31 August 2011

KC-135's 55th Anniversary Of First Flight

Boeing Defense announced that today is the 55th anniversary of their KC-135 Stratotanker's first flight. Also known as the 717-148, the Stratotanker remains the backbone of the US Air Force's tanker fleet.

Pictured above, is 57-1508 "Hōkū-kea" (c/n 17579, l/n 188), a KC-135R, of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 203rd Aerial Refueling Squadron, departing HNL's Runway 8R. It's one of a dozen KC-135Rs that the 203rd ARS shares with the 96th ARS (active duty) as part of the US Air Force's "Total Force Integration".

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