm pretty dumb. They say they can train a monkey to fly!

[@michaelhenry5573]

This was soo cool! Do you guys get to change your call signs to whatever you want? I am near FFO and I like to track planes, and I've seen some funny ones. I'm also curious how Eddie-something (KC-135) tanker got it's call sign.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I fly out of Rickenbacker ANG base just outside of Columbus. Eddie Rickenbacker was a WWl ace fighter pilot.

[@drewspeer9053]

Awesome! Enjoyed the tour. Didn't realize how many fuel tanks the KC-135 has. We enjoy planes here. Anytime one flys over we all empty out of the house to watch it.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Ha! Where are you located?

[@drewspeer9053]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 central Connecticut. We have mostly commercial traffic heading into Bradley international airport. We get a few C-130's that buzz the house and occasionally see a F-15 or C-5.

[@ottoneidlinger4938]

That’s a great comment Drew. I look up all the time to see if I find one.

[@johnhaus3019]

As a boom with the 196 ARS (March ARB) we were on TDY at Incirlik in June 2002 with the Ohio ANG. Had a great time with your unit.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks John! 2002 was before my time, but glad you had a good time! Thanks for your service!

[@doccolorado]

Great Channel, thanks for your service! I loved being in the ANG, did Missouri & Illinois, but flying around in that Cessna was sure slow... :) (O-2), regret not staying for 30yrs!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks for your service and thanks for watching!

[@jeff737500]

Loved the tour, hope all is well on the farm.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Jeff! It was a quick one, but just wanted to show you guys the basics!

[@MegaSmoshy]

Hannah!!! I taught her back in Aluts!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Nice! You did good!

[@heribertawells387]

Stationed Altus AFB Ok 75-78 first woman IFR maintenance technician .

[@a300fe1]

Great videos! I was a KC-135A crew chief on 63-7992 at Griffiss, do you still have that tail number there? I know it went to Rick after it got converted to an R model.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

We lost a few jets to the 186ARW down in Mississippi a few years ago. It looks like it lives down there now.

[@Trump145]

Hey I just found your channel love it and I just subscribed I am a big time aircraft nut my favorite part of your video was when you show the instruments that's what I love seeing.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sirjasonakana]

How often do you find yourself doing transport vs refueling and when doing refueling is it usually within a certain distance from your “home”base

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Although we can haul some cargo, we were built primarily to haul gas. I'd say 95% of the time, our mission is primarily refueling. Distance from base can vary from 10 miles to a couple thousand miles!

[@billbirdsall5168]

Another great video! Thank you!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks again Bill. I should have a video with some A10s in about a week!

[@billbirdsall5168]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 I asked my daughter if she ever re-fueled A-10's. She hasn't, but her husband has!

[@eprohoda]

Super, so stunning ~ all the bes-tOhio-🤟

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I appreciate it! Share away!!

[@fishhaulergreatlakes8208]

Number 2 bomber you can see the flaps just flapping like a bird

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

That was prob the ailerons.

[@dono9879]

Another Good Video. Thanks keep doing what your doing.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I appreciate it Tom!

[@BillB23]

In flight refueling reminds of the old joke about mating porcupines. "How do porcupines make love? Very carefully." Thanks for another fine video.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Ha! That's a good one Bill!

[@firecapt325]

Man, looks like the same TACAN from the "A" models.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I'm no avionics expert, but I'm sure it's the exact same one!

[@toddkraml6477]

First time watching your channel loved it,thanks to BFF for letting me know about it.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks for giving me a try Todd!

[@tanatalus1]

Hi from Northern Middle Tennessee. Found your channel on Brian's Farming Videos. Great channel looks lit never a dull moment. Most of all Thank you for your Service both in the air and farming on the ground. Double whammy.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Welcome Roy! I'm just getting started with the youtube thing, but I'll do my best to keep the videos entertaining for you! Thanks for watching!

[@StratoArt]

So great! I loved being a crew chief on the KC-135R and T models!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

That's a cool KZbin handle you got there!

[@paulemler1163]

Great video, Rod! It's awesome to see Adam in the right seat and Van as an IB.

[@janicebrowningaquino792]

I think you know a relative of mine-Stuart Meyers?

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Sure do! We were in the same squadron a few years ago!

[@joebosnjak4821]

Where's the clutch pedal and no three point hitch. Lol. Another great video. Thank you for taking the time to record.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I appreciate it Joe! I should have some A-10s in the next one!

[@jaycole3050]

Just discovered your channel from watching other farmers channels. I was an aircraft mechanic in the late 60's on KC-135A models & B-52D bombers. SAC all the way at Ellsworth, South Dakota; TDY to Kadena, Ohinawa; U-Tapao RTNAF, Thailand for my Vietnam tour & finished up at Castle in California. Grew up on a farm in SE Iowa & looking forward to seeing more of your channel.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Wow! Thanks for your service! Yeah, there have been quite a few upgrades since you were wrenching on them! It's amazing these birds are still flying, some of them are over 60 years old! Wouldn't be possible without the hard work the maintenance folks put in! Thanks for watching!

[@Chris-hd3yc]

Man that's just awesome to see. Appreciate ya. Next time you fly over Perry Ohio make sure you wave😉

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Will do Chris!

[@mikeross5927]

I was a KC-135 crew chief, I was on 63-8886. The cockpit has had a lot of updates since the 90's. I heard 886 was damaged in a taxi accident over seas. And totaled, Thanks for the flight down memory lane. Cool memories.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks for your service! I'm not sure about 886. There are quite a few former -135 maintenance guys subscribed to the channel. No way these birds would still be flying without you guys! Thanks for watching!

[@darrenfike924]

Rod , happy labors day to you and your family… fantastic work on your videos as an Air Force airman even you are part of national air guard … my dad was once an Air Force himself from 1963-1967 stationed at Norton afb in Calif … Clark afb in Philippines (his majority time spent there) and his role there was as an air crew chief of taking care of aircrafts and get them ready and such and does the Pratt and Whitney powerplant works as well … I loved hearing all the stories dad was telling and showed all the pics via old style projector of slides … his rank was A1C when he retired from af … I have questions for you captain jones …. Will your base get couples of new KC46A or still stick with the 135A/B?

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks for watching! We are not scheduled to get any KC-46s in the near future.

[@caryntemplar6801]

Thanks for sharing the panels the pilot uses! Does the person behind the pilot have the same panel? Real enjoy your channel!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

The pilot and copilot have identical sets of instruments. The boom operator, who normally sits behind us during cruise to/from the refueling track, only has a couple instruments.

[@ottoneidlinger4938]

I really like the music you put in. It’s all so great to see what we are capable of. We need our trained men and women to stay doing what they love. We do not need them relieved of duty over a vaccination. Your videos are always wonderful to watch. Thank you

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Finding the right music is one of the hardest parts (for me) to making these videos. Glad you are liking my selections so far!

[@robbotaylor8717]

Can I come see CHEALSEA PS I'm Robby just sending my hugs to her LOVE YOU BAE 💋😘. 51

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Who dis?

[@robbotaylor8717]

Akon HELLO 🥰😘 mwa 23cl67a

[@glenndoherty6864]

Great video. Thanks for showing us your flying office. B2's Still are quite a sight to see. God bless America 🇺🇸.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Yes Sir!

[@glenndoherty6864]

If you are up tomorrow, see if you can clip the Chinese spy Ballon with your tail boom. MERICA!!!

[@fredhetler7148]

Very Good👌👍👍👍 As OLD USAF Vet. Love this

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks for your service Fred! I should have some A-10s in the next video!

[@caesar1295]

Thank you for your service and videos. I’m ex Navy brown shoe (Airedale) after service worked for Grummans Aerospace, Lockheed, and Boeing at Lockheed made the refueling receiver box for the C5-B, Boeing in Wichita, KS made the refueling receiver box for the KC-135 tankers back in the late 80’s. Great job!! Also like you said AMERICA.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Welcome aboard Caesar! I appreciate your service and thank you for watching!

[@caesar1295]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 I really enjoy your videos keep them coming Sir.

[@MrTonyharrell]

How is fuel accounted for? Does it get charged to the receiver aircraft? What about war time, is it the same?

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Usually the receiver's unit will be charged for whatever fuel we burn to get to the air refueling track and whatever amount of fuel we offload to them. I'm not sure who gets charged during wartime.

[@lennymota4973]

it really blows my mind when i see a B-2, how do you yaw?!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Great question! That thing is completely controlled by computers. If the pilot wants to yaw, i guess the computer adjusts the flight controls in such a way to make it yaw.

[@jonsolomon4814]

Absolutely amazing! Great job. Thanks

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Jon!

[@jimmarburger611]

Wow, thanks for the video. I was a Comm/Nav technician 80's to early 90"s and the plane's avionics have changed quite a bit since then. It's nice to see all the digital instruments now. Of course it still has it's share of steam gauges. With all the changes over the years is the old radar beacon finally gone? Lol, that thing was a bear to work on, still had vacuum tubes and was in the tail. I remember changing them out on the ramp in Saudi Arabia. Not a pleasant thing to do. Thanks for the content.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks for your service Jim! I believe there is still a beacon function on our radar, but I have never messed with it.

[@ColonelFatass3]

A fellow comm/nav I see

[@gerardmoran9560]

Great video! Do you have an APU?

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Yes we do. Two of them actually.

[@fishhaulergreatlakes8208]

Was that aircraft built in 1963?

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Yep!

[@nickkercheval2704]

Awesome!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Nick!

[@nickkercheval2704]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 I am a farmer also. Corn and soybeans in the Eastern Panhandle of WV. My son in law is a recently retired Army Lt Col Apache pilot. Got to you from Brian Brown

[@edmondmkasian6173]

Sir what is the porpose of yello stand that crew cheif put under boom. Is ti kind of device to prevent plane make wheelie or its for boom

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

It's basically just there for support.

[@edmondmkasian6173]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 oh.thanks sir. I taught kc135 might make wheelie in rough weather like Lockheed L1011 you know in those plane there is device like strut in tail with 5" of stroke that prevent FOD OF air frame

[@wbball15]

Enjoyed the show. Live just a few miles NE of KOFF.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Glad you liked it! We fly over that area often.

[@wbball15]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 I'll keep an eye out for you. Dad was a BUFF munitions man and northern plains silo content expert.

[@JakeCrusse6T9]

NKAWTG OH🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I-O!

[@h2recoveryteam2]

Awesome job as always Sir.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks bud!

[@SD-fg8rb]

randomly saw your video on my feed. cant wait to get in and fly this beautiful bird!!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I hope you enjoy it!

[@SD-fg8rb]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 would you be okay with me contacting you see if theres anything i can study? im a civ pilot and just wanted to have every advantage or things i can learn before i get to my choice after ots! thank you!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

@@SD-fg8rb Sure! Send me an email.

[@edwardbreen2574]

Great cockpit tour!!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Ed! Hope you're doing well! We have one tail that is outfitted in a Buckeye theme. The "pee torpedoes" are appropriately painted maize and blue. I hope to get a video showing that prior to the game with you guys this year!

[@tomheyboer3388]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I was a KC-135A pilot 1971 - 1982. Many updates. I take it the Navigator is gone as well as the sextant. With the GPS do they still do ILS and radar approaches. I hope the thrust on the new engines have improved. With our J65's it took almost 12,000 ft to takeoff at near full fuel. Great plane, lots of memories.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks for your service Tom! Yes, the navigator and sextants are gone. We still do ILS quite often. I have done a few radar approaches, but not for some time.

[@jacklo2801]

I certainly did enjoy your Tour of the 135 Cockpit. It brought back many memories for me and showed how different the cockpit is today from what I remember from my 135 time during Vietnam. I was an Autopilot and Nav Avionics Tech and flew many hours in the 135 and B52. How nice to see that the current 135 is benefitting from some of the modern day advances in Avionics. I noticed a panel on the overhead for "Air Refueling Mode" of the A/P. I do not remember that being on the older 135, but the 52 did have an A/R mode. Does it have a similar function? I have just recently found your channel and am enjoying what you do here. Keep up the good work!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

The current avionics package has an "upgraded" autopilot. That particular switch "dumbs down" the autopilot during air refueling, and basically just makes inputs from the autopilot smoother during A/R.

[@karltuthill4126]

My son Flies one of these and I have been begging for him to make me a video.. that looked like this. Thank YOU So Much, it was Awe-SUM !!!!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks for the comment Karl!

[@thomashempleman7081]

Just found your KZbin channel thanks to Brian Brown. Now I'm a new subscriber. I see your planes go over all the time since I live just a few miles from Rickenbacker, between Carroll and Lithopolis. I didn't realize you guys covered as much territory as you do. I've been interested in aviation and farming since I was a kid. My uncle was a B-17 and B-47 pilot and both my grandfathers were farmers.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Welcome aboard Thomas! Yeah, we can go refuel anywhere in the world! We can carry a lot of gas, but most of our missions go to the eastern half of the U.S. Hopefully we're not too annoying when we buzz your house! Thanks for watching!

[@thomashempleman7081]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 No problem. Back in the 1950's when I was just a little kid and Rickenbacker was Lockbourne AFB, a SAC base, They used to have practice alerts and fly B-47's over our house, one every few seconds. Made the windows rattle. And they always had their alerts in the middle of the night when everyone was asleep. I thought it was neat and I would go outside and watch the planes go over. My parents weren't too happy getting awakened at 2:00 in the morning. But it was the SOUND OF FREEDOM. Fly safe and farm safe.

[@hugocangi6214]

que bueno comandante me gusto su video saludos

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Gracias!

[@hugocangi6214]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050

[@mitchgriner8927]

From the mid 90s until the mid 2000s, I helped build the tooling for the B52 and later the KC135 fuel tanks. Just my boss and me in a 2 man workshop. Very satisfying work and I'm proud to have been involved. There was an episode of Dirty Jobs where Mike helped replace the tanks in the B52, then went up in the KC135 and refueled it. They both were flying our tanks.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

That's awesome! Thanks for your service Mitch!

[@mitchgriner8927]

Thank you for your service as well.

[@edjarrett3164]

Rod, great video for us tanker guys. I really like the electronic displays for engine instruments. Kinda of weird that the electric generation controls hasn’t been upgraded. The boom operator did awesome, refueling a b2 is about not touching the paint. Love the diverse background of your crew. That’s what makes the AFRES and ANG so valuable. So many times stopping in at Pease and Plattsburgh for overwater support and planning. It was always an unspoken pleasure from us active duty guys.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Ha! I've personally not had many electrical issues with the -135. Still have three generators, so she's still pretty reliable!

[@jessevadney9458]

I crew chief kc135 1966 thru 1970 spent time at utapo Thailand great aircraft loved it

[@joemedic8254]

So cool refuel180 strategic 375 Wurthsmith. Executive job

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks for your service Joe!

[@scrotiemcboogerballs1981]

Your back up adi looks a little off compared to the other one could have been the camera angle lol it’s just amazing how you pilots know all that stuff and how to use it all especially in a emergency prayers you never have one buddy I’m scared of heights I can’t get on a roof or tall ladder but I can climb a small grain bin lol and I’ve flown to Hawaii once and was fine but put me on a roof and I start panicking lol thanks for sharing buddy god bless all service members

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Ol Scrotie, I think you have commented on every single video so far! I appreciate it man!