USAF KC-135 FROM THE 100TH ARW SUPER LOW THROUGH THE MACH LOOP (20/8/24)

USAF KC-135 FROM THE 100TH ARW SUPER LOW THROUGH THE MACH LOOP
(20/8/24)

[@Wonkabar007]

Great catch amazing to see such a big bird flying low level.

[@markdavidson8674]

Great to see. Respect taking that beast through the loop!

[@philchadwick8942]

Brilliant!!!!! I saw a KC135 a couple of months ago over the Carmarthen area heading north, and she went through the loop shortly afterwards. I will always remember seeing one go vertical at Mildenhall in 1991 and then have a compressor stall in the number 4 engine!

[@rael5469]

That's precisely why tankers shouldn't be flown like that.

[@kaz8201]

Lovely to see your video of this, super footage. Impressive stills as well 👏

[@breseler]

One exited the Loop over the cottage on Wednesday - just got out the back door to see a KC-135 heading towards Bala followed shortly after by 4 F-15s.

[@melcragg7814]

Awesome. Lucky you for seeing that. Imagine if it was towing a F15

[@DropdudeJohn]

Picked a glorious UK summer day to do it as well

[@EdwardForty]

Thank you for that and certainly a good one to see. 👍

[@LoudRC]

😂 Mad lads!!! Not sure why a tanker needs to be down in the weeds though!

[@chrisbaker6367]

My thoughts too!!

[@dickiemcvitie1752]

Well, if the C17 can do it.... There'll be a B52 next, lol!!

[@firstnamelastname-ql2vd]

​@@chrisbaker6367 Because it's cool, nerd

[@musoseven8218]

Nice cop that. They were once common place at Fairford.

[@ianbriggs3821]

I'm waiting for a f35 😂 and kc 135 comes threw oh my God good shot pitty weather wasn't good .

[@stevenclark1973]

Doesn't feel right that going through the loop! Great to see though. I was hoping he didn't bank around Corris there! Would have had no chance. Great video.

[@philrichardson5726]

Why ? Because they can😊 I have always thought flexibility is a good thing ,imagine their normal flight level becomes unusable due to lets say long range weapons , getting low may be the only option.

[@rael5469]

Wait....why would a tanker need to fly low level? If anything happened their squadron Commander would face jail time.

[@Pesmog]

Well caught, thx. I presume that is a first?

[@alexlee6074]

First flight didn't do any mach loop, second flight was just cad and this flight was the whole lot

[@HelixRsix]

Is it normal to have some of the rear boom waving in the breeze

[@rustynightingale4949]

The piece you are seeing is a drogue, it’s for euro aircraft with a probe refuel receptacle. It is attached at the nozzle of the boom and has enough lift to just drag it along. That aircraft also has MPRS pods on the wingtips that trail a long hose and can fuel two at the same time.

[@clydesuckfinger8068]

Why are KC-135’s doing low levels? They aren’t a tactical mission profile, more of a strategic. C-130’s, C-17’s, fighters, OK, but dedicated tankers?

[@septiccalling8341]

Just because! And lower than some of the Strike Eagles do.....

[@clydesuckfinger8068]

@@septiccalling8341 It’s very hard on the airframes, and the -135’s aren’t exactly low time. The C-141 is a perfect example of what happens when low levels are done in the wrong airframe. They all had cracks in the wings. Even the C-130’s I worked, when doing low levels (we were at 300’), an hour of low level was equal to 1 hour of cruise.