USAF’s Oldest Aircraft Still Getting the Job Done!

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!

[@kayjones4369]

My boy is back!! Even though I see him almost everyday love when he does these. Makes his ole Mom n Dad proud! 😘

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Mom!

[@nikphoenix]

Glad to see your back. You are a great ambassador for the air force and the ANG. Glad they let you continue showing that part.

[@kevincollins8014]

I absolutely agree

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Nik! Just trying to do my part!

[@caryntemplar6801]

Thank you for your videos. Happy note … My neighbor grandson couldn’t decide what military branch to go with. Our close knit neighbors of 3 families got together and shared with this young man the different branches in the military (Retired Army, Marines, Navy)(all were in Vietnam). I shared with him your videos. Well, he is two weeks into boot camp with the … Air Force!! Your videos help this young man to make is decision. Thank you! 🇺🇸

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

This is probably the best comment I've ever had! Awesome! Does he know what his job will be yet?

[@caryntemplar6801]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 something to do with electronics.

[@jkel2080]

Welcome back. Thank you all for your service!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

It's an honor to serve!

[@davestarr7112]

Welcome back! I am delighted to see more flying videos, and delighted to see you showcasing the ANG. I am a retired Air Force Reservist MSGT with 10 years active duty and 20 "good years" with a Reserve Unit and I think the USAF Reserve Forces, both the USAFR and all the ANG units are (for some reason) one of the USAF's "best-kept secrets". We need more real-world videos from real people like you and your crew-mates to tell the real story. Fly On!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I agree! The commercials I see nowadays just aren't what they used to be.

[@jimcooper2625]

Missed you Col. glad your back from an old tanker crew chief!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Jim!

[@tomhill4765]

Missed you Rod, glad your back online.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Tom!

[@dennishayes65]

I see you had to put a DISCLAIMER at the beginning of the video. That’s SO MILITARY !!!!! I know, I was in the U S Navy 50 years ago. I was an A-6 Intruder plane captain in VA-42, NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, Va. I’m from (farm country)SW Minnesota.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Gotta do what you gotta do, ha!

[@ChuckKirchner-se6ib]

Glad to see your return, Col. We all missed you.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I missed you guys!

[@joebosnjak4821]

You might not put out many videos but everyone is the best on youtube. I am so glad you're back. The wait was worth it

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

As always, I appreciate it Joe!

[@edwardbreen2574]

Welcome back!! Another fantastic video showcasing the mission of the KC-135! Hopefully another video is right around the corner. 🇺🇸

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Ed! I don't have many flights left, so I'm going to do my best to record as much as I can over the next few months!

[@robertadams2857]

Nice to see you back…👍. Your flying and your farming are both very interesting. America!!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thank you Robert!

[@oldad6207]

Welcome back, my friend. You were missed.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Great to be here ol dad!

[@johnbucklerfarms]

Welcome Back Sir!👍👍🧑🏻‍🌾👨‍✈️

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks John!

[@21wdwrkr]

Great ride! Thanks! Still can''t believe the number of mammoth warehouses that have taken over that area. That was all corn and bean fields when I grew up there. Looking forward to the next video.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Yes, that area has blown up just in the 5 years that I have been stationed there.

[@scottrogoway7034]

great video guys. Love the camera position. You get a real feel like you are there.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

That camera is tricky, but produces some unique shots!

[@Mikael.formermilitary]

The last Buff I refueled was in 2009 out of Grand Forks AFB. I flew with the XP crew. Then, Captain D was our AC. He was a phenomenal IP. Good times.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Nice!

[@billcowart589]

So glad to see y’all back Rod. It was worth the wait. Maybe you can put the videos out now without any fuss being stirred up. Thank y’all for your service.See you next time.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Bill!

[@h2recoveryteam2]

Glad to see you back Rod.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Yes Sir!

[@chrisworkman5288]

As always, thanks for posting.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

As always, thank you for watching!

[@markhoppes8210]

great to see the jets again. Always enjoy seeing my old unit

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Mark!

[@MichaelWarren-st4wp]

Thank you for your service sir! When I was a cadet in civil air patrol, I got to fly in a KC-135 while our encampment. It was an awesome experience to fly in a military aircraft. We got to refuel a C-5.

[@gordonward4671]

You always do a good job Rod on the farm and in the cockpit from the Wards

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Gordon! I didn't know you guys watched!

[@mikeross5927]

It's awesome that you're able to make videos again. Great video.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Sir!

[@markchristopher9515]

Glad that's sorted out. Missed your eye. Welcome back and you didn't disappoint.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Mark!

[@cj_flexxx]

I’ve sat in that same bird at the Columbus airshow! It was a ground display and I got the opportunity to talk to a few guys that work in it!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Great! There will be another air show this summer!

[@lorenjackson8961]

I've got an old VHS tape I've got to get transfered over. I took some video on a few flights at Eielson AFB in Alaska during the summer of 1993 when the Cope Thunder exercises were going on. I've got a unique video from the back of a KC-135R Tanker during takeoff. The boom operator and myself were laying down on mats in the back. I remember he opened the window cover as we started the takeoff roll. I remember holding onto the camera with one hand filming and the other hand pressed against the rear bulkhead trying to keep myself from sliding rearward. Watching the tail drop close to the runway as the nose went up was a very unique experience to say the least.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

That's a very unique view! Looks pretty cool during a landing too!

[@leeadrendel4260]

Glad to see you back Sir ! Thank you and your crew for there service! How was that Big Red Machine to run this fall? Hope your crops had some good yield!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Combine did well, as it should for as much as it cost! Corn was great, beans not so much.

[@todddavis3233]

Thank You for your service ! And Thank You for getting footage of the Columbus Crew Badged plane ! As a Season ticket member, member of the Nordecke, co-founder of Pirate Tailgate and Black Flag Social Club, this makes me very happy to see this plane flying ! Thank You !

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I'm glad you enjoyed it Todd! The crewchief for this airplane is obviously a pretty big Crew fan!

[@alrcfn80]

Col, I am disabled vet. Air Force 81-85, fuels. Back in 84, took a incentive flight in a KC-135A out of Hickam to refuel some first time Marine F -4 pilots. I was wondering if you guys still give incentive flights? If so, how do you sign up for one? Love the videos!!.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

@@alrcfn80 We do occasionally, but they are few and far between. Most times, it is for new recruits or for airmen on base to show them how their job affects the mission.

[@michaelstark703]

Welcome back and thank you so much!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👍

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Michael!

[@garyberg]

Welcome back Rod! It's good to see you in an aircraft again but, being retired Army, I miss seeing you on the ground chasing your cattle. 😀

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Ha! We'll start calving in about a month, so I'll have to dust my running boots off! I have some ground pounder in me!

[@Javious_Rex]

Good to see you back. 6 months for the DoD and State of Ohio to get something sorted out, sounds like a record.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Better late than never!

[@tomuhlig7077]

Happy to see you back! Brings back a lot of good memories! Say Hi to all the crew chiefs for me!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Will do Tom!

[@kurtboginski507]

Great to have you back Rod. Sure enjoy all your videos. Thanks for your dedication and that great opportunity to let us see your life both as a pilot and farmer.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Kurt! It's good to be back!

[@tomnull2637]

Glad to see you're back. Hope you and the critters survive the snow on it's way today. Stay safe

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Got a little bit of snow, but temps haven't been too hateful.

[@kevincollins8014]

I'm really grateful that you're back and able to still bring us along for portions of the flights. I hope you and your family had a very blessed holidays . As always thanks for taking the time to bring us along with you guys . These videos are incredible!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks again Kevin! I think you have been with me since the beginning!

[@halfaulkner7415]

Wow it has been 60 years since I had a ride in a KC 135 thanks I was in the army in defense of Eielson AFB caught a hop to Travis very cool Thanks for the memory

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks for your service! Hopefully it was an enjoyable ride!

[@domthomas1002]

Great to see you back. The videos, Keep'em comin'. Army proud.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Hua!

[@bobgunnerfeldt6455]

Outstanding to see you back!!!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Bob!

[@josephknapick5307]

Welcome Back! Giad to see the AF brass came to their senses... BTW, what is that white box behind the cockpit windows?

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

That is just a portable GOS receiver. Nice to have as a backup if our avionics start to act up!

[@josephknapick5307]

As a retired Avionics Maintenance Officer (KC-135s, B-52Hs and C-130s) I understand completely...

[@142dmoore]

From Jackson Co. we are glad you could work out the details and are back. Looking forward to many more new videos.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Dan! Stay warm!

[@RandomAviation13KOMNY]

Saw the 8013 bird and had to share and point out the tail number to my mom. My mom and I share the same day of the month for our birthday, 13 and her birthday is in August, 8, hence why the 8013 is cool to us. We were able to get a picture together by this exact bird at the Columbus Airshow last summer! Maybe not a massive military significance, but definitely cool to see that bird on here! Nice videos! I enjoy the channel!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Pretty cool! They'll be another air show this June with the Thunderbirds!

[@jonsolomon4814]

Just watched the other video, I don’t know why this one didn’t show up when you put it out. Thanks for all that you guys do!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I've seen a couple of other similar comments. Maybe the algorithm thought I quit?

[@theo4307]

Thanks for working to get this sort of content back to us, as well as for your service. Would be an absolute dream for me to be in the right seat in one of those cockpits.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

About the best I can do is invite you to an air show and check out a static display, ha!

[@theo4307]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 once I finish my BSME I plan on applying to active duty and hopefully ending up in the right seat of one. Still appreciate the heck out of your response and the content though!

[@cecillanter3207]

great to see they have let you continue,

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Me too!

[@Mr.Filson]

Thank You!!!

[@thomasloaiza2172]

Good to see you back, sir!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Heck yeah!

[@jeromelefebvre4816]

Glad to see you back Love to watch your military flying as well as the farming

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I appreciate it Jerome!

[@fishhaulergreatlakes8208]

Welcome back👊

[@barbaraschley2981]

Glad to see your videos have returned! They’re always interesting and you’re doing a great service promoting the military!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks for watching Barbara!

[@paulbennett8516]

Another superb video nice to see you back

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thank you Paul!

[@papatango2362]

HE’S BACK!!!

[@timothychristian9140]

Good to see ya again.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Tim!

[@curtschaben5609]

Made my week.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Hell yeah!

[@sirjasonakana]

Good to see your videos again. I think these are not only well done and interesting but also a great recruitment tool for the ANG and Air Force… MERICA!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks bud! I appreciate it!

[@clarencehysell6792]

Glad you are back

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Great to be here!

[@mcd5082]

Glad you are back!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

It's great to be here!

[@HollyLynne86]

Good stuff!! 👊🏻 🇺🇸

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

👊🏼'Merica!

[@user-jk9du1kl7s]

Glad your back enjoy your content

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

👊🏼 'Merica!

[@chrisburress9747]

So glad to see you back

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Chris!

[@fredhetler7148]

Welcome BACK! 👍👍👍

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Fred

[@bjorgensen1618]

Welcome Back

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks! It's great to be back!

[@davidkimmel4216]

Missed your videos. First. Thank You For Your Service To Our Country. Second. Thank you for your time that share with us and your thoughts and views on farming. Wonderful to have you back. 👍🤗👍

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks David! I'm glad to be back!

[@bduncan9724]

Missed ya!!

[@tomviers1304]

Nice to have you back.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Great to be back Tom!

[@michaelanderson7260]

Great to see you back have really enjoyed your videos. Being retired from the Colorado ANG and had the great experience of flying to Germany and back on KC-135s in early 90s for a Creek cousair exercise. America

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I'm glad it was a great experience! -135s aren't normally known for comfortable flights, ha!

[@michaelanderson7260]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 agreed the jump seats were not that comfortable but we survived. I showed my wife the inside with the seats and cargo containers during your video. She said doesn’t look that comfortable and shook her head.

[@garybruno4360]

Welcome back, always look forward to your videos .

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Gary! I should be posting more often now!

[@MrTonyharrell]

Glad to see you back, just so you know we like ag content too. Man, I miss seeing all the F4s doing touch and goes at the 33rd at Eglin back in the 70s. I watched from the munitions revetment on the flight line. Again, every time Brian put out a video I wondered about your channel.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Had to sort some things out, but I hope to be posting more often now!

[@dono9879]

Glad to see you back making videos. I enjoyed the content and waiting for more. Thanks

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Don!

[@outdoorsdon]

Welcome back, missed your videos!!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Don! Great to be back!

[@jameswest332]

Glad to see You are back ! Thought we were going to mabe send out a search party for you but I saw you on Brians video at Cargill !

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Ha! Thanks James!

[@chuckleeii8355]

Welcome back Sir! V/R Chuck

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Chuck! I haven't forgot about getting you in the flightline!

[@nickkercheval2704]

Love these vids! Glad you’re back! WV corn and soybean farmer

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Nick! I hope you find someplace to sell your grain for a decent price. We haven't found anywhere in Ohio yet, ha!

[@paulking9395]

Welcome back, sir. Missed your videos a lot.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks! I missed making them!

[@smokingndc5224]

Your best vid ever Rod! Great camera work. Great crew. Thank you for your service. Cows in the next one?

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks! Calving season is getting close, so I hope to get a few videos of that in a few weeks!

[@vittoesmith1]

Good to see you back. Looked like you wanted to fall asleep when you were in the back. LOL. Were you the ranking officer on the flight. Looking forward to the next videos. The views and camera angles with the fish eye lens are great. AMERICA

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Being a full timer, I usually fly more than the part timers. I try to let them have most of the seat time, but I'll sneak in for a landing or two.

[@Dick_Shinn]

Glad to see you are active, again. KZbin algorithm did not alert me!!!😡

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I wonder about that algorithm sometimes......

[@karlrandow5004]

Glad you are back but keep your cold weather in Ohio to cold here last week between San Antonio and Austin

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

We have gotten a little snow, but temps haven't been too hateful yet!

[@daveh4893]

Glad to see you are alive and well Rod and back to making videos. Always cool to watch your videos! I lived at Lockbourne AFB in the 70s when the name was changed to Rickenbacker. I now live in Louisiana and I am guessing that B-52 you refueled was out of Barksdale. I have a 50-50 chance of being right, since only two bases have B-52s. I think during the cold war in the 60s and 70s, B-52 were stationed at over 20 different bases.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

You are correct!

[@fishhaulergreatlakes8208]

Merica!👊

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Hell yeah!

[@frankhorton4369]

Good to see you back. Your video looked more professional this morning.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Thanks Mark! It wasn't on purpose. Was I not professional in the others?

[@frankhorton4369]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 Yes, they were professional I guess I didn’t express myself very well. It just seemed that the camera angles and such showed the events inside and outside of the aircraft in a different way. Being able to watch the pilots and then the runway and such as they saw it looked different. It has always looked professional and i have always enjoyed it.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

@@frankhorton4369 Thanks Frank! We do good off quite a bit, but I try to edit those parts out, haha!

[@edjarrett3164]

Soon you will be refueling the b52j, when they start coming off the mod line in 2027-2028. Glad to have you back!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Interesting! J model huh? I wonder if we'll go through the entire alphabet!

[@edjarrett3164]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 To think that these paired aircraft have lasted this long is a testament to those slide rule jockeys who designed these jets. Tanker is running out of time from hours and cycles. The Buff airframe is still good, so this last mod will probably be her last. Hard to believe a combat aircraft will be flying approaching retirement at nearly 100 years.

[@oldnavcat]

As an old KC-135Q navigator, I would like to see how rendezvous with heavies and fighters are done these days. It is a big sky out there, receivers don' t just show up in pre-contact position.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I'd bet we do them the exact same way you guys did!

[@oldnavcat]

@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 Do you still perform a point-parallel rendezvous with the orbit points loaded into the GPS and autopilot? Does the GPS account for crosswind offset? Do you use air-to-air TACAN to determine when to start your turn to roll out in front of the receiver?

[@sirjasonakana]

The guy doing the refueling looks like “Goose’s” son from the movie Maverick

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Ha! I'll have to tell him!

[@h2recoveryteam2]

Aren't your fellow pilots supposed to name you? Sean, since his first one named in the hello's. Sean should be Hen Pecked. I had to say it you know. Today being 1-18-2024, I see Eddie 61 is up again.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

That was me again! Should be a video of it out soon!

[@donrumsey]

Glad you’re back in the saddle! What’s the transition time look for the 46?

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Not sure. It's not anywhere in my unit's near future that I know of.

[@randybennett5417]

All information contained in this video promotes farming and the Air National Guard.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Nailed it!

[@fishhaulergreatlakes8208]

Does a Buff weight close to a million lbs fully loaded?

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

I'm not sure. You can prob google it!

[@bobcrisp977]

Glad to see you back. I hope political junk about your videos is over.

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Me too!

[@DigitalExtreme313]

Feeding cattle or bombers, I am not sure which I think is more dangerous. ;-)

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Ha! Both can be uneventful or get sketchy!

[@DigitalExtreme313]

😇@@ohioflyingfarmer7050 Keep up the good work there Rod. Nice new angles on the video and good friendly teamwork. Wish I looked as smart as those KC's at that age ;-) Also good to see that the ANG approves these kinds ov videos. Cheers

[@fishhaulergreatlakes8208]

Boomers are the bomb!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Yes they are!

[@KyleKAP]

Glad you are back!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

Me too Kyle! Thanks!

[@ricklloyd320]

Glad to see you back!

[@ohioflyingfarmer7050]

👊🏼 'Merica!