B-52 & KC-135 Air Refuel

[82Echo411]

The flying was great in "Eagles,"

It was the bad personal script & the woman playing Hudson's wife that made moviegoers laugh.

SAC came out well. Hollywood did NOT.

[sailnav]

The "165 load" takeoff was just about the maximum fuel load a KC-135A could carry and still hope to lift into the air. (Later the fleet was re-engined.) This necessitated a "wet" takeoff: Water injected into each engine during takeoff roll. This enabled operating at a lower exhaust temperature, but also the expanding steam enhanced the engine pressure ratio.

The Power that was exerted seemed enormous! And the Noise was deafening. For us mortals, it was not unlike watching a Shuttle lift-off.

[wv2000gxe]

N.K.A.W.T.G!

[rubbing2000]

These men and women perfected the Air Refueling in all weathers and action. The video is from the 1963 movie "A Gathering Of Eagles staring Rock Hudson.

[altman77]

Great men! A very demanding experience!

[oldaxekid]

Big shout out to any remaining members of the elite 509th Bomb Wing who flew in the Arc Light missions to Viet Nam. My dad was your ECM Chief......

[BadSneakers]

I posted a video response. My dad was flying the B52 in this scene! He also flew one of the planes in the minimum interval takeoff.