While on a day hike in the northeast corner of the Olympics, this pair of Airforce jets made quite a sight. The lead plane is a Boeing 767 tanker and the one just below and trailing very close looks like a Boeing KC-135 aerial tanker. Estimate that they were at 25,000 feet heading to the northwest (Vancouver Island). Side by side, it' striking to see how the 767 dwarfs the KC-135.Imagine that this was a test of the new 767 tanker. Wonder if Congressman Norm Dicks and Pentagon brass were on board the 767.
You Don't See This Every Day
By: SchmidtcassSubscribe
Channel: On the Scene
Location: Over the Olympic Mountains, WA.
13 Comments
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says ... on Wednesday, Aug 12 at 3:53 PM
The KC767 proposal to the US airforce had both a boom and hose & drogue capability for the Navy - the Airbus KC30 had only a boom. And yes, the KC767 is the only modern tanker in service today. The KC30 is still in test.
says ... on Thursday, Aug 6 at 2:44 PM
The only modern tanker in service today - KC767's in Japanese Airforce Livery you say?? The 767 has only a boom and not wing packages for soft baskets. A bit of an issue for NATO and navy aircraft both jet and propeller driven.
says ... on Thursday, Aug 6 at 9:02 AM
L. Jensen - who would have imagined that one grainy photo of an aerial refueling operation would illicit so much comment? I consider yours to be the final and definitive word on this. Thanks for putting this to rest!
says ... on Wednesday, Aug 5 at 11:42 PM
Its a a KC-10 and a KC-135. Not all that uncommon of a sight as we fly this route for training and recerification on a quarterly basis at minimum
says ... on Tuesday, Aug 4 at 3:57 PM
Wow, think BDavis could have any more holier than thou in his assertion of "the facts"?
says ... on Tuesday, Aug 4 at 3:12 PM
Take a look at the July 27, 2009 cover of Aviation Week magazine for a beautiful picture of the only modern tanker in service today - KC767's in Japanese Airforce Livery.
says ... on Tuesday, Aug 4 at 3:09 PM
Take a look at the July 27, 2009 cover of Aviation Week for a beautiful picture of the only modern tanker in service today - KC-767 in Japanese airforce livery.
says ... on Tuesday, Aug 4 at 1:32 PM
No B-52's at McChord.
says ... on Tuesday, Aug 4 at 7:41 AM
Fairchild AFB (Spokane) is home to B-52s and KC-135, so a 52 mught be a possibility. I don't believe it was a B-52, though, as these typically leave a smoke trail. Didn't see one. Next time, I take binocs (which I had but left in the car) :(
says ... on Monday, Aug 3 at 9:59 PM
I was told that this was a b-52 bomber that is being refueled...which the b-52's are out of mc cord , and they said something to the fact MAYB that boeing was testing
says ... on Monday, Aug 3 at 1:36 PM
No third engine in this picture. You're seeing the inboard #2 engine of the KC-135. This picture isn't clear enough to tell whether it's a KC767 or KC10. Entirely possible that it's a 767 tanker as they are in production for Japan & Italy.
says ... on Monday, Aug 3 at 12:36 PM
Well, I'll be. Didn't see that third engine. My bubble doth been burst. Thanx for the info.
says ... on Monday, Aug 3 at 12:13 PM
Uh...sorry to burst your uninformed bubble. The US does not have any 767 tankers. In fact there were many many news stories on the KC-767/ KC-30 debacle over the past year. What you think is a 767 is very obviously a picture of a KC-10.
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