My Flight on a USAF KC-135R (Including Air-to-Air Refueling)

United States Air Force (USAF) Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker (717-148)
63-8885 (cn 18733) Built 1964
Callsign: ENCO 65
Shot at Nellis AFB during Red Flag 14-3 (July 17, 2014)
This classic started off life as a KC-135A, originally powered by Pratt & Whitney J57 (JT3C) turbojets. In the 1990's, she was fitted with F108 (CFM International CFM56) turbofans. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker. When this video was shot, this aircraft was 50 years old.
93d Air Refueling Squadron, which is part of the 92d Air Refueling Wing, based out of Fairchild Air Force Base, WA
A huge Thank You goes out to the USAF, for allowing me to be a part of this amazing opportunity!
Another huge Thank You goes out to Brandon Moffit, CEO & Founder of Moffit Photography, for letting me use his amazing image of our approach. Friend him on Facebook to see his awesome work: / brandon.moffit & check out his site: cptmoffit.wix.c...
The reuploading of this video, including even a small portion of it, is strictly prohibited. If you notice that someone has reuploaded this video (whether on or off KZbin), please drop me a note through KZbin or my personal Facebook page, which can be found on my profile. Thank you!
General Characteristics: (May 2014)
Primary Function: Aerial refueling and airlift
Prime Contractor: The Boeing Company
Power Plant: CFM International CFM-56 turbofan engines
Thrust: 21,634 pounds each engine
Wingspan: 130 feet, 10 inches (39.88 meters)
Length: 136 feet, 3 inches (41.53 meters)
Height: 41 feet, 8 inches (12.7 meters)
Speed: 530 miles per hour at 30,000 feet (9,144 meters)
Ceiling: 50,000 feet (15,240 meters)
Range: 1,500 miles (2,419 kilometers) with 150,000 pounds (68,039 kilograms) of transfer fuel; ferry mission, up to 11,015 miles (17,766 kilometers)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 322,500 pounds (146,285 kilograms)
Maximum Transfer Fuel Load: 200,000 pounds (90,719 kilograms)
Maximum Cargo Capability: 83,000 pounds (37,648 kilograms), 37 passengers
Pallet Positions: 6
Crew: Three: pilot, co-pilot and boom operator. Some KC-135 missions require the addition of a navigator. The Air Force has a limited number of navigator suites that can be installed for unique missions.
Aeromedical Evacuation Crew: A basic crew of five (two flight nurses and three medical technicians) is added for aeromedical evacuation missions. Medical crew may be altered as required by the needs of patients.
Unit Cost: $39.6 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars)
Date Deployed: August 1956
Inventory: Active duty, 167; Air National Guard, 180; Air Force Reserve, 67

[@jeffbomar2219]

An experience of a lifetime that you will always be proud of BUT also be proud of yourself, for doing what you did to make it happen. Not just anyone can do this and you put yourself out there, for the USAF to take notice and grant you this amazing day!

[@RyanBomar]

Wow, thanks so much, that comment means the world to me! I think it will always remain a bit of a shock, to experience something like this and to be able to document it as well. Thank you again, it's good to see you on KZbin :)

[@EdWhisenantAviation]

WOW! Ryan I'm speechless, your a Very Lucky Man, I'm so happy that you got the experience, I've known people who have worked on the KC for years & couldn't get a ride. That is a flight you will never forget & to be able to share your experience for years ahead. Great Job.

[@RyanBomar]

I really appreciate the comment! I truly am still blown away by it, this was a lifelong dream of mine. Plus, to be able to share my experience with KZbin, that's another whole element of awesome right there. Talk to you soon.

[@jfavignano]

Amazing video Ryan!

[@RyanBomar]

Wow, thank you so much! I love your work. You, Buggs & Zach make my day so much more enjoyable.

[@MrFlashjet]

All I can say is WOW! - This video totally blew me away, what a privilege to be allowed to film and be aboard this special flight. A superb documentation of a plane that will not be around for ever (but we wish it would be!) - Forget the Dreamliner, this plane is the DreamMaker! So glad I'm subbed to your channel Ryan.

[@RyanBomar]

What an awesome comment, thank you for the kind words! I'm proud to be subscribed to you as well, I hope I can continue to not disappoint you :)

[@jeffnelson5090]

I spent 10 years working on Fairchild's KC's and never got a ride in one. I did do a lot of backline testing and engine runs after phase maintenance and loved every minute of it.

[@klc317]

Wow!! That was a great opportunity!! Jealous over here.

[@RyanBomar]

It truly was! I'm still pinching myself haha Thanks for watching!

[@TomsPlanes]

Amazing. Simply incredible. You know the right people! Thanks for sharing.

[@RyanBomar]

I'm so glad that you like the video! Thanks for watching

[@terryboyer1342]

I was able to fly in the 135 from Michigan to Florida twice in the early 70s as a 13 and 15 year old Civil Air Patrol Cadet. They had the J-57 engines which were LOUD.

[@johnbihm8961]

Ryan, excellent video! It brought back memories. I was a boomer '76 to '79 out of Plattsburgh AFB. Miss the hell out of it. Good job!!!

[@Mets747]

Absolutely incredible work, an opportunity of a life time!

[@RyanBomar]

Thanks for watching, man! It was such an amazing experience!

[@metalmayhem8558]

Those F22 Raptors are quite awesome aircraft.

[@holyshizzleitsconnor]

That's absolutely incredible!!! I have some clips of me flying in a T-6 I'm gonna try to get uploaded within the next couple of days!

[@RyanBomar]

Thanks so much! I can't wait to see your T-6 footage.

[@killerhamsters99]

It's always cool seeing you guys react to an otherwise mundane aircraft, especially as someone who works on them for a living.

[@horny1705]

I worked these jets for over 11 years and it still amazes me that 2 planes can touch each other at 30000 feet flying at 600 mph

[@buffey]

Fantastic video!! Your videos keep getting better and better. Great job, Ryan.

[@RyanBomar]

I truly appreciate that!

[@dennismichaud8130]

Ryan, that was an absolute top notch video, a friend of mine went up in KC-10 and described the ride to me but this video does the experience justice. Thanks for the share. Dennis at Northern Ct Plane Spotting

[@RyanBomar]

Wow, thanks for your awesome comment! I've always been a huge fan of military freighters & tankers, so this was a dream for me!

[@dennismichaud8130]

That is something people rarely ever have an opportunity to do. Usually you see video from Air Force sources so this was special to see.

[@Crash9908]

Ryan, some of your best work!

[@RyanBomar]

Much appreciated! Thanks for watching.

[@rgiaco777]

Ryan you always have such great variety with your videos. What an awesome experience that must have been! Love the view during takeoff lol :)

[@RyanBomar]

Thanks for watching & for your comment! The channel does feature a wide variety of aircraft, airlines (current & defunct), and several decades of evolution in aviation...which I'm proud of. It's cool to have a digital aviation time capsule covering the 1980's to the modern era, for future plane fanatics to enjoy. It was an amazing experience! I never expected to be involved in something so cool! As far as the view on departure, I'm sorry about that. The flight deck was not an option, but there are many people here (like myself), that love to hear the engines spool up and at departure thrust, so I decided to keep that in for that reason.

[@shawnpope9311]

I worked in MICAP and remember ordering parts for maintenance all the time for that aircraft, good times!

[@bobbosloba]

what an incredible experience! everbody would do it

[@RyanBomar]

I appreciate it, I was incredibly lucky to experience this!

[@routedriver1]

I refueled Sr 71's in the 1970's on Okinawa

[@Airshowlover100]

Jealously level topping everything in my life that I thought was nice...thanks a lot Ryan -_- lol. Amazing that you could do this, simply amazing! I'm sure you had a blast while doing it. That mid-air fueling though, nice! Loved the video, and thanks for sharing :)

[@RyanBomar]

Haha, you rock! I had to continue to wonder, 'is this really happening to me?' It really was a dream come true, now if I can just get on a B-1 & B-52, I'd be set :)

[@zone5ive]

+RyanBomar -- If you do, I hope you provide at least some information, such as how you got to be there, what airport you departed from, the date of the flight, operating altitudes, units involved, credits / some form of appreciation to those who assisted you with this flight.

[@KevinMeno2008]

I rode in several KC-135Rs out of Hickam AFB and Ohio ANG. Flew in one back to Hickam AFB, HI in June of 2008 from Kadena AB, Japan

[@markburton6871]

Great video! My father flew the first generation 135's and was the aircraft commander. I'm an old AFBrat and would love a ride in a 135.

[@MrMegaFredZeppelin]

This is most excellent Ryan. Right into my AVIATION playlist. Thank you. Are you going to McClellan anytime soon? ROCK ON!!!!!

[@RyanBomar]

Always great to see your comments, you're such an awesome and supportive person. I have no plans to head up your way, at this point anyway. I'll be sure to drop you a note if I do.

[@AlexTheG9009]

Amazing footage.

[@mypdshp9309]

Awesome video.

[@dennism103]

A very cool job

[@QuickBurn70]

This is sofa king cool. Was this during the last Red Flag?

[@RyanBomar]

Thanks, buddy! Yeah, this was recorded on July 17, 2014.

[@heribertawells9297]

Miss those birds worked with 11th Air Refueling Squadron at Altus AFB Ok 75-78 IFR maintenance

[@seanie877]

This was recorded on the day MH17 crashed. but anyways, great video! Loved that engine sound

[@bubba1057]

How can I get a ride on one? It's was 36 years the last time I flew on one. Bring back great memories of the good time in the Air Force.

[@RyanBomar]

First of all, thank you for your service! I was selected as a member of the media to cover the Red Flag experience. It ended up being 8 photographers & myself, so I was extremely proud to present the video element of this flight.

[@XXKXKX]

Amazing!

[@BritanniaPacific]

I'm surprised the kc-135 tankers have been working for so long. Boeing made the planes to last indefinitely. Incredible isn't it?

[@w5pda]

Good job Ryan, except for one teeny tiny detail. The KC-135 is based on the 707, not the 717 ;-) Paul in KCRP

[@RyanBomar]

Thanks for watching, Paul! Boeing actually used the designation 717 prior to the airliner. They gave the KC-135 the internal designation of Model 717. www.boeing.com/boeing/commercial/707family/deriv.page

[@w5pda]

Touche :-)

[@tommurray7675]

Looks like those are F-16 CJ models with HARMs under neath and an AMRAAM on the tip of the wing..

[@GM8101PHX]

I probably guarded the KC-135 shown, I was assigned to the 92d Security Police Squadron from 1977 to 1982 during the heyday of Strategic Air Command. We had B-52's on alert and KC-135 tankers.

[@RyanBomar]

That is too cool! That would have been a great time to be there, with some real noise and classics! Thank you for your service.

[@GM8101PHX]

It was scary too, we were a target should the USSR decide to launch against us. But it was fun to serve.

[@comander402]

hola amigo genial saludos.

[@RyanBomar]

Gracias!

[@lilrags16]

That tailfin :)

[@Vyrilis]

Do u guys use gopros sorry if I'm wrong

[@RyanBomar]

Thanks for the comment! No, I don't own a GoPro. The other people on-board had high-end still cameras, I was the only one recording video. I used my trusty old Sony HDR-PJ260V.

[@Vyrilis]

Cool I have a go pro there pricy

[@Angel6Scamper]

How long was your Flight in Total?

[@colinboone9920]

Isn't that an Airforce version of the Boeing 707?

[@keithmurray2576]

yep refitted with new engines.

[@colinboone9920]

+keith murray thanks for the reply, about 8 months late, I kind of figured it out by now

[@n310ea]

The Military should upgrade their tankers to the newer planes like the 777, 787 or the Airbus series, that way those pilots would keep up to date with the latest aviation technology.

[@DZEyoyo123]

Military pilots don't really need the "latest" technology like as necessary for airline pilots, they're not career pilots, they're only flying until they finish their tour of duty in the Military.

[@fishodorvagina]

The military is not going to invest that kind of money in new state-of-the-art aircraft if it's going to be at risk of being destroyed by enemy forces, especially if it's being used to aid fighter jets over enemy territory.

[@chriscarte743]

DZEyoyo123 Many go on to fly for the airlines or corporate and become career pilots. And the Air force does update the avionics. The KC-135 will be getting a new avionics and FMS in the next few years.

[@dennism103]

My son is thinking about being a boomer.

[@dennism103]

I was a sp 6yrs wish I could do it all over.