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Description
The Washington Air National Guard 141st Air Refueling Wing sent two KC-135 Refueling Tankers to help keep the fighter jets in the sky during Sentry Eagle 2017. Sentry Eagle is an air-to-air combat exercise bringing a variety of different fighter jets from around the country to train and work together. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Jason van Mourik)
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is a military aerial refueling aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. It is the predominant variant of the C-135 Stratolifter family of transport aircraft. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratofreighter . The KC-135 was initially tasked with refueling strategic bombers, but was used extensively in the Vietnam War and later conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm to extend the range and endurance of US tactical fighters and bombers.
The KC-135 entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1957; it is one of six military fixed-wing aircraft with over 50 years of continuous service with its original operator. The KC-135 is supplemented by the larger KC-10 . Studies have concluded that many of the aircraft could be flown until 2040, although maintenance costs have greatly increased. The aircraft will eventually be replaced by the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus .

Role: Aerial refuelling and transport
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Boeing
First flight: 31 August 1956
Introduction: June 1957
Status: In service
Primary users: United States Air Force , French Air Force , Turkish Air Force , Singapore Air Force
Produced: 1955–1965
Number built: 803
Unit cost: US$ 39.6 million (FY 98 dollars)
Developed from: Boeing 367-80
Variants: Boeing NC-135

General characteristics
Crew: three: pilot, co-pilot and boom operator. (Some KC-135 missions require the addition of a navigator.)
Capacity: 80 passengers
Payload : 83,000 lb (37,600 kg)
Length: 136 ft 3 in (41.53 m)
Wingspan : 130 ft 10 in (39.88 m)
Height: 41 ft 8 in (12.70 m)
Wing area: 2,433 ft² (226 m²)
Empty weight : 98,466 lb (44,663 kg)
Useful load: 200,000 lb (90,700 kg)
Loaded weight: 297,000 lb (135,000 kg)
Max. takeoff weight : 322,500 lb (146,000 kg)
Maximum Fuel Load: 200,000 lb (90,719 kg)
Powerplant : 4 × CFM International CFM56 (F108-CF-100) turbofan , 21,634 lbf (96.2 kN) each
Performance
Maximum speed : 580 mph (933 km/h)
Cruise speed : 530 mph (853 km/h) at 30,000 feet (9,144 m)
Range : 1,500 mi (2,419 km) with 150,000 lb (68,039 kg) of transfer fuel
Ferry range : 11,015 mi (17,766 km)
Service ceiling : 50,000 ft (15,200 m)
Rate of climb : 4,900 ft/min (1,490 m/min)

Description
The Washington Air National Guard 141st Air Refueling Wing sent two KC-135 Refueling Tankers to help keep the fighter jets in the sky during Sentry Eagle 2017. Sentry Eagle is an air-to-air combat exercise bringing a variety of different fighter jets from around the country to train and work together. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Jason van Mourik)
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is a military aerial refueling aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. It is the predominant variant of the C-135 Stratolifter family of transport aircraft. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratofreighter . The KC-135 was initially tasked with refueling strategic bombers, but was used extensively in the Vietnam War and later conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm to extend the range and endurance of US tactical fighters and bombers.
The KC-135 entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1957; it is one of six military fixed-wing aircraft with over 50 years of continuous service with its original operator. The KC-135 is supplemented by the larger KC-10 . Studies have concluded that many of the aircraft could be flown until 2040, although maintenance costs have greatly increased. The aircraft will eventually be replaced by the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus .

Role: Aerial refuelling and transport
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Boeing
First flight: 31 August 1956
Introduction: June 1957
Status: In service
Primary users: United States Air Force , French Air Force , Turkish Air Force , Singapore Air Force
Produced: 1955–1965
Number built: 803
Unit cost: US$ 39.6 million (FY 98 dollars)
Developed from: Boeing 367-80
Variants: Boeing NC-135

General characteristics
Crew: three: pilot, co-pilot and boom operator. (Some KC-135 missions require the addition of a navigator.)
Capacity: 80 passengers
Payload : 83,000 lb (37,600 kg)
Length: 136 ft 3 in (41.53 m)
Wingspan : 130 ft 10 in (39.88 m)
Height: 41 ft 8 in (12.70 m)
Wing area: 2,433 ft² (226 m²)
Empty weight : 98,466 lb (44,663 kg)
Useful load: 200,000 lb (90,700 kg)
Loaded weight: 297,000 lb (135,000 kg)
Max. takeoff weight : 322,500 lb (146,000 kg)
Maximum Fuel Load: 200,000 lb (90,719 kg)
Powerplant : 4 × CFM International CFM56 (F108-CF-100) turbofan , 21,634 lbf (96.2 kN) each
Performance
Maximum speed : 580 mph (933 km/h)
Cruise speed : 530 mph (853 km/h) at 30,000 feet (9,144 m)
Range : 1,500 mi (2,419 km) with 150,000 lb (68,039 kg) of transfer fuel
Ferry range : 11,015 mi (17,766 km)
Service ceiling : 50,000 ft (15,200 m)
Rate of climb : 4,900 ft/min (1,490 m/min)